It is Friday, the day of the big revival at Pastor Ngcobo’s Durban Christian Palace. Mbali and the rest of the church women have been busy in the church kitchen since early in the morning. They have done a splendid job, because as afternoon approaches and the time for the start of revival nears, the food is almost ready.

Pastor Ngcobo is rehearsing his sermon in the small room coming off the back of the altar. He is nervous, pacing up and down, and sweating. He stutters, forgetting the words in the verses. He closes his Bible, takes a deep breath, kneels and prays.

“My dear God. Please help me remember these verses. God please bring back all the lost members of our church, Lord. Please make the benches in our church full again, Lord, like benches in other churches. Amen.”

It’s like his prayers are instantly answered because he can hear the voices of people entering the church. He peeks through the door.

A smile creeps onto his face and there is joy in his heart as he sees many members he has not seen in months, back in the church. The buffet is right by the church door, so everyone enters, dishes a plate of biryani and takes a seat. Soon there are so many people that there is no place on the benches for all of them. They eat and chat, while standing.

He hurries back to the room and dresses in his robe. He doesn’t see that most people leave as soon as they finish their plates.

So he is bitterly disappointed when he walks out to the pulpit to find that he is preaching to a church that is only a quarter full. But he puts on a brave face and carries on.

* * * * *

The next day Pastor Ngcobo makes his way to the community hall in J Section in Umlazi, to see Bishop Likau at work.

A young man is leading the congregation in song. Then he suddenly stops singing. He rings a bell. Pastor Ngcobo can feel a change in attitude now; the people were happy when they were singing – but now they are in delirium. Bishop Likau enters the stage and people scream as if at a music concert!

“Who did Jesus give his powers to?” Bishop Likau shouts into the microphone.

“Bishop Likau!” the crowd answers in unison.

“Who is the man of God?”

“Bishop Likau!”

Bishop Likau dramatically stops dead in his tracks on stage. He closes his eyes and suddenly speaks in tongues. People in the audience also begin to speak in tongues. Pastor Ngcobo is shocked and scared now, because Bishop Likau gets down from the stage and walks among the audience, still speaking in tongues. Every time he points at someone with a short black stick he has in his hand that person tumbles to the floor and writhes like a snake.

Pastor Ngcobo is praying that Bishop Likau doesn’t point at him; he is afraid the spirit that has taken so many in the audience will also take him and make him writhe on the floor.

Luckily Bishop Likau stops speaking in tongues. He slowly walks back to the stage. He takes a moment to regain his composure, wiping away the sweat on his face with a handkerchief. He takes a deep breath, and picks up the microphone.

“And now I have people who want to give their testimonies. I am a humble man; I don’t want to tell you about the powers God has bestowed on me. I did not even want these people to give their testimonies, but they insisted,” he says.

A round of applause rings out in the hall as healthy people take to the stage.

“I want to thank Bishop Likau from the bottom of my heart! I was involved in a car accident 10 years ago. Doctors told me I’d never walk again. But look at me now!” says a woman, jumping up on stage.

Testimonies praising Bishop Likau’s healing powers go on for over an hour. After that it is time for offering tithes.

“Where do you get the nerve to pay God only R100 after he has done wonders in your life?” says Bishop Likau. “I say let’s play a game. Let’s have a competition! The men will make a tithe in this bucket. The women will make their tithe in this other bucket! I want to see who will win!”

Pastor Ngcobo watches in amazement as people run to the front and throw money into the large buckets. They are soon full to the brim, and more are brought in. Pastor Ngcobo also makes his way to the front. He puts two R100 notes in the bucket reserved for men. He is close to the stage.

He looks up and makes eye contact with Bishop Likau.

“I’d like to have a word with you, Bishop,” says Pastor Ngcobo.

Bishop Likau walks over to him. “What can I do for you, my son?”

“I’m Pastor Ngcobo. I’d like to have a word with you in private, Bishop Likau. I’d like you to help me improve my church.”

“Here is my card. Give me a call on Monday morning. I always make time for a fellow man of God,” Bishop Likau says. He smiles warmly at Pastor Ngcobo and shakes his hand, as the television cameras zoom in on them.

***

Tell us: What do you believe? Is ‘speaking in tongues’ just people gabbling in mass hysteria, or is it something divine?