Over the past few weeks a number of things have happened and have raised the old question of God’s presence and work in the world.  The storms in Burma, with so many people killed and so many left suffering.  The elections in Zimbabwe with all the violence, fraud and all the suffering, the earthquakes in China with so many dead, so many suffering and so many left homeless.  On a smaller scale but no less devastating are the children in India who live in railway stations begging and scavenging for food daily.  When a young couple, married for only a month give themselves to serve a community, and the wife gets robbed of her handbag and then simply shot through the stomach and left.
 

I am sure each one of you can add to this list some of the terrible things happening in the world today.  Where is God in all this?  If we believe God rules, how do we respond to these issues and how do we cope?  The sovereignty of God is one of those doctrines that everybody says they believe in, but in practice this does not always show in our lives.  What does the sovereignty of God mean?  A.W Pink in his little book, The Sovereignty of God, addresses this issue head on and I think it would be good for us to remind ourselves of some of the facts.  Without reprinting the whole chapter I cannot do justice to his writings so I will simple give some thoughts that I think are most pertinent but I would encourage you to read the chapter for yourself.

Starting with 1 Chronicles 29:11 Pink points out that there was a time when this doctrine was ‘key to history, the interpreter of Providence, the warp and woof of Scripture, and the foundation of Christian theology,’ but now it is a very misunderstood, neglected and maligned doctrine.
 

“What do we mean by this expression?  We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the Godhood of God.

 

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God.

 

To say that God rules is to declare that He is the most High, doing according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say to Him, What doest Thou? (Dan.4:35).

 

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Ps.115:3).

 

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is “The Governor among the nations” (Ps.22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleases Him best.

 

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the “Only Potentate, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords” (1Tim.6:15). Such is the God of the Bible.”

 

We need to reaffirm our absolute faith and trust in the God of the Bible and not some caricature that the world has reduced God to.  There may be many circumstances and things we do not understand, we may never on this earth come to terms with some matters, but do we have a big enough vision and trust of who God is, to trust Him with
that which is beyond us?

 

Solution to church history problem

Church History.

As I shared before, reading the early history of Christianity in many ways does not make pretty reading.  There is much to rejoice about, the growth of the church, the perseverance of the saints through incredible torture and persecution and so on.

However, there was also so much doctrinal confusion.  There was so much sectarianism, rivalry and pride between different church groups.  The end results are still evident today with the separation of the church in the west and the east.  Many of the early church groups such as the eastern Coptic churches trace their start back to these early schism and controversies. 

As I read these accounts my mind and heart felt deeply disturbed and shaken.  So much of what we take for granted in today’s Christian world was not so obvious back then.  Some of these doctrines we take for granted today cost people their lives, people were tortures and ostracized by groups in Christianity. 

Yet today, as example we don’t often think about and debate the doctrine of the Trinity.  Perhaps only when the Jehovah Witnesses come around do we suddenly brush up on our understanding and our arguments against them.  Theological students may enter into a debate on these matters and perhaps some Pastors may from time to time face a difficult question regarding this doctrine of some other difficult issue that we to a large extent take for granted.

How do deal with these issues from the past?  Some use it to ‘disprove’ Christianity.  Some may feel threatened by this and either ignore it or fall back into a ‘larger’ mentality of ‘their’ doctrinal position, whatever it may be.

There is much to be said for the consistent daily reading of the Bible from cover to cover.  As I have been reading, I read Philippians 1:18.  “What then?  Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”  This may not be a most profound solution, but what it does is give us an answer as to how to come to terms with the past and in the now, how to deal with those who may not agree with us. 

We may not agree on some very important matters, but what are the essentials?  Do we have agreement on those?  Can we get agreement on the essentials and then agree to disagree on other issues? 

If not, rest in the words of Paul, as long as Christ is proclaimed, God will work it out.  This does not mean we condone error, simply accepts there is nothing we can do about much of the error being proclaimed, but trusting that God will deal with it in His way and in His time.

Church history

I have been reading Paul Johnson’s book A History of Christianity and found his version of the first 350 years strangely depressing.   I had never thought about the fact that people would so soon have tried to use Christianity for their own gain and to control others.  The struggle to come to terms with difficult theological issues was also not what I expected.

I think Constantine did Christianity no favors when he made being a Christian legal.  It was done for purely political reasons.  How do others feel about those who use Christianity for personal financial or political gain?  Have we not learnt any lessons?

