A South African pastor knows that ministry isn’t only about what happens on a Sunday—it’s about what you believe when the week gets hard. For Edgar and Elsie Neluvhalani, that challenge became a faith journey that turned into a testimony.
The Neluvhalanis are KCM Partners and pastors of Grace Mission Church Int’l in Centurion, South Africa. Over the years, they’ve seen how consistent Bible teaching can shape real life when it’s not just inspiring—it’s applied.
Edgar is also a current board member of Kenneth Copeland Ministries Africa, and he credits the steady, practical faith teaching from the global ministry’s founder with strengthening their leadership, preaching, and building. Through resources, events and encouragement from the KCM South Africa office, their confidence in God’s Word grew stronger—and when it came time to believe for something bigger than their circumstances, they were ready.
The church was launched in 2006 with excitement and a deep inner conviction that “something is coming.” People showed up from day one, and Grace Mission Church Int’l began to grow. But what carried that growth wasn’t just momentum or a good season—it was maturity.
As a South African pastor, Edgar says their preaching became sharper and their faith more practical through years of staying connected with KCM as Partners.
“Learning from Kenneth Copeland has been reliable and easy to follow,” Edgar shared, “because the teachings have remained consistent over time.” And when pressure rises financially, socially, or personally, consistency isn’t a small thing. It’s the difference between a message that sounds good and a foundation that holds.
That foundation was tested when the Neluvhalanis faced one of their biggest challenges: believing God for a permanent church property.
In South Africa, the long shadow of apartheid still affects opportunity in very practical ways. Edgar explains that it remains rare for Black-owned churches to have buildings in prime city locations.
For many leaders, owning a space can feel out of reach—especially when the numbers don’t add up, and the doors look closed. But as a South African pastor, Edgar refused to accept “rare” as the final word. He leaned into Job 22:28: “You will declare a thing, and it will be established for you” (NKJV).
So, they did exactly that. They made declarations of faith as a congregation—speaking God’s promises over their future, their city, and the place they believed they were called to occupy. They strengthened their faith by attending KCM Ministers’ Conferences and connecting through KCM South Africa Pastors’ Connect meetings.
They backed up their beliefs with action, choosing generous sowing and steady obedience, and treating declarations of faith as more than mere words of hope. Then the breakthrough came in a way that felt unmistakably God-orchestrated.
An opportunity opened for them to buy church property, but it wasn’t a typical listing or public sale. The property never really hit the open market. Instead, someone they didn’t even know connected them to leaders who were already planning to sell. Edgar describes it as “a divine setup from the Lord.” Looking back, they can see timing, favor, access, and provision coming together in ways they couldn’t have forced.
Elsie adds another powerful layer. Before moving into their current building, she remembers learning through KCM to declare, “We’ll live in houses we did not build” from Deuteronomy 6:10–11.
Within a year, she says, they began seeing those declarations of faith show up not only in their church property journey, but in their congregant’s lives. Members who had lived in apartments began buying homes in gated communities and estates. Others found jobs and experienced increase. For Elsie, it wasn’t a coincidence. It was God’s Word coming alive through faith and action.
Watch Edgar and Elsie share their story:
The Neluvhalanis believe gratitude is the key to breakthroughs. They’re thankful for KCM, for Kenneth Copeland, and for the fact that a “yes” to the Lord spoken years ago continues to equip leaders today. And for any South African pastor—or anyone curious about faith—the takeaway is simple: When you commit to God’s Word, keep your declarations of faith anchored in Scripture and be obedient, real transformation will follow.
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