By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – A call for spiritual renewal and moral regeneration took centre stage as a large group of Manyano women from various church denominations gathered at the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Phuthaditjhaba for an interdenominational prayer assembly.
The gathering, organised by the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in partnership with the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, aimed to strengthen relations between government and faith-based organisations while encouraging communities to return to God.
Delivering the department’s message, Moral Regeneration Manager Rev. Serei Mafojane said the prayer assembly was convened at the request of MEC Elzabé Rockman, who had observed during her engagements that society’s behaviour and moral values had become compromised.
He said the purpose of the day was to “return to basics” by reviving the morals of the family, the church and government.
Quoting Psalm 85 and Ezekiel 37, Rev. T.K. Tantsi said, “Revival is not a programme; it is a desperate prayer.”
He said South Africa was in desperate need of moral regeneration, adding that corruption, broken families and the decline in values pointed to the need for revival in homes, churches, municipalities and government institutions.
Setsoto Local Municipality Mayor Seipati Mbiwe said the gathering was not about elections but about restoring the relationship between government and the church.
Executive Mayor Conny Msibi echoed the call for revival, saying leaders themselves are deeply concerned about the state of the country.
“When I was buying a house, I was advised to know its history because walls carry spirits,” she said.
“Likewise, we must give our children the right spirit and the right guidance. Even within government we ask ourselves, ‘Where did we go wrong?’
We are not comfortable with the situation because the country is burning. We must introspect, search ourselves and remember that there is only one Heavenly Father.”
Representatives of the Interdenominational Committee of Manyano women closed the gathering with a collective appeal for families, communities and the nation to return to Christ, saying only God can heal the country’s wounds and bring lasting revival.
