06 Apr 2014

Churches have been urged to introspect, be more focused and come up with effective outreach programs that could help retain and attract new members.

Speaking at the Botswana Soldiers of Christ (SOC) Synod Conference in Gumare recently, the SOC leader, Mr Orapeleng Mooketsi said church members were now more concerned with self-preservation and have become increasingly self-centered and self-serving than pursuing the word of God.

The SOC president said memberships for mainline churches including the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, (UCCSA) were no longer growing because of the members’ self-centredness.

Mr Mooketsi said through outreach programs and social networks, more people could be recruited into the church and relationships formed with other churches.

Turning to challenges facing SOC growth, he said, young people were leaving mainline churches to join newly established charismatic churches around.

He said the World director of World Methodist Evangelism, Dr Eddie Fox recently identified some challenges facing main line churches such as unclear messages, missions and loss of passion.

Mr Mooketsi called on his colleagues to re-assess themselves and have a clear understanding of the gospel message, saying they must also stay focused as Christians.

He asked the church members to rekindle the fires for evangelism and embrace new thinking and ideas in developing best practices of evangelism for the 21st century.

Mr Mooketsi urged church leaders to own up the organisation’s vision and also be faithful in giving out their time, energy and money to the church.

Giving a vote of thanks, Reverend Donald Kgomokhumo said the growth of the organisation lies in the hands of its members who show commitment, support, cooperation and understand fully the church’s core business and mandate. ENDS