11 May 2016

Prophetess Ashabi Perkins of the United States recently visited Botswana as part of her ministry.

Ms Perkins, founder of the Prophetic Fire Ministries International, had been to other African countries as part of her mission to reach out to Africa.

Ms Perkins said her parents although American, always had a penchant for the African culture and did rituals the African way.

Her name, Ashabi, borrowed from the Yoruba language in Nigeria denoted a child born to a royal family.

Not only did Ms Perkins’ visit empower the church, it also brought about good news of the Bible.

She said in an interview that her greatest desire was to reach out to the downtrodden and impact their lives not only with the gospel but with deeds too.

“My burden is for the poor, orphans, widows, the hurting and the rejected because they are the people who feel forgotten by God, by their governments and nations even their families. So it is important to bring a message to them not only of salvation but also of healing, deliverance and freedom from bondage,” she said.

Besides, ministry of the word in various churches throughout her stay in Botswana, Ms Perkins officiated during a woman empowerment workshop in Kanye.

“The workshop inspired women. I observed also that people in Botswana are hungry for God, his move and mind you the workshop was inclusive of all women,” she said citing Bath Sheba and Rahab as women of valor who rose to the top inspite of their backgrounds.

Being ostracised, she said, should not make women desparate in their quest to archive excellence.

Having given birth in her teenage years, Ms Perkins felt she was a perfect example and testimony of what God could do to transform the despised and rejected in the society.

She took comfort in the contentment of African women whom she said, inspite of the hamstrung and difficult economic situations they find themselves in, they should persevere and make do with the little they have.

Ms Perkins gave credit to the government of Botswana for its social safety nets for the disadvantaged people especially pension schemes for the elderly and hope that someday she would set up a senior citizen centre in Botswana.

She envisioned that in the next five to 10 years, the recreation centre would provide an avenue where the elderly would be fed and given groceries.

On recent regularisation of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO), Ms Perkins said in short “the world will do what the world has to do” and that homosexuality had always been in existence.

The church, she stated, had to stay with its foundation on the matter and uphold its open door policy and give counsel to homosexuals that were willing to be delivered.

 Ms Perkins is a leader, intercessor, teacher, psalmist and international speaker with over 20 years in ministry and had travelled internationally preaching the Gospel.

She is also the 2015 woman of impact award winner in recognition of her sterling job and contribution to the upliftment of womanhood, motherhood and kingdom building worldwide. ENDS