The new Christian alternative to Halaal labelling.

South African consumers will soon be offered a Christian alternative to Halaal-labelled products.

The new ‘Christian Friendly’ label will give Christian consumers peace of mind that income generated will go to Christian organisations and not be used to finance the spread of Islam, said Etienne De Jager, a director of Christian Friendly Products (CFP), in an interview yesterday.

According to the newly registered non profit organisation’s information leaflet, although Muslims make up only about 2% of the South Africa population, more than 50% of SA food products are certified Halaal, resulting in millions of rands channeled into Islam each year — mostly as a result of the unconscious support of the Christian majority.

He called on Christians to get behind the CFP initiative by using the strength of their numbers to show suppliers that they want them to stock CFP-labelled products.

Missions partnerships
Christian consumers and suppliers can learn more about CFP and make contact with it by visiting the website www.christianfriendlyproducts.com which was launched this week. CFP aims to turn the tide by partnering and networking with companies and Christian organisations and has already established ties with mission organisations such as Operation Mobilisation, Open Doors, Egeiro Ministry and INcontext Ministries.

Products which carry the CFP label will not be allowed to bear a Halaal label, De Jager said. The CFP label will guarantee consumers that no prayers of dedication have been prayed over food products during meat processing. Suppliers will pay a small royalty fee for displaying the CFP label on their products but they will not face common ‘extra costs’ of Halaal accreditation such as inspection of facilities, transport and accommodation costs of inspectors, replacement of ‘contaminated’ equipment, and ongoing salaries for Muslim people who play ritual roles in the process.

Bertus Griebenow, another of CFP’s three Eastern Cape-based directores, said they have not yet asked any companies to carry their label on their products but they do have a few in mind who they will approach before their public launch. The launch date and venue will be announced soon.

De Jager, who served as a missionary with OM for 2 and a half years, said the venture was birthed just over a year ago after he read a book that explained how Halaal labelling contributes to Islamic mission.

“I prayed about it and God gave me an interesting scripture; John 6:27 which says ‘Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval’.

“What struck me was that God’s seal is upon His Son. I saw that the seal that is being put on food is the Halaal label and I realised we should have an alternative that will do the opposite: that will further the Kingdom of God, and strengthen the church”.

Pastor calls on SA church to stand united against State interference in church affairs

Senior Pastor of Joshua Generation, Andrew Selley and his wife Emma Selley. Selley is calling on the SA Church to act now to defend religious freedom.

A Cape Town church that is being investigated by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over its doctrine on corporal punishment is calling on the Church to stand united against a Government attack on religious freedom.

The SAHRC is investigating a complaint against Joshua Generation Church (JGC) for teaching the Biblical doctrine of  ’spare the rod, spoil the child’. But JGC Senior Pastor, Andrew Selley, who has consulted with religious rights attorneys, said the real issue is an attempt by the State to limit religious and family freedom, which if not opposed, could lead to the ‘outlawing’ of teachings of the Christian church and the Bible.

“We are calling on Muslims and Jews to act as well because it is about fighting for religious freedom,” Selley said in an interview today. 

Support letter
Churches and other religious organisations are asked to consider signing a support letter calling on the SAHRC to dismiss the complaint against JGC. They may place the letter or some variation of it on their letterhead and send it to  GKC Attorneys, Attention: G Claassen, PO Box 119, Cape Town, 8000, or email it to: compliance@joshgen.org.za. The correspondence should reach JGC by September 5 in order to give them time to include it in their response to the SAHRC which is due a week later.

This morning Selley said that to date there has been an ‘overwhelming response’ from individual supporters and that several big churches in Johannesburg have come on board.

Family Policy Institute Director Errol Naidoo today endorsed Selley’s appeal to church leaders, saying: “If Joshua Generation cannot teach what the Bible teaches on corporal punishment that means that the entire church will have to surrender its right to teach Biblical Christian principles, because if the Human Rights Commission or any Government agency can dictate what the church can or cannot teach it means the end of church autonomy.

“It is vital and necessary for the church to stand united against this totalitarian intrusion into its legitimate working.”

Maltreatment
In an email to JGC in iresponse to a query from the church, Tammy Carter, Senior Legal Officer in the Western Cape Office of the SAHRC, says: “… the SAHRC does indeed regard corporeal punishment (the infliction of physical pain) as falling within the definition of abuse maltreatment neglect and degradation. Your understanding is therefore correct. The SAHRC also argues that the infliction of psychological and / or emotional harm is included in this definition.

“The complaint relates to the situation where ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’  is preached. There is no specific incident being complained of. My understanding is that by its lessons the church encourages and promotes the use of punishment rather than invoking positive discipline.”

In a letter to Christian leaders Selley addresses the SAHRC’s ‘maltreatment’ remarks. He  says: “This amounts to a caricature of the church’s teaching in relation to the Scriptural basis of parental discipline and suggests that the church is encouraging conduct that would lead to ‘maltreatment, neglect, abuse and degradation’ by the simple fact of its endorsing corporal punishment. Such an approach interferes with a careful set of qualifications about parental discipline involving corporal punishment in the teaching of JGC and, in any case, in our view unduly entangles the State (in the form of the HRC) in the internal workings of both religion and family life.”

He also shares some extracts from JGC’s instruction manual on raising children that discuss the context for corporal punishment, urging balance, love, calmness and the avoidance of harshness. In a personal note on a JGC blog post Selley says: “As a pastor who deals daily with people, I consistently find that children who are not/were not spanked, are the most boundary-less and broken. My belief in spanking is a deep conviction based upon my belief in God and His Word, on my own conscience and my observations of how life works.”

Corporal punishment in the home is not illegal in South Africa but it has been outlawed at schools since 2006. The Government is currently working on draft legislation to outlaw spanking at home.

African Christian Democratic Alliance (ACDP) MP Cheryllyn Dudley, who met with JGC leaders today, advised the church to use the opportunity of the SAHRC investigation to inform the commission that it is aware of the problem of violence against children in South Africa and offers parenting courses and other guidance to equip parents to discipline their children in a safe, and non-abusive way. 

Selley said the church will inform the commission of its responsible parenting measures as well as its community outreach projects aimed at protecting children.

