Botswana - Africa

With a stable government, growing economy, and centralized location in the southern region of Africa, Botswana is an optimum field for church planting. The two million plus people of Botswana, called the Tswana, are peaceful and open to the Gospel. English is widely spoken. The life expectancy is 55 and one in four are HIV positive. In spite of positive turns in the economy, many of the people remain in poverty and suffer from underemployment, disease, and lack of water and electricity.

Having gained its independence from Great Britain in 1966, Botswana progressed from the third poorest country in Africa to become one of the top ten fastest growing economies in the world in just fifteen years. Gabarone, the capital city, is a hub for the diamond mining trade. In this city one will find towering office and apartment buildings, shopping malls, a university, and other signs of a developing country.

The landscape is diverse with the wetlands of the Okavango Delta in the northern region. It shares the Kalahari Desert with neighboring South Africa and Namibia. Botswana is home to the largest game reserves in all of Africa with an abundance of zebras, big cats, giraffes, and the largest population of African elephants on the continent.

Yet, with all of its natural beauty and economic advantages, Botswana is still steeped in spiritual darkness. An extremely dangerous form of the Charismatic Movement, an abundance of false religions, and many tribal traditions abound. The opportunity for evangelism and discipleship in the cities and in the bush is great. This is a newly opened field for BIMI, and laborers are needed. Will you pray and ask God to send you?

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