05 Aug 2013

The Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing has praised Motheo wa Keresete Church for showing compassion and care to Batswana.

Officially opening the church’s annual conference in Mokubilo on Saturday, Dr Seakgosing said their denomination exemplified the good work with which they must pride themselves as part of the nation.

He said they did not only contribute to the spiritual landscape of the country by building a house for an underprivileged individual as well as donating toiletry to the Centres for the Deaf in Maun and Francistown.

He added that over the years, the church continued to give to the needy during Christmas. “As a faith based organisation, you are the best positioned to deal with issues that affect the communities,” he said.

Churches must be able to influence change at various levels of society through their teachings of morality and compassion, said Dr Seakgosing, adding that since Motheo wa Keresetee Church’s inception, it had remarkably grown to 15 branches across the country, including the Mokubilo branch and it was also spreading its branches internationally.

The minister said the youth would be spiritually and morally mentored as a result of the church`s contribution. He added that Botswana was a secular state which cherished freedom of religion or association among the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.

Furthermore, Dr Seakgosing said in that regard, they recognised that they were enriched by the tapestry of religion in their society. He added that they had much to learn from each other because it was consistent with the national value of Botho, which acknowledged the essential humanity of all people regardless of creek, nationality or religion.

The minister further said in the globalising and increasingly interdependent world, it was more important to understand and tolerate one another. “This mutual understanding will indeed lay the foundation for collective action to tackle the complex and daunting challenges facing humanity today,” he noted.

He also said Botswana was concerned about recent developments whereby students reportedly display satanic tendencies across the country. Dr Seakgosing said strange cultures are on the increase in the country, particularly because as a country they cannot exist in isolation from cultural influences and that poses problems in learning institutions. He therefore encouraged parents and the church leadership to stand together before it is too late for their youth.

Furthermore, he raised concern on the splitting of churches due to finances, adding that tithing and offerings are encouraged as the word of God says, but those in possession of the tithes should take care and use the gains as the denominations decide. “Finances should be left to church committees, both at branch and regional levels. It is also an unacceptable practice, and indeed unethical that in some cases members of the same family dominate committees involving finances of the church,” he lamented.

He said there is need for accountability and prudence at all times for a healthy environment in the church, adding that misappropriation of church funds by the church leadership is responsible for church splits in the majority of cases, therefore integrity is very vital.

Dr Seakgosing said as the minister responsible for health and a representative of the government, he was encouraged to be in a gathering where there are no destructive substances such as alcohol, smoking, and drugs because the body was created in the likeness of God.

He expressed his sincere gratitude to the church for being with them in the difficult journey of remolding the human character. The minister also urged members from other churches to do likewise and to join hands in propagating messages of hope in the country.

He said they should know that messages of disease prevention and control are anchored on Biblical precepts, and as such the gathering is not solely about preaching, but also about spreading the message of health as an individual and a collective responsibility.

When welcoming the minister, Kgosi Botshabelo Dijeng of Mokubilo applauded the work of the nurses in the village, noting that they are working hard day and night without electricity.

Responding to Kgosi Dijeng`s remarks, the minister said the government has decided to connect electricity to all the clinics in the country, including public servant houses, schools and village shelters.  ENDS