“At the same time we hope that the church in SA will rally around us and tell the commission to back off,” he said.

The SAHRC investigation of JGC is the second recent case in which the State human rights watchdog’s activities have raised questions about an apparent agenda of attacking religious freedom. In April the SAHRC found Creare Christian Arts Training Centre in Bloemfontein guilty of discriminating against homosexuals for holding a Bible-based view that homosexual practice is sinful. Creare is appealing against the ruling which will be decided in the Constitutional Court.

Mission Aviation Fellowship SA CEO, Leon Prinsloo.

Leon Prinsloo is passionate about using aviation to bring God’s blessing to desperately poor people  in remote rural areas of South Africa.

But the CEO of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) South Africa says it took some divine intervention to get him onto God’s path for his life.

After a Christian upbringing in northern Namibia he pursued his own plans, embarking on a career in aviation in 1989 and marrying his wife, Evonne in 1994.

In the early 2000s the Prinsloos moved to Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, where God used ‘the wrong house’ for His purposes.

“The new house that we were supposed to move into was not ready when we arrived, so we ended up moving into another house which was three houses away from a church. After three weeks and some further intervention [by God] we started going to that church.

Rapid growth
“It was a church that was full of life. We got into a cell group, were water baptised a few weeks later, got very involved and grew rapidly. We were like an old boat sent in for repairs which came out like a corvette, ready for battle.”

Prinsloo, who was working as a flight instructor, doing some corporate flying and running an IT business, started to dream of serving the Lord through aviation. He began doing volunteer work for MAF SA, doing presentations at churches and manning stalls at air shows. MAF SA is the South African branch of the international MAF which is represented in 32 countries and which provides aviation services to the church and Christian ministries.

One Saturday morning as he was cycling through sugar cane lands outside of town on his way to meet friends he was attacked by men armed with knives and his bicycle was stolen. That afternoon he returned to the area with a friend and they searched the hillsides for his bicycle.

He was surprised by what he saw in the faces of people in that area as the Holy Spirit intervened yet again.

Desperate lives
“I realised how hopeless and desperate many people’s lives were. I could actually see the emptiness, the oppression, the hatred, the anger in their eyes. I really saw a lot there and the next morning I called a few of the church elders and we prayed for the men who hijacked me. And that really fuelled my vision [to serve God through aviation].”

God moved significantly in Prinsloo’s heart again during a prophetic weekend at the church. By the Sunday evening of the weekend he told Evonne they had experienced enough and that he did not want to go to the final session. But she persuaded him to see the weekend through and attend the last service.

“I think I would have missed a lot if we had not gone. They [the visiting ministry team] asked:  ‘Is there a pilot here? I put my hand up and they said: ‘Come, come, come!’ A woman said I had been having a dream but it was in fact God’s dream and it was time for me to do something about it. Another couple said that God was going to ground me for a season but I would also see new landings and takeoffs.”

Prinsloo and his wife discussed what it might mean for their three children’s education if he joined MAF. They decided they were willing to make sacrifices to serve God. But still he resisted as he did not feel quite ready.

Then one day, as he was driving, Prinsloo sensed God say that it was time to make a move. Taking a big step of faith he stopped his car and phoned the CEO of MAF SA, Butch Judge. He told him he wanted to join MAF on a full-time basis, and would serve anywhere, any way.

“I remember saying: I can’t cook but if they want me to be a chef in Bangladesh we will go.”

Judge replied that he had just spoken to his board about Prinsloo’s interest in MAF SA and they would like him to lead the organisation.

Overwhelmed
Prinsloo said he was overwhelmed by the proposal but despite his self doubts he went for interviews and in 2008 he succeeded Judge as CEO of MAF SA.

He said that over the next few years MAF’s financial position began to improve but he felt a need to improve the ministry’s effectiveness.

“Minstry efficiency is one thing but ministry effectiveness is another. And then, while I was at a conference in Kenya, God gave me the vision of a ‘flying soup kitchen’. “

Prinsloo said he did not immediately know what to make of his ‘flying soup kitchen’ vision other than that it was supposed to be in South Africa. But a few weeks later he met evangelist David Ramekosi at a church in Pretoria and heard him say how difficult it was to get to people in remote rural areas of Venda. Prinsloo understood that he needed to start implementing his vision in rural Venda.

He had meetings with the Department of Health and paid visits to Venda. And so the ‘flying soup kitchen’ became a reality in the form of a programme called ‘Flying For Life’ which adopts and supports remote rural communities that are isolated because of poor roads.

Material and practical support
Since its inception last year the focus of Flying For Life has been on providing material and practical support to the rural church, pre-schools, schools and clinics. Early childhood development is currently a special area of focus. Another current goal is to develop children’s ministry.

This jungle gym at a pre-school in Venda was installed by a Flying For Life team as part of a multi-faceted early childhood development programme aimed at building healthy foundations in children.

The ministry, which is MAF SA’s first direct community intervention, is bringing hope to ‘forgotten areas’ said Prinsloo, explaining  that poverty in remote rural areas is far worse than in urban areas because people have nothing and they have no access to opportunities. There is often no clean water, no jobs and not even any hope of begging on the street as everybody has nothing. There are many child-headed households in these areas, as well as many sickly old people and people without hope who have returned after failing to find work in towns and cities.

Prinsloo said that because of the great distances and the poor roads nobody will drive out to these places weekly. But Flying For Life is able to fly to them every second day.

“We can multiply the effectiveness of any organisation, or individual or partner who wants to join us in doing work there. We are building relationships and the communities see MAF as part of them and when we come things change.”

Contrary to what people may think flying to remote areas is the most cost effective way to serve them, said Prinsloo.

“Driving is very expensive because of the time it takes. We can fly a doctor out and he can see 70 to 100 patients and be back in his office the next day.”

Prinsloo said people who would like to get involved in the ministry of Flying For Life can subscribe to their free quarterly newsletter by emailing a request to maf@maf.co.za.  There are also opportunities for people to sow financially into various special areas of funding such as children’s ministry. There is also a great need for intercessory prayer partners; anybody interested in this ministry should contact MAF SA at +27 11 659 2880 or maf@maf.co.za and ask to be added to the prayer list. 

