Botswana Selepa Master Guide Graduation

The 6th of June 2009 was a day when history was made by Selepa SDA church in the Francistown district of The North Botswana Conference. Six youthful candidates where certified and invested as fully fledged Master Guides.

This landmark event took place at the school hall of Mophato Primary school situated a few meters from Selepa church. The Youth Ministries Director, Pastor L.G. Mosarwe who was the Guest of Honour came with and his two vice Presidents Pastor Lesenamore Mokgwane and Brother Malvern Mhishi. The event was supported by District Pastors and Chabale and Leabaneng Simankane. President of the North Botswana Youth Federation, Brother Zibane Buhobe was also present to witness growth in his region. From Zimbabwe, the former secretary to the S.I.D Youth Director, Ms Renee’ Mutyambizi who is a well renowned Master Guide in Harare.d even as part of the examining panel.

Master Guides from various churches in the country thronged to this event and led the program with power and style. According to the records, this was the first Master Guide Investiture in the new North Botswana Conference, and the first one in the region after the last one in 1984. The day started with a flag raising parade by the Selepa Youths at Eastern Gate Academy, and then the church moved to Mophato School where the Mahalapye Master Guides held a powerful Sabbath school program entitled “The Bold and The Beautiful”, which was the theme of the day. Brother Terry Himahyumbula excited and blessed the children with his story-telling skills which led to a powerful divine service by Pastor L.G. Mosarwe. The message was entitled “You cannot do anything, until you move”

The procession started at 2.45pm with officials and candidates marching in to the beautiful music played by Adrian Mhashu from Highlands SDA church in Harare. It was a colourful sight as all Master Guides in attendance and Pathfinders “slow-marched” into the hall. The Master of Ceremony was Pastor Lesinamore Mokgwane who is a long- serving Master Guide and a man who always has some humour up his sleeve.

The six Master Guides: Tamanda Banda, Ewetse Setomba, Itumeleng Moanaphuti, Larona Sengwaketse, Tlotlo Samane and the only male graduate Hilarry Hastings Maphorisa, were thoroughly taken through the curriculum which lasted Two and half years by the Director himself Nesu Maphosa with the help of Elder I Banda, Elder Bwalya and Elder Terry Himahyumbula. They would meet for two hours at 2.30pm both on Sabbath and on Sunday. This class started with a much bigger number in attendance but eventually came down to only seven, who had “the patience of the saints”. Unfortunately, one member (Yvonne Matome) who finished the whole curriculum with the other graduates had to leave for school just before the exams from the union arrived.  It is hopped that she will be one of the candidates for the next graduation.

The Master Guide curriculum is a program which trains and equips leaders in the various youth ministries and the church in general. The course whose main theme is “Salvation and Service”, covers various concepts which among others include; Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, First Aid, Camping Skills, Christian Story-telling,  SDA Fundamental beliefs, Church Heritage, Health and Fitness and Drill and Marching. By the end of the program, a Master Guide is ready and willing to voluntarily serve in any area of responsibility assigned to them by the church, expected to be readily available in full uniform for any youth activity they might be called upon to be or do. It is for this and other reasons why anyone serving in any position of not only youth leadership must be a qualified Master Guide or at least be in the Master Guide class.

The President of The North Botswana Conference, Dr Kenaope, gave an inspiring word of conclusion to the program and encouraged the youths to get themselves involved in God’s work.

The very next day after graduation (7 June 2009), Selepa church launched its first Master guide club and established that the church has got 14 Qualified Master Guides. This club agreed to uphold the standard set by the General Conference and help promote youth’s activities that will enable youths to develop a personal relationship with Christ hence strengthening fellowship among not only the youths but the church at large. The Club also agreed to ensure that there will always be a Master Guide class running every year to ensure continuity of the Master Guide vision.

The Youth Director, Nesu Maphosa, who was with these graduates from day one, thanked the parents who supported their children for two and half years of this program. His last words to the Graduates was “what matters is not what you did to get to this day, but what you will do from today henceforth”