Expand evangelism - Pastor Ted Wilson
MANZINI – The Seventh Day Adventist Church has an onus to expand its evangelism.
This was an instruction issued to the church by the Seventh Day Adventist World Church President, Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson; yesterday during his visit to the kingdom.
Pastor Wilson was speaking during a two-hour service held yesterday at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in an event which was attended by over 500 people.
The church service was held in line with the visit of Wilson who was in the company of his wife – Nancy. Attending the service were also members of the royal family, Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe, Ndzingeni Member of Parliament Lutfo Dlamini, former Governor of the Central Bank of Eswatini Majozi Sithole and many other people.
Arrived
The president arrived in the country yesterday morning via King Mswati III International Airport and met senior government personnel, members of the royal family and the King’s representative before heading to Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre.
Pastor Wilson implored the local church to spread evangelism during his address and sermon to the congregants which was after he extended appreciation to the monarch and Their Majesties for the warm welcome.
In jest, he said the minister of Home Affairs chided him for having a brief visit to the country as she informed him that there were many great places to visit. He expressed hope that it would be a pleasure to visit again and see these places.
Pastor Wilson said: “I’ve gathered that the country has a population of about 1.2 million people and the church has 10 000 people. This presents you with an opportunity to do more evangelism. More work needs to be done and I shall follow up on the issue as I shall write it in my diary.”
In the same breath, the president appreciated the great work done by the local pastors in spreading the Word of God. He read the Bible scripture from the book of Matthew 14:27 wherein he highlighted that the dead know nothing from the verse. He said it was therefore important to bless people while they were still alive and align them with God through evangelism.
On the other hand, Pastor Wilson said the citizenry was blessed to live in a peaceful country as some States were fractured due to wars. He said they should be grateful and happy that they were in a peaceful country, as such was not enjoyed in some parts of the world.
His 45 minutes sermon had followed a number of speakers representing the different structures of the church in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
Welcoming
Pastor Dingindawo Shongwe, when welcoming the president of over 22 million, said his visit was historical as the last visit by the president of the Seventh Day Adventist World Church was in 1989 wherein it was the father of the incumbent.
Eswatini Conference President Pastor Mkhwanazi informed the congregants that in August, there would be a week long programme in the Hhohho Region set to celebrate the over a century existence of the church in the country. Pastor Mkhwanazi said the celebrations shall also advance the call to have more congregants through recruiting them in evangelism.
The church in Eswatini was said to have been founded in 1920.
Also, the local choir mesmerised the congregants with a song – Nxa iqhilongo likhala negsikhathi sokwandlula.
On the other hand, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) Brass Band mesmerised the congregants with music which was subsequent to a march and drill by the pathfinders.