kga (kommissie vir getuienisaksie) van die ng kerkfamilie
TRANSCRIPT
Getuie WitnessKGA (Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie) van die NG Kerkfamilie, KaapstreekCFW (Commission for Witness) of the DR Church family, Cape Region
2015 Semester 1
Wednesday, 10 December 2014 was a very special day for the CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian), our sister church in Malawi. Phoebe Chifungo was the first female theologian to be conferred with a PhD in theology in the history of the CCAP.
Phoebe was born at Mzimba, Edingeni district in northern Malawi. She is from a Christian family and her grandfather, Robert Manda, worked hand in hand with the well-known Scottish missionary, Robert Laws.
After the death of her father, she worked extremely hard and managed, with the help of her father's family, to attend the government's secondary school (Likuni Girls) in Lilongwe.
During a meeting of SCOM (Student Christian Organisation of Malawi) in April 1989, Phoebe accepted Christ as her Saviour. Her renewed faith in Jesus gave her the hope and confidence she needed to finish her secondary school education.
After school she stayed in Kawale, a suburb of Lilongwe, and obtained a BA in theological studies at the African Bible College in Lilongwe.
Years later Phoebe realised that she still was not fit for the task and vision she had and wanted to study further. With the support of NetACT and the DRC of
Kenridge she obtained her MTh at Stellenbosch University in 2002 on “The relevance of Christian education in Nkhoma Synod”.
After a few more years of study, Phoebe then obtained her doctorate in December last year on “Women in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod: a practical theological study of their leadership roles” at Stellenbosch. Her supervisor was Prof Ian Nell and the co-supervisor was Prof Elna Mouton.
Phoebe's own experience triggered her interest to do research on the historical, cultural and Biblical factors that caused the CCAP's leadership to remain basically male while almost 70% of their church members are women. A paper on this interesting topic was published in the book “LIVING WITH
DIGNITY. African Perspectives on Gender Equality”.
Phoebe is married to Davidson Chifungo, the previous general secretary of Nkhoma Synod (2007-2013), and since then the national director of Veritas College Malawi in Lilongwe. He devotedly supported her all the way through her years of study. They have three daughters.
Phoebe works part time as a senior lecturer at the African Bible College in Lilongwe where she teaches undergraduate classes. She also teaches Master's degree classes on a part-time basis.
Contact Kobus Odendaal at [email protected] for more information.
diefstal en ander misdaad. Verlede jaar kon Straatwerk ook stortgeriewe vir mense in nood beskikbaar stel by hul Ophelp Projekte Depot in Kaapstad. 'n Gemiddeld van 1 800 storte word per maand geneem deur mense wat nie bad- of stortgeriewe het nie – 'n eenvoudige manier om aan mense iets van hul menswaardigheid terug te gee.
Projek Opruim/Jesus Saves bied werkgeleenthede aan mense wat die stad skoonmaak. Hieruit het ook 'n volgende projek ontwikkel, naamlik die “Jesus Saves Daily” Projek wat aan gestremdes wat op straat beland het die geleentheid bied om
In 1965 begin die jongmense van die KJV (Kerk Jeug Vereniging) NGK Wynberg om in Kaapstad-middestad na mense in nood uit te reik. Vandag, vyftig jaar later, gaan hul werk steeds van krag tot krag – word Straatwerk Christus se liefdevolle arms wat om hierdie verstote mense vou.
Die Waardevol vir Jesus-veldtog help kinders waarsku teen die euwels van seksuele misbruik, prostitusie en pornografie. Daar is meer as 100 vroue vanuit verskillende kerkdenominasies wat weekliks by verskillende skole regoor die Kaapse Vlakte bid en bekend staan as “veilige tannies wat vertrou kan word”.
Tot op hede is ongeveer 60 000 kinders op die Kaapse Vlakte en meer as 150 000 nasionaal bereik (Kaapse Vlakte ingesluit).
Ophelp Projekte, 'n werk- en lewensrehabilitasieprogram wat mettertyd ook ontwikkel is, is vanjaar elf jaar oud en bied verskeie projekgeleenthede waarby haweloses en gestremdes kan inskakel om geld te verdien deur harde werk as 'n alternatief vir aggressiewe bedelary,
elke dag die handdoeke van die stortgeriewe en die oorjasse van die deelnemers van Projek Opruim te was.
Straatwerk bied Naguitreikgeleenthede vir groepe op Vrydagnagte. Tydens hierdie geleenthede kry Christene dan die geleentheid om, na 'n praktiese opleidingsgeleentheid voor die uitreik, saam op straat te gaan en mense in nood te gaan bedien met die liefde van Christus. (In 2014 het daar meer as dertig groepe so uitgereik!)
'n DVD-pakket is saamgestel om koördineerders regoor die land te help om die Waardevol vir Jesus-veldtog in hul eie gemeenskappe van stapel te stuur. Dit kan met groot vrug in jou gemeenskap gebruik word – bestel dit by Fourie Truter ([email protected]) of Lisa Truter ([email protected]).
Lees meer van Straatwerk op hul facebook by https://www.facebook.com/ straatwerk.page en op hul webwerf by http://www.straatwerk.org.za/.
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Phoebe Chifungo with friends who previously worked in Malawi. Fltr: Ingrid van Deventer, Helen Meyer, Phoebe and Davidson Chifungo, Esther Retief and Prof Ian Nell. At the back is Deon Retief and Hennie van Deventer.
This photo was taken at Phoebe's graduation day.
Straatwerk 50 jaar oud!
'n Straatwerk-span wat bid voordat hulle uitgaan op straat
CCAP Malawi's first female theologian
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gepleit en sy lewe gegee het.
Vandag ontbreek hierdie sigbare harmo-nie steeds by ons. Ons NG Kerkfamilie het 'n radikale en diep bekering tot mekaar nodig, binne ons eie huis. Wat ontbreek dan? "Hulle sal weet julle is my dissipels", sê die Here, "as hulle sien hoe lief julle vir mekaar is". Mag sy Gees sy selfopoffe-rende liefde by ons elkeen vir mekaar opwek, sodat die wêreld kan glo!
EditorialSeeing is believing!
Who preaches the gospel, who bears good news to others and the world around them? What do people see and experience from the credible bearers of the gospel? They see a funny bunch, a foreign community, different from head to toe, inside and out. A community challenging the normal order of group status, ownership, gender, just by who, what and how they are.
For, they are all kinds together. Just look. They are not like the society around them. They are Greeks and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, speaking different languages, uncivilised, slave and free, probably all sorts of colours, smooth and curly hair, green and blue and brown and black eyes, long and short, thin and hefty, rich and poor, highly educated and uneducated, labourers and professional people, employers and employees, from nearby and far away, older ones and younger ones in one community, in harmony.
And if you come close, you'll see there is peace because they, with all their many differences, love each other deeply. And the people who see and experience, want to be with and part of them. Because they provide something that the world itself has not. They are diversity united in love. This harmony stands out!
This is what the congregations of the New Testament were encouraged to look like (Acts 2:41-47; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:13-22; Phil 2:1-8; Col. 3:11-14). It is for this new and strange community that Jesus in his high priestly prayer pleaded and gave his life.
Today this visible harmony is still missing with us. We, the DRC family, need a deep and radical conversion towards one another within our own home. What then is lacking? “They will know you are my disciples,” said the Lord, “when they see your love for each other.” May his Spirit raise His own self-sacrificial love for one another within each one of us, so that the world may believe!
Johan Botha, diensgroepleier van die Kommissie Getuienisaksie
RedaksioneelSien, is glo!
Wie verkondig die evangelie, wie dra goeie nuus aan na ander en die wêreld om hulle? Wat sien en beleef mense by die geloofwaardige evangeliedraers? Hulle sien 'n snaakse lotjie, 'n vreemde gemeen-skap, van kop tot tone, van binne en buite anders. 'n Geselskap wat die gewone ordes van groep, status, besit, geslag uitdaag, al net deur wie, wat en hoe hulle is.
Want, hulle is allerhande soorte saam. Kyk maar net. Hulle is nie soos die gemeenskap om hulle nie. Hulle is Grieke en Jode, besny en onbesny, anderstalig, onbeskaafd, slaaf en vry, waarskynlik allerlei kleure, met gladde en krul hare, groen en blou en bruin en swart oë, langes en kortes, maer en fris, rykes en armes, hoog geleerd en ongeskoold, arbeiders en professionele mense, werkgewers en werknemers, van hier naby en daar ver, ja ook oueres en jongeres, in een gemeenskap, in harmonie.
