12 Nov 2019

Francistown Baptist Church (FBC) during the weekend celebrated its 50 years of existence.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pastor Christopher Gumunyu said the past 50 years had been memorable. 

 “We rejoice today as we see many churches that have been established under the Baptist Convention of Botswana through the work that the Reynolds started here in Francistown. As we celebrate, we believe that beyond this day, the Lord will lead us to a higher level in ministry, where God’s servants will willingly be able to say Just as I am I will serve the Lord,” he said.

Pastor Gumunyu further stated that the next anniversary will be greater and richer and urged fellow Christians to trust in God as He (God) continues to shower them with blessings for his name’s glory on earth and heaven.

The Baptist Church of Botswana was established by Reverend Mervin Reynolds and Beth, together with their three sons, who landed in Botswana late 1968, as the first missionary couple, to start the church in northern Botswana from the Southern Baptists Convention Mission in the United States of America.

The couple chose Francistown as their base and missionary work started at their mission house, where Bible studies were held until the mission acquired the current church plot in White City.

The first six convents were preached to by the Reverend and thereafter were tutored in Christian principles with the assistance of his wife and six months later, were baptized in 1970 at Easter and confirmed as the founding members. 

Later, the Baptist churches were established in Lobatse, Maun, Gaborone, Masunga, Serowe, Letlhakane, Molepolole, Tutume, Tshesebe, Sebina, as a result of the first seed planted in Francistown by various missionaries or local branch churches. 

The churches convened and formed a mother body called Baptist Convention of Botswana to coordinate and regulate Baptist church work in Botswana. Ends