Reflecting on the prophetic words at Ballito that encouraged him to step into God’s plan for his life, Prinsloo said it was interesting that he has been ‘grounded’ ever since joining MAF, as his role has not been to fly the aircraft but to lead the organisation.

South African church leaders must put differences aside and stand together against a Government attack on freedom of religion said Andrew Selley, Senior Pastor of Joshua Generation Church (JGC)  in Cape Town which is being investigated over its doctrine on corporal punishment.

There has been a good response from Port Elizabeth churches to his call for united resistance and several large church groups with a combined membership of several million people are standing with him “but we still have a long way to go”, he said.

“I feel that differences of opinion on the issue of corporal punishment are sidetracking people from addressing the real and serious issue of religious freedom. This is not the time to argue about opinions. The issue is not so much about corporal punishment as much as it is about the freedom to preach the Word of God as we see it,” said Selley who hopes to go to the commission with the overwhelming support of the church in SA.

Test case
The church and its supporters believe the SAHRC want to create a test case in order to progressivley erode freedom of religion and further expand the role of the state in the life of the individual, family and church.

Referring to an article on the SAHRC website Selley said there is reason to believe that the Commission’s targeting of Christian institutions like JGC and Creare Christian Arts Training Centre in Bloemfontein,  is as a result of pressure on them to align with the United Nations which wants countries to ban corporal punishment and address discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Churches and other religious organisations are asked to consider signing a support letter calling on the SAHRC to dismiss the complaint against JGC. They may place the letter or some variation of it on their letterhead and send it to  GKC Attorneys, Attention: G Claassen, PO Box 119, Cape Town, 8000, or email it to: compliance@joshgen.org.za. The correspondence should reach JGC by September 5.

Face-to-face meeting
JGC has to respond to the SAHRC in writing by September 17 but Selley said he and a co-pastor have arranged to meet with members of the Commission soon — possibly on Thursday (Septemeber 5). 

“We hope that we can achieve more in a face-to-face meeting with them,” he said.

The pastors hope to convince the SAHRC that it would be counterproductive to criminalise millions of Christians by trying to force them to abandon their convictions. 

“We will say to them [the SAHRC] ‘How will you police it? Why not rather let us work with you? The Constitution requires the state to provide adequate parenting training to people in rural areas. We can provide resources to help achieve this. We have the same agenda as you. We want to help achieve a peaceful society for all.” 

View a video message by Andrew Selley on the threat to religious freedom:

Dale and Natalie Smyth, with their childresn, Jack and Jamie.

Early in June, Dale and Natalie Smyth, together with their two small children, Jack and Jamie, set sail from Cape Town, South Africa aboard the 39 foot yacht – Shining Star – built from the hull up, by Dale. They were on a dangerous journey from Cape Town to Athens, Greece around the west coast of Africa.  Their aim was to join the work of Hellenic Ministries in its impressive work reaching out to the many islands surrounding Greece and the Mediterranean area.

They got off to a slow start due to delayed customs clearance and dirty diesel – resulting in clogged filters and the need to clean the engine and replace a full tank of diesel a mere 100 miles North of Cape Town.  The crew made landfall at St Helena two weeks later. This was the island where Napoleon spent his last days in exile. They had fellowship with Pastor Graeme Beckett and his church family for nearly a week before setting off for the Ascension Island.

On Ascension they were again met by wonderful, hospitable new Christian friends,  Don and Mary Wittich. However their stay was cut short due to high swells and they headed north for Cape Verde.

Tropical storm
En-route to Cape Verde it became necessary to sail a somewhat erratic course in order to find wind – then avoid wind – then find wind again! One particular two-day period Skipper Dale battled to keep his vessel on the fringes of a tropical storm to avoid being swamped by the storm. Even so, 40 knot winds and high swells kept them awake. A cryptic satellite signal received from Dale one morning read, “wild night running no sails dragging anchor 40 knot wind all fine Dale”

After the storm moved away, Shining Star entered a totally windless zone, but as they were within engine range of Cape Verde, Skipper Dale powered up for about 8 hours before a drive-gear stripped, rendering them “power-less” in a wind-free zone – this time within sight of the islands on the horizon!

It was time to rely solely on the Lord and Dale & Natalie “filled the empty sails” with Praise & Worship music. Before long, the Lord sent a decent wind – this time a head-wind, which meant that the crew had to work extra hard to sail into the wind. Dale commented that the Shining Star handled “amazing well” at a very tight angle into the wind.

As sun was setting, they approached the harbour entrance to Praia (Cape Verde) and – still with a head-wind – Skipper Dale maneuvered his craft into the port, under sail, without an engine and no working winches either

To minimise expenses, Shining Star is at anchor in the “Bay of Praia” (Northwest corner) instead of berthed at the quayside in Praia harbour itself. This location – while not the open sea – is still rather exposed, so they are keeping a close “weather-eye” on the wind & swell & storm patterns that move throughout this region at this time of year. A storm wind from the South could drive them onto the beach. From the Northwest, a storm could drive them onto the harbour breakwater. Either way would be disastrous for the keel and hull.

Dale has managed to have the drive gear rebuilt in a small engineering shop in Praia. He is currently refitting the gear (which is housed in a “gearbox” below the engine which consequently requires lifting up, out of the engine compartment). Refitting, then testing, the engine will take a few more days.

Once the engine has been repaired and tests show that the Shining Star is again sea-worthy, the Smyths have some important decisions to make.

Crucial decisions
Autumn tropical storms ravage the area between Cape Verde and the Canary isles and the straights of Gibraltar. The cumulative delays have now placed Skipper Dale into this “autumn storm” time-frame.

If they decide to carry on sailing north there is a real danger and risk facing the family as they sail into the storm zones once the engine is repaired.  Alternatively they could spend the next few months at Praia and find some local ministry with which to be involved. Another option would be for Dale to sail on alone or with a volunteer crew, and send wife, Natalie and the two young boys home to Cape Town.  This doesn’t seem an option as it would be difficult to find suitable crew and it would be an unnecessary expense to send Natalie and the boys back to Cape Town.

