A HIGH Wycombe church's prayers were answered when South African pastor Raymond Zulu joined the congregation last week.

Worshippers at the High Wycombe Evangelical Baptist Church, based in The Pastures, Downley, had been looking for a permanent pastor for three years.

Mr Zulu, 39, from Natal, originally preached at the church for a four week period last June after being invited by church member friends.

The congregation was so impressed they invited him back on a full-time basis and he was officially accepted into the church on Sunday, May 8.

Church member John Driscoll, 51, of Marlow Wing Close, is delighted to finally have found Mr Zulu.

He said: "We spent nearly three years scrutinising potential candidates very carefully, but we knew God had somebody for us."

Mr Zulu, who had not been to the UK before being invited by the church, said: "It was extremely unusual.

"I couldn't believe I could come to England. I never dreamt of it."

Mr Zulu has now moved into a house in Hughenden Avenue with his wife Yvonne and three children, Sibussio, six, Njabulo, four, and Bupe, three.

He added: "My friends told me I was stupid for coming to the UK, but if being stupid means following God's will then so be it."