| From both physical and spiritual perspectives, | | | | peace and purpose were still elusive. |
| Sechaba Padi's road to success has been a rough | | | | However, providence was arranging a trip for |
| one, fraught with many hurdles and stumbles. | | | | Sechaba that would release him into his true calling |
| Recently crowned the new king of the South | | | | – his divine calling. As Sechaba slotted in a |
| African Gospel scene after winning the coveted | | | | DVD he had been given of Prophet T.B. Joshua of |
| award for Best Traditional Gospel Album at the | | | | The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, little did he |
| MTN South African Music Awards, the street-boy | | | | know that in faraway Lagos, Nigeria, T.B. Joshua |
| turned gospel-sensation has much to thank God | | | | had seen him singing on the One Gospel music |
| for. His remarkable story, one of both stardom | | | | channel, and had received divine instruction to |
| and salvation, serves to remind us that success is | | | | invite him to the church. "I saw him doing very |
| not to be measured by our popularity before men | | | | wonderful miracles," Sechaba remarked. "People |
| but our position before God. | | | | were always telling me it is magic – that no |
| Sechaba was a pastor's kid in name but not in | | | | pastor can do that. But I needed to see this |
| nature. "I grew up in a gospel house," he | | | | magic. I said that I would love to see this prophet |
| reminisced in an exclusive chat with Read Us, "but | | | | one day." Shortly afterwards, South African |
| I wasn't following what they were saying. After | | | | businessmen Tim Tibeila contacted the singer to |
| singing and playing the keyboard, I would go and | | | | say that Prophet T.B. Joshua had invited him to |
| smoke with my friends." After being kicked out | | | | Nigeria. Divine arrangement was at work. |
| of school due to poor grades and even worse | | | | On the 13th June 2009, Sechaba arrived in Lagos, |
| behavior, he was forced by his parent's financial | | | | not realizing the trip he was embarking on was |
| incapability to look for a job at the age of 15. | | | | set to change his life and reignite his unique |
| Searching for greener pastures, Sechaba headed | | | | career. "When I arrived, I fought with the guys |
| for Johannesburg only to discover that | | | | outside because I needed to go and smoke. I |
| employment was more difficult to come across in | | | | didn't know I was going to be delivered from |
| Jo'burg than it had been in the Free State. Faced | | | | smoking," he chuckled. During the Sunday Service, |
| with the hardships and prejudices of a city where | | | | he received prayer from Prophet T.B. Joshua and |
| he knew no one, Sechaba was ultimately forced | | | | fell instantly to the ground under the power of |
| to live on the streets with no money even to | | | | the Holy Spirit. "To tell you the truth, by the time |
| return home. "I slept on the streets for two and | | | | the prophet prayed for me, I didn't know what |
| a half years," he reflected.Living under a bridge in | | | | happened. I had been to a lot of churches and a |
| Balfour Park, the bitter cold of night left Sechaba | | | | lot of pastors have prayed for me. I always saw |
| without sleep and hope. Realizing how his other | | | | people falling - but I told myself there is no pastor |
| colleagues survived the cold nights, he soon | | | | that can pray for me and I will go down like that." |
| resorted to hard drugs each night to keep himself | | | | Rising tearfully from the prayer, Sechaba |
| warm. "I joined the drugs company and that's | | | | mumbled almost incoherently to the prophet: "I |
| only when I was able to sleep." | | | | want to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and |
| Whilst smoking, he and his new acquaintances | | | | Saviour." Taking him to the altar of the church, |
| would often sing together in the cold night to | | | | the prophet calmly told him, "You just confess |
| comfort themselves. Noticing the uniqueness of | | | | Him and accept Him here and let us pray for you." |
| Sechaba's powerful voice, a local street vendor | | | | Suddenly realizing the gravity of his former |
| who sold her food near to his bridge offered | | | | lifestyle, Sechaba began to publicly repent and |
| Sechaba free food if he would agree to sing for | | | | acknowledge his need for a Saviour. "It's God who |
| her. "I started to enjoy singing – because I | | | | made me a musician," he sobbed. "I didn't know |
| know if I sing, I will get a plate to eat!" Earning a | | | | that every time I smoke, I'm taking God far |
| living through washing taxi cars, Sechaba then | | | | away from me." Reassuring him, the prophet told |
| met a man who went beyond just acknowledging | | | | him to sing a song as a declaration of his new |
| his raw singing talent. Taking Sechaba to | | | | stand: ‘I have decided to follow Jesus, no |
| Downtown Music Warehouse, a haven for both | | | | turning back'. As Sechaba's sonorous voice |
| new and established musicians, the man literally | | | | resonated throughout The SCOAN arena in a truly |
