Twenty Years in Khama Country and Pioneering Among the Batuana of Lake Ngami by J.D. Hepburn

Author:J.D. Hepburn [Hepburn, J.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415760928
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2014-07-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter IX

Encouragements in both Churches, Bamangwato and Batauana

“Tend the flock of God which is among you. … And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”—I PETER v. 2, 4.

ON his return to Shoshong and his work there, Mr. Hepburn did not by any means forget the claims and needs of his other spiritual flock—the Batauana Church. Much and deep thought was given to it by night and by day; and many and earnest were the prayers offered up to the Chief Shepherd on behalf of these “few sheep in the wilderness” whose welfare lay so near Mr. Hepburn’s heart. The following extracts from a letter penned some few months later give evidence of his solicitude :—

“SHOSHONG, 1881.

“I was led to reflect more closely upon the state of the infant Church itself, and the possible consequences to it, if left without head or guide or responsible servant of any kind. The result of my cogitations was that a conviction began to grow upon my mind that it was my duty to go in and arrange matters personally with the Church itself. There are many important things known to myself, but which I cannot explain now in writing; and I had to consider what would be the position of the Church without a visit from me for a period extending over a length of time, sufficient for my journey to England and my return, with the intervening and overlapping spaces accompanying it. Three years at the very least would elapse, and that is taking a very low estimate, unless some special arrangements were made to enable me to do it sooner. For, first, I could not go away at present, not for some months at least. Then if there is to be any committee meeting beforehand, and a long waggon journey after that, it would be long before I reached England. And when I return, there will be so many matters calling for my attention at Shoshong that I could not expect to go to the Lake for a year at least. Three years, therefore, is a low estimate. … But after conversation and prayer together, and much perplexity, my wife and I both thought we saw our duty clear; and we have set ourselves to do it, as God our Heavenly Father shall give us grace and strength to carry it through.

“It appears to us to be my duty to Khukwe, to be my duty to the Church, and in that case my duty to Christ, to return to Lake Ngami, and set things in order before I can think of my journey to England with my wife and children.

“There were obstacles in my way, but we have decided that they are not a sufficient reason for my not going under the present emergency. … Certainly there is the fact that I have taken the roof off our Church here to prevent it from being utterly destroyed by the walls falling over, as they threaten to do.

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