Pray for Botswana on Sunday, November 27, 2011

Pray for Botswana on Sunday, November 27, 2011

Prayers for Botswana: Mark 13:24–37

Gracious and Loving God, we give thanks that wherever we might find ourselves in the world- Gaborone, Toronto, Los Angeles or elsewhere. We are members of the body of Christ united in this loving, serving and saving fellowship to praise, glorify and serve you. 

Morena Molimo (heavenly God), we give thanks as a rainbow of ethnic identities, languages and worshipping styles. We are accepted and called through faith to your service- to listen, to help and to stand in solidarity with others by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Let us follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ in word and action.  A kagiso e nne le lona lothle ba lo mo go Keresetse. Amen

Mission Stewardship Moment from Botswana:

My wife Jayanthi and I were in a near fatal car accident several year back. I remember it vividly. It was a rainy Wednesday evening near Ladybrand, South Africa . Yes, on that particular evening we had a head-on collision with another car. One person in the other vehicle died, and both Jayanthi and I suffered varying injuries.  Now, by virtue of this meditation I am writing now, we eventually recovered from that accident. Nonetheless, it had a lasting impression on the both of us.  

Yes, whenever a person finds themselves……at death’s door…..it really gets a person to thinking….. as to what is and what is not important in life. That is to say, when something like that happens……THINGS …don’t seem to be QUITE as important. It is not the car we drive, the house we live in or the clothing we wear that come to mind on such occasions! Rather, what comes across…at such times is…..”relationships”….. the relationship between a parent and his or her children, between a husband and wife,  friend to friend and between us and God.

As we  prepare for  Advent, may we never forget Jesus’ reminder for us to be watchful servants….He says, “Be ready for whatever comes”…..”be like servants waiting for their master to come back…when he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him at once…How happy, Jesus says, are those servants whose master finds them awake and ready when he returns.” (Luke 12:35-40)

May the God of hope fill us with  joy and peace in believing;  keep us worthy of our calling; as well as united and thankful for the things that really matter!  Jayanthi and I give thanks for the people of Botswana and its churches- working to alleviate poverty and other social ills; giving hope to the hopeless as well as reaching out to meet the spiritual needs of so many. Amen

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Jim and Jayanthi Wilson)

Global Ministries International Partners in Botswana: 

 

  • Botswana Council of Churches founded in 1966 with 36 member churches. The Council exists to serve the churches, to enable them to serve God and God’s people, especially those in need. It is a national body which is affiliated to the All Africa Conference of Churches and to the World Council of Churches. Among the many projects which it is involved in, include evangelical and developmental work among the Hambukushu people on the western side of the delta in Ngamiland and assisting children in especially difficult circumstances (street kids) in the capital of Gaborone, through rehabilitation, re-education and reintegration into society
  • United Congregational Church of Southern Africa – Botswana Synod. Kgodisong Centre was started in July 2001 by the United    Congregational Church of  Southern Africa (UCCSA) in Kanye, a partner denomination with Global Ministries. It began as an initiative to address the escalating number of orphans in Kanye. According to national records from the Department of Social Services 51 600 orphans are registered countrywide. Approximately 5,000 of these are registered in Kanye alone. This alarming figure is by far due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic followed by road accidents and other factors. These children at risk in the local community are provided with a safe environment for learning, nutritious meals along with varying other assistance each week day.
  • Kgolagano Theological College. Since its beginning in 1975,  Kgolagano is the only ecumenical theological institution in the country, both in terms of staffing as well as student body. Although the major focus of its programme has always been the promotion of theological education for the pastors of Botswana.  Kgolagano cannot and does not ignore the life issues facing the people of the nation. It has an active, grass-root  HIV/AIDS awareness programme as well as an educational empowerment programme  for individuals incarcerated in prison.

More info on Botswana: http://globalministries.org/africa/countries/botswana/

Global Ministries Missionaries in Botswana

Jim and Jayanthi Wilson are missionaries with the Kgolagano College of Theological Education in Gaborone, Botswana.  Jim serves as a tutor of theology at Kgolagano College of Theological Education.  Jayanthi serves as the coordinator of the College library.

Pray for Partners without Global Ministries Mission Personnel: Jamaica

For more info on Jamaica: http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/jamaica/