Africa-Press – Botswana. Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has challenged the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church in Botswana to consider venturing into business.
Speaking at Pastor Ontefetse Leselamose of Apostolic Faith Mission Church’s 60th birthday celebration in Francistown on Saturday, Minister Morwaeng said time was opportune for churches to establish business wings in order to run their administration.
“I urge you to invest in business entities to increase your financial muscle so that you become independent,” he added.
He also challenged the Apostolic Faith Mission church to establish bible schools on top of the Sunday schools that the church was currently running.
“Many churches across the globe have now invested funds into some economic generating projects because the world is now associated with economic empowerment,” he said.
On other issues, Mr Morwaeng said government recognised the role of the church in building the society and the economy.
“Government strongly believes that all churches in Botswana have a role to play in retaining peace and tranquility that our country is known of,” he added.
He explained that it was against such a background that Botswana was regarded as a circular state because religious entities were key pillars to the national economy.
Further, the minister said the church could support and complement government efforts in the improvement of the lives of Batswana through its organs so that members could become beneficiaries and live better sustainable lives.
He thus applauded churches across the country for having played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that most of them were supportive to government programmes to contain the disease.
Further, he indicated that the Apostolic Faith Mission church, formed between 1971 and 1973, had grown tremendously because it had spread its wings across the country.
History has it that the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Botswana started with only four branches in Mahalapye, Molepolole, Kanye and Francistown.
“However, as we speak now the church has 102 branches across the country.
In addition to the branches, having started with only four pastors, the AFM now has 70 full-time pastors across the country.
This is commendable and it is a sign that your church is growing both in the number of followers and branches,” he said.
For his part, Pastor Letlotlo Kgobokwe of the Excellence Ministries International from South Africa described Pastor Leselamose as a gift from God because his call to lead the church was based on his leadership capabilities.
To that, he said leadership was an art, skill and competence which Pastor Leselamose demonstrated during all the time as a leader in his ministry and that was because he grew up in a relationship with God and human kind.
“Pastor Leselamose knows how to relate with people and God and this is the skill that God gave him,” he added.
Pastor Kgobokwe further indicated that Pastor Leselamose had changed many lives for the better through his preaching, hence his birthday was a celebration of a life well lived.
For his part, Pastor Leselamose thanked God for the many years he had given him to lead the ministry with distinction.
He promised that he would continue his work as a man of God even after retirement from the church leadership.
The birthday celebration was graced by various church leaders from other denominations, locally and beyond the borders, who showered Pastor Leselamose with accolades.
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