During decades of apartheid in South Africa, society was segregated by law, including the church. Today many churches continue to be segregated to some degree because of language or the comfort of worshipping with those who have a similar "style" to themselves. 

On the RSA Gauteng District, which is largely the city of Johannesburg and some churches from outlying areas, a few pastors on the western side of the district got together to discuss combining with other Nazarenes churches on their side of town. As a result, many of the churches have started meeting together one Sunday night per month. Part of the reason is for fellowship, but also for encouragement and breaking down barriers that have existed in past decades. 

Most recently, the congregations met at Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene, which was a white church during the apartheid years.

"It was beautiful to see the rainbow of faces in the congregation and to listen to the choir of voices raised in praise to our Lord where once those faces would not have been allowed through the front door," said Rachelle Miller, a missionary to South Africa. "The songs may be different, the style of worship a little different, but all of the praise is to the same God, and this is a uniting factor amongst the churches in a country that was, for decades, polarised by hurtful, legal racial segregation; a healing balm."

These services will continue with the next one being held at a predominantly Indian congregation in Lenasia, a south suburb of Johannesburg.

For a video clip from the worship service, click here. 

--Church of the Nazarene Africa Region via Out of Africa