Pastor Ngcobo lets out a sigh after reading the message on WhatsApp. He casts his eyes away from the lounge, through the window, to the beautifully manicured garden of his house in the suburb of Durban North.

His wife, Mbali, looks at his worried face and turns off the TV. She snuggles next to him on the sofa. “What’s the matter, my love?”

“I have been reading the body language of the church board members when they speak to me lately. I sense that they are not satisfied with my work. They may not say it, but I can just tell that they are blaming me for the low attendance in church. I think they want me to step down from my position as the Pastor,” he says sadly.

“I doubt they want you to step down. And besides, this position is your birth right. Your father built this church out of nothing with his blood and sweat. He didn’t even get to enjoy his pension because he poured all his money into building our church. The board would be going against his wishes if they fired you.”

“Then why would the board be summoning me to a meeting, out of the blue, like they did on WhatsApp just now? We have never had a meeting on a Wednesday morning before.”

Pastor Ngcobo shows Mbali the message on his cellphone.

“It could be anything, my love. Don’t worry,” she says.

Mbali is his rock, the love of his life. They have been together since they were teenagers. She always has a way to lift his spirits when he feels down. She kisses him on the cheek and hugs him.

Pastor Ngcobo is feeling better as he drives out of Durban North. But a nagging feeling of unease returns as soon as he enters the Durban Christian Palace building, in Umlazi.

He finds all the church board members on their feet in the boardroom. None of them make eye contact with him as he greets them. They all sit down. No-one says a word for a while.

“So, what is this pressing matter you have called me to discuss, so early on a Wednesday morning?” asks Pastor Ngcobo.

“Pastor, we have called the meeting because we are worried about the church. The number of congregants is dwindling with each week. We are losing members. They prefer to follow these big name TV pastors. We need to come up with a plan to bring people back to our church,” says MaThusi, the church secretary.

“What more can we do? We have tried everything. We handed out flyers in schools, and even went door-to-door. Nothing seems to work,” says Mr Msweli, the church treasurer.

“I have a plan,” says Mr Mbambo, the oldest member of the board.

“Go on, Baba Mbambo. We are listening,” says Pastor Ngcobo.

“Let’s organise a revival to bring our lost members back. But we have to make it really big this time! The biggest we have ever had, with a lot of delicious food,” says Mr Mbambo.

“I’m with you, Baba Mbambo. People will definitely come if there is delicious food. I’ll also prepare a good sermon to feed their souls while they indulge in the meal,” says Pastor Ngcobo.

“But do we have enough in the bank to fund this big revival?” asks MaThusi.

“We don’t have a lot, but I think the revival is a good idea. We can use the little we have, if it means by spending the money we will bring back our members. You have to spend money to make money,” says Mr Msweli.

***

Tell us: Is it indeed true that if one can socialise and share food at church events, the church will be more popular?