During Freedom Month, the nation of South Africa commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on 27 April in 1994. The theme of this year’s Freedom Month was ‘Consolidating our Democratic Gains’, an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in realising our freedoms and building a country we are proud to be a part of. Reverend Allan Boesak, anti-apartheid activist, lecturer and author; played a significant role in ushering in an era of freedom and democracy. Together with many men and women who fought against the apartheid regime, Rev Boesak continues to serve the nation by advocating for faith as a voice of justice.

A major theme in Rev Boesak’s life is the ongoing tension between academic theology and the lived experience of his fellow South Africans. Having attended five years of seminary from age 17, his theological training was confronted by the reality of black South African’s living under apartheid which was a catalyst for his journey of activism from the pulpit and in the streets of his local community. He recalls a moment from his years as a young clergyman which was a significant turning point:

“In one of my very first visits as a new young pastor, I went to the house of an elderly couple. The woman was one of those strong black women that the black church cannot do without. She invited me to come in and sit down and she said to me, ‘listen, you don’t have to talk to me about Jesus at all. I know Him, I’ve known Him longer than you do. I want you to talk to me about what is happening right now.’  She meant all the forced removals, the pain, the hurt and all the anger and how her memories were being stolen.”

The woman charged the reverend to preach about the state of society that coming Sunday and reveal what God was saying about the racial injustices in their community. Rev Boesak was taken aback by this encounter; however, the woman’s pain and anger revealed to him a major disconnect between his theological training and all that his own people were experiencing. From that moment on, he decided to seek out better theological training, which saw him studying further in the Netherlands. Rev Boesak grew to be an organic preacher: one whose ministry is a product of experiences and whose learning is for the benefit of others. “I was never interested in an academic job, “he explains, “I wanted to be in the congregation and on the ground with the people.” Rev Boesak continued his involvement in the community with the aim of dismantling the apartheid regime. “You cannot preach on a Sunday morning with your congregation on the streets on Wednesday and many of them in prison on Friday, and then talk as if God has nothing to do with this.”

Additionally, the student activists at the time convicted him with their courage and love for their country and their commitment to freedom. These are the elements that moulded his ministry.

Freedom Month is also an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between faith and politics, historically and in present times. Rev Boesak believes that both spheres can complement each other. “Faith has everything to do with politics,” he says. “Politics has to do with life and life is from God.” He describes the original intention of life on earth to be, “where we have full humanity with dignity, justice, worthiness, fulfilment and a right to have a dream, to have hope and to shape life in a way that gives you a sense of security, not by guns, but by justice.” Stewards of politics and faith can bring about justice and liberate those who do not yet enjoy all freedoms. The reverend stands by the words of Steve Biko which state, “No nation can win a battle without faith.” In this he believes that faith and politics are meant to carry the same objective and in turn assist each other in achieving it.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the freedoms of all people. The church-going population had to adjust to lockdown restrictions and adapt to new modes of gathering.  “The pandemic has had an enormous impact on us. It broke up a sense of community which people of faith have,” says the reverend. “Lockdown meant people could not come together to sing, hear a sermon, pray together, be strengthened by the faith of others, and serve one another. Churches needed to find new ways to gather.” However, Rev Boesak saw this as an opportunity to discover a new way of exercising faith and community, relying on a direct relationship with God to connect spiritually. He encourages churches to use new methods to serve their communities and to do so in solidarity. “COVID-19 is teaching us a new kind of community, appreciation, and a new kind of love. If we learn these things, we will come out with a different kind of church and a different kind of Christian community.”

Reverend Boesak’s ministry is an example of practical faith and its application in our nation. As we reflect on our journey of freedom, may we learn from his journey and continue to pave a way for a hopeful future.