Independence celebration church choirs festival a thrill

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday September 29, 2014 08:51

The audience could not hide its excitement as different church choirs, performed uplifting spiritual songs.  Different churches gathered under one roof to praise God through song and dance.

Each church displayed its unique talent as both men and women unleashed their best on stage.

One of the choirs that stole audience’s heart, is Arise O’ Men that is made up of elderly men. The choir mesmerised the audience with their beautiful melodies, and unique voices.

Trinity Church Choir also did their part, entertaining the audience with their well-coordinated gospel music.

Full Gospel Choir, Methodist Church Choir, Apostolic Faith Mission, Seventh Day Adventist, Scripture Union Botswana and Platform of Israel from Eloyi church also delighted the audience with their unique hymns and dances. 

Members from different churches seemed to enjoy the different praising styles used by other churches.

Opening the ceremony, the Minister of Health, Reverend Dr John Seakgosing said including churches in the Independence Day celebrations calendar of events was a significant milestone. 

He said that it was the first time in the history of Botswana that churches were given a platform to showcase their musical talent.

He indicated that Gaborone Ministers’ Fraternal was given a golden opportunity to host the gospel festival as part of the build up to the country’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations to be celebrated in 2016.

“I believe that we are where we are today as a country by God’s grace. We therefore need to thank God that He has brought us this far. Our God is worthy to be praised,” he said.

He told the gathering that singing could assist their worship in six ways.

 He said lifting their spirits and brightening the soul by turning defeat into victory, giving people a ready-made vocabulary of praise, uniting congregational response, uniting hearts in praise, releasing the inner emotions of the weeping, tenderness or laughter and joy, and that singing scriptures is double-praising.

He commended Botswana Council of Churches (BCC), Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana and African Instituted Churches for being able to gather different churches together.

Master of Ceremony Kolobetso Sejakgomo said the government’s efforts to involve churches shows that it fears and honours God. She said it also gives evidence that Batswana fear and praise God and put him first in their lives.