Churches

...and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We believe the church is the hub of life and that God will use it to extend the Gospel to other nations, that many might be saved, that we might facilitate the making of disciples in many nations. We need your prayers! Selebi-Phikwe is an area known to be surrounded by witchcraft and the spiritual battle is very real.

Selebi-Phikwe

Our Church branch in Selebi-Phikwe has gone through many changes over the years. Obstacles such as a major mine closure, on which the economy of the town was based, as well as the Covid pandemic have significantly affected the Church. Not only did the town see a significant decline in adult population, the spiritual life and hope of the town was drastically impacted. In light of the economic challenges, the number of churches (false prophets and Pastors) mushroomed as taking tithes, offerings and promising riches was an effective bait to lead many away from true faith in devotion to Christ. The wake of these churches and leaders is to have left a population stripped of hope and synical about the Church in general. It is in this atmosphere the church is seeking to again regain and transcend the positive days of the past.

Currently the church is meeting in a rented plot in a location called Botshabelo with a temporary tarp over a wooden frame. This certainly is not an ideal environment for church growth. Please be praying for the Selebi Phikwe branch as we seek a Bible School graduate to take over the pastorate. We currently have a few local leaders, some who are Bible School graduates sharing preaching duties in my absence.

Damochujenaa

In 2017 Church of the Harvest was started in this village located 40 kilometers (24 miles from our first branch). The village has approximately 1,300 people residing there with a Primary School, but children grade 8-12 must leave the village for boarding schools. It took nearly 18 months to begin to see real conversions in the adult population. So early on the church was frequented by children ages 2-15, and these children continue to pursue the Lord.

The church is being led by Pastor Chikwekwete who has been leading the congregation from the first year it started. She is accompanied by a strong core group of women who help with the activities of the church. While difficult to attract men to the gospel in this village many young boys are growing up in the church through the Sunday School program. This church has led its young people through the Operation Christmas child evangelism and discipleship programs. We are thankful that the students who are attending church also are seeing significant improvements in their grade 7 exams before passing on to junior high schools.

PRAISE REPORT: This church secured land, and Branch Ministries through its partners supplied funding to erect a church structure. The church is now seeking to close up some of the walls, and lay a  sub floor over the gravel currently serving as a floor.

Challenges facing this congregation

Other churches in this village are led by traditional doctors, traditional religion, and ancestors still have a stronghold in the area. There is still much work that needs to be done. We are thankful for the dedicated believers there, and the young people being raised up to serve and follow Christ.

Please pray for the believers in this village, as due to its location poverty is very real, and the amount of alcoholism in the village is also very concerning, especially among the men. This village is expected to continue to grow as many plots are being allocated for new residents.

Dimajwe

The church in Dimajwe was established in 2019. The first service was attended by close to 50 adults and more than 100 children. The people in Dimajwe were served for several years by a Bi- vocational Pastor who did a wonderful job, and had completed our Bible Training Program. Recently she has had to relocate due to a job transfer working for the government. The church therefore is working through transition and the obstacles that transition brings.

A core group of believers are standing strong for the Lord and the number of children coming to church and growing in the Lord is promising a bright future for the church in this village. This church is difficult to reach due to challenging roads and lack of public transportation. Dimajwe is a remote village in the central district of Botswana. Consisting of the Basarwa people, they speak Sesarwa. Most people in the village are not working, they survive through seasonal ploughing and government help due to climate and rainfall limitations. The challenges in the village include alcohol and drug abuse, gender abuse and a high incidence rate of rape and defilement cases.

Sefophe

In 2019 a church was started in the village of Sefophe. The congregation is led by a former Bible Training graduate and the caretaker at our Orphan Center. Meetings are now held outside under some shade cloth as due to Covid-19 restrictions churches can no longer gather at someone's residence.

UPDATE: Pray with us that the title deed process for a plot that has been donated to this village church can be processed quickly.

Sefophe is the village where Children of Promise Orphan Center is being developed and
will soon open.

Tobane

Though this village congregation has not been able to meet formally for sometime now due to not having a meeting place, we are happy to announce we have found a plot for the church!