Who rules?

THE SOVEREiGNTY OF GOD

Who is regulating affairs on this earth today – God or the Devil? A.W. Pink asks this question five times in the first chapter of his book called the ‘Sovereignty of God’. Theologically, intellectually and doctrinally most Christians would admit God rules in Heaven, but here on earth?  Well, that may be another matter. 

Many deny God’s creative and regulating work in the world today.  Through the teaching of evolution and other non-creation theories, the ‘laws of nature’ and ‘man’s free-will’, God is effectively sidelined. 

Looking at the world around us we see much chaos and disaster.  In his commentary on Psalm 46:1-3, C.H. Spurgeon notes that even in his day there was much chaos and disaster.  Pink shows how this led many to doubt God’s sovereign rule in reality. 

 

But the Biblical evidence that God is in control of the nations and all of nature is clear and overwhelming.  People try to use evidence from the physical world and the spiritual realm to cast doubt on God’s sovereign rule.  God, who created this world from nothing and sustains it, is often reflected by our words and actions as being less than the Almighty God. 

One of the challenges that Pink raises for us as Christians is what impression do we leave with others, especially non-Christians, in this regard?  Do they see that we live by faith, trusting our sovereign God?  Or does our practical lifestyle deny this reality? 

Some time back I was involved in a discussion with someone who was complaining about how much they had as a family in the midst of the poverty around them.  I left the conversation wondering who he was actually complaining about, God who has provided for them, or his employer, or the job God provided.  The reverse is also true, when we complain about how little we have, how ‘much’ we have ‘given up’ to serve God, who are we complaining against?  Do we really walk by faith believing in a sovereign God or do we walk by sight? 

As we read the Bible we see so clearly that God rules over all things.  “…God is on the throne of the universe; that the sceptre is in His hands; that He is directing all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Pink, commenting on Eph 1:11) 
 

Where does this leave us?  We look around us in the world and see difficulties and great problems.  We see the breakdown of law and order, our own weakness and sin.  But God is not surprised; God is not caught off guard.  We must not despair or want to give up.  The God of Psalm 46, the only true God who rules, is working out His purposes in your and my life.  This must give us great courage.  I am reminded of passages such as Romans 8:28 - 39 and this gives us great encouragement.  At the same time I also identify with the father in Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Xenophobia - a Malawian perspective

HOW CAN WE SING A NEW SONG IN A FOREIGN LAND?

 

I have bee ministering the Word of God to a small black community which is five km away from Fish Hoek (South Peninsula- Western Cape) for six years, especially to pupils of Primary and High School.

On Friday 23 May 2008, I was conducting morning devotion as usual not aware that the night before foreigners (Somalia’ shops) were rampaged and tension were high even among the pupils who were talking about and getting ready to join the massacre.

I, one of the foreigners who is preaching the gospel, should I run and save my life? or recite the Lord’s Prayer and be the victim?  

“For me to die is gain” and I stood bold and ask the peace of God to overcome the minds of pupils. The key weapon was to use my slogan: “God is Good! and they answer: “All the Time” 

Is the devil at work or somebody behind the violence which spread so quickly within different communities? The cause is unknown and the government is seeking a solution to this thing called “Xenophobia”. Can the world offer an answer to the problem? I quickly go to the Holy Book “Bible” which says: “Where will my help come from? If the so called Christians pray and seek His face, God will answer and heal the land. Yes, the difference will always be there and “The Love of God” will unite us through Christ Jesus who is our Savoir.

 

For more details and comment, please contact

lkamwana@sim.org

Xenophobia - the wider impact?

Xenophobia

We have been looking at this issue from a Christian perspective.  Another passage of scripture that speaks to this issue is Isaiah 16:3.  Life is so fragile, our physical existence as well as our living conditions can dramatically change very quickly.  None of us know if we may not be a refugee or an alien in a foreign country at the mercy of others at any time.  Even the most affluent among us could find ourselves dramatically and unexpectedly as foreigners at the mercy of angry and hostile people. 

In the Time magazine dated June 16 2008, p. 56, Alex Perry has written an interesting article bringing a different perspective.  While I think there is a lot of validity in this globalization poverty perspective I still come back to the real heart of the matter.  The sinfulness of the human heart.  Why is it that there is ‘widening inequality’ in 59% of countries around the world and only 5% showing a decline in inequality?

