By Bro. Onkgopotse Maboe, 19th Episcopal District
Lay Witness Sunday celebrated at Mount Zion AME Church, 19th Episcopal District
By Bro. Onkgopotse Maboe, 19th Episcopal District
Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated Lay Witness Sunday on 17 October 2021. Mt. Zion AME Church is based in the Orangia Conference and was dedicated in 1904. Mt. Zion is the same Church that Bishop Harold Ben Senatle once pastored.
The worship experience was organised and led by the local Lay Organization under the leadership of Bro. Totta Moeti and the programme was executed by both members of the organised and unorganised lay membership. The exhorter of the day, Sis. Malefu Mthethwa’s theme was “Faith, Hope, and Charity, Make All Things Work,” taken from First Corinthians 13:1-13 and First Peter 4:8-10. The exhorter’s main teachings were about love, quoting four types of love. She emphasized agape love, which Christians ought to have and practice in our lives. She also touched on five love languages for lovers. The exhorter encouraged us to “go and pray for men, who are behaving immorally and are also abusing women and LGBT people.”
The worship leader, Bro. Mandla Mlotha gave a synopsis on the Lay Witness Sunday, explaining why this day is celebrated. Lay Witness Sunday was designated for observance throughout the AME Church on the 2nd Sunday during October, at the Eleventh Biennial Session, in 1969. Lay Witness Sunday provides laypersons with the opportunity to witness about their faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to fulfilling His mission in the world.
The Witness Moment was led by Sis. Lindiwe Deke. Two sisters came forth and gave their testimony on how the mercy and grace of the Lord had kept them until that day. One shared about her own sickness, the death of loved ones, and how the Lord kept her. The second, according to doctors, had a terminal illness and how she was supposed to be in heaven by then. These ladies are living examples that “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” (Luke 18:27) Presiding Pastor Rev. Thabo Matsaseng thanked the two sisters for their testimonies. The witness moment was closed by a powerful prayer by a seasoned layperson, a preacher’s kid, Bro. Abbey Kgaile.
Bro. T. Moeti, thanked everyone who made the day’s worship experience possible and appreciated the support and guidance of the Rev. Thabo Matsaseng.
Submitted by Rev. GP Lesito, 19th District Field Representative.
