The New Church of Southern Africa, Thokoza

The New Church of Southern Africa, Thokoza operates within the reality of Johannesburg's townships—where worship happens alongside load shedding, water shortages, and economic pressures that shape how communities gather. Running a church in areas like Thokoza means working with what you have: unreliable electricity, limited budgets, and the need for spaces that serve multiple purposes beyond Sunday service. Worship is structured differently here, often more flexible around power supply and extending into midweek community meals and prayer gatherings that sustain people through the week. The church adapts its operations—relying on solar backup, stretching resources, and using open-air spaces when indoor venues become impractical. These practical constraints have shaped a congregation that's resourceful, committed, and deeply embedded in solving real neighbourhood problems.