Pray with Eswatini, November 2, 2025
Lectionary Selection: Luke 19: 1-10
Prayers for Eswatini
We thank you for your love and grace upon us at Kukhany’Okusha Zion Church in Eswatini. You clothed yourself with human form and came down to us to call us by names despite our wrongdoing, as you called Zacchaeus. Today, we accept your call as we understand that through you, we will continue to grow qualitatively, quantitatively, and even resourcefully.
We pray as a church that you forgive all our sins and give us strength to do God’s will by living in the gift of salvation, obeying God’s word, and being transformed people with renewed minds. May you guide and protect us throughout our faith journey.
We pray that your voice be heard within the whole nation of Eswatini so that through you, Jesus Christ, there would be no more political unrest but peace, and that the Holy Spirit would fill the nation.
We thank you for the love you showed us through our partner, Global Ministries. May you pour out abundant blessings upon them for their generosity toward us. Today, we praise you, God, for through their support, the nation recognizes us as a helping hand to our communities.
We pray in the name of God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Mission Moment from Eswatini
In light of God’s desire for all people to turn to God and worship through Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, it is therefore imperative for the church to invite and guide everyone toward a life of faith. Just as Jesus Christ did not wait for Zacchaeus to find him, but called him and declared his intention to stay at his house, without discriminating against him as a sinner, but showed him the grace of God and that he was valued by God, we also recognize our value to you, God.
The mission moment of Kukhany’Okusha Zion Church in Eswatini is growth through five pillars: membership numbers, spirituality, economics, love and care, and coordination and communication. The Synod of Kukhany’Okusha Zion Church has three geographic regions, with about 30 denominational branches in Eswatini.
These regions were established to address the long distances members had to walk to attend national church meetings and activities, worsened by the scarce and costly public transport. Because these barriers made it difficult for many members to attend meetings, the Synod decided to decentralize the church administration and divide the country into regions. This structure makes it easier for all members to participate in church meetings and activities while ensuring central oversight and coordination from our Manzini headquarters.
In addition, through the support of our partner, Global Ministries, the Church carries out other vital initiatives, including National Care Points (NCPs) that feed orphaned and vulnerable children, the Youth Wing, Women’s Wings, and leadership development workshops for church leaders.
National Care Points (NCPs)
Kukhany’Okusha Zion Church operates nine NCPs serving orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) across the three regions in Eswatini, eight of which include preschools. The NCPs act as the Church’s outreach arm, providing food to orphaned and vulnerable children in our communities throughout the year, while the preschools prepare community children for primary school. In total, we feed about 600 children daily.
The church legally registered a non-profit organization (NPO) called “Kukhany’Okusha Care,” under which the Kukhany’Okusha Cares for Children Program (KCCP) operates. Through this program, orphaned and vulnerable children are cared for in all nine NCPs nationwide.
Youth’s Wing
Youth play a crucial role in the church’s life. They carry out several initiatives, such as economic and social empowerment (which includes mental health), musical entertainment ministry, and participation in regional and national committees. Their initiatives and activities are guided by the church’s five strategic pillars, as mentioned above.
The youth also motivate and encourage others to unite and stay active for church growth, and to also live a positive and purpose-driven life. They continue to hold an annual conference, attended by youth from across the country, made possible through support from Global Ministries. During the conference, they discuss their personal futures and the future of the Church, fully aware that the future of the Church depends on them. Professional motivational speakers, drawn both from within the Church and externally within the country, also lead sessions on critical topics.
Women’s Wing
Every year, the church’s women hold a Women’s Conference. The 2025 conference was a huge success, with representatives from all three regions and more than 130 women delegates in attendance. During the conference, participants discussed their issues, shared their different experiences and expertise, and learned from one another on topics such as gender-based violence, economic and social empowerment of women to overcome poverty, and mental health challenges.
The Women’s Wing has established a multipurpose cooperative society and a women’s micro-lending scheme, which assists women in accessing micro-credit financial facilities to start and operate small businesses. Global Ministries has again provided significant support in assisting the women in implementing their plans.
Leadership Workshop
In 2025, the Church held its leadership capacity-building workshop to capacitate leaders on church history, leadership skills, and the five strategic pillars to accomplish its mission and procedures of the church. The workshop was designed to empower participants with the tools and information necessary to facilitate growth across all five pillars and our community ministry.
We express our deep appreciation for Global Ministries’ kindness and partnership in advancing our mission and serving our communities. Through their support, we can continue to share God’s love without judgment and nurture the hope that everyone in Eswatini may embrace Jesus’ love and share it with others.
Written by The Rt Rev Austin Sibandze, National President of Kukhany’Okusha Zion Church
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