I believe that God brought me on this earth for one purpose, namely, to save families. I was born again and became a child of God more than twenty years ago around 1990. Ever since I was born again whenever I hear of divorce, separation in the family, a husband killing his family and all the social ills that torment families, I always have this feeling that if I was there for that family, the tragedy could have been avoided.
About 12 years ago around the year 2000 I had a vision wherein I realised that there was something missing in our modern-day families. The structures that God had created within families to guide, educate, train and pass on the family traditions to the newly-weds had disappeared. Very few people seem to have noticed this vacuum because the social fabric has broken down to such an extent that it has become normal that the newly-weds should navigate the way around marriage on their own without any guidance whatsoever. In other words, these days people get married and they are not properly inducted or orientated into what is expected of them. This orientation programme was often conducted by the groom’s parents. People get married with all sorts of expectations and misconceptions about the roles and responsibilities they have to fulfil. This breakdown in family structures has provided breeding ground for the kind of news headlines we see every day, of husband killing his family and then himself and many other similar occurrences.
When I realised that there was this big vacuum, I decided to approach the Elders of the Church in Pietermaritzburg to request permission to lead couples seminars and meetings. This request was approved and welcomed by the Elders in the Church. The emphasis on these seminars was on the values that would help strengthen relationships within families. Those meetings were very successful and the feedback we received from most people was quite positive.
But I soon realised that God was the Author of all families and He needed me to take this message not just to married people in the local Church in Pietermaritzburg, but to everybody I could reach out to. God wants to create a balanced family that will produce balanced children who would then produce a society of great leaders and citizens who embrace God’s values. In such a society, the incidents of divorce, incest, violence against women and children, children born out of wedlock, irresponsible husbands and fathers, irresponsible wives and mothers, e.t.c., will be reduced. In such a society love and prosperity will abound because people will have respect for the word of God.
This dream of mine has gone through a metamorphosis and has led to the idea that we need to set up a team of men and women who can go around to inspire people at work places, host seminars for single parents and married people and help them create a conducive family environments wherein they can raise children who will become responsible and respected members of society.
I therefore believe that whoever participates in these seminars under the LIFE- CHANGING OUTREACH PROGRAMME hosted by the Church in Pietermaritzburg will not only see change in his or her personal life but will be able to influence his or her family and the society at large in a positive way.
I rest.
Bongani Shandu