Organisers of a Moral Regeneration Pens Down rally at the Nelson Mandela Bay beachfront last week are in awe of the great success of the day during which thousands of matric learners thanked Jesus for His hand on their lives, marched against rape and gender-based violence, prayed and worshiped, and responded to Gospel messages.
“Originally the expectation was that around 1 500 kids would rock up but at the end of the day, just over 3 200 children rocked up at Kings Beach,” said Mark Beale who heads up a team of 20 pastors who regularly visit 350 “hotspot” schools in the western and eastern regions of the Eastern Province under the auspices of the Eastern Cape Education Department’s Moral Regeneration Outreach to Schools programme.
He said with Pens Down events often marred by sex, drugs, drinking and even shooting incidents, the team decided to organise their own Pens Down celebration rally and invited a number of Nelson Mandela Bay schools to participate.
The programme was scheduled to run from 12pm to 4.30pm. Learners arrived at Kings Beach on public transport at 10am. After receiving their lunch packs they marched to the Shark Rock Pier at Hobie Beach, about 1.7km along the beachfront, taking a stand against rape and GBV. “It was an unbelievable experience because generally speaking, when there are marches, places are trashed and it just looks horrific afterwards. And the feedback that we had got from the right people in the Metro Police was that the march was unbelievable. At the back of the march, we had cleaners walking along and they hardly had to pick up any papers.”
Beale said the learners thanked God in prayer for His hand of protection over them throughout their school years and for His hand upon them as they head towards university and careers. The programme included music, dancing items presented by some schools and there were some testimonies and an altar call (see video clip below).
Provincial leaders of the Education Department participated in the main programme, including the HOD, Sharon Maasdorp, who told the learners how much they needed Jesus, how much they mean to Him and that He has a plan for their lives..
Only a few Education Department officials were expected at the celebration, but as word got out about the success of the day, more an more officials arrived to witness for themselves.”
“It was just phenomenal. There was no unruly behaviour like you would expect with 3 200 children together. There was no alcohol, no drugs, no fighting. You know the kids were just in awe of the event.
He said the learners didn’t want to go home. “We had to physically switch off the music because they were so excited. Within fifteen minutes of the arena being cleared there was not a paper on the ground — not even a toothpick.”
Beale said as organisers they give the Lord all the glory for the success and professionalism of the event and thank Him for the incredible open door to go to schools and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He said that people around the country have been talking about the event and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality has asked them to do a Pens Down event next year. “And we will do another event in Nelson Mandela Bay and we will double the amount of children for 2027.”
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This is really such an amazing blessing and a wonderful answer to prayer!
We really. Praise God for what is happening in so many schools lately!