Healthcare, Ministry, and Wholeness: Kefilwe Zingili's Calling
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On JustGospel's Joyful Journey Home with Carlett, healthcare social worker and minister Kefilwe Zingili shared how she serves God in the marketplace, combining medical expertise with spiritual ministry since her 1989 encounter with Christ.
The Self-Righteous Sunday School Teacher
Born in Sebokeng, firstborn of two siblings, Kefilwe grew up in a Christian home. "Before 1989, I was self-righteous. I thought: I'm a Sunday school teacher, I go to church regularly—I don't need Christ. But hearing the gospel that there's something inside needing to be unleashed by knowing Christ as Lord and Savior, I opened my heart. I experienced God's grace. It was a mystery."
Her name means "given"—"There's a gift inside me, but for it to manifest, it needs Christ, the giver of life."
The Childhood Calling
"When I was still a child, people came to my home telling me their life challenges needing solutions. I thought: I'm a child, how can they tell me such adult challenges? But I realized: greater is He in me than he in the world. I started to be positioned, growing spiritually. Don't look at your age—look at what's invested inside you. Christ in me, the hope of glory, was working through me."
The Educational Journey
Starting as HIV/AIDS lay counselor doing voluntary testing, Kefilwe pursued studies at UNISA while working and raising two sons. She completed basic and advanced counseling certificates, then honors in social work. "My dream was to become a social worker in the sphere of health." Now she serves as healthcare social worker at Midvaal Sub-District Health Facilities.
Holistic Healthcare Ministry
"We focus on health in totality: mother-child programs, HIV, chronic illnesses, mental illness, marriage challenges. Newly diagnosed patients need counseling. Disclosure counseling—when a child doesn't know their status and parents struggle to disclose, we become mediators, advocating for the child to know and understand their medical status."
She offers bereavement counseling for those struggling with loss, and emotional counseling for patients who don't accept their diagnosis. "We support them until they accept and start adhering to treatment."
Working across facilities weekly requires strength from God and multidisciplinary teamwork—psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, primary healthcare doctors. "We bring the best out of this vulnerable human being. Yes, we have qualifications, but we need Christ always. We need the Holy Spirit's power. Tomorrow is another day with new mercies."
Marriage as God's Kingdom
At World Center Ministries, Kefilwe did pre-marital counseling. "I realized it doesn't end there—it needs to be continuous. When God looks at marriage, He looks at it like a kingdom, similar to God's kingdom. If we neglect marriages, we neglect God's kingdom. If marriages can stand, we'll have a generation that fears the Lord. It starts with marriages—building a generation that will fear the Lord."
Balancing Many Hats
Wife, mother of two, minister, counselor, social worker—how does she balance it all? "When I received Christ, I started seeing: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. There's a scripture I love: 'I am God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works.' I'm not here for myself. I'm here to be used by God. I'm just an instrument for God to use me for His glory. Surrendering all, God can use you mightily."
Word of Encouragement
Citing 3 John 1:2—"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers"—Kefilwe emphasized: "God wants us to be in good health. God wants us healthy mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially. God wants us healthy in all aspects. God took all our infirmities, all our illnesses, all our burdens. That's why we need Him. Let's seek God so the Lord may make us whole. Let's seek God and have more.
The Self-Righteous Sunday School Teacher
Born in Sebokeng, firstborn of two siblings, Kefilwe grew up in a Christian home. "Before 1989, I was self-righteous. I thought: I'm a Sunday school teacher, I go to church regularly—I don't need Christ. But hearing the gospel that there's something inside needing to be unleashed by knowing Christ as Lord and Savior, I opened my heart. I experienced God's grace. It was a mystery."
Her name means "given"—"There's a gift inside me, but for it to manifest, it needs Christ, the giver of life."
The Childhood Calling
"When I was still a child, people came to my home telling me their life challenges needing solutions. I thought: I'm a child, how can they tell me such adult challenges? But I realized: greater is He in me than he in the world. I started to be positioned, growing spiritually. Don't look at your age—look at what's invested inside you. Christ in me, the hope of glory, was working through me."
The Educational Journey
Starting as HIV/AIDS lay counselor doing voluntary testing, Kefilwe pursued studies at UNISA while working and raising two sons. She completed basic and advanced counseling certificates, then honors in social work. "My dream was to become a social worker in the sphere of health." Now she serves as healthcare social worker at Midvaal Sub-District Health Facilities.
Holistic Healthcare Ministry
"We focus on health in totality: mother-child programs, HIV, chronic illnesses, mental illness, marriage challenges. Newly diagnosed patients need counseling. Disclosure counseling—when a child doesn't know their status and parents struggle to disclose, we become mediators, advocating for the child to know and understand their medical status."
She offers bereavement counseling for those struggling with loss, and emotional counseling for patients who don't accept their diagnosis. "We support them until they accept and start adhering to treatment."
Working across facilities weekly requires strength from God and multidisciplinary teamwork—psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, primary healthcare doctors. "We bring the best out of this vulnerable human being. Yes, we have qualifications, but we need Christ always. We need the Holy Spirit's power. Tomorrow is another day with new mercies."
Marriage as God's Kingdom
At World Center Ministries, Kefilwe did pre-marital counseling. "I realized it doesn't end there—it needs to be continuous. When God looks at marriage, He looks at it like a kingdom, similar to God's kingdom. If we neglect marriages, we neglect God's kingdom. If marriages can stand, we'll have a generation that fears the Lord. It starts with marriages—building a generation that will fear the Lord."
Balancing Many Hats
Wife, mother of two, minister, counselor, social worker—how does she balance it all? "When I received Christ, I started seeing: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. There's a scripture I love: 'I am God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works.' I'm not here for myself. I'm here to be used by God. I'm just an instrument for God to use me for His glory. Surrendering all, God can use you mightily."
Word of Encouragement
Citing 3 John 1:2—"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers"—Kefilwe emphasized: "God wants us to be in good health. God wants us healthy mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially. God wants us healthy in all aspects. God took all our infirmities, all our illnesses, all our burdens. That's why we need Him. Let's seek God so the Lord may make us whole. Let's seek God and have more.