| dumped him at their doorsteps and drove off. | | | | heart-felt rendition that brought many of the |
| Sighting a group of singers, he followed them to | | | | congregation to tears, he felt a change within him. |
| an area where new artists were to register. After | | | | "To tell you the truth - it was the first time I was |
| much perseverance and a touch of providence, | | | | singing and feeling the Holy Spirit all over my |
| Sechaba ended up being given a job as a cleaner, | | | | body. The day that I accepted Jesus was the |
| and accommodation by the lady who worked in | | | | first time I felt my voice hitting my heart." |
| the kitchen. "Then they promoted me from | | | | The congregation and viewers worldwide who |
| cleaning to cooking - so I was delivering the food | | | | were part of the live service on Emmanuel TV |
| to the artists," he remarked whimsically. | | | | joined in prayer for Sechaba, led by Prophet T.B. |
| The new job paved way for Sechaba to | | | | Joshua. "Father, we thank You for coming into his |
| showcase his talent, as he knew whenever singing | | | | heart. Continue to strengthen him - strengthen his |
| auditions would take place. A breakthrough came | | | | desire and his determination for You only. He has |
| on the day of auditioning for Joyous Celebration, | | | | decided to follow You." The prophet then |
| the renowned and record-breaking collaboration of | | | | exhorted the singer to stay true to his promise |
| South African gospel talent. "On the day of | | | | to never go back to the world, encouraging |
| auditions for Joyous, I was there to bring them | | | | Christians worldwide to remember him in their |
| food. There was a guy who was singing and I | | | | prayers. "The life he has started now - the |
| didn't like the way he sang – and it was a | | | | beginner is not the owner but the finisher." |
| song I loved so much. So I approached one of | | | | Immediately following the prayer, Sechaba's urge |
| the members there - can I sing that song. They | | | | to smoke miraculously disappeared. "Since I was |
| laughed at me and said – you are a cook, you | | | | prayed for, I never felt anything like pain. It's like |
| don't know how to sing. But Lindelani Mtinzi | | | | I've been born not smoking," he joyfully testified. |
| overheard and said – ok, sing for me. So I | | | | Upon leaving The SCOAN, Sechaba continued his |
| went to the mic, closed my eyes and sang. I was | | | | career, but this time with a significant change. |
| just remembering the way I used to sing by | | | | Going into the studio to work on his third album, |
| myself at home. When I opened my eyes, | | | | the atmosphere was palpably different. "It was in |
| everyone was just clapping their hands and | | | | that moment that I realised I had never felt what |
| shouting. That is how Joyous took me." | | | | I was singing about until right there and then. It |
| Within a month, Sechaba went from singing on | | | | was the first time and everyone started crying. I |
| the streets to performing at a gospel festival in | | | | had goose bumps throughout the recording." The |
| London, singing before thousands with Joyous | | | | album, Umanghihambe Nawe (My Walk With God), |
| Celebration. "In London, it happened that I was | | | | received rave reviews and catapulted Sechaba to |
| the one singing the song they chose to play on | | | | even greater heights of awareness and acclaim. |
| TV. So everybody could see me – even in | | | | But a bigger accolade was on its way. |
| my hometown." Sechaba rocketed to fame. | | | | On 16th April 2010, competing against some of |
| Before long, Tshepo Nzimande, coincidentally one | | | | the South African Gospel heavyweights, Sechaba |
| of the people he used to wash cars for, offered | | | | walked away with a SAMA Award for Best |
| him a solo deal with Bula Music. His debut album, | | | | Traditional Gospel Album, a remarkable |
| ‘Sechaba' became a hit, selling more than | | | | achievement for the relatively new artist. He |
| 500,000 copies and firmly establishing him in the | | | | attributes the victory to his new-found walk with |
| heart of the South African Gospel scene. | | | | God following his life-changing visit to The SCOAN. |
| But, although Sechaba was singing gospel with his | | | | "I see myself as nothing but a pencil in the hands |
| mouth, his heart was still far from it. "I wasn't a | | | | of God. He is using me to reach out to the |
| Christian and I hadn't accepted Jesus. I was just | | | | masses out there. I am happy that I have won |
| doing my own thing." Still addicted to smoking, his | | | | an award, however the greatest award is the one |
| troubled past soon took its toll as Sechaba began | | | | that I will get in heaven for fulfilling my calling. And |
| to fall into disrepute as the ‘bad boy of | | | | I do not take the glory; it is only through Him that |
| gospel', with regular reports of his misbehavior | | | | I managed to win this award. His timing is never |
| and numerous car crashes hitting the tabloids and | | | | early or late," said Sechaba when asked how he |
| staining his image. His popularity was soaring but | | | | felt about winning the award. |