Johnathan Macris, and the leadership of Hellenic Ministries, have suggested that we give serious consideration to flying Natalie, Jack and Jamie from Praia to Athens – where accommodation is available for them and Natalie can start familiarising herself with the culture and language in Greece and get to know her colleagues in Hellenic Ministries. Simultaneously, an experienced sailor can be flown from Athens to Praia to sail northwards with Dale through the tricky weather patterns they will encounter between Cape Verde and Gibraltar at this time of year.

View  video clip:

Fullies makes use of GivenGain – a secure donations system that can accept donations in any currency from credit cards or bank accounts. All donations to the “Fullies Missions Project” via GivenGain will be directed towards helping Dale, Natalie, their family and boat to Greece as quickly and safely as possible. They have set a target of  R100 000 and are praying for the ability to make a quick decision to fly Natalie and sons to Athens. Donations can be made via this link.

Errol Naidoo and guest, Dr Bev Wolmarans, on the Watchman on the Wall set.

Watchman on the Wall, a pioneering weekly television programme on TBN Africa that focuses on current affairs from a Christian perspective, celebrates its first anniversary tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4).

The hour-long programme hosted by Family Policy Insititue Director Errol Naidoo together with a team of co-presenters has tackled a range of challenging issues, including the proposed legalisation of prostitution, human trafficking, pornography, corruption, media bias, and State attacks on religious freedom. It has also screened interviews with public figures like Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and African Christian Democratic Party leader Dr Kenneth Meshoe.

Naidoo reflects on the first year of WOW in his weekly column.

The ACDP released a statement today congratulating WOW on its first anniversary. “The work you do is greatly appreciated. Keep going!!!” says the ACDP. Gateway News also extends congratulations to WOW on its milestone achievement in Christian current affairs TV broadcasting.

WOW shows on TBN Africa (channel 341 on DStv) every Tuesday at 8pm and is repeated on Sundays at 7pm.

Pastor Joseph Miller( left) and Pastor Barry Isaacs, founder of Transformation Africa which partners with Miller’s
gangland ministry team. The pastors call on other churches to join with them.

 Call on churches, 10 000 intercessors, to join in 5-point plan to take back communities

“We were just dozing off inside, when we heard a number of shots go off. I ran to the window and then I realised that the shots had been right outside our house. Leroy had been shot in the head, and was found lying on the back seat of the taxi. 

“As far as I know, he was an innocent and lovely person. It’s a tragedy, but it also makes us very nervous. If (the gunmen) can be so bold, there’s nothing to stop them from walking in the front door and doing the same to us.”  — This was the eyewitness account of one resident of Manenberg, Cape Town, recently about the tragic shooting of a young man in front of her house; a regular experience of life in this gang-controlled township where anyone is a potential shooting target.

Cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, in particular, have experienced unprecedented levels of gang-based violence. The most recent police statistics show 2 300 murders in the Western Cape between April 2011 and March 2012 – an average of more than six people murdered a day. Numerous efforts by government, to stem the tide of gang-related violence have been made but this toxic phenomenon, that’s been destroying the fabric of our communities for years, is still prevalent.

The good news is that the battle against gangsterism can be won. At least that is the conviction of Joseph Miller, a Pastor, husband and father of 2 children, who has committed his life to providing a solution to gang violence in South Africa. He has the heart and courage to go where many brave men fear to tread. And he has previously tasted success in the struggle against gangsterism in Gauteng.

Call to ministry with gangs
“After completing my Diploma in Theology at Cape Evangelical Bible Institute in Athlone  [now named Cornerstone Higher Education Institute] God called me at an early age into the ministry, to work with gangs and gangsters”, said Miller.

His ministry with the gangsters commenced in 1998, in a township called Eersterust, on the outskirts of Pretoria. Currently, he works with gangsters in Manenberg, Belhar and Delft, Heideveld, and the greater part of Cape Town. 

Manenburg, where gangsters currently rule the streets. (PHOTO: eNCAnews screenshot)

“To give accurate statistics on gang or gang related deaths is extremely difficult. The reason being, most gang deaths, unless reported, go undetected. A rough estimate of people that have been affected by gang violence in Manenberg is around 30 000. If the gangsters are allowed to continue as they are doing at the moment, mayhem will prevail in these poor communities.  Threats, gang-rule and fear will be the order of the day”, Miller was at pains to explain.

 With God’s help, Miller and his ministry team achieved significant success with gangsterism in Eersterust and living conditions in the area noticeably improved. In 1998 and 1999, with Miller as mediator, four gangs (a total of 500 gang members) made a peace pact.  For about five years after that, crime went down in Eersterust. Most of the learners went back to school, several gang members found work and some even completed grade 12 and went on to study at universities of their choice.

“There is a big change in community life in Eersterust today, compared to what it was previously. You don’t read about many gang-related incidents in Eersterust, in the newspaper as before. Safety in the area has greatly improved. Unlike a few years ago, today people walk more freely in Eersterust. There is a greater awareness about the problem of gangsterism in the community. You still have a form of gangsterism that is prevalent, but it is by no means as it was before,” said Miller.

Recently Miller started working with gangs in Manenberg, Heideveld, Delft and Belhar. He believes that he will achieve the same success in these Cape Town suburbs that he had in Eersterust.

5-Point Plan that worked in Eerstrust
“We had a five point plan that we applied in Eerstrust and I believe that,  if we get the same support in Cape Town, we will have the same success in gang-controlled areas here”, said Miller.

Miller and his ministry team execute their tried-and-tested Five Point Plan in the following manner:

1. They facilitate intensive prayer sessions, with various churches in the affected areas, for a period of three months. During this time they do prayer walks through the streets. 

2. Personal contact is then made with the leaders of individual gangs. The purpose of these meetings with the gang leaders is to get every leader around the table and get a commitment to peace from them. He tries to get gang leaders to agree to allow any gang member to leave the gang, without any retaliation from the gang that they belonged to.

3. The gang ministry works very closely with the police and reformed gangsters. Under police protection, Miller and his team mediate in family feuds or rivalry between the gangs. Gang awareness programs are facilitated in the schools, under police protection. Regular devotions take place at the police station with the police staff. Reformed gangsters are also included in the negotiations with gangs because of the credibility they have with gangsters. Their role in establishing peace agreements between gangs is extremely important.

