The church as a key partner with government in the Moral Regeneration Movement needs to continue to play a critical role in ensuring that the moral values of Ubuntu such as respect for human life, and respect for each other are inculcated, especially among our youth, North West Premier said at the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) mass prayer meeting held in Taung on Sunday.
Premier Modise said that government counts on the church’s continued support and prayers for it to overcome the evils of tribalism, racism, crime, greed and corruption and committed that it would intensify the fight to overcome these wherever they raise their ugly heads.
“The ANC led government regards the church as one of its principal partners as we strive to improve the lives of all our people, especially the poor. Accordingly, we urge the church to continue to use its capacity and infrastructure positively to impact on the process of transformation and change,” the Premier emphasised.
Modise urged the church to intensify its effort and involvement the HIV and Aids awareness campaign, the 365 days No Violence Against Women and Children campaign and its continued partnership with government and other sectors, to highlight this scourge and work towards its eradication among the vulnerable groups of people in our society.
She said that the ZCC church’s commitment to peace, reconciliation, nation-building and sustainable development is the pride of the ANC led government and appealed to the church to continue praying for unity and cohesion, spreading love for one another as they are called to minister reconciliation and respect for our traditional leaders.
In recognising the significant role that the founder of the ZCC, Bishop Angus Barnabus Lekganyane played in the lives of the people in the country, Premier Modise said that like other pioneers of African Independent Churches, the successive Bishops of the Church until His Grace the Right Reverent, Bishop Dr Barnabas Edward Lekganyane have made an important contribution in terms of redefining what it means to be an African and a Christian at the same time.
Modise said that the ZCC founded after the Anglo-Boer War in 1910 is older than our liberation movement, the African National Congress. She said that when His Grace Bishop Agnus Barnabas Lekganyane founded the colossal church whose membership straddle across Southern African Development Community States, he had been acutely aware of the attempt by missionaries to erode African value systems and cultural beliefs.
She said that Bishop Lekganyane had realised that unless Christianity was interpreted in a context suitable to the African lifestyle, cultural and political development, africans would, in due course find themselves as a nation alienated from its roots, rich history and religious foundation.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3025
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 086 620 4802
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
