ABOUT 500 contrite men will enter into Godly introspection at the Magalies Retreat centre in Magaliesburg over four days from September 25.
ABOUT 500 contrite men will enter into Godly introspection at the Magalies Retreat centre in Magaliesburg over four days from September 25.
This third annual camp for men seeking inspiration, knowledge and encouragement to be upright leaders of God-fearing homes is being organised by the Soweto Men In Prayer movement founded by Reverend George Ngwenya of the Mahon Evangelical Church of Southern Africa in Diepkloof, Soweto, in 2010.
Ngwenya is one of 300 men who have been congregating at the Funda Community Arts and Culture College in Diepkloof on Saturdays from 6am to 8am over the past three years to confess various sins and pray for repentance.
He says that among the men are former loan sharks, abusive husbands, alcoholics and other addicts, cheats, and former convicts. He said the participants had been transformed into responsible, caring and protective heads of families, as well as vital cogs in their communities, while others are now ethical businessmen and credible politicians.
Ngwenya says the Men In Prayer sessions started with a handful and are now 300-strong, while the first camp in 2011 had close to 100 men. The number for the second camp in 2012 rose to 250 men.
"This year we have reserved spaces for 500 men.
"The difference between the Saturday morning prayer meetings and the camps is the time and environment. The Saturday sessions are just two hours long and serve to briefly pray to God and connect with other men, whereas the camps give us ample time to engage with God, ask question on issues, and discuss them in detail," Ngewenya says.
"The growth in the number of men attending the camps can be attributed to men finding answers to their deeper-most questions, affording men with an environment where they can be themselves, among other men, without fear of being judged, to reflect on their lives, digest issues and have uninterrupted moments of engaging with God in prayer.
"We bring positive role models in our country to share their life story to motivate men and provide them with practical examples on how to overcome and make it."
Speakers at the camp are Tembisa Transformation Forum pioneer Rev Reggie Makhubo, civil servant Thebe Mohatle, Pastor Ali Tsipa, an academic, as well as international motivational speaker and trainer Dr David Molapo.
victorm@sowetan.co.za
Men choose positive path - group of 500 ready for prayer camp
ABOUT 500 contrite men will enter into Godly introspection at the Magalies Retreat centre in Magaliesburg over four days from September 25.
ABOUT 500 contrite men will enter into Godly introspection at the Magalies Retreat centre in Magaliesburg over four days from September 25.
This third annual camp for men seeking inspiration, knowledge and encouragement to be upright leaders of God-fearing homes is being organised by the Soweto Men In Prayer movement founded by Reverend George Ngwenya of the Mahon Evangelical Church of Southern Africa in Diepkloof, Soweto, in 2010.
Ngwenya is one of 300 men who have been congregating at the Funda Community Arts and Culture College in Diepkloof on Saturdays from 6am to 8am over the past three years to confess various sins and pray for repentance.
He says that among the men are former loan sharks, abusive husbands, alcoholics and other addicts, cheats, and former convicts. He said the participants had been transformed into responsible, caring and protective heads of families, as well as vital cogs in their communities, while others are now ethical businessmen and credible politicians.
Ngwenya says the Men In Prayer sessions started with a handful and are now 300-strong, while the first camp in 2011 had close to 100 men. The number for the second camp in 2012 rose to 250 men.
"This year we have reserved spaces for 500 men.
"The difference between the Saturday morning prayer meetings and the camps is the time and environment. The Saturday sessions are just two hours long and serve to briefly pray to God and connect with other men, whereas the camps give us ample time to engage with God, ask question on issues, and discuss them in detail," Ngewenya says.
"The growth in the number of men attending the camps can be attributed to men finding answers to their deeper-most questions, affording men with an environment where they can be themselves, among other men, without fear of being judged, to reflect on their lives, digest issues and have uninterrupted moments of engaging with God in prayer.
"We bring positive role models in our country to share their life story to motivate men and provide them with practical examples on how to overcome and make it."
Speakers at the camp are Tembisa Transformation Forum pioneer Rev Reggie Makhubo, civil servant Thebe Mohatle, Pastor Ali Tsipa, an academic, as well as international motivational speaker and trainer Dr David Molapo.
victorm@sowetan.co.za
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