"Loving and serving others is not just a calling, it is an instruction from God, and it is meant for everyone" – Pastor Barend Petersen (Former Chairperson of AFM Welfare)
Your support makes a difference in the lives of vulnerable people. Join us in making a positive impact today.
About us
AFM Welfare is the official welfare ministry of The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa and the oldest department established by the church. It was established in 1938 by the AFM Church and registered as a National Welfare Council with the South African Government in 1945. It promotes welfare work in its broadest sense within South African communities. Some of the most significant challenges people in South Africa face are poverty, unemployment, inequality, crime, family breakdown, HIV & AIDS, substance abuse and addiction, violence against women, children and older persons (GBV).
At the heart of AFM Welfare is the desire to care for and protect, to uplift and develop, and to lend a helping hand to those in need. Helping others to help themselves is the ultimate success of empowerment and upliftment. The work of AFM Welfare includes the establishment and management of institutions for children and older persons. Across all Provinces of South Africa, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, the uMephi Child Protection Programme gives:
The uMephi Child Care & Protection Programme:
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Gives children in need a home and a family (in Child & Youth Care Centres; Foster Homes; Temporary Safe Care for Babies; and Special Needs Homes)
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Support children in Early Childhood Development Centres
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See children benefiting from Community Drop-in Centres
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See children (20 per month) find a forever home through Adoptions.
Older Persons & uManelisi
We also make provision for the care and protection of 302 older persons in 4 Frail Care Centres (Touwsriver, Sarepta, Kuilsriver and Vue de Cap Annexes) and Assisted Living Care programmes. We are proud of our 6 Retirement Villages (Lofdal; Rosestad; Kabega; Villeria Care Village; Kuils River Care Village; and Vue de Cap) that remain a popular choice for 531 residents over the age of 50 years.
Through our work with local Affiliates, we also provide care and protection to 420 older persons through Community Day-care Centres. 4,207 people receive care through Home-based Care Services and 1,272 people living with disabilities also receive care and protection through our work with Affiliates.
Our vision is to expand our community development programme called uManelisi – working with and through churches to reach and impact South African communities. We believe the church is ideally positioned to bring needed change to the lives of many people across South Africa. Working with churches nationwide, equipping them with practical tools and programmes for community involvement, stands centre-stage.
Our Board Members - Thank You for Your Service!
The CEO – Pastor Bongiwe Naile
Early Background:
Bongiwe Cynthia Naile was born on the 10th of September 1971 in Ntabankulu - a small town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She joined the AFM Church at the age of 10 years and accepted Christ as Lord and personal Saviour at the age of 12 years. She is an ordained AFM Pastor and her past involvement in the AFM ranges from Sunday School to Youth- and Women’s Ministry. She held the position of Deputy Director of AFM Welfare for 15 years. She was appointed as Director of the AFM Welfare on 1 February 2024. She is also a Presiding Pastor of the AFM Enhakkore Assembly in Hatfield, Pretoria.
The path leading to AFM Involvement:
Before she was appointed Deputy Director at AFM Welfare, she was actively involved in assisting local Churches with starting welfare projects in the three AFM regions in the former Transkei (Ngokholo at Ekuphumleni; Theologos at uMzimvubu; and ASCOC at Kei) – to only name a few. Through the NDISWE programme, under the leadership of Dr Mostert and the late Pastor Songxaba, she brought AFM Welfare operations to the Transkei area. She played a key role in 1999 when Pastor Brook Wilkson and the AFM National Office Bearers attended an event on “The role of the Church amid HIV & AIDS” held at the UNITRA stadium.
Professional Experience:
Bongiwe Naile has a BA degree in Social Work from UNITRA; a BA Honours in Social Sciences obtained from UNISA; a BA Honours in Gender Studies from UNITRA; a bachelor’s degree in Theology (BTh) from Auckland Park Theological Seminary and a Master’s degree in Social Work (MDIAC Social Work) obtained from Huguenot University College (UNISA). She has worked as an educator at St Cuthbert’s High School (Tsolo); as a social worker at Efata School for the Deaf and Blind (Mthatha); as an Assistant Director at Mthatha Hospital Complex (Mthatha); as a part-time lecturer at UNITRA (currently known as the Walter Sisulu University of Technology) and UNISA and as a social worker and consultant running her practice (Mthatha). She also has practical experience in the following areas of social work: (i) education and awareness of child abuse; (ii) prevention and management of child abuse; (iii) HIV & AIDS education, care, management, and counselling; (iv) adherence counselling for ART course; (v) social work field instruction; (vi) play techniques in the assessment of sexually abused children; (vii) advanced trauma support. She also completed training offered by the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA) on “Being a Director” and a Financial Management course (Stellenbosch).
