Ramotswa Church Building

Botswana

The Botswana Synod of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa is one of the UCCSA’s five synods. One of the largest Protestant churches in Botswana, the synod has about seventy local churches, each with membership between 100 and 2,500. Formally established in 1967, UCCSA has a rich history that began more than 200 years ago. The UCCSA has a strong partnership with Global Ministries.

The UCCSA church in Ramotswa has begun building a new church building in order to replace a much smaller, one room structure which is not adequate for the growing congregation. Members of the congregation come from working class families. Some are employed in local factories while others are unemployed. Reverend Jim Wilson, Global Ministries missionary, serves as pastor of the church at Ramotswa.

The plans for the building at Ramotswa have been approved by all appropriate bodies including the town council and the church. The church has already completed the foundation and the walls. All that remains is the purchase and installation of the corrugated roof. Estimated costs for the materials and labor for the roof total almost $19,000. About half of the funds for the roof materials and labor have been set aside but the church still needs the rest of the funds in order to complete the building.

Meanwhile, the people of the church in Ramotswa have not let their need for a roof stop them from ministering to others. The Wilsons’ missionary newsletter from August 2009 tells of the plans to build a simple structure for the congregation they have helped to start in the village or Magonye, 15 km away. They have since built a one-room church at Magonye.

Gifts of any amount will help move the Ramotswa Church closer to completing their building. Here are some examples of costs for the remaining materials:

• One bag of cement (an estimated 30 bags are needed) costs $9
• 100 bricks (an estimated 2,500 are needed) cost $44
• A load of sand (about three loads are needed) costs $100
• Corrugated roof panels cost a total of $9,300