En as jy naby kom, sien jy daar is vrede omdat hulle met al hul baie verskille mekaar diep liefhet. En die mense wat dit sien en beleef, wil graag by hulle en deel van hulle wees. Want hulle gee iets wat die wêreld self nie het nie. Hulle is diversiteit verenig in liefde. Die harmonie staan uit!
Dis soos die gemeentes van die Nuwe Testament lyk (Hand 2:41-47; Gal 3:28; Efes 2:13-22; Fil 2:1-8; Kol 3:11-14). Dit is vir hierdie nuwe, vreemde gemeenskap dat Jesus in sy hoëpriesterlike gebed
From AnnaMarie de Klerk, project leader of the Kids in Christ Nursery School, Malingunde, Malawi we hear the following good news:
“On behalf of our team I would like to share with you a few of the exceptional opportunities the Lord has been rolling out for us: 'Kufunyulula', just like a grass mat rolled out for us to take that first step of obedience and walk on in confidence.
“In 2014 we conducted training on 'Effective methods for teaching Bible stories to children' in the Ndaula CCAP congregation. This year we are working with the teachers at Nguluwe Prayer House
thin our congregation. On 15 March, 2015 thirteen elders and Women's Guild Sunday school teachers graduated (after successfully completing their teaching practicals). They are committed and becoming more confident using this method. They have all bought their own Bible, which we sell to them at a subsidised price. We are so grateful to many of you, our colleagues, who send or sponsor Bibles for us.
“We have our own KIX Stadium stretching out on our campus now. Coach Yosefe (one of our team) has started telling the enthusiastic four and five years old players that, in order to play World Cup in future, you need to be disciplined through exercises (warming up!), unity, identifying with your team mates, being faithful on your position, using opportunities to accomplish your GOAL. They do not know these words, but they are obedient in
following their coach. In our first match the two teams (Tigers are blue and Flames are red) had a draw 1-1.”
Every place upon which the sole of your foot shall tread, that have I given to you, as I promised …
Joshua 1:3
Contact AnnaMarie at [email protected] for more information.
The Lord is stretching our opportunities at KIX!The Lord is stretching our opportunities at KIX!
KIX's little soccer players
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Die afgelope paar jaar was 'n uitdaging om oorlewing vir ons broers en susters in Zimbabwe. Om hulle te ondersteun, is 'n bystandsfonds (die Morgenster Noodfonds) in 2008 vir Morgenster Sendingstasie van stapel gestuur. Bydraes tot die fonds is en word steeds vir verskeie projekte op Morgenster aangewend.
Vanaf Oktober 2014 het die naam verander na die Henry Murray Gedenkfonds, ter nagedagtenis aan wyle ds Henry Murray, wat op 29 Augustus 2014 oorlede is. Hy het vir baie jare in diens van die Murray Teologiese Kollege, eers as prinsipaal en later as vise-prinsipaal, gestaan.
Susan, Henry se vrou, laat weet in hul jongste nuusbrief: "Oor die afgelope paar jaar is meer as 60 kinders jaarliks gehelp
met skoolfooie, boeke, klere, kosrantsoene, ens. wat hulle andersins glad nie sou kon bekostig nie omdat hulle wees is of uit haglike omstandighede kom. Hierdie projek is in 2011 aan die Morgenster kerkraad as diakonale projek oorgegee.
“'n Paar jaar gelede help ons 'n jong asmalyer met akkommodasie en skoolfooie omdat sy nie elke dag die lang afstande te voet kon aflê skool toe nie. Haar gesondheid het sodanig verbeter dat sy haar skoolloop-baan asook opleiding as laerskoolonderwy-seres kon voltooi. Susan en haar man Obey, is nou albei onderwysers by die Copota Skool vir Blindes. Obey het ook onlangs sy Honneursgraad in musiek verwerf!
“Baie behoeftige mense met gehoor-probleme en swak sig kom dikwels om hulp vra. Danksy skenkings van gebruikte gehoorapparate het die kommunikasie-vermoëns van baie al oor die jare verbeter. Die meeste van hierdie mense kan nie eens die batterye wat vir 'n gehoorapparaat nodig is, bekostig nie! Indien so 'n gehoorapparaat nie gereeld van nuwe batterye voorsien word nie, raak dit vinnig uitgedien. Danksy
Rev Samuel Zuma is one of the ministers of URCSA Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, and ministers in the area of Nhlalakahle. He is very excited about and grateful for the Foundation for Farming methods that were taught to them by Boet Pretorius from Zimbabwe. Boet explained to them how farming links with the way God cares for us and how we have to care for our land.
They were taught how to plant soybeans and it was demonstrated to a Self Help Group of women, started by Lungile Hlongwane, a volunteer at Nhlalakahle. These women then in turn had to teach these methods to their community members and demonstrated to them how to start their own soybean fields at home. Rev Zuma explains, “It is a simple way for our community to learn how to help themselves”.
Because these people are very poor, it was decided to encourage the women to work together and to strengthen their resources by helping one another work together as one group – developing their soybean fields, and caring for other basic needs as well. The women's development concept of Self Help Groups is the URCSA KZN's committee for diaconal services' (called Usizo) project, in partnership with Sinamandla. The concept comes from India,
Msinga's people stand togetherwhere rural women were empowered in a big way. The concept consists of weekly savings of R2.00 per person, social and spiritual support, and advocacy for better services in the community. Mrs Constance Moloi, from Usizo, is the woman driving the project in KZN. There are also women's groups in Pomeroy, Mhlumayo, Ekuvukeni and other parts of KZN.
The URCSA Msinga is also in a process of establishing a Transformer Group in Nhlalakahle. The Transformers is a group of young Christians reaching out to the youth at schools with structured programmes, supplementing their ministry by sport evangelism and basic counselling skills. This new group is driven by a dedicated young man, Bonginkosi Shezi, who has a lot of enthusiasm for the youth. May God bless this new project to the glory of his Name.
Other Transformer leaders are Sihle Madonsela from Pomeroy and Sithembile Mdakane in Ndaka, Mhlumayo and Ekuvukeni. Two very blessed matric camps were recently held for Mhlumayo learners. The Msinga congregation requests prayers for funding for ten more such camps. One camp with 60 teenagers costs R10 000. Is it possible for Bible study groups, congregations or groups of friends to take
hands and make such a camp a reality? It works out to almost R167 per teenager for a weekend, including taxi money of R66.
Three ministers of URCSA Msinga are also facilitating CABSA sessions for church leaders in Msinga, addressing AIDS-related issues. Rev Bonginkosi Sithole, Rev Simon Mnisi and Rev Samual Zuma are the drivers of this project.
Family Impact is also involved as partner, supplying very well-facilitated material on family values, parenting skills and marriage enrichment. Rev Zuma is also one of the newly trained facilitators of this material. In January a marriage enrichment course was run in Msinga, facilitated by Mrs Maureen Makahaya. Then a practical problem arose: How do you run a marriage enrichment course for a man with four wives? Because part of the course consists of private discussions on issues. Maureen suggested the man attends with wife number one, the next session he brings wife number two, then wife number three....
Yes, Msinga has its unique challenges for ministry!
Contact Rev Zuma at [email protected] for more information.
Msinga's people working in their fields.
Die Henry Murray Gedenkfonds
A group of Transformers at Msinga
die fonds kan die batterye en nodige gehoorapparaat konstant in voorraad bly.
“Op dieselfde manier het skenkings van gebruikte brille die Woord van die Lewe gebring aan baie mense, sodat hulle ook nou die Bybel kan lees. Die Oogeenheid by Morgenster Hospitaal het altyd 'n behoefte aan gebruikte brille vir diegene wat dit nie kan bekostig nie.
"In een van die laaste nuusbriewe uit Henry se pen (September 2013), skryf hy self: 'Die aanwending van die geld uit die Noodfonds is bedoel om 'n blywende verskil te maak in die lewens van veral jongmense wat andersins 'n hooplose toekoms tegemoet sou gaan – geen kwali-fikasies, geen werk, blywende armoede en ellende!' So 'n stukkie van die waarmaak van Matteus 25.”
Lees meer oor hierdie wonderlike fonds by http://www.kga.org.za/wp/henry-murray-gedenkfonds/
Kontak Kobus Odendaal by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
Susan Murray (middel) met Obey, sy vrou, Susan en hul seuntjie.
