Thulani knows that whatever challenges he has God will always be with him

A sudden death left Thulani feeling lonely

The bars in Entumbane, Zimbabwe were no strangers to Thulani Ndebele — he was a drunkard, plain and simple.

He knew every place there was to get an alcoholic beverage, particularly beer. He also knew that his addiction to alcohol was jeopardising his employment, but he didn’t care because he believed that living with his mother and siblings meant they would always rescue him.

“All my wages were spent on beer for myself,” Thulani says. “I came into my workplace late each day, even though I had an ambition to become a business man.”

In 1988, tragedy stuck Thulani and for the first time his family could not help him.

“In the month of May my best friend contracted malaria and died,” he recalls. “His death really hit me hard, as he was my only friend. I felt so lonely and afraid, I needed someone to comfort me.”

Many people had been trying to share the good news of Jesus Christ with Thulani for years, but he always ignored them. Even when he had attended Sunday school as a boy he was more interested in having fun than learning about God. Now he was ready to listen and take solace from the Bible.

“One day as I was going to work a lady met me,” he remembers. “She shared the gospel with me and invited me to a Bible study which was near to my home. I went to the study and there accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

“The preacher shared about the love of God and I was so touched that someone could love me so much that He died for me. I knew I needed someone to love and comfort me after losing my best friend so I prayed to God.

“I said to Him, Lord, Jesus, I believe that You died for me, and that You rose again so that I might live forever. I now give my life to You.”

Following his commitment to Jesus, Thulani stopped his drinking and got married. He now has three sons and is respected in the community as a godly man. He enjoys his new work as a pastor and knows that whatever challenges he has God will always be with him.

“God has healed many past hurts and provides for my every need. I know I cannot change the past, but I have the ability to change the future by having faith in God and believing that He always keeps His promises,” Thulani concludes.