The South Botswana Conference (SBC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church partnered with the Botswana Police Service (BPS) to provide chaplaincy training for BPS assistant chaplains, church leaders said.

A four-day session was held at the SBC headquarters in Gaborone and brought together about 20 assistant chaplains serving in police stations across the country.

According to organizers, the training reflects the Adventist Church’s chaplaincy emphasis on ministry in public-facing environments such as law enforcement, hospitals, prisons, workplaces, and disaster-response settings.

Senior Superintendent Zibane Mbotho, director of Chaplaincy Services for the Botswana Police Service, said the collaboration comes at a needed time, citing the emotional, moral, and psychological pressures faced by police officers and chaplains.

“Many times police chaplains work in difficult and stressful conditions,” Mbotho said. “Through this partnership, we can equip our chaplains with the tools needed to take care of not only the officers they are serving, but also the communities they are serving.”

Organizers stated that the program was facilitated by Chaplain Leageng Mpolokang, Pastor Benza Bender, and personnel from the Botswana Police Service. Training topics included emotional intelligence, pastoral counseling, relationship management, social welfare systems, and the role of self-care in sustaining ministry. Leaders said the sessions were designed to strengthen resilience, ethical discernment, and compassionate leadership among chaplains serving within law enforcement structures.

Church representatives described the initiative as part of the Adventist Church’s broader emphasis on practical community service and ministry beyond church walls. Both SBC and BPS leaders said they expect the partnership to strengthen moral and emotional support systems within the police service and contribute to a culture of compassionate public service.

SBC leaders said they plan to continue partnering with government and public institutions as part of the church’s mission and community engagement.

This article was provided by the South Botswana Conference in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division.