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Op 16 Desember, die begin van die Hanoeka-fees, het die Messiaanse gemeente Beit Ariel, waar Francois Wessels en Cecilia Burger betrokke is, fees gevier met 'n piekniek en musiekkonsert in 'n tuin in Rondebosch. Die eerste kers van die yslike groot nege-armige kandelaar is, soos gebruiklik by hierdie fees, aangesteek.
Hierdie fees waarna in Johannes 10:22 verwys word as die fees van die tempelwyding, dateer terug na ongeveer 168 vC. Na die dood van Alexander die Grote het verskeie heersers probeer om die Jode te vergrieks. Dit het 'n klimaks bereik met die wrede koning Antiochus Epifanus van Siriё. Hy het alles in sy vermoё gedoen om die Joodse godsdiens uit te wis. Antiochus het beelde van die Griekse god, Zeus oral opgerig, selfs in die tempel in Jerusalem. Jode is gedwing om voor die afgod te buig. Die tempel is verder ontheilig deur 'n vark op die altaar te offer en varkvet oor die Tora-rolle uit te gooi. 'n Opstand het in 168 vC in die dorpie Modein uitgebreek onder leiding van die
getuig: 'Ons huil oor julle weggaan, want julle het vir ons eie familie geword'.”
Francois Wessels, predikant van Cape Peninsula Reformed Church (CPRC) en ook gestuurde van die familie van NG Kerke vir die Simcha-Bediening aan Jode, bereik aftree-ouderdom einde-Mei. Francois is in 1977 op Nkhoma in Malawi, in ons susterkerk, die Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), as dosent in Nuwe Testament en Sistematiese Teologie by die Zomba Teologiese Kollege georden. In Augustus 1983 word hy leraar van die Cape Peninsula Reformed Church (CPRC) in Kaapstad met opdrag Bediening aan Jode. Hy werk sedert die tagtigerjare onder andere saam met Cecilia Burger, en ook met Rodney Mechanic, 'n Messiaanse Jood en predikant in die Anglikaanse Kerk.
Uit hul bediening word Beit Ariel as 'n onafhanklike Messiaans-Joodse gemeente in 1990 gestig met Rodney as eerste leraar. Francois dien sedertdien in die Beit Ariel-leierskap.
As lid van die destydse Sinodale Sendingkommissie (SSK) beleef hy die samesmelting met die Kommissie vir Ampsbediening en Evangelisasie (SKAE) en uiteindelik in 1991 die eenwording met die voormalige NGSK se Sinodale Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie (SKGA) om
Op 28 Maart het Willem en Annalie Botes na 39 jaar in die gemeentes van Isilimela en Decoligny amptelik uit die tuig getree.
Hul toewyding aan die evangelie-verkondiging, deur soet en bitter tye, is
wyd bekend. Willem sê hulle is baie dankbaar vir die duidelike vrug op hul jarelange gefokusde lidmaat- en leierskaps-toerusting. Vandag neem volwasse gelowiges gemaklik verantwoordelikheid vir die gemeente se geestelike lewe en hul bedieninge na buite. In hul eie omgewing is die bou van en meelewing met die Sinethemba inrigting vir verstandelik- en fisies gestremde mense sedert 2006, asook die gemeente se jaarlikse sendingbetrokkenheid in Mosambiek sedert 2001 besondere hoogtepunte.
Maar wat tans veral uitstaan, sê hy, is die wat hulle van alle getuienis van liefdekante uit die Decoligny-gemeente ontvang. Die gemeentelede getuig dat hul voortdurende blootstelling aan susters en broers van hul NG Kerkfamilie-vennote wat uit Wes- en Oos-Kaap kom kuier en werk, diep en blywende liefdesbande tussen hulle gesmee het.
Willem getuig: “Ons laaste besoekersgroep en ons gemeentelede het onlangs gesels oor wat ware Christenskap beteken. En almal het saamgestem: dit is liefde vir mekaar. Juis dit beleef ons oral waar ons tans afskeid neem. Gemeentelede
die huidige Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie (KGA) te vorm, waarby Jodebediening amptelik inskakel. Sedert 2004 is Francois ook lid van die NGKSA se Sinodale Kommissie vir Leer- en Aktuele Sake waar hy by studies en verslae oor kontensieuse sake, ook vir die Algemene Sinodeverband, fundamentele bydraes gemaak het.
� As draer van die evangelie aan ons Joodse bure het Francois 'n besondere deernis vir die lotgevalle van die Joodse gemeenskap in die Skiereiland. Oor die jare is sy bedieningstyl as nie-bedreigend deur die Joodse gemeenskap ervaar. Sy en sy medewerkers se leierskap in die Simcha Bediening aan die Jode het vir die NG Kerkfamilie se Getuienisaksie deure geopen wat andersins ontoeganklik sou gebly het.
Na sy emeritaat in Mei 2015 sal Francois die CPRC-gemeente in 'n vaste termynpos bedien. Hy sal ook beskikbaar bly vir die Simcha bediening aan Jode, in samewerking met me Cecilia Burger en met die steun van die KGA.
Die formele aftrede van ons besonder-gewaardeerde twee broers en hul eggenotes sal 'n groot leemte laat in die eiesoortige bedieninge waarin hulle gestaan het. Ons weet hul werk is vaste grond vir die bedieninge wat sal volg en is dankbaar dat hulleself steeds diensbaar sal bly. KGA bid hulle en hul huisgesinne die seën van die Here toe.
Johan Botha
of hanoekia gebruik. Vir agt aande word elke aand 'n kers aangesteek – op die eerste aand een, twee op die tweede aand tot agt kerse op die agste aand. Die middelste kers, bekend as sjamasj of dienskneg, word eerste aangesteek. Hierdie kers word dan gebruik om die ander kerse aan te steek. Die hanoekia word in 'n vensterbank neergesit sodat verbygangers dit kan sien en na die betekenis daarvan kan vra. Dit gee die Joodse gesin die geleentheid om te getuig oor God se reddingsdade.
Hanoeka het baie raakpunte met die evangelie-boodskap. Dit word in Desember gevier naby die fees van die Lig van die wȇreld, Kersfees. Soos wat die middelste kers, dienskneg, gebruik word om die ander kerse aan te steek, het Jesus as Dienskneg gekom om die lig in ons lewens aan te steek. Soos ons Joodse vriende van Hanoeka getuig, het ons dus rede om op ons beurt, soos diensknegte, te getuig dat God mens geword het.
Lees meer by http://www.kga.org.za/wp/ simcha-bediening/.
Diepspoor-mense neem demissie
Willem en Annalie Botes
Francois en Adré Wessels
Hanoeka, die Fees van die Ligtebejaarde hoёpriester Mattathias, die Makabeёr, en sy vyf seuns. Na drie jaar is die Siriёrs verslaan. Die Jode kon nou weer die tempel binnegaan. Vir die tempel-wyding was geheiligde olie nodig. Volgens oorlewering is 'n fles met olie in die tempel gevind wat genoeg was om die lamp in die tempel vir een dag te laat brand. Die lamp het wonderbaarlik vir agt dae gebrand. Om hierdie wonder te herdenk, word die fees van die ligte, Hanoeka, steeds vandag gevier.
Hiervoor word 'n nege-armige kandelaar
Beit Ariel se musiekgroep lei die samesang tydens die Hanoeka-fees. Op links die nege-armige kandelaar.
individually or in group context. Veritas courses that focus on the development of knowledge and the skilled handling of the Bible can also be undertaken as a follow-up strategy in the local context.
We thank God for the new energy that was released during the workshop and for the younger leaders who enthusiastically take responsibility for the way forward.
More good news is that CFW could assist two other Reading Acts in Africa workshops immediately after the PE event – one in the presbytery of Cala and one in the presbytery of Mthatha. There were 66 and 35 very enthusiastic church leaders at the various workshops that were facilitated by Johann and Fezile.
Contact Johan Botha at [email protected] for more information.
hulle deelgeneem aan van die dissipelskap- en omgeegroepe sowel as die worsmakery vir die basaar! Vanaf 27 tot 28 Februarie het die Sendingkundige, dr Frans Hancke, 'n konferensie met die tema, 'Die PLAN' aangebied. Die eenvoud en helderheid waarmee hy die Bybelse boodskap aangebied het, was indrukwekkend. Hy het ook die erediens op 1 Maart waargeneem.
“Elkeen wat een van die twee dienste bygewoon het, kon baie duidelik verstaan dat die HELE gemeente, ELKEEN van ons, die opdrag het om die evangelie uit te dra; dat ons 'n gestuurde gemeente is.
