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Bringing Reformed Church Leaders Together
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Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana
The Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana became formally independent in 1979. The church was established by a Dutch Reformed Mission from South Africa, starting in 1887. They have 10 congregations and 47 unorganized churches or preaching stations. The 11 ministers serve 5,380 members and regular attenders. The churches meet every three years in synod. They have adopted the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort, Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed as their doctrinal standards. In 2000, this church employed a accountant/administrator, who is involved in restructuring the operations to achieve sustainability. The church cooperates with other denominations in Botswana for joint theological training at Kgolagano College by extension. In Mochudi, the site of the founding Mission Station, the DRCB operates the Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital, Mochudi Home Craft Centre (women skill empowerment vocational training in dressmaking and catering). They also operate the Mochudi Resource Centre for the Disabled (primary school for visually impaired children), Pudulologong Rehabilitation Centre (a vocational skills training to empower totally and partially blind boys and girls to enter industry, and partially blind men and women for economic empowerment), Motswedi Rehabilitation Centre (a disability centre for those of all ages with disability other than visual impairment). The Administrator is presently fund-raising for the proposed church centre that will include HIV/AIDS pastoral education and counseling for the above mentioned projects and community home-based care program. They are also organizing short-term evangelistic missions locally and from South Africa. Several of the main issues confronting this church are lack of finance to sustain the above projects, individual leadership, and thankful and faithful giving by members.
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