Pray for Botswana on Sunday October 10, 2010

Lectionary Text and Prayer for Botswana: Luke 17:11-19

Modimo wa rona (God who knows and who cares for us)

We thank you for caring so much for your people, that you remain a constant source of support even when we are willing to give up on ourselves. You are an awesome God!

We pray especially at this time for the Botswana Christian Council who is a witness of your love through Christ Jesus; working with the most disadvantaged in the country as well as for its efforts to tirelessly bring churches together in service to you.

We also pray for Kgolagano College of Theological Education as it attempts to train the nation’s pastors and church workers; as well as for it efforts to empowers communities to be pro-active agents of good.

We also pray fo the Botswana Synod of the United Congregational Churches in Southern Africa for sharing the Good News of “inclusion” through Christ Jesus; its involvement in HIV/AIDS education, refugee work and orphans.

Lastly we pray for the people of Botswana who have recently celebrated their national day of Independnence. Help them to not rest soley on their laurels, but to perservere in their work to bring about econominc empowerment to the many people living in the rural areas and who are without jobs and with out hope.

Re lopa joalo ka leina la ga Jesu Keresete, yo o tsileng go swela le go boloka dichaba tsotlhe tsohle tsa batho (In Christ we pray). Amen 

(Prayer 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.



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