SWAZILAND, July 6, 2007 — “We are ready to assist the Churches in their quest to regenerate morals in our society,” declared Sphiwe Ngwenya, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Swaziland, at a recent symposium held as part of celebrations to mark the tenth anniversary of the publication of the Bible in SiSwati. The focus of this particular event was helping people to find answers in the Bible to key social and moral problems.
Photo: UBS/Francois Sieberhagen
Participants in the Bible symposium held in Matsapha, Swaziland, in June 2007 as part of celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the SiSwati Bible.
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Some 55 people from a wide range of backgrounds gathered in Matsapha, an industrial area on the outskirts of Manzini, on June 28 to discuss issues relating to the ‘Biblical perspective on moral and contemporary challenges in Swaziland’. They included church leaders, politicians and theologians, all of whom were challenged by the Bible Society to review the role of the Church in Swaziland.
“We need to address issues such as education, gender and politics,” Mrs Ngwenya reminded them. “Where do people turn for guidance concerning these issues? If the Church cannot play a significant role, who will? Our traditional morals are under pressure and people want answers.”
“People really need to be able to turn to the Church for guidance and support in these very challenging times,” agreed the Rev Absalom Dlamini, Minister of Economic Planning and Development. “It is great that this symposium is focusing on the Bible.”
Opening a plenary session, Professor Dr A Gwala, from the SDA University of Helderberg in South Africa, referred to the moral climate in which Bible work must now be carried out.
“Many countries are now experiencing a decline in moral standards,” he said. “Our people are being exposed to new cultures and new moral standards. It is not always easy to distinguish between these influences, and that is why we need the Bible to play a bigger role. We need Bible-based answers!”
The participants left the symposium with a strong commitment to encouraging others to engage with the Scriptures and to apply God’s Word to their lives. And the Bible Society is equally committed to helping them in this work, Mrs Nywenya reminded them.
“We can provide the Churches with Scriptures in both print and audio format. It is now over to them to reach out and partner with us.”
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