4. A day is set aside where a peace signing agreement is arranged with the gangs. This takes the form of a church service, and in this service they sign the agreement, with specific conditions. At this meeting all the gangs are represented, as well as the other gangs that they were associated with. The Minister of Police, senior representatives of the police force, the parents and families of those gangsters, school principals and the pastors of the respective churches in the area, also attend this particular church service.

5. Support structures are then set in place to assist all rehabilitated gangsters and their families. This initiative includes job creation and helping  families with food.

“We firmly believe that this model will bring results in Manenberg and other gang strongholds in Cape Town. Gangsterism can be overcome in the Western Cape. The way to go is if all Churches pull their weight and play their part. Church members must pray seriously about the situation and church leaders, all over South Africa, must look for ways to be part of the solution”, said Miller.

“You must understand that the problem in the Western Cape is very broad and therefore I appeal to all the pastors that we raise 10 000 prayer intercessors over the whole of the Western Cape, i.e. 250 to 500 per area. These intercessors must pray in their communities at various churches for a period of 90 days, in order to eradicate the forces of darkness. Then do the prayer walks and trust God for the salvation of gangsters. This is not a quick fix. This is an ongoing, long term methodology”,  he said.

Miller says that although his life has been in danger many times , the Lord has always been his protector. “With courage and boldness, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can liberate our broken communities from the stronghold that the evil one wants to impose on them”, he said.

Jacques and Jacqueline Whittle and their three children.

Kalahari.com project developer on daily walk with Holy Spirit

Anyone in South Africa, who has had anything to do with computers over the last 15 years, would most definitely have heard of Kalahari.com. Any book club member will tell you that ‘If you can’t find a book in any bookshop, then you know you can get it online at Kalahari.com.’  That’s where I first heard mention of it.

The present reality of the iconic shopping website is so far beyond its beginnings that it is impossible for him to condense the journey ‘from then till now’ into a few lines, said Jacques Whittle, the Port Elizabeth-based businessman, who in conjunction with the client, designed the distribution system that drives Kalahari.com.

Considering the standard of excellence he has established in the online retail business, it is beyond the grasp of a ‘mere mortal’ in the computer arena that there is any limit to Jacques’ talent. Then again nothing about this man’s humility and perception of life can be easily summarised.

Open doors for Christian ministry
Jacques and Jacqueline Whittle own Corporate Renaissance Group SCS (CRGSCS), a Supply Chain Services company and believe their favour in the corporate world has opened doors for Christian ministry. Having committed their lives and business to the Lord, it has at times seemed to them that the income the business generates just does not make sense, but rather that the Lord has blessed them to be in a position to exchange time for money.

“The Lord spoke to our hearts and asked: ‘What are you doing? How can you bless others?’ ” said Whittle.

“It literally seems like the time when Jesus fed 5 000 people with five loaves and two small fish. But this is exactly what God is doing with the income of the business and we are convinced that it is purely because we place all that we have on God’s altar to use as He deems necessary.”

Since its inception, he says CRGSCS’s priorities have changed completely, due to their growing involvement with Human Hearts Ministries, a Port Elizabeth-based ministry that aims to serve people with the love of Jesus, bringing them into a living relationship with God. He said that CRGSCS is so re-motivated through the impact of the ministry that its current focal point aims are:

• to create opportunities for people to develop their talents in order to reach their full potential;
• to assist South Africans to become more competitive in the international arena;
• to create an altar for Jesus with the implementation of each new project;
• to honour God, our fellow-man, leaders and elders who have been appointed to preside over us.

Human Hearts Ministries team members (from the left) Dirk van der Mescht, Kobus Prinsloo and Danie Matthee.

Whittle was a co-founder of Human Hearts Ministries and together with his ministry partners, Danie Mathee, Kobus Prinsloo and Dirk van der Mescht, he continues to serve wholeheartedly in the non profit organisation which he says was born out of  ’a true act of gratitude to the Living God from a like-minded team’.

“The Lord has taught us not to make excuses or to criticise but to commit and be available,” he said.

Growing from a desire to initiate Christian community-based projects in obedience to God, Human Hearts initially provided financial support to establish a performing arts ministry, but this has grown over time to include a youth ministry, pastoral care ministry and a men’s ministry.

Called to serve
Human Hearts team members work according to the premise of Matthew 20:28: ‘The Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve,’ and they step into Jesus’ footprints, believing He has called each of them to follow Him and to serve their fellow man with the same passion, said Whittle.

His words are not for the faint-hearted, but for those who dare to be strong and courageous wherever they go.

He said: “No one can claim that this [Human Hearts] was their vision. It has come about because we have been seeking the Lord on a daily basis and bravely following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Even when it does not make sense to do so.”

Human Hearts community initiatives over the past 12 months include:

• 2 youth camps that followed out of a weekly youth meeting, called The Event, which is aimed at youth and evangelism.
• the launching of a families’ ministry which brought restoration to homes as a steady growth of local care groups continued.
• pastoral care, including ministry to Zimbabwean farmers who were forced off their farms.
• performing arts presentations including an Easter production ‘‘Plek van die Hoofskedel’ at the Little Theatre and various churches in and around Port Elizabeth; a comedy called ‘Dokter Dokter’ at the Little Theatre during the July school holiday; and a further children’s production and a puppet show which shared the message of the Gospel to the very young and primary school children in a fun way.

Human Hearts’ is hosting its first annual Golf Day at the PE Golf Club on September 17.  More information about the ministry and the Golf Day is available at http://www.humanhearts.co.za,

Representatives of Joshua Generation Church (JGC) will meet with South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Western Cape Senior Legal Officer, Tammy Carter, at 10am tomorrow in Cape Town to discuss the SAHRC’s investigation of the church over its doctrine on corporal punishment.

Andrew Selley, Senior Pastor of JGC, and Philip van der Westhuizen, Church Administrator and Pastor, will represent JGC at the meeting requested by the church which has until September 17 to respond in writing to an SAHRC complaint about its teaching on the Biblical doctrine of  ’spare the rod and spoil the child’. In a recent letter to the church Carter says the commission regards corporal punishment as ‘abuse maltreatment neglect and degradation’.

