23 Mar 2020

The COVID-19 era has been described as “a sad time” for the church at large as the pandemic has affected the way religion is practiced. 

In an interview with BOPA, Botswana Council of Churches general secretary, Reverend Gabriel Tsuaneng said it would be the first time this year that many churches did not congregate for the annual Easter conferences. 

Easter, he said, was a special time for Christians as they travelled for pilgrimages to meet with others from different parts of the world but the virus “has taken that from us”. 

Prevention measures, including limitation of gatherings, had spoiled fellowship, he said.

Though there could be other ways of fellowship, Rev Tsuaneng said the pandemic had stolen the joy out of religious association. 

He also said COVID-19 had an economic effect on the church as it had changed the way people made offerings. 

The use of electronic money would not “be as beautiful” as the traditional way.

Stressing the need to adhere to set prevention measures, he encouraged churches to cancel services and offer them through live streaming. 

Rev Tsuaneng said there were lessons Batswana could learn from the pandemic including that religious gatherings served as support systems for many people. 

The virus could be a wake-up call for churches to be media literate and use available platforms to reach out to congregants.

Another way of supporting each other without worshipping together in the same building was praying in the comfort of one’s home with own family. 

“I discourage home cells because even with few people, one may be infected and that would put family members at risk,” he said. 

On the positive side, Rev Tsuaneng said the virus had brought Batswana together, especially the church noting that denominations had put differences aside to pray together. 

In addition, the pandemic had heightened peoples’ faith and trust in God noting that most people  attributed Botswana’s corona-free status to God’s protection, he said. 

He called on Batswana to be prudent and cautious to protect their health and well-being such as by wearing masks, not shaking hands and washing hands with soap and water frequently. 

Meanwhile, most churches have since sent congregants messages announcing a 30-day suspension of all services with immediate effect. 

For her part, Ms Sheris Moyo, an ECG member, said the virus was not much of an inconvenience, since they had been “attending” church services from their homes on television and YouTube. 

Even most donations and offerings to the church were digital, he said.

Mr Mapusa Mapunga of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), who has been going on the Moria pilgrimage almost his entire life, said he it was difficult to imagine not celebrating Easter.

 ZCC has cancelled its annual pilgrimage to South Africa.

Ms Esther Gopolang of PHC said the church had never done live streaming of its services.

However she said the church would modify services in the wake of the pandemic.

She said home worship would help families to pray and praise together adding that “the church is the people, not a building”. ends