23 Aug 2023

 The world is faced with a myriad of challenges that need the intervention of churches. 

Speaking at the Seventh Day Adventist Northern Camp in Palapye on Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele said individuals, the nation and the entire world were faced with trials and tribulations that called for people to seek solutions from God. 

Mr Modukanele, who is also the MP for Lerala/Maunatlala, cited senseless and gruesome murders, mostly affecting women and shockingly young innocent children, skyrocketing divorce rates, delinquent children associated with alcohol and drug abuse as well as indulgence of high performing substances, among others, as challenges that bedevilled the nation. 

Therefore, he said it was paramount to introspect and find the right path.

On the theme: How Far From Home, Modukanele noted that it called for every believer and Motswana to do self-introspection and ask themselves  what kind of Botswana they wished to live in. 

He said the question would  help come up with solutions for a myriad of situations that the nation was grappling with, adding it was therefore appropriate that the theme begs for reflection and introspection. 

He said as participants pondered the theme, they should turn to the church for comfort. Minister Modukanele said he trusted that the church would help guide the nation back to the right path as well as restoring hope and tolerance. “I want to believe the church is still around and capable of restoration. However, this does not refer to the physical structures of the church, we are referring to the congregants for we are the ones afflicted by these social challenges,” he said. 

As for the role of the church and alignment to the national vision pillar number two on Human and Social Development, he said faith was the foundation upon which society built its moral and ethical standards for social development and cohesion. 

He said through Vision 2036 Batswana aspired to be morally upright and tolerant of one another irrespective of gender, age, location, religion or creed, ethnic origin, sex, disability, language and political opinion. 

He said freedom of worship would continue to be guaranteed to promote tolerance, peace and cohesion across all sections of the society. 

He shared that the principle of Botho would continue to be an anchor that guided the nation. 

He appreciated faith-based organisations for playing a significant role in shaping the morality of society, adding that churches contributed significantly to raising leaders who were morally upright, citing educational structures of SDA church.

He lauded the church for its contribution to the health sector through health facilities in Kanye and Gaborone. 

He said he was also aware of the church’s contribution in the education sector through pre-schools, primary and secondary schools across the country. 

Furthermore, he said another SDA primary school would soon be opened in Maun. 

He advised congregants that their biblical waiting would be in vain if their time was not filled with labour, adding there was need to multiply the resources that God had placed in people’s hands, invest talents and money in God’s course. ENDS