Die uitstalling van die KGA (Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie) in die kerk se voorportaal kon elkeen wat inkom ook onmiddellik bewus maak daarvan dat ons besig is met Getuienismaand.”
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Johan Botha CFW (Commission for Witness), Carl Swart of Poverty and Care and Mzi Kibito of Congregational Ministry were part of a group of about thirty representatives from presbyteries and synodal ministries who attended a three-day workshop in Port Elizabeth in February. They discussed challenges and opportunities in their different ministries in and from the Eastern Cape.
Mzi says a key question is how the local church, where there are currently very few pastors, and where church leaders and church councils therefore often have to take the lead at various levels, can be supported and strengthened in their service and mission work. And how can we help each other in this?
Carl says the workshop was convened by the URC Eastern Cape Diaconial Sub-committee (SKDD/ Poverty and Care) in collaboration with the CFW and Congregational Ministry. Representatives of the ten URC presbyteries in the Eastern Cape and the relevant synod ministries, along with members of the moderamen of the URC and two representatives of the DRC in the Eastern Cape, discussed and planned the way forward.
Johan says that important key outomes were achieved. One was the establishment of a representative co-ordinating team for
Heelwat gemeentes hou deesdae Getuienis-feeste – die hart van ons geloof in Jesus Christus, naamlik hoe om sy liefdevolle hande, gewillige voete en vergewens-gesindheid vir die mense om ons te wees.
In September verlede jaar het Kleinmond 'n Getuienisfees gehou waartydens daar ook 'n uitstalling van die bedieninge wat deur die KGA (Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie) ondersteun word, was. Johan Botha was een van die gassprekers.
Die voorsitter van hul Getuienisaksie, Gert Pretorius, vertel: “Ons Getuienisfees se tema was 'Die golflengte van die Goeie Boodskap – is jy ingeskakel?'. Die boodskap was dat ons as Getuienisaksie graag die gemeente wou aanspoor om hulself te sien as deel van die Here se kinders wat die Groot Opdrag van Jesus moet uitvoer.
“Met die Getuienisfees het ons weer diep onder die indruk gekom van die groot nood in die wêreld om ons, die baie mense
the ministries in the Eastern Cape, who will, in co-operation with task teams, focus on matters such as leadership training in congregations. A follow-up meeting of the coordinating team will ensure that the workshop's plans and intentions will be executed practically.
The whole group also completed the reading strategy, Reading Acts in Africa, under the leadership of Johann du Plessis (DRC Kenridge) and Fezile Mbenenge (retired URC minister from PE). The course was previously successfully offered in the Eastern Cape and elsewhere in Africa, focusing particularly on developing the Bible knowledge and skills of the local church leadership.
The follow-up of such an introductory workshop with the Reading Acts in Africa strategy can be with courses of the NBI (Nehemiah Bible Institute). It focusses on the development of knowledge and skills related to various ministries in congregations and the wider context. (Sokhanya Bible School's entry-level material will also soon be part of NBI). The material can be used either
wat sterf sonder dat hulle ooit van Jesus gehoor het, die vervolging wat miljoene Christene moet verduur, en veral ook die noodsaaklikheid dat ons elkeen as sendeling, die geleenthede moet benut om getuies te wees in die wêreld waarin ons elke dag leef.
“Die terugvoer wat gemeentelede gegee het, was dat die Getuienisfees ons laat besef het dat die moderne media 'n besondere geleentheid bied vir evangelisasie. Ons het veral bewus geword van die band wat daar tussen ons as Christene is – dat 'ons hier' en 'hulle daar' deel is van mekaar – hulle is ons en ons is ook hulle, ongeag van waar ons woon.”
Die NGK Langebaan het in Februarie-maand 'n baie suksesvolle Getuienismaand aangebied. Abie Cloete, voorsitter van hul Getuieniskommissie vertel: “Dit het afge-skop met 'n oggenddiens op 1 Februarie deur Thys Visser van Geopende Deure. Op 15 Februarie het Andre & Anna-Marie Thiart van hul werk in Quionga in Noordoos-Mosambiek kom vertel en op 22 Februarie was dit Johan & Enna Dames se beurt. Hulle werk in Pemba, ook in Noordoos-Mosambiek.
“In die daaropvolgende paar dae het
Some of the representatives who attended the workshop at PE
Eastern Cape ministry developments
Kleinmond en Langebaan hou Getuienisfees
'n KGA-uitstalling by Kleinmond se Getuienisfees.
Andre en Anna-Marie Thiart tydens Langebaan se Getuienismaand.
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CAVA (Christian Audio-Visual Action) is 'n nie-winsgewende bediening wat meer as 37 jaar gelede in Zimbabwe ontstaan het toe sendelinge die nood van die Zimbabwe-plaaswerkers raakgesien het. Stelletjies literatuur, oudio-kassette en prenteboeke is aan boere beskikbaar gestel met 'n bandspeler wat met die hand gedraai is en dus sonder elektrisiteit of batterye gewerk het.
Sedertdien het CAVA ontwikkel tot 'n drieledige nasionale bediening wat fokus op literatuur en drukwerk, oudiovisuele bediening en dissipelskap-opleiding deur middel van o.a. die NBI (Nehemiah Bible Institute)-kursusse. Hul hoofkantoor is in Harare en die bestuurder is Gerard Breytenbach.
Aangesien CAVA net 'n beperkte gebied rondom Zimbabwe bedien, het Kobus Odendaal van die KGA (Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie), Gideon van der Watt (NG Kerk Vrystaat: Vennote in Getuienis en redakteur van CLF) en Gerard Breytenbach onlangs koppe bymekaar gesit om oor die toekoms van CAVA te besin.
Daar is besluit om 'n vennootskap te sluit tussen CAVA, die NG Kerk in die Vrystaat (wat veral in Zambië, en in 'n mate in Botswana betrokke is) en CLF (Christelike Lektuurfonds) om te bepaal of materiaal wat in CAVA en CLF beskikbaar is wyer aangewend kan word. Die reikwydte sal uitgebrei word na ons susterskerke in Zimbabwe, Mosambiek en Malawi, asook na Zambië en Botswana, maar sal noodwendig ook ander denominasies insluit.
Gedagtig aan die bestaande kapasiteit van beide CAVA en CLF, is dit goeie nuus – met CAVA se reeds-bestaandse invloed in die RCZ (Reformed Church in
Zimbabwe), CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) en ook ander organisasies, hul drukkery se infrastruktuur en die ondersteuningsbronne wat CLF reeds in plek het om literatuur beskikbaar te stel, beloof hierdie vennootskap om 'n gedugte span te vorm.
Gerard Breytenbach se taak sal verbreed om ook as 'n streeksbestuurder met die susterskerke in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambië, Mosambiek en Malawi te skakel.
Die grootste uitdaging sal wees om die ondersteuningsdiens wat hierdie gesamentlike projek van CAVA en CLF aan ons susterskerke kan lewer onder die aandag van hul leierskap te bring, en veral om hul samewerking in hierdie verband te kry. Dit sal 'n spanpoging wees om aan die een kant behoeftes te bepaal en literatuur daarvoor te ontwikkel, en aan die ander kant die produk te reklameer (bv. via 'n gesamentlike kerkleiersforum) sodat kerkleiers eienaarskap hiervan kan neem en dit in die hande van die teikenlesers kan help besorg.
Gerard sal, met die ondersteuning van die KGA en NGK Vrystaat, die verskillende gebiede besoek, met moderature in gesprek tree en hulle inlig oor hierdie kosbare ondersteuningsbron.
Kontak Kobus Odendaal by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
Wil jy graag die nagraadse teologiese opleiding van die kerk in Malawi ondersteun, maar weet nie waar en hoe nie? Die is jou Christi Burger Beursfondsantwoord!
Maar wie was Christi Burger en hoe het die fonds ontstaan?
Ds Burger was die laaste hoof van die NG Kerk se Malawi Sending voordat die CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) Nkhoma Sinode in 1962 'n outonome kerk geword het. Gedurende sy ampstermyn het hy 'n deurslaggewende rol gespeel in die oorgee van beheer en leierskap vanaf die NG Kerk na die CCAP Nkhoma Sinode.
Met sy versoenende persoonlikheid, mensebestuursvaardighede, sensitiewe aanvoeling en respek vir mense van 'n ander kultuur het oom Christi daarin geslaag om, ten spyte van die uitdagende politieke situasie van die tyd, goeie
interkerklike verhoudinge te help handhaaf en 'n gesonde basis vir toekomstige samewerking tussen die kerk in SA en Malawi te help vestig.