The Bible teaches us clearly our hearts are deceitful and it is so easy for us to convince ourselves that we need more.  So what is the real solution?  The only real solution is for people to turn to God.  This may sound simplistic but without conversion to God, these problems will continue.  No humanitarian solution by the world, whether the UN or whoever has real solutions.  This is not to say that Christians have got it right, or have done it right, they do make mistakes, and they are not perfect.  Yet, if all faith based efforts of help had to be withdrawn, what is left?  This would be true around the world. 

Xenophobia - care for the strangers among us.

What can we do about xenophobia. Understand the Biblical perspective and act in a Christian way.

Matt 25:31-46      I was a Stranger

This sermon was preached on the day before the xenophobic violence broke out in Cape Town.  The next day, Fri 23 May, our congregation opened the doors of our church to house displaced foreigners.  We have since been working with 2 other local congregations to house, feed and care for 250 people from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Somalia, Burundi, DRC, Congo Brazaville Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda and Cape Verde

Dave Stemmett – Bellville Baptist Church

 

The attention of South Africa’s media has been on the xenophobic violence that is sweeping over South Africa.  How should a Christian respond to this?   Should we join in the chorus:

These people don’t belong here!

They are taking our jobs and our resources and they must go home!

Lots of South African think that way about the Zimbabweans and Malawians and Congolese and Somalians and Burundians that have fled the wars and the economic meltdown in their home countries and sought refuge here in SA.   We call them “Refugees” because they have come here seeking refuge.

 

Almost every person can see some measure of a refugee identity either in their ancestry or in their personal experience. 

In 2006 I attended a Conference on refugees hosted by the city of Cape Town.  The audience, largely comprising refugees, was deeply moved when the Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille began her address by referring to her own refugee identity.  Her father migrated to South Africa as a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany.  Though he was trained as a medical doctor, the only work he could find before he learnt to speak English was as a security guard on a mine near Johannesburg.  You can imagine how that spoke to the refugees present, many who have professional qualifications, but are working as security guards in our city.

 

Have you ever been forced to find refuge among people you did not know?

During the turbulent 1980’s I was a theological student at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Athlone. One day in 1984 I was going from the Seminary in Bridgetown to the Blomvlei Rd Baptist Church.  I knew there were riots going on, but we had got used to the riots and the police searching our cars.  But that day, I turned into a street and I landed in-between a mob of rioting students and the police.  I didn’t know what to do.  I was stuck.  I managed to pull my car into the driveway of a house.  I ran round the back of the house and banged on the door of people I did not know.  They very kindly took me in and gave me refuge until the rioters and police had passed by. 

For those few hour I was a refugee in the home of a family in Athlone.

 

And just as I fled the violence of the streets and was welcomed as a stranger in that home, so people from violence-torn places all over Africa have fled looking for safety here in SA.    But so often they don’t find the safety they are seeking.

 

1.  What does the Bible say to us about refugees and the way we must respond to them?

 

In Matthew 25, from verse 31, Jesus is speaking of the day of Judgement.  And he speaks about the division between the sheep and the goats.  Throughout the Bible, God’s people are referred to as God’s flock, God’s sheep.  So this is the separating out of God’s flock from the rest of the people of the world on judgement day.   Clearly from the rest of Scripture, you become a member of God’s flock when you humbly repent of your sin and you receive Jesus Christ as your righteousness.   But here, Jesus gives us some of the distinguishing marks of those people who belong to God.  And one mark of a child of God is that they will take care of strangers.

Vs 35  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

 

In the list of things that Christians are called upon to do – to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help the sick, is the call to show hospitality and love towards strangers.

 

The New Testament was written in Greek and the word that Matthew used here that is translated ‘stranger’, is the word xenos. It is from this word, xenos that we get the word xenophobia – the fear of strangers, the hatred of foreigners. 

 

At the time of Jesus and in fact during the entire history of the Middle East, refugees were a common sight in Israel.  Israel lies at the crossroads of three continents:  Asia to the East, Europe to the West and Africa to the South. 

When there was famine or war in Asia, people would run Westwards and many would seek refuge in the land a Canaan. When there were problems in Turkey, the people would head South, crossing through Israel.  So the people of Israel were as familiar with refugees as we are.  And just as the Congolese refugees and the Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa are exploited and mistreated, so foreigners looking for refuge in Israel were often ill-treated by the people of Israel.

