Marius Gouws is a staff member at Radio Khwezi, a community radio station at the KwaSizabantu mission station. Its is a radio station where God is put first, and the community is prioritised thereafter. At seventeen, Marius discovered sermons by the late Rev. Erlo Stegen and was captivated by his preaching style. Marius first visited the KwaSizabantu Mission in 1978 as a young Christian seeking to learn more about Christianity, particularly the revival movement.
He recalls, "From a young age, I was fascinated by radio, especially its technical side. I joined KwaSizabantu in 1989, feeling a clear calling, and began my journey as an electromechanical engineer. I became a permanent resident in 1995. Initially, we had a small studio, which grew into a full station over time. The current site of the radio station was once part of Rev. Stegen's beautiful garden, where he allowed a studio to be built in 1998 for the Lord's work.
"I received technical training at Trans World Radio (TWR) in Pretoria, where I learned to install equipment for Radio Khwezi, which initially used analogue technology. We encountered many challenges, especially in establishing a signal to Greytown. Eventually, we identified a weak but accessible signal right outside Khwezi's door, which we amplified and used to broadcast. What stands out about this incident is that Rev. Stegen had decided years earlier that he wanted the radio station at this exact location, unaware that a signal was already present there. This was the only place they could find a signal for the new radio station.
"We started broadcasting on 2 September 1975, and received valuable training from BBC staff. They helped us transition from technicians to broadcasters. I took on the Afrikaans program and, despite initial struggles, I improved over time. The German program also remains highly popular in our community. What stands out is how I see the Lord's hand in everything. Despite challenges, such as the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, His influence was evident.
"Rev. Stegen's vision led to the establishment of a radio station dedicated to spreading the gospel, distinguishing us as a community station that integrates the gospel into its programming. We also support public messaging for government agencies and played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over these past thirty years, I've seen the Lord's faithfulness and how He sustains what He starts. Rev. Stegen envisioned broadcasting the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Today, we broadcast to Eshowe, which is then processed for Greytown. By tuning in to the internet, we connect with anyone who wants to listen to us. "Khwezi embodies Jesus' call to spread His words globally. It is an instrument in the Lord’s hands to carry His message to the ends of the earth. The unique Maphumulo revival allows God to work while the people observe, unlike regular efforts where people often grow weary. I remember Rev. Stegen once noted, ‘In just three days God did more than others did in twelve years on the mission station.’"
(Read more about Radio Khwezi and its achievements in our sister publication, Devoted, by following the link: https://devotedmag.co.za/magazines/#flipbook-radio-khwezi/1/)