海角大神

Johannesburg, South Africa

The crowd is electric even before he walks on stage. They鈥檝e been dancing and cheering, singing and praising. They鈥檝e been loving the Lord and reaching to heaven, up in that cobalt blue African sky, far beyond the mine dump that looms next to this arena as a reminder of the bad old days, back when black South Africans were expected to toil and sweat to make white people rich.

They came in minibus taxis and shiny BMWs; with lawn chairs and blankets and babies and boyfriends; with $3 tickets and VIP passes. They woke up at 4 a.m. to arrive early, lining up hours before the gates of the Expo Centre opened. They didn鈥檛 want to miss 鈥淭.D.,鈥� as he鈥檚 known here 鈥� the American author, preacher, and religious television star, Bishop T.D. Jakes.

鈥淚 love his preaching,鈥� says Thongie Nduna, a flight attendant turned stay-at-home-mom who is trying to shade herself from the punishing sun with oversized sunglasses and a program pamphlet. 鈥淲hen he preaches, he can see you. And he might be on the TV, but it鈥檚 like he鈥檚 talking right to you. I love him.鈥�

Bishop Jakes is a renowned figure in the African-American community. His Potter鈥檚 House in Dallas is one of America鈥檚 fastest growing megachurches, with more than 30,000 members, 400 staffers, and 60 outreach ministries. His books, such as 鈥淢ama Made the Difference鈥� and 鈥淩eposition Yourself,鈥� are bestsellers; his TV sermons attract millions of viewers. In 2004 Jakes launched a nondenominational 海角大神 festival called MegaFest which became one of the most widely attended religious festival in the US.

But here, under the blinding sun, it鈥檚 clear that Jakes is more than just an American phenomenon. Initial gate counts show that more than 100,000 South Africans came to the first day of the event 鈥� breaking attendance records for this venue, one of Johannesburg鈥檚 largest.

鈥淗e is our bishop, too,鈥� says Ntombi Sibanyoni, a teen from Pretoria. 鈥淲e are just so excited.鈥�
This weekend鈥檚 gathering was Jakes鈥檚 first MegaFest International 鈥� an attempt to reposition the event as a world celebration.

鈥淚t is important for all people to think much more globally than we ever have before,鈥� Jakes said at a press conference before the festival. 鈥淭he prayer in our country has been God Bless America. But we have come to learn that it鈥檚 not enough to ask God to bless America if he does not bless the world.鈥�
And the world 鈥� this part of it, at least 鈥� was ready to be blessed.

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On radio shows last weekend, hosts quoted Jakes鈥� book and took dozens of callers sharing stories of connection with the bishop. One popular actor and gospel singer, Nkanyiso Bhengu, said that local preachers are now trying to copy Jakes鈥� style. Local dignitaries, such as Sibusiso Xaba, director of economic development for the province, and tycoon Patrice Motsepe, praised him, saying that people across South Africa revere him.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a huge privilege for us,鈥� Mr. Motsepe said. Jakes 鈥渋s an inspiration not only for young people in America but for young people on the continent.鈥�

Religion plays an important role here. Eighty percent of South Africans identify themselves as 海角大神. The nation鈥檚 fastest growing church is the Zion 海角大神 Church 鈥� one of 4,000 鈥淎frican independent churches鈥� that blend charismatic 海角大神ity with traditional African beliefs. On Sundays, members in robes of various styles and colors walk through the streets to their services.

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Somehow, the noise in the open-air arena gets louder when Jakes walks on stage, his full frame cloaked in white, his image broadcast on the huge screens around this convention center, his rich, baritone sounding awe-struck at the size of the crowd. 鈥淟ord, God!鈥� he gasps, and the crowd cheers louder.

鈥淲ow. I鈥檓 so glad you came. Touch somebody and say, 鈥業鈥檓 so glad you came.鈥� 鈥�

The crowd obliges. Even his announcements take the run-on sentence, practical-meets-prayer style, rocking the crowd toward enlightenment: 鈥淲e鈥檝e got some great things in store for you today. We鈥檝e got great words for you; speakers, great ministers, great music; then tomorrow we鈥檙e just going to rock this place, we鈥檙e going to pull out all the stops and shout and leap and praise God and get the deliverance that the devil doesn鈥檛 want you to have, we鈥檙e going to have a great time in here, amen. Touch somebody and say, 鈥楧on鈥檛 miss tomorrow.鈥� It鈥檚 going to be higher it鈥檚 going to get better it鈥檚 going to get richer it鈥檚 going to get fuller.鈥�

More cheers. He slows the tempo to read a Bible verse; hushing his voice to draw people near; speaking faster and louder until the organ comes in behind him, increasing the tension, only to crash into hushed tones again, leaving the crowd frenzied and in tears. He has people walk around to symbolize movement in their lives; he has people hold hands, squeeze them, bless the next person over, and pray for them.

Men cry, women are overwhelmed. A woman in a wheelchair stands up and marches on stage to dance.
His sort of service is popular here, where more than a third of South Africans identify themselves as part of a Pentecostal or related charismatic 海角大神 movement 鈥� an evangelicalism that usually believes in the real-time presence of the Holy Spirit, as well as healing. But attendees say it鈥檚 Jakes鈥� message that makes him a superstar, as well as his presence on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Jakes is a multimillionaire from his TDJ Enterprises, which, separate from his church, produces books, movies, and plays. And he uses Biblical passages to encourage followers in their financial as well as spiritual lives 鈥� which sits well with a new generation of entrepreneurial blacks here.

鈥淗e is straightforward,鈥� says Sibanyoni, the Pretoria teenager. 鈥淎nd he says ... you can have money and still love God.鈥�

Jakes is also known for talking openly about issues such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, and divorce, and offering the sort of emotional life advice one might expect from Oprah or Dr. Phil (on whose show he is a regular guest).

Although he has counseled politicians on both sides of the aisle, including President Bush, Jakes refuses to endorse candidates, and has said that the US is not meant to be a 海角大神 nation.

鈥淭here鈥檚 religion, but there鈥檚 something about how he portrays the Bible that鈥檚 practical and very much current,鈥� says Sello Ramorola, who brought his two children to the festival. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not gospel written for ages ago; it鈥檚 for today.鈥�

It was with that in mind, Jakes says, that he added a new component to the international festival 鈥� MegaCARE, a philanthropic effort that is focusing on healthcare and poverty alleviation. It was one hall over from the vendors鈥� hall, where booths sold everything from Jesus T-shirts and carpet cleaners to gospel CDs and cosmetics. During the celebrations, volunteer health-care workers offered free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling; in other parts of the country MegaCARE helped build houses, wells, and day care centers for AIDS orphans. On the first day of the festival, 394 people took HIV tests at the MegaCARE center; 92 were positive, says Potter鈥檚 House spokesman, Curtis Coats III.

鈥淭he real thrust of what I came to do had nothing to do with a microphone,鈥� Jakes says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 come to preach. I don鈥檛 mind preaching. I came to help.鈥