Centre mass prayer meeting, Bloemfontein
29 October 2006
His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop Dr BE Lekganyane
Esteemed church leaders
Distinguished guests
The people of the Free State
Kgotsong masione!
We are truly humbled and joyful to officially welcome His Grace Bishop
Barnabas Lekganyane to the Free State. It is also an honour to have in our
midst the spiritual presence of religious luminaries who are in deed liberators
in the struggle for human dignity. Your presence and that of all those
converged here today is highly valued and appreciated.
In the second book of the Chronicles the Lord tells us that "If my people,
which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Indeed we can say that the Almighty has heard the plight of South Africans,
the lord has forgiven us for all that has happened in the past which is why our
country is in the process of healing as evidenced by the new dispensation.
It is now 12 years since we won the democratic victory to which different
churches made an enormous contribution. Twelve years into our democracy we can
truly say that our people fully understand and appreciate the importance of the
victory of 1994 to their hopes and aspirations to achieve the goal of a better
life for themselves.
As I have mentioned, faith based organisations (FBOs) and the church in
particular, played a crucial role in ensuring that we attain true democracy in
South Africa.
Today, the role of the church has shifted from that of vocal champion
against apartheid to one that is an advocate for moral renewal in our society.
The church has a very important role to play with regard to the strengthening
of families especially in areas like mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS on
children, poverty alleviation the fight against abuse of the vulnerable, as
well as the restoration of morality in our country.
The church also has an important role to play in strengthening our country's
moral regeneration. We should collectively reaffirm our commitment to
strengthening the collaboration between government and the Church and other
formations in our society in order to enhance the social cohesion of our
country. We need to strengthen this relationship with the religious formations,
especially the Zion Christian Church, because not only do we speak to the same
constituency, but we also share a deep love and compassion for the poor and the
weak.
The role of the church in the fight for freedom and equality in this country
cannot be underrated. Different church denominations were vocal in speaking out
against the unjust and oppressive apartheid regime. The church has indeed been
at the forefront of social development in our country.
It was the spirit of forgiveness preached by our churches which filled the
hearts of the great leaders of our country, and which helped our people, as a
whole, to cope emotionally with the transition to democracy. In this, the
second decade of democracy, our churches continue to play an important role in
shaping our society, influencing government policy, and improving the lives of
people in all our communities.
Churches and government both have important roles to play in ensuring social
cohesion and moral regeneration, but government only creates a policy framework
and can never assume the role that the church must play. Vibrant religious
communities, like other social sectors and institutions of civil society are
the moral compass that helps us keep the social fabric together. They provide
the spiritual bonds that hold together our communities.
Religion and the church in particular is becoming an increasingly important
anchor in the lives of young people who live in communities affected by
unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and HIV and AIDS. Religion must never
become a divisive issue.
One of the most important challenges that remain for our country is the
scourge of violence against women and children. The harsh reality is that the
most vulnerable members of our communities and families are being targeted by
the worst kinds of criminals. The key to turning the tide against these crimes
is to expose the criminals so that they can be punished, and to prevent them
from ever being in a position to repeat their crimes. The church can play a
critical role in creating awareness on women and child abuse; it can also
assist in helping victims of abuse.
The government needs the church and the rest of the religious communities,
not as party political interested organisations, but as partners in the
rebuilding of broken lives of our people. The church must be involved in its
own way to contribute effectively in this noble goal of creating a better life
for all in South Africa. I would like to urge the community, leadership of the
Zion Christian Church and other religious formations to join government in
ensuring that we continue to improve the lives of all our people for the
better. We all have a responsibility to contribute towards building a people's
contract to create jobs and to fight poverty.
The future belongs to us for we live the new commandment, which as written
in John 1, 8 to 11 reads, "I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in
you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. He that says
he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He
that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of
stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in
darkness, and knows not where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his
eyes."
The Zion Christian Church has a credible and dignified history of uniting
the people of our country and beyond. It is this trademark which makes our job
as government easier and more humble. The values which you embrace; of
solidarity, of humility, of compassion and of commitment are the values which
propel a natural bond between us, a bond we intend to strengthen and
sustain.
Together, we have to be the most vocal enemies of poverty, crime, petty
jealousies and hatred as well as enemies of corruption and greed. We are
confident that as we converge in prayer and song in the name of our Almighty,
we shall remember those less fortunate than ourselves. We shall remember those
still walking the path of evil and pray for their redemption. We shall remember
to put our leaders before God that whatever they do, they must remember that
they are mere servants and messengers of the people and of God.
Our province is on the right track in advancing programmes to serve the
people. We know that through your presence here today, we will be more inspired
and strengthened in our work to do anything and everything in our power to
serve our people without due regard for material reward.
Let us take this opportunity to thank his Grace Bishop Lekganyane, the
religious leaders present here today and the entire congregation gathered here.
I am confident that as a collective and through the guidance of the Almighty,
we will work towards the ideal of creating a better life for all citizens of
our province, our country, our continent and indeed the world.
I am equally confident, that your presence here today, will inspire the rest
of the Free State Community to embrace good and humane values. Your visit here
today will leave permanent footprints in the hearts and minds of all our
people.
On behalf of the Free State Provincial Government and the people of the Free
State, we wish the Zion Christian Church, His Grace and all the leadership
drawn from all over the country the best of luck for the future. May the good
Lord continue to endow you with his Almighty blessings so that you remain a
beacon of hope for our people.
We wish to assure you that through our interaction over the past weeks, we
have cemented the bonds of friendship which will translate into the realisation
of a country truly free and at peace with itself.
Kgotso masione
I thank you
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Free State Provincial Government
29 October 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za)