 

In the Old Testament there are dozens of commands to the people of Israel, to love the foreigners who seek refuge in their country.  Let me give you a few examples:

 

Exodus 22:21 “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.

Exodus 23:9 “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.

Lev 19:33-34 “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Numbers 15:15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.’ “

Deuteronomy 24:14-22 Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. 15 Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. 16 Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.17 Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.

 

And just as the Old Testament people of God were commanded to love the refugees and foreigners living among them, so we as New Testament people of God are called by Jesus to show love to the foreigners. 

 

2.  So what can YOU do about the wave of xenophobia that is sweeping South Africa?

 

a.   The first things is, if you are a Christian, you dare not get sucked into hatred towards foreigners. 

We cannot join in the calls to get rid of the foreigners.  God sends them here to test our love for himself.  Surely that is what Jesus is saying: “I was a stranger…”  You say you love Jesus, well show it by caring for the hungry, they thirsty, the foreigner the sick and so on…

 

b.   The second thing is that we as Christians must speak out.   

Yes, Jesus calls us to speak through our actions and I praise God for the response of Christians to the plight of displaced foreigners in South Africa.  Churches have opened their doors to house homeless refugees. Christians have brought clothing and food to feed these destitute souls.  But we must also speak out.  When others are speaking against foreigners, when they are mouthing off about foreigners taking our jobs or being criminals, we must speak up.  It is simply not true that foreigners are responsible for all the crime in SA.  A minute % of the crime in SA is perpetrated by foreigners.  Far more South Africans are found guilty of crimes in OTHER countries than foreigners in SA.

 

c.   The third thing I want to encourage you to do, as you hear about the attacks on foreigners, is to pray. 

God loves the refugee. Refugees are very close to the heart of God, so pray for the refugees in South Africa. Pray for their safety.  Most refugees here have left family members back home. 

Let me tell you the story of one member of our church, Michel –from Burundi.  A year and a half he was forced to leave his home country because he refused to be involved in the on-going Hutu-Tutsi fighting.  He was a lecturer in a technical college and he was forced to leave his job, he sent his then pregnant wife and daughter into the countryside to stay with his parents and Michel fled down South.  Now he works as a car guard in Parow. But he is separated from his wife and his children.  He has never seen the son that was born after he left Burundi.

I can tell you a hundred stories like that – of people who have fled from war and turmoil in the DRC, in Zim, in Burundi, In Ivory Coast, in Somalia.   Now they are in SA.  They miss their loved ones.  Some don’t know if their family members are dead or alive.  One lady in our congregation – Eugenie, has not seen her husband for over 3 years. She has not heard from him in over 18 months, she fears he is dead!      Pray for the refugees in SA.

 

d.   A fourth action that we as Christians must consider relates to the long term solution of this present crisis of displaced people, name that of integrating foreigners into South African society.

The Government policy, in line with the best practice recommended by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, is one of integration of refugees and Asylum seekers into South Africa Society. That is why our government has rightly shunned the idea of Refugee Camps. At the very best Refugee Camps are depressing places and do very little to help people, apart from keeping them safe. In South Africa refugees are permitted to live where they choose, take up employment, start business enterprises and enrol in studies.

 

The current xenophobic crisis has revealed a number of problems with the policy of integration, but it remains a sound policy and in fact a Biblical policy. It is in keeping with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25, to invite stranger in and to include them in our society.

 

The UNHCR has developed this policy, the SA Government has embraced it in our legal framework, but neither of those bodies have the ability or the capacity to implement this wonderful policy.  There is only one body in the country that can truly implement the policy of integration and that is the Church of Jesus Christ.  Churches that have taken integration of asylum seekers and refugees seriously have experienced the great blessing that comes from obeying the call of Christ, as well as the blessing of diversity in the Body of Christ. 

 

This is a vital step for every local congregation that is situated in locations where there are asylum seekers, to seek to invite and integrate foreigners into their congregation.  Of course foreigners must hear the Gospel explained to them. In this way, inviting and integrating foreigners presents our churches with a wonderful opportunity of missions and evangelism.  We praise God that a large mission field has come at their own expense to our doorstep.  Now our old men and our young people can receive practical training in cross-cultural mission without leaving their own society.  We must take up this challenge at both the individual level, as local congregations and at a denominational level.

