Cape Town - Cape Town pastor Oscar Bougardt has flown to Botswana to meet with anti-gay US preacher Steven Anderson to discuss the “future of churches in South Africa”.
Bougardt, who was previously sued for R1 million for preaching against homosexuality, offered the controversial American pastor accommodation in Cape Town after a hotel cancelled his reservation due to his controversial view on gays.
Anderson turned his sights to the neighbouring country after Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba banned him from South Africa due to his hate speech.
Anderson of the Faithful World Baptist Church and 20 members of his flock were to come to Joburg over the weekend on a “soul-winning” campaign.
But after an outcry by the LGBTI community and the SA Human Rights Commission, and an online petition which garnered 60 000 signatures, he was told he and his entourage were not welcome.
Meanwhile, three members from Anderson’s congregation were blocked from entering the country on Saturday, according to Home Affairs.
Anderson arrived in Botswana on Friday.
On Monday, Bougardt of Calvary Hope Ministries in Strandfontein, boarded a plane at Cape Town International Airport for Botswana.
Bougardt would not divulge where in Botswana they would be meeting.
He told the Daily Voice at the airport on Monday: “I will meet him at a hotel and the main reason for our meeting is to discuss future trips to Africa and South Africa. I am very excited to meet with him.”
Bougardt says the ban has only “strengthened his relationship” with Anderson: “Like me he is not afraid to preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. To date, 65 people came to know Jesus Christ on his soul winning marathon and he has officially started a church in Botswana.”
Bougardt slammed Home Affairs for Anderson’s ban.
“I feel that it was not the pastor that was denied entry into SA, but it was an attempt of the Devil to stop the true Word of God being preached in SA,” he said. “He was on trial, found guilty and sentence without being in country, not by government, but by homosexuals.”
Daily Voice