Gedagtig hieraan en in erkenning vir sy besondere nalatenskap, het sy vrou, tannie Helen, en sy kinders tydens hul Junie-vakansie in Malawi verlede jaar besluit om die Christi Burger Beursfonds te stig. Die fonds sal gebruik word om predikante van die CCAP Nkhoma Sinode in Malawi te ondersteun vir verdere teologiese studies aan 'n tersiêre instansie. Dit sal 'n nagraadse diploma of meestersgraad in teologie kon insluit.
Daar is gemiddeld twee predikante van Malawi wat jaarliks deel van 'n program
vir verdere teologiese opleiding is. Hulle kom twee maal per jaar vir 'n maand na die Universiteit Stellenbosch en bly dan in die studentehuis, Weidenhof, wat oorspronklik deur die KGA aangekoop en later aan die US oorgedra is. Die studieprogramkoste beloop tussen R30 000 en R40 000 per student per jaar.
Danksy bydraes deur oom Christi se familie bestaan daar reeds 'n stewige fonds. Die gelde word saam met die beleggings van die kerk geadministreer, belê en geouditeer. Die KGA beoog om uit 'n ander bron 'n bedrag van R80 000 tot die Christi Burger Beursfonds by te voeg sodat ons so gou moontlik uit die rente-opbrengs die eerste student kan bystaan met verdere teologiese studies, moontlik reeds in 2016.
Kontak Kobus Odendaal by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
Die Christi Burger Beursfonds vir predikante in Malawi
Christi Burger
After many years of effort, an important process was launched in CFW's Task Team Africa Ecumenical Family, namely the mutual cooperation and partnership formation of the respective leaderships within our family ecumenism in Africa. Included are our sister churches in Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya, along with our DRC family in South Africa.
The decision of the Extended Moderamen of the DRC in October 2014, namely to support the establishment of a project team for Africa Ecumenical Ties, was a major step forward. The pilot team of Kobus Gerber, Gideon van der Watt, Kobus Odendaal, Carel Lourens and Jurgens Hendriks (on behalf of NetACT) met in Johannesburg on 18 February.
During this meeting several requests for the establishment of a leadership forum for our African ecumenical family were noted from our sister churches in the rest of Africa.
The first task of the project team is to connect the other members of the Dutch Reformed Church family in South Africa (URC, RCA & DRC in Africa) to this action. After that, a first summit will be organised with the General Secretaries (Executive Officers) of our sister churches in Africa, probably mid-June in Lusaka, Zambia. This conference will outline the establishment of a Leadership Forum within our broader ecumenical family in Africa.
Contact Kobus Odendaal at [email protected] for more information.
CAVA in vennootskap met CLF
(Vlnr) Kobus Odendaal, Gideon van der Watt en Gerard Breytenbach tydens hul vergadering.
Leadership Team for Africa Ecumenism
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I recently came accross this heart-warming story and realised again how much I long and pray to have a similar DRC Family congregation nearby to attend and to take others to!
The Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church, established in 1888, was once the largest congregation of its denomination in Kentucky (2 315 members in 1950). But in the late 1980s, it seemed fated for closure. The turnaround began in 1991 with the appointment of an African American pastor, followed in 1997 by a white pastor with experience serving in urban African American churches. By 1997, the membership had risen to 320. Today, 25% of the church's membership is comprised of various racial and ethnic groups, including African American, Haitian, Native American, Liberian and Nigerian. The church's programme, Building an Intercultural Congregation, aims at creating a multi-ethnic congregation intent on committing itself to an urban mission and ministry.
The programmes of the church, carried
“Ons is weer eens trots op ons studente se 2014-prestasies in al drie fakulteite.” So laat weet Ivan Stevens, sielkunde-dosent van Hefsiba, tersiêre Christelike opleidingsinstituut in Noordwes-Mosambiek, in sy jongste nuusbrief.
Hy vertel ook verder dat sewe studente in die Fakulteit Teologie hul studies voltooi het en later vanjaar hul diplomas sal ontvang. Ses van hulle is op 14 Desember 2014 gelegitimeer en het kort daarna na hul onderskeie gemeentes in die sinodale gebiede vertrek. Ivan vertel: “Ons gebede vir hierdie jong leraars mag nie stop nie. Dis 'n reuse-taak wat op hulle wag. Hulle werk meestal in afgeleë areas sonder waarborge van vergoeding en byvoordele. Kort voor hulle vertrek het die jong leraars saam met hul eggenotes 'n huweliksverrykings-kursus deurloop wat afgesluit is met 'n aangrypende seremonie waartydens elke egpaar hul huweliksbeloftes hernu het.
“Soos wat jaarliks die gebruik is,” vertel Ivan verder, “ontvang elke nuwe leraar voor sy vertrek 'n fiets. Dit stel
out by lay volunteers and part-time staff, cover a number of areas. The most important aspect of the church's efforts to reach out to different ethnic groups is the church's culturally blended worship, which emphasises both God's grace and justice in a multicultural world. The church recently purchased a hymnal, Songs of Zion that contains predominantly African American songs and prayers. In this way and others, the church hopes to blend religious teaching and racial and cultural sensitivity among its congregants. Other programmes
hulle in staat om 'n wye en uitgestrekte bedieningsveld makliker te kan bereik. Die NGK Robertson-Oos maak hierdie skenking moontlik en Hefsiba, sowel as die Igreja Reformada em Mozambique, sê weer eens dankie. Die fietse is vooraf ontvang en aanmekaargesit en amptelik tydens legitimasie oorhandig.
“In goeie gereformeerde tradisie, dra 'n prediker hier altyd 'n das. Die probleem is egter dat jy nie maklik 'n das plaaslik kan koop nie. Met behulp van Derick & Bertie, my twee broers in Johannesburg, sowel as 'n reuse-bydrae deur NGK Kloofendal, het Alexandra (my dogter) op 12 Desember met sewentig dasse op Tête geland. Hierdie 'kersgeskenk' het die studente en ook 'n paar dosente verras. Baie dankie daarvoor!”
Hefsiba se voortbestaan word moontlik gemaak deur 'n aantal mense, instansies & gemeentes wat uit Goddelike oortuiging bydra en sodoende dit moontlik maak dat Hefsiba kan meewerk aan die uitbreiding van God's koninkryk hier in Afrika. Alhoewel die getalle van betalende
provided by the church include lunches for homeless persons, made available Monday through Friday, and a monthly social hour for persons with HIV/AIDS and related conditions. Other programmes include: mid-week sessions for children and youth during the school year; summer activities for children and youth; visitation to the homes of the children and youth; hosting support groups like for parents with children who have learning disabilities; housing four ecumenical social action non-profit organisations; and sponsoring refugee families.
The Fourth Avenue church has been received positively by the community, with over 120 people attending worship, 150 receiving free lunches, and four families taking advantage of the church's refugee sponsorship. This congregation is distinctive in being an economically viable congregation that models racial inclusiveness.
Contact Johan Botha at [email protected] for information.
An inclusive congregation is good news to us and to society!
Hefsiba, ligdraer in Afrikastudente (Fakulteite Sielkunde en Ekonomie & Bestuur) toeneem en sodoende Hefsiba stadigaan vorentoe vat op die pad van groterwordende onafhanklikheid, is hulle nog lank nie daar nie.
Hefsiba het tans vier studente wat geen ondersteuning in die vorm van 'n beurs ontvang nie. 'n Studiebeurs beloop op die oomblik R29,000 per jaar. Direkte kostes is veel meer as dit. Wil u dit nie oorweeg om te help nie? Alhoewel dit 'n groot bedrag is, sal 'n gedeeltelike bydrae alreeds baie help. Of as jy en vyf vriende dalk 'n sindikaat kan vorm en een van die studente 'aanneem', kan dit hoop en 'n geleentheid gee aan 'n voornemende student wat uiteindelik 'n belangrike rol kan speel in die uitbreiding van God se Koninkryk.
Kontak Kobus Odendaal by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
Hefsiba se studente en dosente spog met hul nuwe dasse.Een van die fietse wat danksy die NGK Robertson-Oos aan die leraarspare geskenk is.
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bekend gemaak sal word, sê die oorspronklike taal.
Hoekom? Omdat die skepping, as die Here se eie handewerk die hoop het dat sy kinders as sy eie skepsels met die liefdesevangelie van Jesus in hulle harte en lewens genadig, met sagtheid en deernis sal lewe en versorgend sal werk met die res van God se handewerk.