Personal Background:
She is married to Stephen Vuyani Naile and blessed with three children (two daughters and a son). They reside in Rooihuiskraal, Pretoria.
Put a face to a name -
Meet our fantastic management team
Bongiwe Naile
CEO
Lize Swart
Deputy Director
Pam John
Programme Manager
Marianna van der Westhuizen
Area Coordinator
Denise Douglas-Henry
Senior Social Worker
Andiswa Jakuja
Programme Manager
Called to be salt and light –
Pastor M.G. Mahlobo (President of AFM International)
Our Roots – The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
As a church, we have a social responsibility and commitment to always demonstrate a caring spirit. We are called to be the salt and light in this world. South Africa, with its many socio-economic challenges, is the context in which we need to commit to actions that will make a difference in the lives of people. It becomes our missional context and opportunity to do good to others. The greatest motivation to be a blessing to our communities is not humanistic or philanthropic, but the love of God. God sent His Son – not so much for the church – but for the world. He uses His church to be His instrument to touch the world, our communities.
AFM Welfare is one of the oldest and most reputable welfare organisations in South Africa. We are both thankful for the lives that have already been changed due to the welfare’s services and excited about the future and the many lives that will still be transformed. AFM Welfare is the ministry through which the AFM will continue to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people.
Our History
The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFM of SA) was established in 1908 at 88 Bree Street, Johannesburg after John G. Lake came to South Africa as a missionary from the Azusa Street Revival. From the outset, the young and growing church was motivated towards community involvement, against the background of various social challenges at the time including poverty, an influx of mine workers, natural disasters and urbanisation.
Establishing the first AFM Children’s Home (1938) The first Dorcas Association got its hold in Pretoria in 1903. These ladies practised neighbourly love and felt that more structure should be given to their community services. It all formally started in 1938 when the first two orphans were left at the front door of Pastor Gerrie Wessels in Brixton, leading to the establishment of the first AFM Children’s Home in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg (10 April, 1938). On the 25th of April 1945, it was established and registered as a National Welfare Council with the AFM Welfare Board taking their seats to serve a national welfare body. The Council expanded over time to include services in various fields of caring, including elderly care, childcare, social welfare and the upliftment of communities. The AFM Welfare Council is one of South Africa's most successful and long-standing welfare organisations with a proud history.
The complete history of AFM Welfare will soon be available in a downloadable document.
Our Updated Identity & Symbolism
Our Updated Identity
With a broader strategic focus, our visual identity had to be re-evaluated. This included moving from four logos to one logo, which now accurately reflects where AFM Welfare is heading in the future. Proud and excited about what lies ahead, celebrate with us as we explain the symbolism:
Hand
South African communities are facing serious challenges. Issues like poverty, inequality and unemployment are in the spotlight. At the heart of the AFM Welfare is the desire to care and protect, to empower, to uplift and develop, to lend a helping hand to those in need and to help others help themselves. Churches are called to help make a difference! With and through churches social development actions can be implemented to touch and improve the lives of people.
In the centre of the hand is the principle of empowerment. AFM Welfare not only offers immediate help to those in need but also prioritises equipping people with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to uplift themselves and their communities in the long term. Empowerment provides a sense of autonomy and self-reliance that enables people to break free from cycles of dependency. It promotes dignity and recognises the inherent worth and potential of every person – irrespective of their circumstances. As a welfare organisation rooted in empowerment, we believe in cultivating a culture of resilience and collaboration.
Embedded Cross
The reason we love. The reason we care. Loving and serving others is not just a calling, it is an instruction from our Lord Jesus Christ and meant for everyone. The greatest motivation to be a blessing to our communities is not humanistic or philanthropic, but the love of God. God sent His Son – not so much for the church – but for the world. He uses His church to be His instrument to touch the world, our communities.
4 Segments of the Hand
The hand represents the community. The people that will be touched by social development actions. Each colour represents a type of beneficiary:
Red: Children & Family (Including the uMephi programme)
Grey: Older People
Blue: Persons with Disabilities
Gold: Community (Including the uManelisi programme - special focus on Youth & Women)
Our Structure
Our Affiliates
AFM Welfare has a collection of affiliated projects across all provinces of South Africa.
Our Affiliates benefit from our guidance and industry-specific knowledge and empowerment/training. We are proud to be associated with these community-based projects. More information is available about our Affiliates on request. Kindly send an e-mail to info@afmwelfare.org.za and we will respond to your enquiry!