 

e.   One last thing we can do:  We must live like refugees in this world.

Working with refugees has taught me what it means to live like a refugee. 

In 1 Peter 2:11, the Apostle Peter calls us, aliens and strangers in the world.

We have a lot to learn from refugees. They travel light. They don’t mind were they end up living. They accept very humble jobs, even if in their home country they had a very good position. And we must have a similar attitude to life here on earth.  We cannot take our homes, our degrees, our money to heaven with us, so we must use these things here in such a way that they will benefit the Kingdom of God.

Rev. Dave Stemmett

BELLVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH - Cape Town

Xenophobia

 

I received the following e-mail and wanted to share these thought with as many others as possible. 

 

Afrikaans below

 

Brothers

It is with an aching heart and a sense of shock that we watched in the news media the terrible violence against foreigners in our communities these past two weeks.  We have been ripped in our hearts and have slunk to God’s throne of grace with our corporate confession and repentance to plead with Him to stretch out His almighty hand to bring to an end this diabolic mass hysteria and cruel atrocities.  We thank God for the relative calm that has returned after seeing burning bodies, homes and shelters scar our news images.  However, the pain is not over for a long time.  There are grieving and embittered strangers who have fled hastily across our borders to their own nearby countries, where they also will not be readily integrated.   They need our sincere prayers.  There are still thousands of uprooted people in church buildings, community centres, tents and temporary shelters who had to flee after they had lost everything.  They have nowhere to go; no means of providing food themselves; in many cases no warm clothes and blankets - they are strangers among us and in need.

 

God taught His people, Israel, to never oppress or wrong a stranger. (Ex 22:21  23:9,12  Lev 19:33,34  Deut 10:18,19  14:29  24:17-19  26:12,13   29:19  Ezek 22:7,29  Zac 7:9,10).  The motivation was that Abraham and Moses, and indeed the whole nation in slavery, had been strangers at a time. (Gen 15:13  23:4  Ex 2:22)  Even David saw himself as a stranger (1Chron 29:15) while Job chose to open his home to strangers. (31:32)  God included the stranger, who lived among His people, in His paschal provision (Ex 12:19, 48, 49) and with the giving of the Law He included the stranger, alongside the orphaned, in His directions for justice to be exercised.  (Ex 20:10  Deut 5:14  16:11-13)  And when  Jesus gave His message in Matthew 25 He identified Himself with the stranger and called on His disciples to love and care for such people. (Mat 25:35,43)  From this overwhelming flood of revelational testimony the necessity of an open heart and hand toward the stranger in your gates is nothing short of an absolute truth that calls for our obedient response.

 

That is the basis of this call to prayer for traumatised and suffering strangers in our land.  But even more than that:  to also give in an organised manner towards the care and feeding of these people in your region.  Find out where churches or communities are caring for these uprooted people and offer to help.  Let our shepherds and ministers provide leadership.  Find out where the need is, what the need entails, and how the need can be met.

 

Finally, the spiritual need of our own people, who have been demonised by this violence inside, need to be addressed.  There are many in our communities who are sitting upon an acrid taste of guilt and reproach.  Many others , especially the younger ones, have been badly traumatised by what they observed and by what they were passively drawn into.  These are inner wounds than can stick with one for a lifetime.  Pray for healing and restoration of our sick and wounded communities.  

 

Do go to Daniel’s prayer (9:3-14) in which he identifies with the sins of his nation, and let us apply that prayer to our South African situation and do likewise.

 

Your brother in Christ

Rev Richard M Verreynne

rmverreynne@telkomsa.net

 

 

 

Broers

Dit is met hartseer en skok wat ons die afgelope twee weke op nuusmedia die verskriklike geweld teen vreemdelinge in ons gemeenskappe waargeneem het.  Ons is in ons siele geruk en het God se genadetroon met korporatiewe belydenis en berou genader om te pleit dat Sy alhoë hand hierdie diaboliese massa-histerie en wreedaardige optrede op ’n ent bring.  Ons dank die Here vir die mate van kalmte wat teruggekeer het nadat brandende liggame, huise en skuilings ons nuus ontsier het.  Die pyn is egter nog lank nie verby nie.  Daar is bedroefde en verbitterde vlugtelinge wat inderhaas oor ons grense teruggekeer het na hul eie lande, waar hulle ook nie maklik geïntegreer word nie.  Hulle het ons opregte gebede nodig.  Daar is steeds duisende ontworteldes in kerkgeboue, gemeenskapsale, tente en tydelike skuilings wat moes vlug nadat hulle alles verloor het.  Hulle het nie heenkome nie; nie die vermoë om self kos te voorsien nie; nie altyd warm klere en komberse nie – hulle is vreemdelinge tussen ons in nood.