Die sinodale Taakspan vir Ekologie van die NG Kerkfamilie in Kaapland sê daarom: Ons ondersteun aardversorgers in navolging van Jesus en in ons bystand aan gemeentes en kerkverband hou ons vyf kernwaardes hoog: Ons gee om vir die skepping. Ons erken die integriteit daarvan en respekteer dit. Ons is dienend daarby betrokke en bevorder 'n vereenvoudigde leefstyl.
Navolgers van Jesus kan nie anders nie; hulle gee vanselfsprekend om vir God se skepping. Navolgers van Jesus word aangespreek deur sy eie sagte, dienende voetspoor. Hy het self met bitter min op aarde klaargekom, was totaal onselfsugtig en het sy eie lewe uit liefde en deernis opgeoffer sodat ons en die skepping nuut kan lewe en laat lewe. Dis hierdie genadige lewenshouding, so 'n loflied waarna die skepping met 'n uitgestrekte nek vandag by ons soek. Want, "waar daar liefde is en deernis, daar is God die Heer!"
Kontak Johan Botha ([email protected]) of Carl Swart ([email protected])vir meer inligting.
Our two Sports Ministry partners, Ben Marais and Joseph Jacobs, tell us that sports ministry is used worldwide by mission agencies and churches to make people disciples of Jesus and to lead them to spiritual maturity, so that they can become transformation agents in the society where they live, work and play.
Sports Ministry helps churches to focus on:• members' responsibility to integrate their
faith and their daily lives and not to live compartmentalised,
• the calling of congregations to function outside the four walls of the church and to become involved in pressing challenges in their communities.
Those involved often gather together. During these gatherings Sports Ministry concentrates on three movements to enable everyone to carry the gospel of love into the community and to help create the positive transformation of society:• Moving beyond the collection of
knowledge (e.g. with preaching, Sunday School) and focusing on the active use of knowledge, in obedience.
• Moving towards making disciples who then in turn disciple.
• Moving the focus from activities that enable people to come to us (church activities) to a focus that enables them to go to where they are, live, play and work.
The ministry is currently focused within the Christian communities of Saldanha, Diasville, Fish Hoek, Ocean View and Hout Bay, with great success. Another positive outcome is the current program
Rom 8:18-25 is een van die merkwaar-digste perikope in
die Bybel. Daar word op
'n besondere manier na die skepping
se verhouding met ons verwys. Aan die een kant sug die skepping in die pyne van verwagting, soos by 'n geboorte, om verlos te word van die verganklikheid, om nuut gebore te word. Die skepping wil vry wees, bly wees, jubel, lewe! Aan die ander kant, sien die skepping "met 'n uitgestrekte nek" (gespanne verwagting) daarna uit dat die kinders van die Here
Kom ons sing "ubi caritas" vir God se skepping
The Gospel of love through Sports Ministry
with groups of 25 prisoners in the old Victor Verster Prison. Before being released, they will get to know the gospel through the Sports Ministry course. By doing this they will be equipped to become leaders and father figures for orphaned young people in our communities through the means of sports as a medium of communication.
Let us pray for this great and blessed evangelism ministry.
Contact Ben at [email protected] or Joseph at [email protected].
Thembalethu (Our Hope), George, 7 February 2015: The Uniting Reformed Church in SA (URCSA) welcomes their new minister, Bonganjalo Mbenenge. Local members, friends and colleagues of Rev Benjamin Mbenenge, the father of the new minister, and a beloved former moderator of the DRCA, rejoice today.
A bursary from the Paarl DRC enabled Mbenenge Sr to complete high school at Cala in the 1960s. The catechism classes of Dr Jaap du Rand inspired him to become a minister of religion but study towards a degree without funds needed an answer to prayer.
Rev Koos Oosthuysen introduced Benjamin to Mrs Badenhorst, a widow of a former missionary, who saw the potential of this studious young man and sponsored
From Father to Son his studies at Fort Hare before his theological training at Decoligny. He excelled and was awarded a bursary at the University of Michigan, USA. Mrs Badenhorst's good deed escalated into producing a dedicated pastor and leader for the broader church. Her contribution was multiplied into the life of the church with his son now following in his footsteps.
Today we are witnesses of these blessings here at Thembalethu. The church building is filled to capacity with people rejoicing. The sermon by Rev Vinqi highlights Eli's words: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:9). Having listened to the Lord, he must act and speak, even if it is difficult to bring a challenging message.
For the handing over of the robe, Bonganjalo and his wife were joined by
Rev Benjamin Mbenenge and his wife. This was a very special occasion for the parents to welcome their son and his wife in their footsteps. About 30 ministers – many already retired – laid hands on him at the ordination and he received guidance for his new ministry. A delicious meal was then served.
It was indeed a feast of words, worship and thanksgiving. May the congregation of Thembalethu really be a sign of “Our hope”.
Written by Lucia Oosthuysen
Rev. Bonganjalo Mbenenge
Dr Willie van der Merwe Congratulations to Dr Willie van der Merwe, rector of the Hugenote College at Wellington, on his doctorate in Practical Theology at Stellenbosch University.
His study was called “In word and deed in the service of God. The diaconate of the Dutch Reformed Church in post-apartheid South Africa.” His supervisor was Prof Jurgens Hendriks.
Willie is the current secretary of the national United Ministry for Service and Witness, in which the CFW participates as a regional synodical ministry.
Dr Beryl BotmanCongratulations to Dr Beryl Botman on her doctorate in Educational Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University. Her study focused on “Teacher praxis and hope: a philosophical analysis of teacher education policy in South Africa since 1994.” Prof Y Waghid was her supervisor.
Her late husband, Prof Russel Botman, former rector of the university, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Commission for Witness, which functions since 1992 as a joint ministry of the Dutch Reformed and Uniting Reformed Churches.
Ds Wouter van Velden van die NGK Wolseley en sy belydenisgroep het hierdie jaar afgeskop met 'n besoek aan Straat-werk en Biblia Hawesending in Tafelbaai.
Wouter vertel: “'n Heerlike, huislike atmosfeer het ons die Vrydagaand verwelkom toe Fourie en Lisa Truter-hulle ons innooi in hul 'huis'. Ons het gou-gou tuis gevoel en reggemaak om stad toe te vertrek. Ten spyte van al die liggies en baie mense het die katkisante nie die huislike atmosfeer in die strate van Kaapstad aangetref nie – dalk eerder 'n ontnugtering dat dinge soveel anders kan wees as waaraan hulle gewoond is. Gelukkig maak Straatwerk die verskil en sien 'n mens 'n ander atmosfeer deurbreek waar Straatwerk se voetstappe val.
"Dane du Plessis van Biblia Hawesending se opgewondenheid Saterdagmiddag oor sy werk en passie vir die seelui was aansteeklik. Hy het beslis 'n kant van Christenskap gewys wat baie van die katkisante nie ken nie. Blootstelling kry darem net baie meer reg as 'n kategese-klas of 'n preek op hierdie ouderdom.”
Kontak ds Van Velden by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
Het jy al gehoor van 'n erediens wat in Portugees, dan in Engels en uiteindelik in Xhosa getolk word? Dit is hoe ver 'n gemeente sal gaan om hul broer uit Afrika se storie te hoor, want ons is mos familie!
In Oktober verlede jaar was ds Ualise van die IRM (Igreja Reformada emMoçambique), ons susterskerk in Mosambiek, saam met Kobus Odendaal en Danie Murray op besoek aan die VGK Mfuleni, naby Kuilsrivier.
Danie fasiliteer die ondersteuning van IRM-gemeentes van die Tumbine-sinode deur koppeling met plaaslike gemeentes. Ds Ualise is die moderator van die sinode.
Hulle het die oggenddiens as gaste bygewoon en is met groot hartlikheid en warmte deur ds Lucas Plaatjie, predikant van die gemeente (en ook vorige moderator van die VGK Kaapland) en sy kerkraad ontvang.
Tydens die diens het ds Ualise Portugees gepraat terwyl Danie, wat jarelank predikant in Milange, Tumbine-sinode was, dit na Engels getolk en waarna iemand anders dit weer in Xhosa getolk het!
Ds Ualise se preek en groeteboodskap vanuit die verre Mosambiek is met groot entoesiasme ontvang en die kontak van hul susterskerk in Mosambiek is hartlik verwelkom. VGK Mfuleni het opnuut bewus geraak van hoe groot en diep ons NGK-familie in Afrika strek.
