Prayer against drugs and substance abuse held
"Jails and rehabs are not always a solution, that is why we need to pray hard for them,” said Joza.
Concerned church members filled Jabulani Dumane Hall in Vosloorus Extension 14 to attend a drugs and substance abuse prayer on Thursday, February 16.
Prayers were given to ask God to intervene in the battle that the government, community members, NGOs, rehabilitation centres as well as the police are fighting.
Local school children, drugs addicts, families who live with people who are using drugs and local businesses were also prayed for by local pastors.
Pastor Bongani Joza of Hallowed Foundation International who led the prayer ceremony said: “We have to pray for local businesses because one of them confessed to me that he is dealing in drugs.
“The addicts need to be prayed for because when they are high on drugs or need a fix, not only their families are in danger but the community members as well, because addicts commit crime if they need a fix.
“Jails and rehabs are not always a solution, that is why we need to pray hard for them,” said Joza.
Although attendance was not very good Joza said the gathering was a success.
According to pastor Zandile Mhlanga of Tabernacle of Praise and Worship International, the NGOs and rehabilitation centres have tried and failed.
“I think it is time we involve God in this fight because He has never failed. It is high time we as church people to take the stand against drugs,” said Mhlanga.
Mhlanga said families need to be prayed for because they use their money to send their addicted family members to rehabs only to find out that when those family member return from rehabs they go straight back to drugs,” Mhlanga told Kathorus MAIL.
Pastor Langa of Apostolic Church of Christ who was leading the prayer for schools said, school is where the future of the country is.
“If we are talking about praying for the school, it is not only learners who are at the school that we have to pray for. The teachers as well, must be prayed for because their lives are in danger for dealing with people who are using drugs. Our children who are at a school-going age are also drug dealers. They deal at school as well as in our homes. We must also pray for the young ones at pre-school and primary school and ask God that he protects them,” said Langa.
Social worker Zanele Sibeko who works for Social Development and is also a member of the Local Action Drug Committee (LADC) said their aim is to fight for a drug free society.
“As LADC and other organisations we have tried our best to fight against the use of drugs. We have won some fights and lost some. But for those we have lost, it is the right time now to hand them over to God, I know he will never fail,” said Sibeko.
Other than being a social worker and member of LADC, Sibeko is also a born again Christian. She the Christian Ambassadors Church.
“We also run the prayer service in our church. We hope that God will hear our prayers and get rid of these drugs,” she said.
Happy Tshange, who is also a born again Christain, also works for Thato Ntando Rehab Centre based in Vosloorus said his organisation specialises in prevention of drugs usage and substance abuse.
“We go around doing awareness in schools, social gatherings and sporting clubs. We also felt a need of being part of this prayer because we believe that God can be a solution to everything,” said Tshange.