“Our hopes are that we can show the unreasonableness of what the SAHRC is attempting to do in pushing to criminalize reasonable spanking and forbidding the church to teach on the matter,” said Selley ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.

“We have managed to rally support from Christian leaders representing multiple denominations and independent churches from across SA representing approximately 4 million people in our 2 week drive. So thank you to all those who have rallied with us.

“We also have just received a message from the Muslim Judicial Council who have given their support to us and will fight with us for the protection of religious freedom in SA. Our hope is that the SAHRC will realize the impossibility of policing any laws outlawing spanking – in the light of the sheer numbers of those who cannot obey, due to religious conviction and so deflect this ‘attack’ into a proposed solution,” said Selley.

He said the church will offer to work on the State’s behalf into communities across SA, by providing training and support, thereby helping to train society away from the real causes of abuse and violence against children.

“According to our SA constitution the state should be providing training for parents in these matters, but thus far have not had the resources to do so. We hope to help become part of the solution, by offering our support in being able to provide this vital missing training to SA society at large. We all want to see the abuse of children end, and hope to become allies with the SAHRC to help remedy the real violence, while maintaining our God-given rights as parents and religious communities to train our children in the ways of our God- according to the bible.

“We ask that churches that have not yet sent their support do so, as we hope to throw our collective weight behind two other present cases in SA where the State is trying to dictate to the church what she can and can’t believe and teach, and hope that by a united front we will see God’s blessing come to the church across SA and that we can protect our precious faith- in this beautiful country.”

Churches and other religious organisations can sign a support letter calling on the SAHRC to dismiss the complaint against JGC. They can email the letter to compliance@joshgen.org.za. 

Christians are urged to pray for a Godly outcome to tomorrow morning’s meeting.

CHRIS BROWN

Co-Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor, North Coast Church

• North Coast Church is the Evangelical Free denomination’s largest church with 9000+ attendees, 25 services and multiple campuses
• One of four Senior Pastors in North Coast’s innovative co-leadership system, considered a ground-breaking model for churches globally
• A uniquely-gifted Bible teacher, his authentic narrative style has facilitated North Coast to grow both larger and younger
• Passionate about developing communication gifts in young leaders, he serves as Adjunct Professor at Bethel College, and was formerly Campus Pastor at Azusa Pacific University

“Inspirational Leadership Quote from GLS 2012:
“One of the greatest powers in negotiation is the power to not react.” – William Ury

About the GLS

The Global Leadership Summit is a two-day event designed to inspire and equip Christian leaders for the sake of the local church. Founded 19 years ago by Willow Creek Community Church Senior Pastor Bill Hybels, the GLS has trained and inspired more than a million leaders all over the world through the input of world class church, ministry and business leaders. Willow Creek Southern Africa is presenting the GLS 2013 at 12 venues around SA and Namibia during October/November. The local GLS events will combine big screen presentations and live worship. While the summit is primarily targeted at church leaders, it is open to anyone who wants to attend. Attendees usually include church and community leaders, university students, academic, government and business leaders.  Some summit topics apply to general leadership concepts, some are focused on church leadership but are adaptable to any leadership context and other topics are focused primarily on church leadership. In 2012, the GLS reached 160 000 leaders, at dozens of locations in 90 countries and 42 languages.

(See the Dates and Venues and the Fees and Registration at the bottom of the page .)

View video:

Dates and Venues

4-5 October 2013

• Johannesburg @ Mosaiek Church

11-12 October 2013

• Durban @ Grace Family Church
• Vanderbijlpark @ River of Life Family Church
• Port Elizabeth @ Harvest Christian Church
• Nambia, Walvis Bay @ Walvisbaai Gemeenskaps Kerk

18-19 October 2013

• Cape Town @ Common Ground Church
• East London @ Christian Centre
• Namibia, Ongwediva @ Foursquare Church

25-26 October 2013

• Cape Town @ AGS Goodwood
• Namibia, Windhoek @ DRC Windhoek West

1-2 November 2013

• Durban @ Kloof Harvest Church
• Secunda @ Kruik

6,2m Christians standing against State interference — Selley

Senior Christian leaders and Christian attorneys are meeting in Pretoria tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the Church’s response to growing attacks on its beliefs and freedoms.

The group previously met in June and July after the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found the Creare Christian Arts Training Centre in Bloemfontein guilty of discrimination against homosexuals for holding a Biblical view that homosexual practice is sinful.

The Christian leaders will consider legal initiatives aimed at defending religious freedom and will hear a report-back by Andrew Selley, Senior Pastor of Joshua Generation Church (JGC), Cape Town about their meeting with (SAHRC) Western Cape Senior Legal Officer, Tammy Carter, last week.

“The meeting [with the SAHRC] went well,” said Selley in an interview today.

He said the SAHRC is aware of the “uproar in the Church in South Africa” over its decision to investigate a complaint about JGC teaching on corporal punishment and the commission’s apparent assumption that the church is guilty of a human rights violation.

Over the past two weeks, churches representing 6,2 million Christians have rallied to JGC’s call to stand together to defend the Church’s right to freely teach what it believes the Bible says, said Selley. The SA Muslim community has also agreed to oppose state interference in religious freedom.

Selley said farmer evangelist Angus Buchan called him this week to express solidarity with the united Church defence of freedom of belief. He said Buchan plans to raise the issue with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at a meeting with him on Tuesday 17.

Commenting on the JGC delegation’s meeting with the SAHRC in Cape Town last week, Selley said it appeared that their next step will be to meet with the un-named person who complained to the commission about the church’s doctrine on corporal punishment. He said the commission explained the complainant can drop his complaint but if he does not, due legal process must be followed.

He said that at their meeting the SAHRC appeared to appreciate their “olive branch” offer to help the State by providing community training and support to prevent abuse and violence against children.