Kontak ds Plaatjie by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
Mfuleni, Wolseley en Calvinia ervaar eerstehands!
Chrissie Thorne van NGK Calvinia vertel: “'n Ontmoeting met 'n nuwe geloofs-familie in die vreemde het ons lewens verander en ons geloof versterk. Ons dank ons Hemelse Vader daarvoor.”
Die NGK Calvinia was verlede jaar op besoek aan een van hul eie mense, AnnaMarie de Klerk, sendeling vir al meer as veertig jaar, by haar KIX Nursery School in Malingunde, Malawi.
Hul uitreikfokusse is deur AnnaMarie se bedieningsbehoeftes bepaal en het oa die opleiding van sekere onderwysvaardig-hede, die bou van 'n speelpark, die opgradering van die plaaslike leraar se pastoriebadkamer, sekere bouwerk en opleiding van die kerkraad ingesluit. In die proses is almal se gawes ingespan en kon selfs AnnaMarie se voertuig gediens en herstel word!
Tydens hul besoek is daar verhoudinge gebou en ook beter begrip en empatie vir ander gelowiges ontwikkel. 'n Besondere ervaring was om saam met die plaaslike gemeente 'n erediens te hou en om ook 'n troue in Lilongwe te kon bywoon. Hulle het ook 'n tradisionele ete met die tradisionele handewas voor ete beleef.
Kontak ds Thorne by [email protected] vir meer inligting.
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Congratulations to Graduates!
Kobus Odendaal with Dr Beryl Botman
Dr Willie van der Merwe with Prof Jurgens Hendriks, his .supervisor
Ds Ualise tydens sy besoek aan VGK Mfuleni. Danie Murray staan langs hom.
Wolseley se belydenisgroep besoek Biblia Hawesending in Tafelbaai.
Die skoolhoof van Hoërskool Hantam, Kallie Koopman (wat die VGK verteenwoordig het) was hande voor ete by Malingunde.
NetACT is the Network for African Congregational Theology (http://www0.sun.ac.za/netact/) that assists theological institutions in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition in Sub-Saharan Africa in preparing leaders for missional congregations to address challenges that face our continent. It was formed in February 2000 in Nairobi, Kenya and had up till 2014 fifteen participating institutions. Stellenbosch University acts as the central resource centre from where the network is administered and coordinated.
During the last week of January about 40 members from 35 seminaries across South-Saharan Africa, attended the AGM of an enlarged NetACT at Benoni, Johannesburg. The theme was Community Development and topics such as "Theology and Development: what's theology got to do with development?" were discussed. During the meeting it was decided to expand the network to form three additional networks around three other universities in South Africa namely,
Free State University, North-West University and Pretoria University with institutions all over Sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the conference delegates was Santino Odong Othol who represented his seminary, the Nile Theological College in South Sudan. The devastation caused by civil war has a huge impact - not only on society, but also on important institutions. Their theological school was destroyed during the resent civil war and the entire seminary has now to be moved from Malakal to the capital, Juba.
During the conference, Prof Elna Mouton launched the book "LIVING WITH DIGNITY. African perspectives on Gender Equality". The book is dedicated to the "Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians" and was received by Dr Maria Frahm-Arp, representing the association. The book was the result of a project of NetACT of the previous three years. It can be
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CFW is regularly informed about the situation in Nigeria where our sister church has to cope with the horrific effects of Boko Haram's terror in the northeastern Nigerian communities on a daily basis.
Boko Haram considers the northeastern part of Nigeria, Borno State, as the area from where they can systematically gain rule and eventually put the country under Islamic rule. At the time of this report 20 of the 27 municipal areas in Borno were under the control of Boko Haram. And as far as they went, they caused destruction of unprecedented proportions. More than a million people have been displaced and uprooted, and fled to the capital, Maiduguri, where they are in refugee camps to seek shelter for survival. Since January Boko Haram's attacks are also aggressively aimed at Maiduguri.
Our friends reported that the church buildings and infrastructure of the Church of the Bretheren (our family in that particular area, and therefore of our sister church, the NKST) in the Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states were destroyed. The church's headquarters in the city, along the Benue Yola River (about 60 km from where Johan Botha and Kobus Odendaal visited our Mbula family in December
2013) was destroyed and they had to move to Joss.
The situation is extremely traumatic for our family of faith, because their workplace and worship spaces no longer exist. People are forced to have church meetings in the open - up to a thousand people at a time!
The church leaders of our faith family in Nigeria are confronted with deeply traumatised communities. Pastors and evangelists are very brave and do a massive job to comfort, help and bring hope to hundreds of thousands of people.
Please pray for the children and others who are still in the hands of Boko Haram, pray that God will radically change the hearts of the attackers, and to show us the way to support Nigeria on their path of reconciliation.
Contact Johan Botha at [email protected] for more information.
downloaded or ordered from http://www0.sun.ac.za/netact/index.php?content=resources. NetACT plans to compile a new book on "Community Development” in the next three years through workshops and conferences.
Len Hansen took over from Jurgens Hendriks as the new executive director of NetACT since January this year while Jurgens is still very much involved as programme coordinator.
Contact Jurgens Hendriks at [email protected] for more information.
Fltr: Maria Frahm-Arp, Jurgens Hendriks, Elna Mouton and Len Hansen
The suffering in Nigeria In MemoriamOns harte gaan uit na die familie en naasbestaandes van die volgende persone wat die afgelope tyd oorlede is:Eksteen, Kobus – Geneesheer te Nkhoma Hospitaal, Malawi.Thom, Mary – Haar man, ds Kobus Thom, is deur haar bygestaan in die Transkei en later as Sending-sekretaris, NGK Suid-en-Wes-Kaap Sinode.Lont, Hannes – Hy was in verskeie gemeentes in Malawi en Zimbabwe. Na sy emeritaat het hy in Mosselbaai gewoon en dikwels op Sondae vir immigrante uit Malawi dienste gehou.Vos, JL (Vossie) – Hy was leraar in Mashonaland (Zimbabwe) en daarna vir 35 jaar in die Transkei. Na sy emeritaat het hy en Rhoda in Jeffreysbaai gaan woon.Smit, Joyce – Sy was verskeie jare verpleegsuster in Malawi; daarna dosent in verpleegkunde by Universiteit Stellenbosch se Fakulteit GeneeskundeMurray, Ina – Sy was saam met haar eggenoot, ds George Murray, in gemeente-werk betrokke in Mashonaland. Sy was ook die moeder van ds Henry Murray wat kort tevore oorlede is. Nel, Koos – Hy was die Hospitaal-sekreta-ris op Nkhoma, Malawi vanaf 1966 – 1970.Venter, Willie – Hy was 'n boer vir die kerk op Decoligny en Bambisana (Transkei) en in Zambië.Wentzel, Pieter – Tussen 1950 tot 1971 was hy vir tydperke in diens van die Kaapse NG Kerk as sendingonderwyser in Zimbabwe en het by verskeie skole diens gedoen o.a. op Gutu, Chibi, Nyashanu en ook by die Skool vir Dowes op Morgenster. Hy was later 'n dosent in Afrika-tale by Unisa.
NetACT- AGM and Conference on Community Development
Sokhanya Bible School heading towards an exciting futureSince 1992 Sokhanya ("the Great Light") Bible School has provided training to leaders from a wide spectrum of Christian churches in the Xhosa-speaking community.
Although the Bible School is independent, the lecturer is in service of the Commission for Witness (CFW) of the synod that co-finances the post. The lecturer, Dr Danie van Zyl, who has managed the school since 1992, will retire in the middle of 2016. Bearing this in mind, and to ensure that the work he has built up all these years will continue, the students of Sokhanya and the supervisory board of the church family started planning ahead for Sokhanya's future.
Danie explains, “Because it is not feasible to continue the work in its current form, Sokhanya will dissolve as an institution at the end of 2015. The course will then be phased in with the Nehemiah
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KGA, Privaatsak X8, BELLVILLE 7535 • Faks 021 9577 181 • e-posadres [email protected]
My naam en van:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
My adres:________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kontak my asb by: tel ________________________________________ e-posadres:___________________________________________
Verbeel jou jy is 'n seeman wat anker gooi in Tafelbaai Hawe en jy word tydens teetyd op jou skip hartlik uitgenooi na 'n plek aan land waar jy met vriende gesellig kan verkeer, maar veral die buitengewone diens van persoonlike gesprekke en berading in 'n kapelletjie kan ontvang.
