When a black South African minister takes a position with a Canadian congregation, church bullies undertake a mission to oust him.
Belong is a tale about church bullies striving to oust the newly appointed black South African minister, Reverend Andries Shaka (Modise A. Molefe). A wealthy church benefactor, Teresa Sanbogle (Kathryn King), is furious, contending that the appointment of a black minister is madness. She unleashes her powerful "goon-squad" to humiliate Rev. Shaka. After several failed attempts forcing Rev. Shaka to resign voluntarily, Superintendent Livingston (Mike Balser) leads a kangaroo-court style committee bent on raking Rev. Shaka over the coals. The Rev. Shaka is not allowed to defend himself.—Modise A. Molefe
Inspired by a true story, this is depiction about church bullies, human rights abuses, religion, racism and denial. The Reverend Andries Shaka (Modise A. Molefe), a gifted Black minister from South Africa, raised under apartheid, clashes with the "Old-Guard" at his new White-dominated Canadian Church. Accusations are made, false witnesses abound, and tempers flare. Legal investigations are undertaken by the Church lawyer, to indict Shaka of alleged doings all the while serving to unmasks the hypocrisy, fears and power struggles that underpin the ugly discrimination that is not supposed to exist anymore.
Members of Grace Uniting Fellowship Church are welcoming and they acclaim their new minister, Rev. Shaka, for his music ministry and energetic outreach. Teresa Sanbogle, church benefactor is furious contending that the appointment of a black minister from Africa is madness. She unleashes her coalition of church bullies with events culminating with a bizarre attack on the Minister and a formal Review - a modern inquisition of Reverend Shaka's work. Anonymous accusers provide trumped-up allegations to a kangaroo-court style committee bent on raking Reverend Shaka "over the coals". Reverend Shaka is not allowed to defend himself but he has fought against apartheid and understands the game well. Can he survive the wrath of Sanbogle and the bullies?
