{"id":195726,"date":"2019-01-31T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/195726\/centre-to-help-abused-women-to-a-better-future\/"},"modified":"2019-02-01T09:08:52","modified_gmt":"2019-02-01T07:08:52","slug":"centre-to-help-abused-women-to-a-better-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/01\/31\/centre-to-help-abused-women-to-a-better-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Centre to help abused women to a better future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWe are here due to God\u2019s plan and will do everything in our power to serve Him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These are the words of Dean and Marshelle Pillay, from Miracle Connection Centre.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>The centre located on Main Road in Fishers\u2019 Hill is slowly taking shape and the couple hopes that soon they will be able to attain their dream of opening a home for abused women.<\/p>\n<p>Dean and Marshelle own D &amp; S Bolts and Nuts across the road from the centre, and Dean told the GCN he believes God strategically placed them in the area for a reason.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>They have been married for 32 years and have two children, Shazelle Govender and Sheldon, and two grandchildren, Michael-Dean (6) and Mickelah (4) Govender.<\/p>\n<p>They purchased the property, which previously housed Classic Corner Headquarters (CCHQ), in September 2012.<\/p>\n<p>The transfer finally came through in May 2013 and then the hard work began.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195728\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195728\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-195728\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/01\/04GCNGENERALMIRA_78766-520x390.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/01\/04GCNGENERALMIRA_78766-520x390.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/01\/04GCNGENERALMIRA_78766-270x203.jpg 270w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/01\/04GCNGENERALMIRA_78766-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/01\/04GCNGENERALMIRA_78766.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195728\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dean and Marshelle Pillay, Sharon Vuma and Eren Mahabeer (chef) in the coffee shop at the Miracle Connection Centre in Fishers\u2019 Hill. The coffee shop helps fund a soup kitchen, as well as building towards funds for the opening of a home for abused women.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt took us two years to break down parts of the building and another year to renovate the property,\u201d Marshelle said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe couldn\u2019t believe how many community members came to assist us.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur vision is to open a home for abused women and lead them back to God.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey will stay with us for three months while we equip them with skills and help them get back into the stream of life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In order to make this vision a reality, the centre houses a coffee shop.<\/p>\n<p>It also has a bookshop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe money earned through the coffee shop gets put towards our vision of the home, as well as helps us hold a soup kitchen on a weekly basis,\u201d said Dean.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"7019017223 - Melissa Hart Germiston Dean Pillay Miracle Connection by Germiston City News\" width=\"500\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?visual=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F567112764&#038;show_artwork=true&#038;maxheight=750&#038;maxwidth=500\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe did not want to keep asking people for donations and the coffee shop can help keep the project self-sustaining.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The soup kitchen is run every Wednesday, from 4.30pm at the NG Cachet Church hall in Thistle Road, Primrose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt started with 12 people coming for food, but has grown to 55 people,\u201d Dean said.<\/p>\n<p>The soup kitchen administers to both people\u2019s physical hunger, as well as their spiritual hunger.<\/p>\n<p>They do get donations for the soup kitchen, but more are welcome and volunteers to help are needed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can volunteer just to come and listen to the people\u2019s stories,\u201d Marshelle said.<\/p>\n<p>The couple also hosts men\u2019s breakfasts at the coffee shop on the last Saturday of every month, where men of all denominations get together for fellowship.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/195072\/what-to-do-if-you-are-a-victim-of-sexual-assault\/\" target=\"_blank\">What to do if you are a victim of sexual assault<\/a><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/192806\/a-world-free-of-women-and-child-abuse-starts-with-us\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018A world free of women and child abuse starts with us\u2019<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>They also host a special event every September for widows and one for orphans in December where participants enjoy a special lunch and lots of spoils.<\/p>\n<p>They also host women\u2019s workshops with women from all denominations and host church leaders for meals.<\/p>\n<p>The vision of the centre is \u201cOne body in Christ\u201d and Marshelle said God willing they will open the home this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are experiencing a few stumbling blocks with regard to getting approval from the metro, but we pray we will open this year,\u201d Marshelle said.<\/p>\n<p>In order to get the plans approved the couple need to submit a proposed building plan to the metro and they need the assistance of an architect to do this \u2013 but this costs money which they don\u2019t have.<\/p>\n<p>They are appealing to a local architect to offer to help them make their vision come alive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMiracle Connection Centre is our baby and God will give us the strength to bring the vision to fruition,\u201d Marshelle said.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to offer any assistance to Dean and Marshelle with regard to the centre or the soup kitchen contact Dean on 083 701 0205 or 01 822 1287.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-admin\/germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\">germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:leighh@caxton.co.za\">leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GCNnews\">Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCblgxW6BRXTLGLQvpcumLqA\">YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Or add the GCN on<span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><strong>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<strong>BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za\/\">Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/\">Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/kemptonexpress.co.za\/\">Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"stream-item stream-item-below-post-content\">\n<div class='tenancy_slot tenancy_slot_1 jannah_ad' style='display: none;' data-query-id='e025c9df91bcb29da5553211e74b15d4'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Miracle Connection Centre is set to aid abused women.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1848,"featured_media":195727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Melissa Hart","cxt_disable_google_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[24545,1461,979,969,2734,24544,14769],"class_list":["post-195726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news-headlines","tag-abused-women","tag-fishers-hill","tag-germiston","tag-germiston-city-news","tag-melissa-hart","tag-miracle-convention-centre","tag-soup-kitchen"],"amp_enabled":true,"category_labels":{"Category":"News","SubCategory":"Local news"},"tag_labels":["abused women","fishers' hill","germiston","germiston city news","melissa hart","miracle convention centre","soup 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