July 2010 - The Boys' Brigade

Global Fellowship:
South Africa is more than football
Global Fellowship (represented by Kevin
McCollough and Leif Rasmussen) has visited
BB South Africa. On this trip we met the leader
of the Battalion in Johannesburg, Chune Hohip.
His vision for BB Johannesburg was so creative that leaders
in other countries could be inspired by his dynamic way of
working with BB. Hopefully, the following interview can inspire
and motivate officers in the UK as well. During the last eight
years Chune Hohip has started a new company each year,
in poor areas in Soweto, Johannesburg.
Global Fellowship: Please tell more about how you do this.
Chune: Firstly, we look at the need and look at the area,
and once we have identified churches with the need we
then approach the minister of the church to explain what
The Boys´ Brigade is all about.
We provide materials, power-points and photos. Once they
have understood what we stand for, we ask the minister to
set up a meeting with the church council where we do the
same presentation.
The church identifies some leaders/officers for us and for
the next month we start training the new leaders.
When we are happy with the standard of the officers, we invite
the Battalion to the area for a parade and church service.
We have six companies with bands. Each company starts
marching from different corners of the area. During the march
we hand out thousands of leaflets advertising the fact that
Boys´ Brigade – a Christian Youth movement - has moved
into the area. We also inform about the day and the date.
When the day arrives, at least 30 children will meet, and
we introduce the boys to our activities and award scheme.
After the introduction our next meeting will be a hike.
Global Fellowship: How do you train the leaders
Chune: I train them four Saturdays before we even plan the
first evening. On the first evening I will be with the officers
and will be with them for the next year, until the first enrolment
service. Then I move on to the next company, but I will
continue to turn up every now and then.
The picture shows Chune Hohip on the right shaking hands
102 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette July 2010