Oarabile Mosikare
20 March 2008
Francistown — The typically quiet village of Matsiloje will be brought to life during Easter as thousands of Spiritual Healing Church pilgrims descend on its headquarters there.
The late Bishop Jacob Mokaleng Motswasele started the church in 1952. In 1955, he established its headquarters in his adopted home village, Matsiloje, 44 kilometres east of Francistown. Today the church is led by 53-year-old Bishop Joseph Gotlaadirwang who, like his father, is also a prophet.
The church boasts more than 15,000 members in Botswana and neighbouring Namibia and South Africa. "This Easter, we are expecting congregants from Namibia and South Africa. We have a church in Debrak near Rustenburg, South Africa. We have another church in Windhoek and Mogwa, Namibia," disclosed the Bishop. Pastor Nicodemus Ditlhale will lead the South African congregants to Matsiloje while Bishop Ananias Kazondunge of Namibia will lead Namibian pilgrims. The church service will start during Holy Thursday, which is the Last Supper. As usual, women will have a service from 2pm the same day. The Holy Communion will be administered at 6pm.
On Easter Friday, the service about Jesus Christ's crucifixion will start at 9am. Another service, about the Christ's entombment, will be held at 3pm.
"During the evening, I will administer the Holy Communion to those who did not eat it during Holy Thursday." The thick bearded Motswasele said on Saturday an hour's prayer service will be held from 7am. Still on the same day, there will be church choir competition from 12noon until 5pm. The following day during Easter Sunday, the three days after Christ was crucified and resurrected, is the last church service in the morning from 9am.
"I will deliver my short Easter Holiday message comfort and encourage the congregants," concluded Motswasele. After the service, the pilgrims will have the mammoth task of un-pitching their tents and travel to their different destinations.
The pilgrimages are expected to bring smiles to local businesses. Usually enterprising vendors take the opportunity to surge this economic prospect and erect makeshift structures to sell the eatables to pilgrims.
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