Crossroads are one of life’s inevitabilities. Traveling down the highway of life, one will come to a fork in the road. To move forward, that is to have any hope of reaching the desired destination or outcome, a choice has to be made.
Camping at a crossroad, hoping the decision will go away, or turning around and going back the way one came, are indeed choices, but, not very good ones as such avoidance tactics will not lead to where one wants to go. Perhaps the most paralyzing thought is “What if it is the wrong choice?” which is a valid concern.
All choices have consequences! Some positive… some not. Some reversible… some not. Some with short-term effect… some with long-lasting, even eternal effect. To move through life with a joyful expectation of the future, avoiding wrong turns and dead ends, one must choose wisely. In such a daunting task a “roadmap” and a “guide” would be helpful. The good news is they exist!
The name of this ministry, Africa Crossroads, arises from two facts. First is its location at a literal, geographic crossroad in northeastern Botswana. Secondly, it is the desire of every member and supporter of this ministry come is to meet fellow pilgrims at their crossroads.
+++ TO BE CONTINUED +++
MINISTRIES:
• Church Leadership Development
• Theological Education
• Prison
• Long-haul Truck Drivers
Spiritual Development
Long-Haul Truck Driver Ministry
Long-haul truck drivers are a highly mobile, predominately male group, who are away from their families for lengthy periods of time. The resulting separation from their wives leaves them vulnerable to prostitution and has led main trucking routes to become a major source of the spread of HIV/AIDS. Consequently, long-haul truck drivers are considered to be one of the Most- At-Risk-Populations (MARP) and constitute a concern for the community of Kazungula since it is a major stopover for these drivers.
Approximately 2,250 outbound trucks per month pass through Kazungula towards far flung destinations in Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the DRC. Drivers spend an average of 3 days in Kazungula; but if the ferry breaks down, which seems to happen on a regular basis, this can easily become 7 days. The largest backup observed so far was a line of 152 trucks almost 2 miles long. Each truck usually has two men: the driver and a security guard.
In view of the threat posed by HIV/AIDS, many strategies are being employed to halt the spread of this disease. The Botswana Government has introduced sex education very early in our schools. The signs and billboards that dot our communities are another educational strategy aimed at informing people of the risks posed by HIV, encouraging the use of condoms, and stressing the importance of getting tested. Condom dispensers are located at strategic places, the contents of which are available at no charge. The Government has opened an AIDS testing center in Kazungula offering free tests to any trucker no matter where he is from. However, many of these strategies are aimed at the person after the commission of the behavior that puts them at risk. Africa Crossroads (AC) seeks to prevent the behavior that puts them at risk in the first place.
The behavior that puts these men at risk is a choice. Education is important. Knowing the facts about HIV/AIDS, how it is spread and how to protect oneself from the disease is an integral part of fighting it. However, “knowing” the right thing from the wrong thing, or a good thing from a bad thing, is usually not the biggest challenge. The biggest challenge is finding the moral strength and courage to do the right thing.
Along with education, many HIV/AIDS programs rely upon the use of condoms for the prevention and spread of this disease. In addition to product failure, improper use and the dislike of their use due to the diminishment of pleasure, encouraging the use of condoms tends to send the message that the risky behavior is inevitable. The sentiment is that “men will be men!” In that sense, defeat is conceded. AC takes a higher view of mankind. Our belief is that these men are capable of controlling this behavior, a temptation common to all men, making a decision of moral judgment with access to the spiritual strength to stay true to that conviction.
AC seeks to establish a “Trucker’s Chapel” where all drivers will be welcome, making available:
Approximately 2,250 outbound trucks per month pass through Kazungula towards far flung destinations in Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the DRC. Drivers spend an average of 3 days in Kazungula; but if the ferry breaks down, which seems to happen on a regular basis, this can easily become 7 days. The largest backup observed so far was a line of 152 trucks almost 2 miles long. Each truck usually has two men: the driver and a security guard.
In view of the threat posed by HIV/AIDS, many strategies are being employed to halt the spread of this disease. The Botswana Government has introduced sex education very early in our schools. The signs and billboards that dot our communities are another educational strategy aimed at informing people of the risks posed by HIV, encouraging the use of condoms, and stressing the importance of getting tested. Condom dispensers are located at strategic places, the contents of which are available at no charge. The Government has opened an AIDS testing center in Kazungula offering free tests to any trucker no matter where he is from. However, many of these strategies are aimed at the person after the commission of the behavior that puts them at risk. Africa Crossroads (AC) seeks to prevent the behavior that puts them at risk in the first place.
The behavior that puts these men at risk is a choice. Education is important. Knowing the facts about HIV/AIDS, how it is spread and how to protect oneself from the disease is an integral part of fighting it. However, “knowing” the right thing from the wrong thing, or a good thing from a bad thing, is usually not the biggest challenge. The biggest challenge is finding the moral strength and courage to do the right thing.
Along with education, many HIV/AIDS programs rely upon the use of condoms for the prevention and spread of this disease. In addition to product failure, improper use and the dislike of their use due to the diminishment of pleasure, encouraging the use of condoms tends to send the message that the risky behavior is inevitable. The sentiment is that “men will be men!” In that sense, defeat is conceded. AC takes a higher view of mankind. Our belief is that these men are capable of controlling this behavior, a temptation common to all men, making a decision of moral judgment with access to the spiritual strength to stay true to that conviction.
AC seeks to establish a “Trucker’s Chapel” where all drivers will be welcome, making available:
- A place to sit, relax and visit
- Lifestyle counseling
- Bible study
- Church services & devotions for believers
- Bibles, Christian Literature and general reading material
Stephen Lekgwata is a Christian brother employed by a major African freight company. He works in their office at the Kazungula ferry, which conveys all traffic across the Zambezi River to Zambia. When not required to be at his desk in the building, he sits outside and reads his Bible. When our neighbor, whose work often takes her to the border, found out we knew Stephen, she said, “Ah, that man is always reading his Bible; he reads his Bible too much.” What a testimony! God has placed the burden of reaching long-haul truckers on Stephen’s heart. His Bible, which is always in plain view, leads the drivers themselves to initiate conversations about God. We have begun to meet and pray for God’s vision of how to reach this unique culture of people with the Gospel.