Community Impact through Faith
From 22 July until 9 August, the Lesotho District and RSA Free State District hosted a LoveWorks team from Point Loma Nazarene University. This team helped with outreach, evangelism, revitalisation and beautification of the District Centre in Lesotho, which sits just outside the capital city of Maseru, and they helped with evangelism and outreach on the RSA Free State District. The Lesotho District is led by Rev Lehlohonolo Oliphant, and the RSA Free State District is led by Rev Sam James.
Rev Oliphant acknowledges that the team from Point Loma have helped to restore some hope and purpose for the Nazarenes of Lesotho. “The effects have been exceptionally positive and encouraging” Oliphant said. “The team’s involvement has fostered a stronger bond between our church and the overall community. It’s truly heart-warming to witness the connections being made.”
The presence of this team has been particularly important for the youth of the Nazarene churches in and around Maseru, Lesotho. It was important to see the enthusiasm of the youth. Since the team is comprised of college-aged young people, it was good for the local youth to interact and connect with the group from Point Loma. It created a vibrant atmosphere that will have lasting effects.
One of the most crucial projects that the team helped to execute was restoring the water supply to the District Centre. The centre had been without a reliable water supply since 2017 when the pump for their borehole burned out. The team helped to install a new pump, ensuring that the water was running to all parts of the centre. There is a school connected to the district centre that will now also be able to benefit from a working pump and borehole. Additionally, members of the community will also take advantage of the water that is on offer by the Lesotho District.
The team also spent one week on the RSA Free State District, visiting schools, churches and old age homes across the district. Thanks to the coordinated effort of Dr Jarlen Keet, the District Secretary, the team had a packed calendar and was able to visit a school for the blind and deaf outside of Bloemfontein, South Africa. A highlight of this time in the Free State were the visits to the churches in the evenings and time spent with young people. The enthusiasm of the young is something our churches can be proud of and utilise for God’s glory.
Let us join together in praying for the Lesotho District and the RSA Free State District as they strive to keep the momentum going through follow-up visits in the community that were begun by this team and engaging the youth to remain committed and enthusiastic.