Dane du Plessis is die persoon wat namens Biblia Hawesending (BHS) hom ontferm oor hierdie seemanne. Hy vertel: “Nadat die Hawe-owerheid die BHS-gebou vir hul eie doeleindes benodig het, gebruik BHS, na jare van
onderhandeling, ook die Mission to Seafarers-gebou sedert Desember verlede jaar. Die Mission to Seafarers is 'n internasionale Anglikaans-gebaseerde organisasie wat al langer as 100 jaar bestaan en basies dieselfde werk as BHS
doen. Die gebou verskaf 'n mooi en aangename ruimte aan die seemanne waar hulle kan ontspan, sosiaal verkeer en die kapel kan besoek."
Dane vertel verder: “Aanvanklik het BHS net gefokus op die geestelike versorging van seelui, maar dit het intussen verskuif na 'n meer holistiese bediening; daar word ook omgesien na hul maatskaplike - en arbeidsprobleme waar nodig. Klere (bv. gebreide mussies) word ook aan seemanne verskaf, en as hulle nie hul salarisse ontvang nie, word dit na die regte instansies verwys wat dit verder neem. Seemanne word ook gehelp om in die hospitaal opgeneem te word, indien nodig.”
Volgens Dane werk hierdie nuwe reëling nou baie beter, aangesien hy in die verlede altyd na die skepe moes gaan om die mense daar te bedien, maar nou het hulle nie net hierdie pragtige ruim area tot
hul beskikking nie, maar ook 'n kapel waar daar 'n meer spirituele atmosfeer heers, en daar vir die manne gebid kan word.
As alles goed gaan, voltooi Dane vanjaar sy BTh by UNISA. Omdat hy 'n lidmaat van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Grassy Park is, wil hy as gereformeerde predikant georden word en sal daarom volgende jaar nog 'n eenjaar-korrespondensiekursus aan die Universiteit Potchefstroom volg om aan die vereistes te voldoen. Sy droom is om buiten predikant van 'n gemeente, ook steeds by BHS betrokke te bly.
Kontak Carin Brink by [email protected] vir meer inligting
Bible Institute (NBI, part of the Bible Media Group) as an entry-level course in African languages. This means that all students will then study by correspondence only, while trying to organise self-study groups, where possible, as it is already undertaken by NBI.
“This is a logical step because the
Tafelbaai Hawe gee om vir Seemanne
majority of Sokhanya students study by means of correspondence already. Furthermore – Sokhanya and NBI have a longstanding collaboration and I have written a number of NBI courses myself and also serve on the NBI Management Board. It is expected that a post will be created for Sokhanya work at NBI in 2016.
“This decision was accepted with great enthusiasm by the Sokhanya management and students, as well as by the NBI management and other stakeholders. This opens up great new potential for the use of the Sokhanya material in places where the NBI is already providing a service, including a number of African countries. For the NBI, this means that an entry-level course becomes available – something for which there is really a great need.”
Contact Danie van Zyl at [email protected] for more information and read more about Sokhanya at http://www.kga.org.za/wp/sokhanya.
Fltr: Danie van Zyl, Mr Mjaleni, Neelsie van Zyl and Archbishop Makhetha at Sokhanya's graduation ceremony last year.
Dane du Plessis
Die nuwe gebou vanwaar Biblia Hawesending nou hul werk doen.
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By die baie gewaardeerde bewusmaking en ander dienswerk wat plaaslike gemeentes van ons NG Kerkfamilie, skole en instansies soos Ramot en Toevlug in die konteks van substansmisbruik doen, gryp die ellendes wat dwelmmisbruik in ons dag meebring 'n mens aan die hart. Braam Hanekom gee 'n perspektief hierop:
"Dit word al hoe duideliker dat dwelms besig is om van ons gemeenskappe te vernietig en die hele samelewing te bedreig. Dwelms is waarskynlik die enkele grootste bydraende faktor tot die eskalasie van misdaad in ons samelewing en daar is navorsers wat beweer dat ons misdaad in SA met tot 75% sal kan verminder as ons alle dwelms uit ons midde kan verwyder. �
“Onlangs het ons bewus geword van 'n kolonie heroïen-verslaafdes hier om die sinodale kantore in Bellville. Heroïen is seker 'n meer “gesofistikeerde” dwelm as tik, maar ewe en selfs meer vernietigend. Die eerste inspuiting wat geneem word, is feitlik 'n doodsvonnis. Die mense hier om ons lewe tans letterlik van ‘R40-shot’ na
At the beginning of 2008, Lungani Mandlakazi was appointed as a field worker for Social Services in Makhathini. Initially Lungani spent a lot of attention on researching the social conditions of communities in and around the existing congregation wards. A number of problem areas were identified, and these challenges are being systematically addressed through various projects.
The Makhathini Congregation tries not only to address people's spiritual needs, but also to take care of their material and physical needs. Consequently we started with community gardens as training centres. It is our aim to develop programmes to help rural farmers develop their agricultural skills and to improve their quality of life through sustainable and low cost food production. The challenges in community life are numerous!
The Care Workers are coordinated by Lungani, who recently finished a four-year training programme by ACAT (Africa Co-operative Action Trust). One of the areas of focus of this course is the development of
agricultural skills. At the end of last year, a team from ACAT visited us to evaluate the Care Workers in running their own community gardens. Part of this team was Adriaan Jacobs, who designed a manual planter, specifically designed for rural circumstances. The Care Workers were so excited to see the potential of this planter. At only R3 000 per planter, we hope to supply each one of them with such a planter during this year.
It is so rewarding to invest in people who really appreciate and make use of the opportunities offered to them. And even more than this, to walk alongside people and experience how they grow in their character and self-esteem by being equipped with valuable skills and characteristics as based on the principles of the Bible.
This is evangelism in daily action.
Contact Louwrens van der Westhuizen at [email protected] for more information.
‘shot’. Dit is nie meer genoeg om hulle op 'n 'trip' te sit nie, maar hou slegs die onttrekkingsimptome vir 'n paar uur weg. Dan kom die hoof- en spierpyne, die gejeuk en naarheid terug.
“Sommige sê dit is soos 'n massiewe griepaanval. Ek is ook ooggetuie van hoe die jongmense lyk as hulle hulself begin stukkend krap, omdat hulle die sensasie ontwikkel dat daar 'iets onder hul vel lewe'.
“Intussen is heroïen vrylik op ons strate beskikbaar; die polisie se kapasiteit om die saak te bekamp (die narkotika-buro's is byvoorbeeld gesluit) het in duie gestort. Daar is ook 'n wesenlike tekort aan plek in rehabilitasiesentrums asook veral 'detox' of suiweringsentrums. Hiersonder kan die blote ophou van gebruik noodlottig wees.
“Die kerk sit letterlik weer
'n Hartlike dank aan alle medewerkers
van hierdie uitgawe. Ons bedank ook
al ons donateurs wat ons werk so
getrou ondersteun. Bly op hoogte van
die NGK-familie se getuienisaksies
by http://www.kga.org.za/wp/ en
https://www.facebook.com/
KommissieGetuienisaksie.
Kontak ons gerus by
KGA, Privaatsak X8,
BELLVILLE, 7535.
Tel: 021 957 7204.
A warm thanks to all the contributors
of this issue. We also thank all our
donors who support our work so
faithfully. Keep track of the DRC
family's witness ministries at
http://www.kga.org.za/wp/ and
https://www.facebook.com/
KommissieGetuienisaksie.
Contact us at
CFW, Private Bag X8,
Bellville, 7535.
Tel: 021 957 7204.
Makhathini Community Gardens- an opportunity to improve quality of life -
Makhathini Community Gardens- an opportunity to improve quality of life -
Die Dwelmprobleem in ons Middemet 'n unieke en omvangryke uitdaging op haar voordeur. Ons sal moet konkrete en sistemiese planne maak. Gesprekke is al op die hoogste regeringsvlakke gevoer, maar gemeentes sal ook moet handevat. Die werklikheid is dat niemand meer van hierdie euwel gevrywaar is nie. Mag God ons baie genade, moed en wysheid gee om dié uitdaging met alles wat ons het, aan te
pak."
Kom, ons wat weet die gebed van die regverdige het groot
krag, bid ernstig tot die Here om uitkoms uit hierdie knelgreep waarin talle van ons eie mense en gemeenskappe vasgevang is.
Kontak Braam Hanekom by [email protected]
vir meer inligting.
Lungani Mandlakazi at Ophansi's community garden.