God het Sy volk, Israel, geleer dat hulle nooit die vreemdeling onder hulle mag verdruk of te na kom nie. (Ex 22:21  23:9,12  Lev 19:33,34  Deut 10:18,19  14:29  24:17-19  26:12,13   29:19  Eseg 22:7,29  Sag 7:9,10.  Die motivering was dat Abraham en Moses, en die hele volk in slawerny, vreemdelinge was (Gen 15:13  23:4  Ex 2:22)  Selfs Dawid het homself as ’n vreemdeling beskou (1Kron 29:15) terwyl Job doelbewus sy huis oopgestel het vir vreemdelinge. (31:32)  God het vreemdelinge wat tussen Sy volk was by die pasga-voorsiening ingesluit (Ex 12:19, 48, 49) en met die gee van die wet ook optrede teenoor vreemdelinge, naas die wese, by Sy voorskrifte ingesluit.  (Ex 20:10  Deut 5:14  16:11-13)  En toe Jesus Sy profetiese rede gee, het Hy Homself met die vreemdeling geïdentifiseer en Sy dissipels aangespoor om teenoor diesulkes liefde en sorg te betoon. (Mat 25:35,43)  Uit hierdie stortvloed getuienis neem ons ter harte dat daar ’n absolute waarheid in God se openbaring is dat mense wat in God en Sy voorskrifte glo en Hom gehoorsaam, ’n oop hart teenoor die vreemdeling in sy poorte moet hê.

Vandaar hierdie oproep om te bid vir getraumatiseerde en noodlydende vreemdelinge.  Maar meer as dit:  om ook georganiseerd te gee vir die versorging en voeding van hierdie mense wat daar in julle omgewing mag wees.  Vind uit waar kerke of gemeenskappe na sulke mense omsien en bied hulp aan.  Laat ons herders en leraars hierin die leiding neem.  Vind uit waar die nood is, wat die nood behels en hoe die nood gelenig kan word. 

Laastens ook die geestelike behoefte van ons eie mense wat deur hierdie geweldsgees gedemoniseer is.  Daar is baie wat in ons gemeenskappe sit met die wrang smaak van skuld en verwyt.  Baie is hard en vereelt in hul siele.  Baie ander, veral jongeres, is erg getraumatiseer deur wat hulle gesien het en waarby hulle passief betrek is.  Hierdie is innerlike wonde wat nog vir ’n leeftyd by mense kan bly.  Bid vir genesing en heelmaking van ons siek en seer gemeenskappe.

Gaan neem gerus Daniël se gebed van identifisering in hoofstuk 9:3-14 en bid dit op toepaslike wyse in hierdie Suid-Afrikaanse situasie in.

 

U broer in Christus

Ds Richard M Verreynne

rmverreynne@telkomsa.net

Railway station children

As we visited in Asia, some friends we know showed us the work they do among these children. Many of these children are orphans, some have run away from their homes due to poverty, others are helping their families survive.

The work involves teaching the children hygiene, basic writing and maths and feeding them when they attend. The children are free to come and go, attending classes and asking for help when needed.

For me, the high point was when some of the boys sang some of the songs they have learnt at the center. Roughly translated the song that to me was most significant was “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Jesus lives in my heart.”

Understanding the situation and the religious and world view from which these boys come from, this was astounding.

We need more people who will commit themselves to take the Good News to those who have not heard, and unless we send they will never hear.

So, how do we find people who will say goodbye to everything familiar, I mean everything and go?  2Cor.4:5

Help me describe South Africa

As an organisation we want to have a clear understanding of South Africa. Give me some ideas. How would YOU describe South Africa?

What are the biggest challenges we face in South Africa?

Crime, poverty, HIV/AIDS, ?

We have a great diversity of people, 11 official languages. How does one describe the diversity of our population? What are the statistics for our population groups?

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