Reverend SD Gumbi: A life dedicated to faith and community

“There will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 1:11

THE Lord sees with clearer vision than we do. To human eyes, death is often a thing of sorrow, even horror — rarely something perceived as precious. But what makes such a moment sacred?

The death of the saints is precious because Jesus died. The voluntariness of Christ’s sacrifice gives immeasurable value to our involuntary departure. For “this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” What has Christ’s death to do with ours? Simply this: Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, bringing life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

The saints, those whose deaths are precious, are not so by nature, but by grace. They triumph not in their own strength, but in the strength of Him who said: “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” They are saints because they can declare: “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The death of every saint is precious in God’s sight, for it powerfully demonstrates the efficacy of Christ’s atonement and the mighty power of His resurrection. More than one faithful servant, sensing the hour of departure near, has echoed Paul’s confident assurance: “Jesus Christ… hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, whereunto I am appointed a preacher… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

The death of a saint is precious also because it marks the completion of an earthly journey consecrated to Christ. A saint is one who is “set apart” — and none of us should shrink from that holy title. We are set apart by Him “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”. When such a life reaches its close, there is both human appreciation of divine grace and divine recognition of human faithfulness.

On the human side, the believer can say with Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.” And on the divine side, the Master speaks words of astonishing commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Our works gain value only because of Christ’s work. His perfect sacrifice precedes and empowers all we do. It is like the relationship between a single digit and a long line of zeros: extend those zeros for miles, and they still amount to nothing. But place a single digit before them, and their value becomes incalculable.

So it is with our service in Christ’s name. Once the redemptive work of Christ is received by faith, even the smallest act — offering a cup of cold water in His name — is remembered, honoured, and rewarded. Each time a beloved servant of God is called home, the silence left behind is filled with the voice of the Great Head of the Church declaring: “I know thy works and thy labour.”

Undoubtedly, Reverend Dr SD Gumbi lived the life of a saint in a most extraordinary way. He was unmistakably “set apart” for the sacred ministry. Yet the death of saints is precious not only because Christ died and because He redeems those devoted to His service, but most of all because Jesus lives. His resurrection power assures us that this life of service does not end. It continues eternally. Through His victory over the grave, we know that in our flesh we shall see God.

We may not follow our departed brother immediately into that higher realm, but by Christ’s resurrection power, we know his work endures. Though he has laid down his earthly labours, he still lives in what he accomplished. Others have entered into his labours. His voice, though silent as he lay before us in his open casket, still speaks among us. He being dead, yet speaketh. Let us listen well to the message of his precious death.

Some gifts life bestows are rare indeed — unique souls, larger than life, who, for reasons known only to God, choose to walk beside the rest of us. Magnificent as they may be, it still shocks us when they prove mortal, just as we are. The news that Gumbi’s earthly journey had come to its appointed end was one such moment, a quiet thunderclap to the heart.

Gumbi was a towering figure in Pentecostalism — an acclaimed evangelist, motivational speaker, Bible expositor, and marriage counsellor. A man ablaze with infinite and focused enthusiasm, he stood as a giant in the landscape of faith. Esteemed and deeply respected, he combined a remarkably modest intellect with even more remarkable grace.

I count it a blessing that five months before his passing, I wrote an article honouring this son of the soil while he was still alive. I felt like shouting hallelujah when the great man himself phoned me, expressing heartfelt gratitude. That call remains one of the highest honours of my life.

Though my tribute merely scratched the surface of Reverend Gumbi’s illustrious legacy, it revealed the driving force behind his life: a spirit crowded with creative energy, enriched by diverse passions, and woven through with deep and lasting friendships.

Affectionately known by family and friends simply as “the big man”, this nickname captured not only his physical presence but also his inquisitive mind, large heart, and boundless energy. He was witty, humorous, and a gifted orator, delivering countless keynote addresses with wisdom and warmth. His life and ministry will be remembered with affectionate respect by many.

For those who knew him, a spectacled, dignified, and compassionate soul has passed. His death signifies not only the loss of a cherished friend but also the departure of one of a unique senior generation of South Africans — one shaped by the fiercest trials of our history.

Gumbi was strong in faith and conviction, kind and helpful in friendship, attentive and open-minded in conversation, and profoundly insightful in understanding the currents of life. He has left an unforgettable mark on our hearts and personal memories. His way of thinking carved an indelible imprint on countless lives.

With warm applause, we bid farewell to a man whose presence and influence touched every corner of our community. His dedication to family and friends placed him at the very heart of it all. By every measure, he was a touchstone — someone others could depend on. This is what makes his sudden passing on the 14th of July 2025 all the more deeply felt.

To impact so many lives so positively is rare. To do so with charm, grace, and humour is humbling. Knowing Gumbi was a privilege shared by many and cherished by all, because to know him was to be uplifted. Humble and self-deprecating, he accepted people with their flaws, celebrated their strengths, gently encouraged growth, modelled excellence, applauded successes, and offered comfort in times of need. May the memories we share paint a true picture of Gumbi, colleague, neighbour, and friend.

No tribute would be complete without mentioning his love for singing. He sang with deep joy and mellifluous voice, a melody of the soul.

Gumbi was a true friend, a model, and a mentor to multitudes. We grieve, not only because he was our friend, but because his powerful voice in preaching the Word will be sorely missed. Yet we do not grieve as those without hope. Two scriptures frame his life perfectly: First, the culmination of his earthly service, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” Second, the promise of eternity, “There will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”*

His earthly life was but the smallest beginning of his full story, less than a fraction of his true existence. For now, he rests in the joy of his Lord.

It would take a far greater writer to fully convey Reverend Gumbi’s personality and charisma to those who never had the privilege of knowing him. He was slightly taller than average, robust in build, always wearing large glasses behind which his warmth and concern for others constantly shone.

A charming host and engaging conversationalist, he showed genuine interest in everyone he met. He valued institutions and understood how to build and sustain them. Gentle with his congregation, yet unafraid to be firm when truth demanded it, he could be pugnacious when the situation called for courage.

Now that Gumbi has gone, passed through the valley which, for him, was literally the shadow of death and nothing more, let us remember that when he fell asleep that Monday evening — he fell asleep in Jesus. He now awakens in the valley of Baca — the valley of weeping, or more precisely, “the valley of tear shrubs”. When bruised, these shrubs release their tears, and the valley seems steeped in sorrow. Yet the light of God’s promises — each one “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ — shines through our grief. Though this valley feels spiritually dry, where tears are the only waters, those very tears become fountains of blessing.

Precious, surely, in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints — when, as we mourn, we transform the valley of weeping into a place of springs, going from strength to strength, until each of us appears before God in Zion.

Let his voice, now from the other world, speak to the aged among us, those nearing the end of their pilgrimage, urging them to say with confidence: “Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.” And let it call to the young, just beginning life’s journey, to walk in simple faith along the path that shines ever brighter “unto the perfect day”.

May Gumbi rest in eternal peace, knowing how profoundly he touched so many lives. I honour him again today. I will miss him.

* Dr Vusi Shongwe works in the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal and writes in his personal capacity.

** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media.

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