LEC Celebrates 175 Years

Nestled at the base of the Makhoarane plateau, amidst the trees, is the village of Morija. It was at Morija that three missionaries of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society set up their mission station in 1833. They had planned on being missionaries elsewhere in southern Africa, but through God’s providence they were called to come to the land of King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basotho nation that eventually became known as Lesotho. At the end of October the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) completed the festivities highlighting the 175th anniversary of the arrival of these men and the founding of the mission church that now bears its name. Events marking the occasion were held over two days at Thaba-Bosiu and Morija.

The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” (Deuteronomy 1:6)

Nestled at the base of the Makhoarane plateau, amidst the trees, is the village of Morija.  It was at Morija that three missionaries of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society set up their mission station in 1833.  They had planned on being missionaries elsewhere in southern Africa, but through God’s providence they were called to come to the land of King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basotho nation that eventually became known as Lesotho.  At the end of October the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) completed the festivities highlighting the 175th anniversary of the arrival of these men and the founding of the mission church that now bears its name.  Events marking the occasion were held over two days at Thaba-Bosiu and Morija.

Pictured at left is the current church at Thaba-Bosiu and a portion of the crowds present during the celebrations.  Thaba-Bosiu was the home of Moshoeshoe at the time of the arrival of the missionaries.  When the missionaries and he agreed upon the site for the mission station to be established, Moshoeshoe sent his brother-in-law and two eldest sons to live at Morija to assist and protect the missionaries.  This willingness of Moshoeshoe to sacrifice his own sons, if necessary, for their protection led the missionaries to name their mission station Morija, the Sesotho-ized version of Moriah, the mount in Genesis where Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Included in the celebrations were cultural dancing and various choirs.  Global Ministries was represented by Rev. Dr. Howard Goodrich, his daughter Rev. Darla Glynn and me.  We are pictured at right with Rev. John Mokhahlane, president of the LEC.  In his address to the church he used the above text from Deuteronomy, exhorting the church to move forward.  While it was important for the church to know its history, it must live in the present and look to the future.

The village of Morija, while quite small, encompasses the major institutions of the LEC, including a seminary, Bible school, hospital, printing works, national museum, church newspaper, retreat center, primary and high schools and its most recent addition, a radio station which was officially opened for broadcasting during the weekend celebrations.

In another of the sermons over the weekend, the text was taken from Acts 16:9, where Paul had the vision of the Macedonian man begging him to “come over and help us.” This outreach of the Gospel message was repeated when the missionaries responded to the call from King Moshoeshoe.  Even today dedicated pastors and evangelists continue to respond to the call to share the Good News.  During one of the services, recognition was given to numerous long-serving servants of the church and their spouses.  Some of these are shown at left while at right are some of the 80-plus pastors now serving the LEC.

Pictured at left are members of the main women’s organization of the LEC.  They are dressed in their uniforms which they wear on many Sundays and special occasions, as well as to their weekly meetings on Thursdays.  At right the men’s group of the church provides a festive accompaniment to the singing with their clanging bells and dancing in step with their walking sticks held aloft.

As the Lesotho Evangelical Church moves forward into its 176th year of existence, may it be encouraged and strengthened by our prayerful support.  May the words of the prophet Jeremiah, who was writing to the exiled Israelites in Babylon, ring true for the LEC, for Global Ministries and for each of us individually:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (29:11)

Yours in Christ,

Mark Behle

Mark Behle is a missionary with the Lesotho Evangelical Church.  He is a Mathematics teacher at Masitise High School, Lesotho.