Healthy Living, Family Bonds and Love was the Order of the Day at Mt. Zion AME Church, 19th ED
By Bro Onkgopotse Maboe (PK)
Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Bloemfontein, on the 27 April 2023 at 09:00 am hosted its second 5km fun run/walk and aerobics. The 5km was held prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. We were blessed with huge support from all other six auxiliaries in the church including friends and families from other denominations. Presiding Pastor, the Rev Matsaseng blessed the event by his well wishes as he had other commitments and could not be physically present.
As many of us are faced with a challenge of sickness, busy lifestyles, and a fast-paced technological world, we as the Sons of Allen (SOA) saw fit during our plenary meeting to pass the plan to re-introduce the 5km fun race under the theme “Embracing healthy living, family bonds & love.” By the grace of God we managed to live to the theme. As per our Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr. said during the annual conference “Let the family [be on] one accord; you can have a husband asking for this and the wife that, God will be confused.”
The Reverend Matsaseng said our children should not look far for their role models, fathers should claim their rightful positions in both home and society.
The race was planned and organised by the Sons of Allen members, and we had a title sponsor by the name of Bro. Neo Masithela and Family, who is one of the SOA members and a prominent businessman and a seasoned politician. He sponsored the prices, medals, water, and fruit for the event. We planned for the 71 brethren, and we received more than the amount as we had 69 brethren on the register excluding the children. The sponsorship was in a tune of R3933.95 and we praise God for the Masithela’s family. God’s blessings upon them.
We organised a jumping castle for the little ones at no cost to make sure that they are catered for and kept happy. The race was well-planned and executed as we had the following:
- Tailgaters with first aid responsibiity
- Four cars for the tired, courtesy of (Brothers Motsoane, Moeti, Sigasa, and Kwenane) all Sons of Allen brothers.
- Ambulance and Clinic on speed dial as we had alerted them and were ready for any request that would have came.
- Young sisters Sigasa and Maboe to look after young ones on the jumping castle.
- Energy drinks donated by Brothers Makume, Kwenane, Sigasa, and Maboe
- Frames Bro. Rampai
- Subsidy for traffic officers, Brothers Mokoena (19th Episcopal SOA President) and Maboe.
- Aerobics donated by Thebe Fitness Academy and Sis. Neo Lapies.
- Race director’s time donated by Bro. Lerato Wanzi.
We were forced to close our day by heavenly showers, and we could not give away the presents and certificates of appreciation for winners and donators respectively.
President Maboe thanked everyone who supported and participated, reiterating in his opening forewords about working together as a team like the story of the geese! If all hands are on deck, we use less energy to accomplish the mission and we involve everyone one of us is talented in their diversity – I Peter 4:10
