ARCHBISHOP Goodness Mabaso says they won't stop praising God even though their church has been attacked by thugs.
On Sunday, 31 March, Mabaso and congregants were allegedly attacked by four thugs who shot one church member, Alvina Mokoena and Bishop Samson Sibiya and robbed them of their cellphones.
Vision of God Church in Zion said it was holding an Easter service at Kathorus Hyper Academy Hall in Extension 2 in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, when its members came under attack.
Mabaso said they were leaving everything to God.
"We're hurt that we were attacked in the house of the Lord, but we won't stop preaching the gospel. We leave everything in God's hands, we're not close to the church because of what happened," she said.
Mabaso said the attackers were youngsters and if she could meet them, she would urge them to repent.
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"They allegedly committed the crime, they don't know who we are, we're the fire of heaven. Thugs have no Holy Spirit. They should surrender their lives to God," Mabaso said.
She said members who were at the church when the incident happened need counselling.
ACDP leader, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe and his wife Wonkie Meshoe were among officials and pastors, including officials from the MEC's of Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko's office. They visited the church at Mabaso's home in Spruitview, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday.
Meshoe said thugs were disrespectful of churches.
"This is unacceptable. As pastors, we need to stand up and know what to do when faced with such challenges.
"The house of the Lord is a place people should run to because they know they can flee there even if they're attacked by thugs. But thugs invaded the church while people were praying, attacking worshippers and shooting them," Meshoe said.
One of the mourners, Thembi Gumbi encouraged members of the Vision of God Church in Zion not to lose faith despite the shooting that took place over the Easter weekend.
"Don't lose hope in the Lord, even in difficult times, keep your faith and know that God is watching over you," Gumbi said.
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Pastor Nkosinathi Mpungose said Alvina's funeral will be held on Sunday, 7 April, at Pienaar in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
"It broke my heart because I'm the one who brought her to the Easter services. What we saw was like a dream. I hid under the table and tried to hold on to Bishop Sibiya, but he jumped over to save worshippers," Mpungose said.
Gauteng police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo, confirmed the incident.
"A 55-year-old woman was fatally injured after four unknown suspects emerged from nowhere during a church service in the early hours of Sunday, 31 March, and fired shots at the congregants before robbing them of their cellphones.
"Two other congregants sustained injuries and were taken to the nearest medical care centre for treatment, Masondo said.
He said police in Gauteng were investigating murder, attempted murder, business robbery and house robbery cases.
