In an era when many ministries were scaling back due to pandemic constraints, Mmuso Church and its worship collective were just beginning their extraordinary journey – from a parking lot to a congregation of thousands, with international collaborations on the horizon.
God spoke to our pastor to start a church when the nation was in a pandemic, which is confusing on its own because someone else would say, 'Lord, are you sure? This is not a good time to start a church,'" recounts OnceMore Six, worship leader at Mmuso Church.
The worship leader, whose birth name reflects his parents' testimony after experiencing a miscarriage ("When I was born, their prayer was the Lord has blessed us once more"), shared the remarkable story of Mmuso Worship's humble beginnings during lockdown in 2020.
A Ministry Born in Crisis
What began as online services recorded in a pastor's living room – "the singers in the living room and the band in the kitchen" – quickly evolved once restrictions eased. The group's first recordings took place in a basement parking lot of a hotel school where they initially held services.
We decided we just came out of a difficult time," Six explained. "Pastor said, 'Let's record in the basement. Let's record music and share the gospel and share hope and love with people because we're coming from this difficult time as a nation.
This decision would prove pivotal. Four years later, Mmuso Church serves over 2,000 members across two Sunday services in their own building – which is already becoming too small for their growing congregation.
A Ministry Born in Crisis
Central to Mmuso Worship's philosophy is creating an environment conducive to encountering God through excellence in music.
"My pastor always says, 'Excellence cancels or takes away distractions,'" Six noted. "We push and we have a pursuit of excellence in our worship so that we create a space where there are no distractions... where we can only focus on God."
This commitment to excellence has resulted in four album releases to date, with their latest project, "Jesus to the City," recorded in December 2024 and scheduled for launch in May 2025. The group's music has gained traction beyond their congregation, with "churches around South Africa singing the songs, even outside of South Africa.
Divine Collaboration
Mmuso Worship's songwriting process reflects their communal approach to ministry and reliance on divine inspiration. Rather than following a rigid formula, they embrace the unpredictable nature of collaboration.
"It's so beautiful because it's never the same," Six explained. "It's as if God keeps us on our toes, and he keeps us alert, and he keeps us sensitive so that we really are aware of his leading and his direction."
Once written, songs undergo testing within the congregation before recording. "By the time we're singing it the second time, it should be that simple," Six said, emphasizing their commitment to creating accessible, scripture-based worship music.
Looking Ahead
The collective is preparing for a significant milestone – sharing the stage with international worship artist Chandler Moore during his "Omema" tour in Durban. They're also launching their latest project, "Jesus to the City," at their annual summit in May at Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria.
For Six, whose foundation in faith was laid by his pastor father, the journey exemplifies divine favor rather than strategic planning.
"We don't have seven steps to a successful ministry in the space of four years," he reflected. "Many people do what we do, and many people do what we do even better than how we do it. So we can't credit it to our own ability and our own strategies... the big factor in where we are as a church, as a ministry, is the grace of God."
As Mmuso Worship continues to expand their reach, Six remains grounded in his mission to impact communities through music while encouraging men to lead their families and communities "in a godly way."
Their music is available on all digital platforms, and Mmuso Church welcomes visitors to their Silverton, Pretoria location.
For more information, visit Mmuso Worship on social media platforms.