The Church is the cornerstone of all rulers and people and its role in our lives cannot be undermined, North West Premier Thandi Modise told over three thousand delegates attending the West Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the Mmabatho Convention Centre, Mahikeng on Sunday.

Premier Modise, who was accompanied by South Africa’s first Woman Judge President Justice Monica Leeuw, encouraged members of the AME Church to register for the election in order to exercise their democratic rights to vote.

“We are not out of order as government and the Church to encourage young people to exercise rights that God gave them to exercise – the right to vote. No government shall be legitimate unless if it is based on the will of the people. This speaks to the legitimacy which God called for in the very beginning,” said Premier Modise.

Premier Modise also took the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the pioneers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Charlotte Maxeke.

She said Maxeke, a founder member and president of the Bantu Women’s League and a forerunner of the ANC Women’s League, provided an exemplary leadership that all South Africans must be proud of.

The Right Reverent of the African Episcopal Church, RT. Rev Paul Jones Mulenga Kawimbe who prayed for peace and prosperity in the North West, said he was very thrilled by Premier Modise’s address, saying that she did not speak like a politician but like a child of God.

“We pray for the blessings upon you. You have done a lot for this audience today. This audience will remember you. It is clear that you are not here by mistake, but by God’s appointment,” said the overjoyed RT. Rev Kawimbe.

Premier Modise who is a firm believer in the church’s power to bring about peace, stability, spiritual restoration and development in society said there was too much rape, anger, disrespect and dishonesty in the province, adding that she was confident that the church will continue to play a big role in helping to stamp-out social ills that continue to trouble the province, the country and the entire continent.-TDN
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