Ø       Honourable Ms Dipuo Peters, Premier of the Northern Cape;

Ø       Honourable Mr P Saaiman, MEC of the Northern Cape for Tourism, Environment and Conservation;

Ø       Counsellor B. S. Mereeotlhe, Kgalagadi District Municipality Executive Mayor;

Ø       Reverend Dr Moisraele Prince Dibeela, General Secretary of the UCCSA;

 Ø       The Board Chairman and Members of the Kuruman Moffat Mission Board;

Ø       Esteemed dignitaries from the business sector, church leaders, traditional leaders,

I greet you in the liberating and transforming Name of our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 I feel privileged to be here today at this historic place and share this auspicious occasion with you. I am particularly happy to meet you, Madam Premier and on behalf of the UCCSA and the Kuruman Moffat Mission Board, I extend to you our sincere gratitude for sacrificing time and perhaps other pressing commitments to be with us today. Thank you for issue the challenge to the Church and all of us here today.

 People generally refer to this place as hallowed ground and one former Director aptly stated, “these buildings and the stones that comprise the walls have seen many people, many events, many changes. Though they are old and silent, they can still speak in a clear voice to those who care to listen today”. What do they say to us today? What does this place represent to our generation?

 Every time we come here, it should compel us to pause and listen! Listen to the voice of God! Listen to the voices emanating from the soil? Listen to the voices that float on the wings of the wind and glide on the rays of the sun. Listen to the voices that come to us from the darkness of the night and sky! Listen to the voices that speak in no words! When we listen, let us think! Think about grace! Think about faith! Think about God’s work!

 The Kuruman Moffat Mission encapsulates the history of South Africa and in most part our region. It reflected then and represents today the socio-economic and spiritual challenges and struggles of time and served as barometer through the ages. 

Kuruman Moffat Mission has indeed been a crucible of life and momentous events in southern Africa. This is a place that was inspired by the zeal for evangelism and spreading the love of God. It showed the way for the co-existence of civilisations and cultures – of understanding and respecting one another; its history firmly established on the protection of human rights, upholding of human dignity and the pursuit of justice; the importance of education and spreading knowledge; and presenting, amidst difficult and challenging times, a model for sustainability of communities. These were not commonly accepted ideals and appreciated morals. And it brought those associated with the Mission in conflict with the Government of the day. 

Today we are faced with the challenge of fighting poverty and restoring people’s humanity after long years of dehumanising treatment. Today, we still live in a society where many of us lack or are deprived of the necessary means of subsistence. Any person who does not have the basic means to sustain life is robbed of part of his or her humanity. In the true heritage of this Mission, we should work tirelessly to give people opportunities for quality and meaningful education; access to decent employment, access to basic food, clothes, shelter, basic health care. These are not utopian ideals, but necessary essentials of life to enjoy fullness of the promises of Christ.  

Madam Premier and all other leaders present, this underscores the significance of our being here today. The Government has contributed enormously to funding the upgrading of this Mission. 

Kuruman Moffat Mission does not belong to any of us. It is God’s work and we are privileged to have been entrusted to manage this treasure and be good stewards. Never should we allow this place to become isolated from the community around and from us as a family of believers. Let it be a haven of peace and tranquillity. Let it be a retreat for re-energising our weary bodies and souls. Let it become a place of intellectual vibrancy. Let it be a place of teaching and learning. Let it become a place that supports livelihood. Let it reclaim its heritage of being a beacon of social justice. But above all, let it remain a place of spirituality. Never should we allow this treasure to fall in organisational disarray or become rundown. 

Often, when we come here, we remind ourselves of the Great Cloud of Witnesses that surrounds us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1,2). They have laboured hard and endured much in the service of our Lord. Today, it is our opportunity and our obligation to run with perseverance the race that is set before us. All of us are in this race. The Government, the Church, our leaders, the Community, Businesses, we are all in the same race, not racing one another, but running a relay. When the one gets weary, suffer or becomes disillusioned, the others are there to take the baton forward.  

We receive the upgraded Centre today and at he same time we present the Moffat Mission to the people of Kgalagadi, the Northern Cape, Southern Africa and the world as a place of community, a spiritual place, a place of faith and transformation.

 Once again, I would like to thank the Government represented by the Premier, Counsellors and Mayors, our traditional leaders, the business community, other members of the community and representatives of the Church for your support and for being here today. 

I thank you.