North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa has on behalf of the provincial government expressed profound gratitude to the church for its support and prayers during the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup and pledged R10 000 contribution towards the building of the Church of Christ's Assemblies auditorium.
MEC Yawa conveyed the gratitude in his speech delivered at the church's annual Pilgrimage closing ceremony and 71st thanksgiving anniversary celebration held at Ledig near Sun City last Sunday.
"Your prayers released the spirit of unity; patriotism and an anointing that arrested the evil threats of terrorism and spirit of criminality during the world’s greatest sporting event. Indeed the Lord showed us grace as we rewrote the history of our country and raised our stature as a blessed nation," highlighted MEC Yawa to the applause of the estimated 90 000 pilgrims.
"Most of your congregations amplified our 2010 Firearm Amnesty campaign message: Awulethu Umshini Wakho-Surrender Your Firearm, and as a result 3 262 firearms and 26 878 bullets were removed from circulation in our province alone.
"Through your prayers, we experienced lesser accidents on our roads compared to Festive and Easter Arrive Alive Campaign periods through we had increased volumes of traffic. We count on your continued support and prayers in the onslaught against poverty, abuse against women and children, the scourge of crime and corruption," stressed Yawa.
He urged the church to lead communities in working together to foster respect of human rights, strengthening of families and communities and to build a strong foundation for a caring society.
He further encouraged church members to participate fully in the annual 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children November campaign and continue to spread the message of HIV and AIDS among their peers.
MEC Yawa said that government recognises the significant role that the founder of the Church of Christ's Assemblies, Prophetess Catherine Ngcwelane like other pioneers of African independent churches played in the lives of millions of people in our country.
He said that like other pioneers of African independent churches, the great prophetess, Mme Ma-Mbhele as a spiritual leader made an important contribution in terms of redefining what it means to be an African and a Christian at the same time.
"Like Charlotte Maxeke, Lilian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu and many other heroines of our struggle for liberation, she remains an inspiration to us as our Deborah, our Ruth and our Hanna. She was a courageous leader and a faithful servant of God who sought the face of the Lord for the spiritual liberation of our people and nation," he said in paying tribute to Prophetess Ngcwelane.
Arch Bishop Sitoe in his closing remarks committed the church to a closer working relation with government and support for its programmes.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
