More than 70% of the population ofBotswana isChristian. Most are members of theCatholic Church,Seventh-day Adventist Church,Anglican,United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, theMethodist Church of Southern Africa, andAfrican independent churches. Anglicans are part of theChurch of the Province of Central Africa. The Catholic Church includes about 5% of the nation's population.
The number ofPentecostal churches has been rising in the 21st century. Churchgoers participate in night prayers, evangelism and crusades. MidweekBible study services are conducted in some churches. In these meetings, prayers are offered for the church, members, community, and leaders in the nation. Churches in Botswana include Pentecostal Protestant Church,Assemblies of God,Apostolic Faith Mission,Eloyi Christian Church,Pentecostal Holiness Church,Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana, Good News Ministries,Christ Embassy, Bible Life Ministries,Victory International Centre (VIC), Royal Assembly Ministries Int’l, First Love Church, and Winners Chapel International. TheEastern Orthodox Church andSerbian Orthodox Church[1] are present. Many of the churches are members of theBotswana Council of Churches.
The churches normally meet occasionally to worship together under the name Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana.[citation needed] This body is like an organization of churches and it is the voice of the church.
One of the first missionaries to bring the gospel to Botswana wasDavid Livingstone.
According to the country’s 2011 census, 79% of the population are members of Christian groups,[2] typically asAnglicans,Methodists, or as members of theUnited Congregational Church of Southern Africa.
A survey identified the distribution among these groups as 66%Protestant, 7%Catholics and 1% Other.
The Catholic Church in Botswana is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of thePope in theVatican City. Catholics represent about 5–6% of the total population.[3]
Initially Catholic missionaries were not allowed in Botswana by native tribes at the urging of Protestant missionaries who arrived first.[3] Missionaries began to work in Botswana in 1928, and were noted for setting up schools and clinics.[3] In 2006 the church inFrancistown started a program to treat refugees infected withAIDS with anti retro viral therapy.[4] As of 2011 there were thirteen seminarians preparing for the priesthood in Botswana.[3]
The church in Botswana is organised into theDiocese of Gaborone, which serves the southern portion of the country, and theDiocese of Francistown, which serves the faithful of northern communities.
The first branch was organised in 1991 with fewer than 100 members. As of 2022, there were 4,031 members in 16 congregations in Botswana.[5]
The Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana was founded by Swiss missionaries led by the Rev. Henri Gronin begun working in 1863 among the tribeBakgatla,Kgafela inSaulsport andRustenburg in South Africa. In 1870 part of the tribe moved north to Botswana and the missionaries followed them. The great chief was baptised and most of the tribe followed him. In 1966 when Botswana become independent, a Synod of the Reformed Church was formed. In the 1970s the church gained independence. The church in the following years expanded toBasarwa,Bakalanga andBakgatla.[6]
The denomination has 6,000 members and 13 parishes with 50 house fellowships in 2 presbyteries and one Synod. The 14 churches are in :Muchudi, Muchudi East, Muchudi West,Sikwane,Gaborone,Tlokweng,Lobatse,Kgalagadi,Ghanzi,Maun,Makaleng,Selebi Phikwe,Boseja (Mochudi).[7]
The church subscribe the Reformed confessions:
The church is member of theWorld Communion of Reformed Churches.[8] It is also a member of theBotswana Council of Churches.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana is anEvangelical Lutheran church. It has a membership of 22,000, and has been a member of theLutheran World Federation since 1986. It is also affiliated with its regional expression, theLutheran Communion in Southern Africa.[9] The church's head is Bishop Mothusi Letlhage. It is a member of theBotswana Council of Churches.
While children were treated as small adults during the colonial era, the 1800s brought a wave of Sunday school programs (Protestants) and parochial schools (Catholics) specifically for that young population. By the late 1800s, over half of Botswana's young members were attending elementary schools run by local parishes.[citation needed]
A study from 2015 estimated that about 100Botswana Muslims convert to Christianity each year, most of whom belong to an evangelical or Pentecostal community.[10] It has been reported that conversion into Christianity is significantly increasing among EastAsians.[citation needed]
The majority of Botswana Christians attend co-educational public schools, mostly government operated. The Christian schools were built by churches such as Moeding College for the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, and St. Joseph's College (established by the Roman Catholic Church).[11] Although the schools are Christian schools, Botswana's government participates in their development, related infrastructure, and hiring practices (particularly in hiring teachers).
Every week day public channelBTV broadcasts short religious programs.[citation needed]
