WeeklySA_AdminUNVEILING:Blue Heritage Plague for founder and late founder of the IPHC in his hometown of Meadowland in Soweto
By Ali Mphaki
The invitation is strict and in line with the church’s prescripts. Ladies are to cover their heads and shoulders and not wear pants. Dress length to be at least below the knee. Gentlemen to wear jackets and no sneakers.
This is the invitation to a ground breaking ceremony of the official unveiling of the internationally recognised heritage symbol, the Blue Heritage Plague, in recognition of the historical significance of the founder of the three-million International Pentecost Holiness Church, IPHC, the late Rev Frederick Samuel Modise.
The unveiling of the Blue Heritage Plague will take place at Rev Modise’s house No.1 on Reverend Frederick Modise Road, Zone 1, Meadowlands, Soweto, on Monday. The ceremony has the backing of the City of Jo’burg and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation.
The occasion will also culminate with the launch of the T.S.Modise Foundation, whose overall objectives are part of current church leader to work with in partnership with other stakeholders to alleviate poverty and build social cohesion among communities.
The late Modise, known to his throngs of followers as “The Comforter” was born in Rooiberg, Limpopo, South Africa, near the present town of Bela-Bela, on March 14,. Black residents of Rooiberg were forcibly moved from their birthplace to make way for the mining and farming interests of white people, and relocated to settlements of Lebotlwane and others, which were later incorporated into Bophuthatswana, a former Bantustan. Modise grew up in Lebotlwane, near Hammanskraal, which was and continues to be inhabited mainly by the Tswana tribe. As an adult, Modise started his own business in the carpentry and funeral industries.
According to Wikipedia, in middle age, Modise suffered a stomach ailment, his equipment was stolen, and he went bankrupt. Additionally, Modise’s children died. Modise states he went to various prophets and healers within the Church, and to various seers and medicine men, without being healed.
In 1962, Modise was admitted to Coronation Hospital in Johannesburg. He then later that year heard a voice that spoke to him and told him to pray. After confessing his sins, he was given instructions by God on how to “pray spiritually”. After being told by a voice to get up from his bed and that “[God] is discharging you from … hospital”, he proceeded to ‘spiritually heal’ fifteen people in the hospital before being discharged.
Founding of the IPHC
The International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) was founded in Meadowlands by Modise in 1962.[2] This would mark the largest schism in the Zion Christian Church since 1948. He built a church and began praying for the sick. Many claimed they had been healed by Modise. In 1970, he moved the church headquarters to Oskraal, outside Pretoria. A large local church, called Jerusalem was built.
In May 1991, South African President FW de Klerk inaugurated the church’s new headquarters Silo, in Zuurbekom, west of Johannesburg. After 35 years in ministry, Modise died in 1998; his only son, Glayton Modise succeeded him, and died on 9 February 2016.
The main venue for the event will be at the local Tswelelang primary school.