Meanwhile, the Christian leaders meeting in Pretoria tomorrow are taking a proactive approach to current and potential future attacks on religious freedom. Outlining the meeting agenda, Family Policy Institute Director, Errol Naidoo, said Christian Lawyers Association Chairman, Reg Willis, and Christian attorney Teresa Conradie will introduce the proposed establishment of a legal body called the Institute for Public Justice, which will take on the challenge of defending the church against various challenges. And in another presentation, Professor Pieter Coertzen of Stellenbosch University and co-architect of the “Charter for Religious Rights & Freedoms.” will explain how it will protect religious freedoms, how churches can adopt it as part of their constitutions and what must be done to get it adopted into SA law.

The SAHRC have in the interim launched another investigation that bodes ill for religious freedom: this time they are investigating alleged ‘homophobia and pro-Christian bias’ by South African adoption agencies.

Selley said JGC is still trying to rally more leaders to stand with them for religious freedom. They hope to create a huge database of the Church in SA, which they can contact about other challenges by the State  and so present a united Christian front on matters. Churches are asked to send messages of support to redflag@joshgen.org.za.

JOSEPH GRENNY

Co-Founder, VitalSmarts; Best-selling Business Author

• Business strategy expert who has developed a proven method for driving sustainable and measurable change in human behavior
• Founded corporate training company, VitalSmarts—one of the fastest growing companies in America that has taught 300 of the Fortune 500 Companies
• Utilising a research-based approach to organisational effectiveness, he is author of four best-selling books including Crucial Conversations and Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

“Inspirational Leadership Quote from GLS 2012:
“The younger generation can smell fakes – Authenticity trumps cool.” – Craig Groeschel

About the GLS

The Global Leadership Summit is a two-day event designed to inspire and equip Christian leaders for the sake of the local church. Founded 19 years ago by Willow Creek Community Church Senior Pastor Bill Hybels, the GLS has trained and inspired more than a million leaders all over the world through the input of world class church, ministry and business leaders. Willow Creek Southern Africa is presenting the GLS 2013 at 12 venues around SA and Namibia during October/November. The local GLS events will combine big screen presentations and live worship. While the summit is primarily targeted at church leaders, it is open to anyone who wants to attend. Attendees usually include church and community leaders, university students, academic, government and business leaders.  Some summit topics apply to general leadership concepts, some are focused on church leadership but are adaptable to any leadership context and other topics are focused primarily on church leadership. In 2012, the GLS reached 160 000 leaders, at dozens of locations in 90 countries and 42 languages.

(See the Dates and Venues and the Fees and Registration at the bottom of the page .)

View video:

Dates and Venues

4-5 October 2013

• Johannesburg @ Mosaiek Church

11-12 October 2013

• Durban @ Grace Family Church
• Vanderbijlpark @ River of Life Family Church
• Port Elizabeth @ Harvest Christian Church
• Nambia, Walvis Bay @ Walvisbaai Gemeenskaps Kerk

18-19 October 2013

• Cape Town @ Common Ground Church
• East London @ Christian Centre
• Namibia, Ongwediva @ Foursquare Church

25-26 October 2013

• Cape Town @ AGS Goodwood
• Namibia, Windhoek @ DRC Windhoek West

1-2 November 2013

• Durban @ Kloof Harvest Church
• Secunda @ Kruik

Last year’s NAL March for Life.

About 5 000 people are expected to participate in the NAL March for Life in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, October 6, says the National Alliance for Life in a media statement.

The march is a celebration of life and a rejection of abortion says the NAL which is an umbrella body of various pro-life groups. The march will start at the Umhlanga Sharks Board parking lot at 2.30pm on October 6. A petition to Government will be signed by pastors from various churches at the end of the march. The NAL urges Christians to support the event and to turn out in numbers to speak for those who cannot speak. A flyer and a poster promoting the NAL March or Life can be downloaded from the Doctors For Life website. 

Life Chain events on the same weekend are also planned for Cape Town and East London (See details at end of this report).

40 Days For Life
And in Cape Town and Paarl, groups will join others in 306 cities in the United States and in seven other countries, in holding 40 Days For Life campaigns from September 25 to November 3. In Cape Town, Collette Thomas, who launched South Africa’s first 40 Days For Life in February, will once again coordinate the 40-day pro-life prayer vigil outside the Marie Stopes Clinic abortion clinic in the city centre. Adri Holm is coordinating the Paarl event outside Paarl Hospital (See details at end of this report).

Since abortion on demand was legalised against the will of most South Africans in February 1997, more than a million babies have been killed by legal abortion in SA.

The March for Life is an event that is supported by pro-lifers in various countries once a year. In January 2013, more than half a million people participated in the 40th annual March for Life in Washington DC, USA, and in May a record 25 000 marchers participated in the March for Life in Ottawa, Canada.

The international 40 Days for Life campaign which has grown substantially since its inception in 2007 reports that as a result of its campaigns  7 536 lives have been spared from abortion, 83 abortion workers quit their jobs and left the abortion industry, and 40 abortion facilities shut down following local 40 Days for Life campaigns.

Details of pro-life events are:

September 25 to November 3

• Cape Town - 40 Days for Life: 25 September – 3 November, 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil outside Marie Stopes Clinic, 91 Bree Street, Cape Town. Contact Colette Thomas: Colettethomas.hli@gmail.com or sign up on: http://40daysforlife.com/capetown.html.
• Paarl - 40 Days for Life: outside Paarl Hospital. Contact Adri Holm: adri.holm@outlook.com or sign up on: http://40daysforlife.com/paarl.html.

October 5

• East London – Life Chain: 11:00am – 12:30. Meet on the corner of Oxford Street and St Matthew’s Road, around the corner from Marie Stopes Clinic. Contact Frans 082 774 6649 or Judy 043 – 726 9900, jvan@iafrica.com.

October 6

• Cape Town – Life Chain: 2:00 – 4:00pm. Buitengracht Street, near entrance to Waterfront. Contact: Africa Christian Action: 021 -689 4480 or info@christianaction.org.za. Facebook event page.
• Durban - National March for Life:  2:30 – 5:00pm, meet at Sharks Board Parking Lot, 1A Herrwood Drive, Umhlanga. Organised by the National Alliance for Life, Contact: sindi@dfl.org.za, 032 – 481 5550.

Africa Christian Action report that details of Life Chains in other cities will be announced soon.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan,

The AFM of SA expresses its appreciation for the radical and clear-cut financial control measures announced yestersay by Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, says the AFM in a media statement.

