The first journey till the change

1920,the late Arch-Bishop Samuel Malesela Molefe was born and was married to the late Elizaberth Ramasela Molefe who was born in 1924.

In this article we are going to look at their journey in founding and running The General Apostolic Zion Church, till they passed on to the other side of life.

In the years before the founding of The GAZC, Mr S.M.L Molefe was like many ordinary God fearing religious men. He attended church at a religious organization by the name of 'Baena',but unlike many others he did not entertain African-spiritual believes (Semoya sa Setso), because he was gifted with a special knowledge of healing by prayer and Holy intervansion from God. He would often embark on a journey, spreading the Word of God with those who have similar opinions. Using a bicycle as his source of transport he often left his family on long journeys being persuaded by the Word and Spirit of God Almighty. During his time with Baena, it got to a point where he got ill and fell blind. Days came and went but God had a plan with his life, God would reveal a dream to Mr S.M.L Molefe. In the dream he saw black cows and white cows, one may not understand the purpose of the dream now. Anyhow, a few days into his dream Men on a mission of spreading the Word of God  came directly to his home unannounced all the way from the free state province. They prayed for him and by the mercy and power of God he was healed and able to see again. With that happening he saw that it was best to praise and worship God Almighty.

In 1942, Samuel Malesela Molefe founded The General Apostolic Zion Church while still living in Vaalwater Limpopo. He was blessed with the ability to help those who were sick and pray for those who were troubled spiritually, also preaching the Holy Word all by The Word and Power of God through Christ Jesus. In the process God brought forth a man who would help him in healing and teaching the Word, he was Abel Lelaka. As time passed the church grew, as years passed by, others who wanted more than to be just members went to form their own church. Piet Mabetwa was one of them, he formed African General  but could not get any far with it. Yet Mr S.M.L Molefe was in his own league, yes a league of pursuing the mission of God, he did not let people like piet get him to loose focus on his journey, yes he continued with his worship, with his preaching, with his healing. In 1959 and on it was when members such as the Letsebe, ,Makgai, Madibela, Mabetoa, Tlou, Makhina, Tapala, Kwadi families joined the Family as well as many others.

Zacaria Magoai was also one of those who pulled out to form his own church, but still that did not stop The General Apostolic Zion Church from carrying on with its mission.

In the 1960's Mr Molefe was joined by the family of Motshabi from Doornfontein and Mabetwa family from vaalwater. During the 1970's the Mohlasedi and Mosima families joined.

1979, ArchBishop S.M.L Molefe saw it fit to give Silas Mohlasedi a position as an evangelist to lead those living in the Gauteng region, Silas Mohlasedi before then was just an ordinary member with an extra ordinary responsibility using a bicycle to run church services. The ArchBishop then introduced Jacob Marakalla as his right-hand man. 

In 1980, ArchBishop  S.M.L Molefe fell terribly ill, yet that did not stop The General Apostolic Zion Church from carrying on with its services as his wife Elizabeth Molefe took it upon her shoulders to lead the people during those hard times with the help from then Senior Bishop Job Mosima.

1981, entering into a new decade, ArchBishop S.M.L Molefe was still unwell from his illness, he left a message that his position should be undertaken by his son Ntine Leo Molefe, he would than pass away in October of 1981. After his passing the wife, Elizabeth Molefe saw it not fit for the church to operate anymore by instructing her daughter Maria (Molefe) Mohlasedi to announce on the following conference (good Friday) that there will no longer be a church under the Family. But Maria denied that judgement and advised that the church will continue. With the Founder deceased, disorder was starting to occur even in the books of the church even the members' certainty of the future was in darkness. Maria stood firm and fought to get things in order. There were also members who tried to have the founder's name removed from the church at the National Religious Registration Organization, in order to use the name of the church to their benefit, but God never allowed that to happen. During the years in preparation for a new leader there challenges that shaked those of little faith. But it came to a time when a new leader was appointed by God as he was chosen by Him 10years before then. ArchBishop N.L Molefe would become the leader of the General Apostolic Zion Church in the year 1991.

In 2005 August, Elizabeth Ramasela Molefe passed away after an elderly affected illness.

May the souls of S.M.L and E.R Molefe rest in peace.

This was the journey from where it started to where it changed.

May The Lord Always Be Our Leader. AMEN.