Meet Cadet Andile Matukane from the Mpumalanga and eSwatini Division, Naas Corps. In her testimony, Cadet Matukane opens up about her journey from the shadows of rejection to the bright light of God’s love. She bravely shares how the whispers of self-doubt once held her back, but through her faith in Christ, she has found healing and purpose. As she reflects on how the struggles of her past no longer define her, Cadet Matukane invites us to witness the beautiful transformation that comes when we embrace our true identity in Him.
I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity to share my personal testimony with you all. I grew up as a “church girl,” which set me apart from other girls in my community, especially in how they lived their lives. Many of my peers wanted to go out and enjoy life, while I preferred to stay indoors. I was very shy as a child, which made it uncomfortable for me to approach people or start conversations. My biggest mistake was listening to the inner voice that constantly whispered in my head, telling me that I was nothing, unimportant, and not valuable. This way of thinking made me feel rejected for a long time and created loneliness in my heart. No one was there to help me escape that feeling of despair and rejection, as I was always hiding from others. During those times, I felt inadequate and sensed a deep void in my heart.
I fully surrendered “my all” to Jesus
Fortunately, everything changed the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. This new journey transformed my life and made me a new person. I grew in faith and in my love for Jesus. At the age of twelve, I received my calling to full-time ministry. This happened in a dream while I was sleeping. I dreamt of people who were possessed by evil spirits, and I was praying for them. As I prayed, God set them free. In that dream, I felt deep joy in my heart, and from that day forward, I fully surrendered “my all” to Jesus. My love for Christ and desire to serve God replaced the things I used to prioritize and even worship more than Him. Through my experiences of rejection, I realized that Jesus was also rejected by people, yet He never gave up. So who am I to give up in life? The Scripture that guided me in choosing the right direction was Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the Lord, who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” These verses strengthen my faith and my daily walk with Jesus.
He has completely changed my life
The change that took place in my life when I met Jesus continued to grow stronger when I joined the Mission Team programme last year in 2023. This exciting programme helped me develop the ability to engage with different people and share the Good News. It became a new platform for ministry that helped me address my self-doubts and low self-esteem. I thank God for that experience because now I can even approach strangers and tell them about the love of God. God has done marvelous things in my life, and I continue to praise Him for His presence, provision, and purpose in my daily walk as a child of God. He has completely changed my life, and joy overflows in my heart! At the beginning of this year, I entered the College for Officer Training to pursue my calling to officership. In this current journey of my cadetship, I experience overflowing joy in my heart as I witness His provision, presence, power, and purpose in my life. This is all because of His grace that is sufficient, and I will not look back or regret my decision to follow my Master.
I have truly experienced transformation
Finally, I must say that God used rejection to give me a new direction, purpose, and meaning in my life. As I stand here today, I am amazed at what God can do in people’s lives. From a deep feeling of rejection to an overwhelming sense of God’s love, I have truly experienced transformation. Since last year, the words from the Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:17 have kept me going: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” I am a new creation in Christ, and all the rejection that took away my self-confidence has vanished. Amen!