Pastor Matty Florence Mhlongo

In October 2013, Pastor Matty Florence Mhlongo received what she described as a divine vision for her and her husband, Pastor Sam Mhlongo, to establish a house of God on a former dumping site in Ramaphosa, an informal settlement in Boksburg. Both Pastor Matty and Pastor Sam are ordained ministers who received their official ordination at the Assembly of God Movement Church in Katlehong.

They believe their calling is rooted in the biblical mandate of Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Pastor Matty shared that in her vision, God instructed her to preach the gospel and bring spiritual salvation to the people of Ramaphosa.

Reflecting on their journey, Pastor Matty admitted that she initially struggled to understand why such a radical turning point occurred in their lives. Today, however, she recognizes it as a purposeful mission to support the vulnerable, stating that a “heart of ministry” was deposited within them. She emphasized that they are now firmly “grounded” in the Ramaphosa area to make a difference—a phrase that serves as a subtle double entendre, referencing both their deep spiritual commitment to the community and the literal ground of the reclaimed dumping site where they built their church.