03 Oct 2017

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has applauded the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Botswana (PHCB) for their initiative by Women’s Ministries.

Ms Tshireletso was speaking during the 2017 PHCB women and girls’ conference in Mahalapye recently, celebrated under the theme Ignited for purposel.

She said it was through these interactions that women were empowered and guided on the right path to contribute in any form to the success of organisations they were part of.

Ms Tshireletso said PHCB was a member of the global church known as International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) and Women’s Ministries was a department within the church.

She explained that over the years, older women passed on the knowledge of Jesus Christ to the girls and young ladies and in 1973 Girl’s Auxiliary was formerly recognised in the church structures and a leader was appointed.

In Botswana, she said, PHC Women’s Ministries started under the leadership of Ms List assisted by Reverend Rebecca Motsisi in 1972.

She said since its inception, 42 of the 54 PCHB churches in Botswana have women and girls ministries and these ministries served as a church’s contribution to the recognition and empowerment of the women and girl-child thus supporting the objective of the government.

She said the main objective of the conference was to share ideas on how to grow in prayer and be exemplary as Christian women, which gave hope that ultimately they would assist in building sustainable families.

Ms Tshireletso said she believed that they will come up with viable strategies during the conference, such that they were able to strengthen the concept of women’s ministries, which when done right will help address issues of concern as social ills, and moral decay which so much affect the society.
She highlighted that there was so much power in prayer and it could help people achieve a lot.

Therefore, she urged them as women to rely on the word of God so that they lead the church to where they want it to be.

She noted that many organizations survive under the leadership of women and trust that they will do a handful to sustain and develop the church, women and girls ministry.

“I wish God to guide you women and girls to serve His purpose fully and help touch lives in your respective families, society and the nation at large,” she said.

She also explained that God created heaven, earth and everything in it and a woman was then created on a special day, at a special time, adding that God then realised that without a woman, things would not be complete and there would be a lot of confusion.

For his part, PHCB national overseer Bishop Lesego Lekgetho applauded and appreciated the women ministry’s for the continued support and for being the backbone of their church.

Bishop Lekgetho said it was through women ministries that most women find their niche and take leadership roles and responsibilities in their communities.

He noted that at PHCB they also recognised the important role played by women in the community and also in church as they have six women pastors in the country and two hold key positions of executive secretary and executive treasurer in the national committee. ENDS