KL Paulson 
                                                        update 11-11-2017

Botswana & Its Missions

1. Introduction

The intent of this paper is to survey Botswana and its missions both past and present.   The main country observed will be BOTSWANA (Republic of Botswana).

I became especially interested in these people during my looking for a Textus Receptus based Tswana Bible.   I found a real good Tswana translation available for the 1.2 million plus souls of Botswana.   There has been recently discussion over the Internet among Independent Baptists to find or translate decent Tswana Bible portions.   This is good news about The Good News.

2. Botswana's Area

600,000 sq.km.   Very dry and prone to severe droughts; mostly the Kalahari Desert.

3. Botswana's Population

1,285,000.   Annual growth 3.6%.   People per sq.km. 2.

4. Botswana's Peoples (source: P. Johnstone, 1993)

Total ethnic groups 83.
Bantu 94%.
 Tswana 70%.   Eight major tribes, most living along south-eastern border with South Africa.
 Other 24%.   Kalanga 160,000; Yeyi 29,000; Herero 18,000; Ndebele 17,000; Lozi 14,000; Subia 12,000; Pedi 11,000; Shona 10,000.
San (Kalahari Bushmen) 3.4% speaking 32 languages and dialects.
European/mixed race 2%.
Other 0.6%.   Zimbabweans, Angolans, South Africans and South Asians.

5. Botswana's Literacy (source: P. Johnstone, 1993)

71%.   Official languages: English, Tswana.   All languages 26.   Bible translations 3 Whole Bibles, 1 New Testament, 2 portions.

6. Botswana's Capital

Gaborone 130 thousand.   Urbanization 22%.

7. Botswana's Economy (source: AFRICA TODAY, 1990)

The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for over 80% of the population, but produces only about 50% of food needs and contrib- utes a small 5% to GDP. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from gen- erating 25% of GDP in 1980 to over 50% in 1988. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially not that of the agricultural sector, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. The unem- ployment rate remains a problem at 25%. A scarce resource base limits diversifica- tion into labor-intensive industries.
Income/person $940 (4% of USA) per OW.

8. Botswana's Politics

Independence from Britain in 1966 as a stable, multi-party democracy - a rarity in Africa.

9. Botswana's Religions--Generalities (source: AFRICA TODAY, 1990)

50% indigenous beliefs, 50% Christian.
Freedom of religion.   The government has introduced Scripture education into the school curriculum as a compulsory subject.

10. Botswana's Religious Groups (source: P. Johnstone, 1993)

Tribal religions 37%.   Baha'i 0.8%.   Musl_m 0.2%.   'Christian' 62%. Nom 13.5%. Affil 47.7%. Growth 4.3%.

11. Botswana's 'Christians' and Christians

Protestant 20.1%. Affil 13.4%. Growth 1.9%.
Dutch Reformed Ch
Africa Evang Ch (AEF)
Baptist (SBC) C14 M340 A567
Evangelical 4.4% of pop M28,413 A56,215
Roman Catholic 6.8%. Affil 4.2%. Growth 4%.
Foreign Marginal 0.17%. Growth 12%.
Indigenous Marginal 35%. Affil 30.7%. Growth 5.7%.

12. Botswana's Mies. (source: P. Johnstone, 1993)

Mies. to Botswana 244 (1:5,300 people) in 39 agencies.

Important note: Brother Tom Gaudet reported in 1995 that there were just 0 Independent Baptist mies. in Botswana.

13. Botswana's Topography (source: J. Thiessen, 1961)

More than half of the area to the south and west is occupied by the Kalahari Desert, and is excessively dry and hot, with no surface water.

14. Botswana's Principal Physical Features (source: J. Thiessen, 1961)

Lake Ngami is hardly more than a vast swamp.   Some fine hill scenery in the eastern part of the country.   The remainder is covered with grasses, shrubs, and trees.   There is very little true forest.

15. Botswana's Climate (source: J. Thiessen, 1961)

A subtropical climate is general, which varies with latitude and alti- tude.   Malaria is prevalent in some sections.

16. Botswana's Principal Products (source: J. Thiessen, 1961)

Indigo and cotton grow wild.
The mineral resources, some gold has been mined.   Pastureland for herds of cattle and flocks of sheep.   Agriculture is impossible in the arid Kalahari District, but in other places crops of millet and maize are raised.

17. Botswana's My. History--Bible BC, GF, ND (1998-2011)

My. Gary Norberg & My. George Wyatt

19. Botswana's My. History--Lehigh Valley BC, E, PA (2010-2012)

My. Doug Hammett & My. Garry Castner

18. Botswana's My. History--Fargo BC, ND (2015-2016)

My. Rob Johnson

20. Botswana's My. History--a BC, aa, aa (aa)

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21. Others

Robert Moffat , David Livingstone , John Mackenzie, King Khama, James Stewart?, Andrew Murray

22. Churches Should Support the Team Ministry Idea (Two-By-Two)

The Biblical Model for Sending Out Missionaries

23. The Great Commission

We must Pray, Study, Give and Go.

24. Botswana's Needs

Many eternity bound souls have never heard the Gospel even one time.
Symptoms of a national heart problem are divorce and abortion, violence and suicide.
Obviously there is a lack of sound Bible (Baptist) preaching & teaching.
Missionaries as such may enter Botswana.
King James Bibles (and other TR based translations) are needed in many areas.
Scripture, song & preaching tapes should be distributed.
Christian Gospel radio would be an excellent tool to develop.
Christian literature should be available, and is in great demand.  
Cross-cultural evangelism and indigenous, local Baptist church planting must be accomplished God's way and in His timing.

25. References [Info only]

AFRICA TODAY   An Atlas of Reproducible Pages   1990 Revised Edition   WORLD EAGLE, INC.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS   A History and Survey   Harold R. Cook   Moody Press   1972, pp. 190-205.

OPERATION WORLD   A day-to-day guide to praying for the world   Patrick Johnstone   1986, pp. 110-111.

OPERATION WORLD   The Day-by-Day Guide To Praying For the World   Patrick Johnstone   1993, pp. 126-127.

A SURVEY OF WORLD MISSIONS   REVISED EDITION   1961   John Caldwell Thiessen   Moody Press, pp. 254-291.