Pastor Steve Mpofu is minister of Christendom Pentecostal Church, based at Swindon’s Broadgreen Community Centre, and director of Swindon Gospel Choir. He is leading a campaign urging the South African government to take action over violence against migrants from other African nations.

Steve is married to Sue, a nursing assistant. They live in North Swindon and have two children, Bridget and Dexter. Dexter, 10, has been in the news thanks to composing a song, This is My Prayer for Africa, for the campaign.

STEVE Mpofu learned the value of church and community during his Zimbabwean childhood.

Both his mother and father are clerics and he was raised in a staunchly devout environment.

“They were very, very much active in the community,” said Steve, who was born in Bulawayo.

“My dad was one of the elders of the community and in African culture, when there is a problem, the elders are called in to deal with the situation.

“He was also very active in helping out at weddings, funerals and counselling people. The community really looked up to him as a community leader.

“The greatest teacher is experience. When I share my life experience, when I’ve failed I’m able to say, ‘Do not go on that path because this is what will happen.’ “For me, the key thing was that I was very close to my dad. Wherever he went he would take me along with him; I remember the times when we had missionaries coming from England and my dad would ask me to interpret.

“From that point I learned some key skills and passion to engage and help out in the community.”

At just 13 years old, Steve was heavily involved in fundraising for his community, so successfully that he was invited to meet local dignitaries including his MP.

The academically successful young man trained for the hotel industry at a time when the country’s economy was strong, but community work ran parallel to his budding career.

At 18, as a member of an arts and drama group, he wrote a play explaining the truths, myths and prevention of HIV infection, and used contacts to secure a tour of hotels.

“It was at the time when HIV was just coming out and people were scared. The response to the play was very, very positive. It helped the people and also helped us as actors to realise that it’s just a disease, and that when you shake hands with somebody it’s not going to transfer.”

Steve came to Britain 14 years ago, aiming to carry on his work. The move to Swindon came two years later.

“It was a friend who said to me, ‘Come and see this town.’ When I came here I just fell in love with the place.

“Where I grew up, it’s not huge as such and you know your neighbours in the street. When I came here it was like coming from home to home, and all the people were so welcoming. I just felt at home.”

Steve’s first role in Swindon was as minister of the local branch of the Bethel Apostolic Church, throwing himself into outreach and becoming heavily involved in organising and running community meetings.

He took the same philosophy with him when he started his own ministry.

“When we come together we come together to worship, and the vital thing is that the community will be lifted up. If you come to a place desperate and without hope, the spirit of God will change that. The way you come in should be different to the way you come out.

“If the church fails to address that it’s not the church anymore, it's become a society. You must walk out of the church satisfied.”

Steve points out that nowhere in the Bible does anybody who meets Christ come away from the experience unhappy. The only exception is a rich man unhappy at being told to shed the fripperies of wealth.

He also feels churches should take literally the Bible’s message about loving, feeding and clothing people in need, and would like to see more Government assistance for churches engaged in such tasks.

Swindon Gospel Choir, founded in 2010, is a special source of delight for Steve. Bringing together people from a variety of backgrounds, it performs at venues across the town and has released a CD called You are the Same.

He has been involved with music from an early age.

“I wanted to bring out something positive that would make the people of Swindon proud. To me, music brings everyone together and brings joy."

Something else it brings, according to Steve, is a new sense of purpose and self-belief for people lacking confidence. He has seen choir members make major life changes, including finding the jobs they wanted, and credit their new life skills for their success.

One member, he said, had won a university place after building her confidence.

Steve promotes Gospel artists here and elsewhere, and has worked with prominent South African musicians. This helped with the campaign to protect migrant workers there.

“The first thing I did was look up six or seven artists in South Africa. I said, ‘You need to do a radio interview – I want you to denounce these crimes and tell people this is wrong. People will listen to you.”

On June 16, the song composed by Steve’s son, Dexter, will be launched at a gathering centred around prayer and music, with further details to be announced.

Steve said: “For me it’s not just about Africa. The message is the young people. If we do nothing about our young people now we are just preparing and cooking trouble for the future."

“As a church community, I believe prayer is the way forward.”

Follow the campaign by emailing swindongospelchoir@hotmail.co.uk, visiting www.facebook.com/SwindonCommunityGospelChoir or calling Steve on 07907 033387.