A prayer service, titled the Uniform Prayer Service, was held in Parow last week to honour, motivate and encourage the men and women in blue.
The service was held at the Lighthouse Christian Centre in Voortrekker Road, Parow, on Friday from 10:00 to 13:00.
It was opened with a song item.
Past. Nosipho Daniels, who lead the praise and worship, was the first to share her message of encouragement.
“I want to encourage everyone who is here today as we start the year 2025, especially at the time that we are living in, which is so difficult. In these times you need God. You cannot do it on your own, and if you think you can do it on your own in the police without God, you are not going to make it.
“I want to encourage you to speak to God in the morning before you go on the parade and ask him for more strength because with your own strength you can collapse especially with the challenges we are facing. No one has the answer, but with God it is possible,” Daniels said.
Testimony
Apart from the words of encouragement shared on the day, several testimonies were also heard. One of those testimonies was that of Sgt Grandhal Esau from the Paarl East Police Station.
He recounted how on 13 September 2020 his life changed when he was involved in a severe car crash, a day that he will never forget, he said.
Esau was on his way home to Paarl when a drunken driver, driving in the wrong direction on the N1 near the R300, drove into their vehicle head-on.
“I was told that I was in an accident when I woke up two weeks afterwards. I spent a week in Vincent Pallotti Hospital and was transferred to Paarl. I was in a coma. As I am standing here, I still have blood on the brain. I am not supposed to be the normal sergeant Esau, but I am and there is only one reason, because of God. God’s grace and mercy is upon my life, to this day his mercy is sufficient for me,” said Esau.
He said he was supposed to be disabled.
“Each year I go for an MRI scan to see how far the blood on the brain is, as the blood can cause damage.
“Who would have thought that today I would be standing here in Parow and trying to be motivational,” said Esau.
He added: “Each night I ask God what he wants me to do. I think I am already busy with what He wants me to do.”
Esau then encouraged people to pray. “Because prayer changes things. It might not happen when you want it but somewhere along the way God will answer your prayer. Never stop praying. Believe there is a living God and that He can perform miracles,” said Esau.
Church’s doors are open
Senior Pastor Derrick Schroeder of the Lighthouse Christian Centre lead the opening prayer.
He welcomed the policemen and -women, chaplains, the Community Policing Forum, neighbourhood watch members and members of the public to their church, adding that the doors of the church are always open.
“This is a house of the Lord, a house of healing and restoration. It is not just a church across the road. Here you can come for refuge to the church for prayer. You can even come during your lunch time,” he told the police officers.
The Parow Police Station is situated directly opposite the church in Arnold Wilhelm Street.
“Here is a place to come and pray. I say this because I know that the staff in the police also belong to a family. Sometimes we forget that the police are also part of a community. Often it is the same communities that are subjected to violence and attacks. Today I want to say to the police, we love you and appreciate you. We understand the difficulties that you are going through.
“We want to be here for you because we know at the end you are part of a family and community. We pray for you, and we salute you. Thank you for serving our community,” said Schroeder.
Col Deirdré Engelbrecht, Parow police station commander, said the day belonged to the police and no one else, after which she thanked everyone who it had made it possible. The prayer service was organised by WO Yolanda Pietersen of the Parow police’s crime prevention unit.
Franchesca Walker, ward councillor, was one of the last speakers on the day. “My prayer is that God will always keep you safe from the moment you step out of your house, to when you return home,” she said.
