Unfortunately church has been reduced to activities within a church building that do not impact or influence the community in any way. The Pastors responsibilities have also been reduced to just preaching and praying.

When you go into most institutions as a Pastor you are looked at strangely and people wonder what your contribution could be to their organisation. This is so because that is the image that has been created over the years.

Whilst praying, preaching and attending services are important, the mandate of the church goes beyond just that.

It is the responsibility of the church to equip the saints to be relevant and effective ministers wherever they are. The Bible says the believers are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mat 5;13-16.

Salt is used to preserve meat and prevents it from rotting. Meat is flesh. Flesh refers to humanity. The believer who is salt is therefore needed to ensure that humanity does not go rotten. The church must therefore be involved with humanity as a whole and not just folks in the church.

Salt is also used as a seasoning to help make food more tasty and palatable. It therefore goes without saying that the church should be involved in all facets of human existence.In our land we really do not need preachers who will come from America and other places just to make us feel good, promise us prosperity and blow on us. The days for this charismatic theatrics are over. This shouting and screaming is just not getting us anywhere.

We need preachers who will teach us how to take ownership of the future of our nation.We need men and women of God who will show us how to be entrepreneurs, reputable politicians, journalists of repute, researchers, quality educators to name just a few.

What good does it help us to get traveling preachers who are just coming to shout, scream, jump, run around the stage, sweat and get money without affecting and influencing the gross domestic product. Many times in these crusades and revivals Batswana are left broke but excited and even screaming and asking the preacher to come back again.

The point I'm making is that we need leaders who can teach Batswana how to be responsible citizens who can run the economy of this nation. We need leaders who can teach couples to manage their families so that we do not have this growing trend of divorce. We need schools that produce people prepared to be business owners instead of job-seekers.

May I state prophetically that the future of any nation lies in the relevance of the church to national issues. It is the church that should play the leading role.

God has sent the church to be His representative on the earth but the church is looking at government and the private sector for hand outs.

It is high time the church upgrades its operations so it can be able to do what God has called it to do.

Currently the church is controlled and led by the state and not the Holy Spirit. It is the state who determines how the church should be run. This is an anomaly. The church is the government of God on the earth and as such should be run God's way.

It is time for the church to arise and put our house in order so we can be what God meant for us to be. This calls for the unity of the church like never before.

The message of Haggai the prophet is true for our time 'Is it time for you to dwell in your paneled houses whilst the house of God lies in ruins?' This is the season to build God's house and not our ministries and names.

I appeal to fellow leaders to respond to the prophetic cry of the Lord in this season. Do not be like those of old who just saw Noah and not the God who sent Noah. Most of you have what it takes to make the difference so take your position and lead.

Percival Mtetwa
Gaborone