Stroom Stories: One Man’s Rake Sparks a Movement in Potchefstroom
- Karen Scheepers
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
How Peter Sebati turned a neglected park into a symbol of revival and how his ministry is bringing new life to more than just the streets.
It wasn’t a campaign, an event, or even a planned project. It began with one man and one question: What if I just started cleaning it myself?
That’s how Peter Sebati, a born-and-raised resident of Promosa in Potchefstroom, found himself at the centre of a local movement, one that started with a trash-strewn park and evolved into something far deeper: a ministry of action, revival, and hope.
Called Back Home
After attending university in the Free State and engaging with several youth ministries and international outreach programs, including a transformative experience in Kenya, Sebati returned to Potchefstroom with no clear plan, but a deep conviction. “God told me to go home,” he says. “I didn’t know why, but I was ready to listen.”
That obedience would soon reveal its purpose. Within three months of his return, Sebati found himself organizing outreaches, partnering with local ministries, and guiding young people through faith-based mentorship. He became a key figure in youth evangelism, working closely with Fine Fragrance Ministries and Jesus Loves You Ministries, leading teams into local communities to share the gospel and support the vulnerable.
Ministry Beyond the Pulpit
Sebati’s view of ministry isn’t limited to church walls or Sunday sermons. In his words, true ministry meets people where they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. “Revival isn’t just preaching. It’s cleaning a park. It’s picking up broken glass where children should be playing. It’s restoring places so that people can gather again, pray again, live again.”
This belief shaped what would become one of his most visible efforts: cleaning a park overrun by garbage, weeds, and illegal dumping. The park had become a health hazard and a magnet for crime, no longer a place for children or families, no longer a space for revival meetings like those Sebati once helped host.
A Park Becomes a Pulpit
Sebati recalls walking past the park on his way to a meeting. What he saw disturbed him, but what he heard, a radio broadcast about illegal dumping, followed by a woman lamenting the state of Potchefstroom’s streets, cemented his decision.
Without fanfare, he bought a pair of gloves, some trash bags, a rake, and a shovel, and returned on a Monday morning. Within hours, what started as a solo mission had drawn in more than 15 volunteers. Friends invited friends. Passersby joined in. The community, watching one man take action, stepped in beside him.
Not Just a Cleanup, A Revival
For Sebati, this wasn’t just a cleanup. It was a physical manifestation of his ministry, a demonstration of faith through service. It showed others that revival could start anywhere, with anyone. “When people saw me cleaning, they weren’t just seeing Peter, they were seeing possibility. They saw someone doing something they thought couldn’t be done.”
And with that came momentum. Revival meetings once again became possible in the park. Conversations resumed. Children returned. What was once discarded became reclaimed.
The Bigger Mission
Sebati envisions more than cleaned parks. His ministry’s aim is community restoration, a long-term effort to return public spaces to their original purpose: connection, safety, celebration, and faith.
He dreams of launching a registered nonprofit, focused on:
Ongoing maintenance of parks and public spaces
Equipping local volunteers with tools and safety gear
Rebuilding swings, benches, fences, and other public amenities
Hosting youth programs and revival events in cleaned-up areas
Offering mentorship for young men through service-based discipleship
His spiritual mission and social mission are now one and the same: “The gospel should always come with compassion and compassion sometimes comes with a rake.”
Needs on the Ground
While the movement is growing, there are still pressing needs:
Gloves, rakes, spades, and garden tools
Trash bags and removal services
Donations for equipment and transport
Safety gear for volunteers (e.g. boots, masks, reflective vests)
Partnerships with local churches and businesses
In recent weeks, the local municipality responded positively, helping with rubbish removal by sending two truckloads. It’s a step forward, but Sebati hopes for more ongoing collaboration, to prevent future build-ups and ensure parks are maintained before they become unusable again.
A New Definition of Ministry
Sebati’s work challenges traditional ideas of ministry. To him, picking up litter is as sacred as reading scripture; rebuilding a park bench is as meaningful as preaching a sermon. His hope is to ignite that same vision in others, especially the young men working alongside him. “God is using these cleanup days to reach hearts,” he says. “Through service, these young people are discovering purpose, discipline, and dignity.”
A Message to the City
“Potchefstroom is not a hopeless town,” Sebati says. “There is so much beauty here, so much potential. Change is already happening. It starts with all of us.”
How You Can Help
Potchefstroom residents and businesses can donate supplies or contribute to the ongoing clean-up and revival efforts. Every rake, glove, or trash bag makes a difference.
If you’d like to support the cause:
Contact Peter Sebati via WhatsApp or phone Peter Cleaning Volunteers
+27 61 475 1969
Donate secondhand tools or garden equipment
Sponsor cleaning materials
Volunteer your time during the next scheduled cleanup
✨ Final Thought
In a world often waiting for someone else to act, Peter Sebati acted. And in doing so, he reminded Potchefstroom that change doesn’t require an institution, it only requires intention.
Sometimes revival begins not with a sermon, but with a shovel.
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