On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the Lifateng Chapel in Thembisa hosted an Interfaith meeting that drew over 75 attendees. Organised as part of an opportunity for people from different backgrounds, cultures, and religious beliefs to come together in mutual understanding and build relationships.
Interfaith work serves as a powerful reminder that people from different religious and cultural backgrounds can come together to build bridges of understanding. For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this principle lies at the heart of its commitment to engaging with and valuing the contributions of all faiths.
“The inspiration for this gathering came from observing the example of modern-day prophets and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ, who consistently seek meaningful ways to engage with others,” shared Sibonelo Mashase. “As Elders Quorum President, I have been actively working to build relationships with churches in our area. This event marked our second interfaith meeting of the year, with a focus on celebrating the Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
The meeting brought together leaders from various churches and organisations shared their ongoing efforts to uplift and serve those in their communities. Bishop Michael Mtshali from Faith-Based Organisation remarked, “This meeting that is happening today […] this is what Jesus Christ is expecting us to do. Not going out and talking bad about other churches and discriminating against each other but being here sharing ideas that will help us grow as a community.”
The theme of the day invited participants to reflect on the birth and life of Christ, encouraging them to consider how His teachings can inspire greater faith and service. President Romeo Nkosi of the Centurion Stake, who presided over the meeting, concluded with a powerful reminder of the significance of the gathering. He shared, 'In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe we are all children of God. […] He invites all of us to come unto Him.'
The success of this interfaith meeting lies not only in the number of participants but in the spirit of togetherness it cultivated. It exemplified the power of shared faith, hope, and love to bring people closer. Such events remind us of the light we can bring to the world when we come together to strengthen our communities and uplift one another.
