North West Premier Maureen Modiselle has thanked thousands of the Zion Christian Church members who on Sunday converged at the Mmabatho stadium in Mafikeng for a provincial mass prayer service.
The service was led by Bishop of the ZCC, His Grace Dr Barnabas Lekganyane.
"I wish to ask you that as you pray you specifically deal in your prayers with our underdevelopment challenges, the reduction and elimination of corruption related crime, the restoration of family values amongst our youth so that they know what is an elder, pray for our farmers in the province that God blesses them as they grow in their non-racial outlook", Premier Modiselle said when addressing them on Sunday during the service.
"I am humbled by your decision to choose this province as one of your pilgrimage sites during this time of the year. As the winter is settling in and the last rains are with us, we see you as a form of rain to our province especially in these trying times of our social, political and economic life," Premier Modiselle continued.
She also told congregants that the provincial Department of Social Development has a programme to work with faith based organisations for the purpose of rolling out social welfare services and it is through such programmes that the ZCC's numerical and regional footprint can be helpful in opening access to services for to all its congregants.
"We could for instance have a structured interaction to link your members with government services such as identification, social grant access and other social interventions government thinks our people can't access because of communication," she added.
"Your experience in managing such diverse people can be a strategic asset to government and administration, especially in those rural villages. Because out of experience comes out truth, your experience in creating sustainable institutions is the truth we want to know about and then apply it to some of the challenges we are experiencing as government," Premier Modiselle said.
The premier also added that the numerical strength of the ZCC church is bound to have a decisive influence in how government modernises and turns the tide on the declining morality in society. She further said that her wish is to see Zion Christian Church accelerate its modernisation of its members.
Premier said it was also her with to make a request that the church considers the following for society to be enriched of your heritage and legacy:
* The world needs a book on the history of the church
* The world wants to know more about past leaders of the church and a biography of past Bishops will do
* An African Theology Seminary directed by arguably the largest church in Africa
* That, as the members of the ZCC pray, they specifically deal in their prayers with South Africa's underdevelopment challenges, the reduction and elimination of corruption related crime, the restoration of family values amongst the youth so that they know what and who is an elder, pray for the farmers in the province that God blesses them as they grow in their non-racial outlook
* She also requested that the church pray for a peaceful world cup and that Bafana-Bafana wins the trophy.
Premier Modiselle also reflected on the proud history of the Zion Christian Church since its formation in 1910.
"I have often asked myself about the Zion Christian Church and what informed its formation and what makes it inspire so many of our people," she said.
"Because it is God who gives us peace we are called to be channels of peace. I am sure that I am not the only one who experiences peace when in the community of ZCC members," she added.
She mentioned that the nationalist appeal of the ZCC is very much in tandem with the spirit that was prevailing during the era in which it was formed.
"In 1910 when the founder Bishop Lekganyane received a calling from God to establish the church, South Africa was undergoing a tremendous national awakening that transformed the history of this country forever," she said.
"When the church was formed South Africa's constitutional history was also born. The Constitution defined for the first time the borders of South Africa as we have them today," she continued.
She added that despite the spiritual calling the Bishop had, there was a general wave of anti-colonialism and the need for self determination by African leaders from all walks of life.
"It was during this period that serious discussions amongst sons of chiefs, the educated black elite and religious leaders to form a political movement to advance the cause of Africans were taking place," she added
Premier Modiselle also said the bold leadership of the founding Bishop Lekganyane and others to establish an independent African ministry with a theology that recognised our way of worship and relationship with the almighty propelled the African elite to realise the possibility of an African state.
"As you gather here, you bring with you the blessings of God through the anointing that your church has", she concluded.
Contact:
Kgotso Khumalo
Cell: 082 7288 400
Tel: 018 387 3456
E-mail: khumalok@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
11 May 2010
