From 19th to 21st November 2008, an African Pastors’ Conference was held in the Orapa Conservation Center, in the beautiful Orapa Game Park, Botswana.  This was the first APC in Botswana.  Pastor Bonang Lekoba (Central Baptist Church, Gaborone) was instrumental in spreading the word and bringing together, under God, 17 men, many of whom said that they would be able to bring more pastors to subsequent Conferences.

Irving Steggles, pastor of Birchleigh Baptist Church, South Africa, delivered his first two messages titled “What is a Christian?,” followed by two on “What is Revival?”  Ronald Kalifungwa, pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church, Zambia, delivered three messages on “What is a Church?”

During each session, the delegates were assiduous note-takers.  They exhibited a humble, God-glorifying teachableness throughout the whole Conference.  A number of useful questions were asked during Q&A sessions, including: “Are there still apostles?”,  “How does the church raise money?” and “What about generational curses?”

During times of informal fellowship between sessions and during meal times there was a beautiful servant-spirit among these brothers.

The gracious sponsors and supporters of the APCs were instrumental in providing a selection of greatly discounted books—500 in total.  Of those, about 330 were sold to only 17 men!  Pastor Enias Chaitezvi of an Apostolic Faith Mission church expressed his desire to get similar, good  biblical literature into the hands of his 500 strong congregation.  Lucky Chishiki, another delegate, emailed us shortly after the Conference to let us know that he is “reading some of the fantastic books Our Lord blessed me with through you.”

After the final session on the Friday, free CDs of the conference messages were made for the delegates.

Pray that God’s promise concerning His Word might be fulfilled:

“…it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Audio Messages

• What is a Christian? (Part 1) – By Irving Steggles
• What is a Christian? (Part 2) – By Irving Steggles
• What is a Church? (Part 1) – By Ronald Kalifungwa
• What is a Church? (Part 2) – By Ronald Kalifungwa
• What is a Church? (Part 3) – By Ronald Kalifungwa
  
• What is Revival? (Part 1) – By Irving Steggles
• What is Revival? (Part 2) – By Irving Steggles
  
• Question and Answers (Botswana APC) – Part 1
• Questions and Answers (Botswana APC) – Part 2

Photo Gallery

• What is a Christian? (Part 1) – By Irving Steggles
• What is a Christian? (Part 2) – By Irving Steggles
• What is a Church? (Part 1) – By Ronald Kalifungwa
• What is a Church? (Part 2) – By Ronald Kalifungwa
• What is a Church? (Part 3) – By Ronald Kalifungwa
  
• What is Revival? (Part 1) – By Irving Steggles
• What is Revival? (Part 2) – By Irving Steggles
  
• Question and Answers (Botswana APC) – Part 1
• Questions and Answers (Botswana APC) – Part 2

The following message was preached by Ronald Kalifungwa on November 21, 2008 in the Orapa Conservation Center (located in the beautiful Orapa game park), Botswana.

There are two download formats available:  good quality and high quality, respectively (see below):

The following message was preached by Ronald Kalifungwa on November 20, 2008 in the Orapa Conservation Center (located in the beautiful Orapa game park), Botswana.

There are two download formats available:  good quality and high quality, respectively (see below):

The following message was preached by Ronald Kalifungwa on November 19, 2008 in the Orapa Conservation Center (located in the beautiful Orapa game park), Botswana.

There are two download formats available:  good quality and high quality, respectively (see below):

The following Q&A session took place on November 19, 2008 in the Orapa Conservation Center (located in the beautiful Orapa game park), Botswana during an african pastors’ conference.

This Q&A session involved questions such as:

• “Are there still apostles?”
• “How do we deal with giving?”

There are two download formats available:  good quality and high quality, respectively (see below):

The following Q&A session took place on November 19, 2008 in the Orapa Conservation Center (located in the beautiful Orapa game park), Botswana during an african pastors’ conference.

This Q&A session involved questions such as:

• “How does the church raise money?”
• “What do Christians think about the spirit world?”
• “What about generational curses?”

There are two download formats available:  good quality and high quality, respectively (see below):

The Conference was organised by Pastors Boyce Seleni and Angus McKee. This was the first APC Conference in East London – indeed one of the pastors, who had been in ministry for over 30 years, gratefully commented that this was the first local conference in all his time as Pastor which was aimed at meeting his needs.

The theme was “The local church – its nature and its leadership”. Angus McKee, Pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in East London, opened with an exposition of Acts 6: 1-7 on “Keeping the focus on the Church”. Irving Steggles, Pastor of Birchleigh Baptist Church, Kempton Park, spoke twice on “The nature of the local church” and Ronald Kalifungwa, Pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church, Zambia, spoke three times on “Leadership in the local church”.

Some of the 25 or so Pastors who attended came from considerable distances, a few travelling in daily and others staying the night. Many were pastoring in lonely rural situations and valued the fellowship and help in teaching – they were particularly keen to apply the truths taught in their situations. The vibrant question sessions after the main talks and in the formal Q and A session showed the real problems being faced on the ground. It was particularly moving to hear of those pastors who were not allowed to lead in their churches because of powerful figures who wanted to retain control. We all longed for biblical churches and to be able to support each other in fellowship to attain this.

We thank God for the provision of a good meeting place in the church in Duncan Village, where we were well fed. The Conference was provided free of charge to delegates, thanks to generous sponsorship for the catering by Sola 5. The free books for the Pastors could not be available at the Conference but are being sent on. We thank God for the sponsoring publishing houses and churches overseas.

Click here to listen to audio messages from our previous conference(s)