The unresolved constitutional issue is a source of potential conflict. Pray for the wide acceptance of a constitution that both respects human rights and tradition and also respects the honoured place of the king and democratic freedoms.
Few African countries have retained such strong ties with pre-colonial political and cultural society. This leads to a clash between the claims of the past and those of biblical Christianity resulting in much compromise among Christians. The many evangelical churches have made little headway over the past decades and are generally stagnating. Pray for revival, holy living, a clear evangelical message proclaimed and greater unity among Christian leaders. Pray also that the strong hold of witchcraft and ancestor worship, as well as the spirit of polygamy and immorality, might be broken within the churches and nation. It is the men who are most bound – over 70% of church members are women.
The Church faces many challenges:
- Nominalism has become a major problem. The churches are not holding their young people. They reject the spiritual weakness and compromise of their elders.
- The African Independent Churches have gained a following of over half the population – especially among men. They range from an evangelical theological position to a high degree of compromise with polygamy, witchcraft, ancestor veneration and appeasement sacrifices. The ‘Ethiopian’ churches broke away early from the mission-planted churches and tend to be oriented to the Old Testament. The large ‘Zionist’ movement has a strong emphasis on both pentecostal gifts and traditional customs. Pray that these many congregations may be increasingly moulded by the Scriptures. Pray that other churches may be more welcoming to them and also learn from their often more effective integration of Christianity and Swazi culture.
- Christian unity. Denominational rivalry has long characterized the Church.
- Quality Christian leadership is in short supply. The multiplicity of small congregations means that most pastors are poorly trained and paid, and are therefore part-time in ministry. Few congregations are confident to confront either traditionalists or intellectuals, and so have little impact on the unchurched. Pray for changes in attitudes, patterns of giving, and the level of commitment among leaders and led alike. There are seven Bible schools or seminaries in Swaziland.
Several good examples of growth. Pray that other evangelical groups may reverse decades of stagnation or decline.
Ministry challenges facing the Church:
- Coping with the increasingly devastating consequences of the AIDS pandemic. For too long the churches have ignored the growing crisis.
- Youth ministry. The large levels of youth unemployment bodes ill for future social stability – over 60% of youth are under 20 and by 2006 there may be 115,000 AIDS orphans.
- The Muslims, though few, have made a big effort to increase their numbers and build mosques. The churches are ill-equipped to respond.
Most Protestant missions and missionaries are evangelical. The majority are heavily committed to institutional programmes and to radio ministry, and only a minority are in direct church development. Pray for a happy and close relationship between expatriates and national believers – there has been a history of breakdowns and divisions.
Christian media ministries:
- The Bible Society published the full Swati Bible in 1998.
- Christian literature in Swati is limited.
- National Christian radio. Produces 18 hours of Christian programming weekly for broadcasting on national radio.
- International Christian radio.
