About 82 Christian leaders across the country participated in an “excellent” national consultation on blessing the new season of working together in South Africa, said the campaign visionary, Pastor Segun Olanipekun.
He said the multiracial gathering of leaders agreed on the themes for prayer gatherings around SA yesterday, ahead of today’s opening of Parliament. The themes were thanksgiving for South Africa, peace and the government of national unity (GNU); blessing SA and the GNU; and a season of unity and reconciliation in the country.
“Yesterday, we had more than 10 centres across the country where people gathered to pray on these themes. Some are hosting their gatherings today. We all agree that this is not just a prayer or an event but a movement that shapes the culture and character of the nation of South Africa,” he said.
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WATCH: Video clip of a group of Christians who met in the City Hall, Pietermaritzburg yesterday to pray prayers of blessing over SA and the GNU
From Cape Town, Ashley Cloete, who attended the prayer event at the Cape Town Civic Centre, writes: “How fitting it is that the 7th parliament, a government of national unity (GNU) was opened on July 18, Mandela Day! Mandela was an icon of reconciliation, a man of peace and reconciliation and an example of forgiveness!”
He says that during Monday’s online consultation it was suggested that proceedings be started at all prayer venues with a confession for our government’s attitude towards Israel, notably laying a charge of genocide against it at the International Court of Justice at the end of last year.
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He says that Apostle Mangaliso Matshobane of King William’s Town, one of the first leaders to get behind the blessing campaign, attended the Cape Town gathering and introduced the vision.
Cloete also writes: “We cannot praise God enough for this divinely-inspired initiative! Heaven must be rejoicing! Ephesians 3:10 says: “The Father’s intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold (multi-coloured) wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
“At the Cape Town Civic Centre thanksgiving for the peaceful elections, and for more unity in line with the prayer of our Lord in John 17, permeated the event. Through the song Give thanks with a grateful heart we also did this corporately.
“In a confession on behalf of the Church universal it was noted how the Church became guilty through doctrinal bickering and especially for pushing Israel aside. Through a saying Paul, the apostle, reprimanded the immature Corinthian believers: ‘Don’t go beyond what is written.’
“The Cape Town Civic Centre prayers were offered to break curses and negative influences via idol and ancestral worship. Intercession for racial reconciliation was also done in small groups.
“It was quite special that Ps Light Eze from Nigeria was present to lead us in prayers of thankfulness for the peaceful elctoral process. Intercession is still of the essence for philoxenia (hospitality), perfect love towards foreigners that drive out all fear (cf 1 John 4:18), as well as for loving acceptance of people from other faiths.
“May the spirit of ubuntu, that was so wonderfully demonstrated in the person of Nelson Mandela, permeate our nation via the GNU!”
Blessing prayer in Parliament
After posting this article, I received a video clip on WhatsApp (see below) showing a fiery prayer of blessing of the GNU at the opening of the 7th Parliament. I do not recall seeing anything like this before.
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