South African church where people are baptized with beer

A South African church is currently in the news due to its unconventional way of baptizing its faithful with their favorite alcoholic drink instead of water.

52-year-old Bishop Tsietsi Makiti, who is the founder of the church known as Gabola and the brain behind the idea says that the congregants at the Church have also been given a go-ahead to drink alcohol during church services. According to online reports, Bishop Makiti’s church has witnessed its membership rocket to over 500 members in just under two months due to its beer baptism.

He says he was motivated by the scriptures narrating how Jesus changed water to wine.
He added,
“People who drink and get baptized by beer are happy and peaceful. This means they are living in the shadow of God.
The church accommodates people who are not welcome at other churches.
Its name ‘Gabola’ is the Tswana word for drinking. There is only one branch at the moment but the Bishop is looking forward to expanding it further.”