EDUCATION NEWS
Pastor Tsholo blends his enthusiasm and love of people into innovative ministry in Maskwacis, even in the toughest of COVID times. Within days of Alberta lifting its social restrictions in July, the Botswana-born Maskwacis Church pastor and MANS chaplain was running his fifth annual summer soccer camp for youth of the Maskwacis reserves.
New MANS Chaplain and Maskwacis Church Pastor Jumpstarts July Soccer Camp in Town
T
BY MYKEN McDOWELL
sholofelo Sebetlela—perhaps better known as Pastor Tsholo—is a busy man. As the chaplain at Mamawi Atosketan Native School (MANS) and pastor of the Maskwacis Seventh-day Adventist Church, he balances a dual role, guiding both high school students and members of the wider Maskwacis community. With COVID restrictions being lifted July1, Pastor Tsholo wasted no time in setting up his fifth annual Maskwacis community soccer camp the following week. Although his job comes with a lot of responsibility, to Pastor Tsholo, it is a blessing. Arriving in September 2020 38
Alberta Adventist News
from his prior assignment in and raised in Botswana. His Lloydminster, he is thankful name, Tsholofelo, means for the relationships he “hope.” In 2008, he flew to has been able to form with Toronto for what he thought students and Maskwacis was a visit. However, four community members over months in, he fell in love with the past year, despite the a woman named Nadine. They pandemic curveballs. He was met at church. He decided to overjoyed when he could run stay. Nadine and Tsholofelo his first truly social event for got married and had three the Maskwacis community children before they eventuin July, enlisting members ally decided to leave Toronto of his church congregation, so he could pursue theology like Jimmy Potts, to assist as studies at Burman University. coaches (see “after camp” video Curiously, before their move interview clip in The Tsholo to Alberta, Nadine brought Report at albertaadventist/ up the idea of him focusing maskwa-movies). on Native ministry specificalPastor Tsholo did not ly. At first, Pastor Tsholo was always see himself working not so sure. “In my mind,” he in Maskwacis. He was born explains, “the gospel needs to
SEPTEMBER 2021
