Ps kevin pillay: man of vision
I first met Pastor Kevin when he attended our Men’s Breakfast last year. I remember speaking to him on the phone and called him “doctor”. He humbly corrected me and asked me to call him Kevin, just Kevin. Pastor Pillay is a people’s person, a man of God, who invests in community by sharing the love of Christ. Not just in words but love in action.
Recently Team Talk caught up with him again and asked him to share his story with our readers.
Pastor Kevin starts off telling story….
“My narrow escape of life due to a freak wave sweeping me out to sea at Gordon’s Bay, was my narrow escape of death. While the waves bashed me against rocks, dislocating my left ankle; breaking bones - a sharp rock going into my side; bleeding out and finding myself unconscious, all I could do was scream the name of Jesus, by now was drowning and fighting for my live, I could see my life going before me.
In panic I started shouting Jesus help me franticly until I saw a hand, with a nail pierce print, scroop me out the water and set me on a flat rock where I was soon rushed to hospital - that day changed my life indefinity! I can never waver in my faith with Jesus Christ, I am radical and passionate about Jesus. That day I encountered Jesus Christ” – Pastor Kevin Pillay
Pastor Kevin & Cherylann met in 1992 and knew instantly that they were destined to be together. Both encountered God and had a burning desire to serve God and to see the lost saved. They got married in 1996 and have two sons Brendon and Kenan. They obediently served in their local church for 15 years. Both had a dream on the same night while Pastor Cherylann was in America and Pastor Kevin was in SA -to go to Port Elizabeth.
Pastor Kevin had a dream of a man saying to him “Go to Port Elizabeth”. It was like the Macedonian call that Paul had: “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us. (Acts 16:9)
They were obedient and left with only their suitcases to fulfil God’s call on their lives. In taking a step into the unknown they were about to learn what the cost was to truly follow Christ. To follow purpose and destiny you will have to give up everything. They were about to discover that refining and growth only happens in the wilderness. The wilderness will either kill you or propel you into you promise land. Due to circumstances beyond their control, they faced almost being homeless.
They were given 5 days to leave the place they were staying. By the third day they found themselves in a hopeless situation, with no money; two kids to feed and no plan or no way to proceed. They felt like the Israelites who stood before the red sea with Pharoah army pursuing them. They had no way in the natural. All they could do was trust the ever present help in time of trouble and that was Jesus.
That night Pastor Cheryl asked the Lord for direction, through the Word. She opened her bible to Psalms 30:5. Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. The next day she woke up with a song in her ear: “For I know the plans I have for you, and I know just what you going through and if you don’t know what tomorrow holds and yesterday is through just remember I know the plans I have for you” - (Martha Munizzi)
Pastor Cheryl had to take a job and that morning she walked in to her workplace so discouraged but still had the song in her heart. They only had till the next day to find a place. That morning her neighbour called her and told her that she had called a lady that had a cottage on her property for rent. She said that the lady would like to meet us that evening. We went to look at the property. It was beautiful and modern. Pastor Cherylann explained to the lady about their situation. The landlord said she will come back to them as there was a nurse who was also interested in the place.
On their way home they prayed and within half an hour the landlord called them to say she decided to give them the place, they could move in immediately they don’t have to pay an advance rental, this was the middle of July and their first rent would only be due on the 1st August. The cottage was furnished and the landlord even gave them a bed from her house as they had no furniture. They were given 5 days, 5 speaks of God’s grace and in 3 days God supernaturally provided the need.
God says in His word in Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. 3 speaks of Resurrection Power cause on the 3rd day Jesus rose from the dead and the next few years God will restore everything that the enemy stole and more. The enemy’s plan is to always to rob, kill and destroy but God’s plan is to give us life and life more abundantly.
In a fight for survival and to put food on his family’s table Pastor Kevin who studied Mechanical Engineering and had a Theology degree started selling biscuits on the taxi rank around Port Elizabeth (Dassie Taxi rank, Sidwell). Being the soul winner that he was he began to evangelize and encourage people with God’s word.
There were so many testimonies that was shared by the people that he witnessed to in what he called his bus and taxi ministry. A Sangoma gave his heart to Christ, a woman who had a hernia that her stomach was as big as a woman who was 9 months pregnant was healed. A man on His way to commit suicide received Jesus Christ.
There was a time where they slept on a restaurant floor for a month. Yet in all these trials and tribulation they continued serving and trusting God. They continued trusting Gods word, believing God’s Word and confessing God’s Word. God was still working in their lives. They were given two cars which was miraculous.
Pastor Kevin got a job as a branch manager and God began prospering them because of their faithfulness. Pastor Cheryl received a word while on a 21 day fast, found in Deut 6:10,11: “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant.” They were blessed with a house that they now live in.
They are driving a brand new car that they didn’t pay for. God restored everything that they lost, they can speak of many more testimonies but it will take up every page of this magazine.
On the 8 April 2018 Love life Family Church was birthed. As a church of His word, His Presence and His Power, Love life Family Church has being established for 7 years and are in 3 locations.
Pastor Cheryl had a dream years ago and in the dream she saw herself handing food out to people. The place that she was in had cupboards filled with food. The floor of the place she was in had like a long hole in the centre and there was food in it and as she was handing out the food, there was no end to the food and continued flowing non-stop. The food was just being replaced with more and more food.
When Covid started there was a great need in the land and the Life Foundation was birthed and has been running successfully for 4 years. The foundation has a team of committed ladies headed by Pastor Emmerenthia Benn that manages the Life program faithfully.
They currently feed every-day from Monday to Thursday at the Pieter Radermeyer Hall Algoa Park. To God be the glory as they have started feeding in Malabar Open View and soon to build a youth centre in that area. “Our vision for the program is that while we feed our city, we can reach Port Elizabeth with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ” – Pastor Kevin Pillay
God had a bigger plan for the foundation that was far above what anyone could ever think, hope or imagine. God opened a supernatural door to feed the whole northern areas of Port Elizabeth. Pastor Kevin had a dream to feed 1 million people and that dream is now being fulfilled. They will be receiving container with 22 tons of food and will be supplying 80 feeding programs with food. That amount of food is able to feed 500 000 people.
When God gives you a dream it’s not for you to figure out how it will happen. Our part is to be obedient and follow Gods instruction. Every dream and desire God has placed in our hearts will be fulfilled by God when we obedient and willing. They carry a Apostolic mandate, planting three churches situated in Algoa Park, Malabar and Walmer downs, which is led by Pastors, Clive & Rene Bushby.
Don’t despise small beginnings, when you faithful over a little God will make you ruler over much. In Job 42 he says before I went through what I went through I only heard about God’s greatness, but know I have experienced God for myself and that is the same testimony that Pastor Kevin and Cheryl have.
They know God is real and He will do what He says He will do. He is faithful to perform His word If God could use us, God will use you. Trust Him!”
Team Talk would like to thank Pastors Kevin & Cherylann Pillay for sharing with our readers.
We wish them all the love and blessings to continue to do what God has called them to do.
Stella Ashworth for Team Talk.