“The Minister deserves our sincere congratulations for the bold and responsible steps taken to control wasteful and fruitless expenditure,” says AFM President Dr Izak Burger, referring to Gordhan’s medium-term budget review which includes slashing expensive perks enjoyed by public servants and politicians. The Government hopes to save more than R2 billion in the belt-tightening exercise which will start on December 1.

The AFM media statement continues: “Over the past few years irresponsible and extravagant spending by several ministers and other high-ranking government officials, have become a source of extreme concern to law-abiding tax-paying citizens.

“The manner in which taxpayer’s money is recklessly spent while the majority of citizens suffer in poverty is shameful and immoral.

“Archbishop Tutu’s concern regarding government’s “gravy-train” at the cost of the over-burdened taxpayer has caused extremely negative attitudes amongst many citizens.
Even though the steps taken by Minister Gordhan may translate into relatively minor savings, it does send a clear message to insensitive and extravagant officials that the party is over.
The Minister’s actions also provide a ray of hope to the nation that government has finally acknowledged the shocking levels of corruption and misuse of taxpayer’s money in South Africa.

“As a Christian Church we applaud you, Minister Gordhan! We pray these measures signal a genuine about-turn by government. We trust these measures will be stringently applied and that adequate monitoring systems will be implemented to monitor its progress.”

From the left: Advocate Willie Kingsley, Graham Power(Power Group) and Kevin Hustler(CEO of NM Bay Business Chamber) at an informal breakfast for city leaders yesterday.

The Global Day of Prayer movement which spread to every nation in the world over a period of 10 years, and the Unashamedly Ethical movement which is currently taking root in different nations, are part of a plan that God is directing, said businessman Graham Power, at an informal city leaders’ breakfast in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

He told the leaders who were discussing strategies to promote ethics in business and public affairs, that God gave him specific instructions for both initiatives during several memorable divine encounters that began after he committed himself, his family and his company, the Power Group, to serving the Lord.

Power said that until he surrendered his life to God in 1999 a the age of 43, he had been a “Sunday Christian”, going to church on some Sundays and doing whatever was necessary to get business and influence people for the rest of the time. That year at his instigation his company decided to have nothing to do with collusion and price fixing that were rife in the construction industry. In mid 2000, during an overseas holiday, God woke him at 2am and told him to challenge South African Christians to a day of repentance and prayer. Following detailed instructions from God he organised an unprecedented prayer event — the first Global Day of Prayer — at Newlands Rugby Stadium. Cape Town, which was attended by 45 000 people on March 21, 2001.

Holy Spirit
The following year, at a men’s breakfast in Stellenbosch, he fell under the power of the Holy Spirit when the speaker, Craig Meisenheimer, laid hands on him. He had never had such an experience before. During an hour and a half on the floor he experienced acute “pins and needles” sensations and an “out of body” experience in which God showed him that the Global Day of Prayer would spread through Africa and the world and that Africa would become a light to the world within his own lifetime. The prayer event grew rapidly each year and by 2004 God revealed to him that by 10 years all 220 nations of the world would be involved — which is exactly what happened.

On October 6, 2006, he awoke at 4am and shook for three hours as God revealed to him that there would be three global waves: first a wave of prayer; then a wave of ethics, values and clean living; and then “the positive tsunami — a revival of transformation like the globe has never seen”. He could not see the detail of God’s plan but saw that there would be three things: a pledge form, an electronic database to link people, and an ombudsman. These three things are key elements of the Unashamedly Ethical (UE) movement that he founded in 2009. Currently 4 500 South African companies and more than 20 000 South Africans have signed the UE pledge and the movement has been adopted in other parts of Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

“It is all part of a puzzle. It is not man’s plan, but God’s vision and plan. All we need to do is follow His instructions. I believe there is a special purpose and calling on South Africa and I am proud to be an African,” said Power, who also addressed a gathering on ethics at Harvest Christian Church, Port Elizabeth last night.

More information about UE is available on the website www.unashamedlyethical.com where organisations and individuals can also sign up to join the movement.

Philip van der Westhuizen

Representatives of Joshua Generation Church (JGC) and the couple who complained to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) about the church’s doctrine on corporal punishment, as well as other lobby groups, recently met at the Cape Town offices of the SAHRC.

Parties at the meeting on October 10, sought to resolve the complaint brought by Adriaan and Hannah Mostert, against the church’s belief and teaching of Biblical texts around spanking, said Phillp van der Westhuizen, JGC Operations Manager and Elder. 

He said no final agreement was reached at the meeting and the parties agreed to not engage the media on the discussions held at the meeting until such time as the matter is taken further. The lobbyists are allowed to still engage the media on the constitutional and spanking issues at hand, as are the Church, but not relating to the matters discussed at the meeting.

While the SAHRC probe deals with views on spanking, the bigger issue for South Africa is a threat to religious freedom similar to mounting legal restrictions on the gospel in the west as a result of judicial rulings. If the Government, through the SAHRC and Constitutional Court rules that JGC cannot teach from the Bible according to its convictions, all churches will be affected and the SAHRC could be expected to dictate to churches on other Biblical doctrine. Churches in South Africa representing some 9 million Christians have heeded a call to put aside minor doctrinal differences in order to stand prayerfully together to defend religious freedom. Churches who want to identify with this stand are invited to email redflag@joshgen.org. 

Toby Janicki teaching in Cape Town.

Believers in Cape Town were treated last week to a two-day seminar teaching by Toby Janicki of the First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ). It was presented by Lada’at Hashem Ministries,  Beit Ariel, and CMJ South Africa (The Church’s Ministry amongst the Jewish People). 

Many have studied the FFOZ ‘Hayesod’ course, giving the foundations of our Christian Roots by Janicki  together with Boaz Michael, the founder who visited Cape Town last year, and Thomas Lancaster. It is part of a prophetic movement of God in which His Spirit is returning His people to a proper biblical foundation rooted in the Old Testament (Torah,) Israel, and the Messiah, says FFOZ which specialises in the study and teaching of scripture from its historical, linguistic, and cultural context.

Many Gentile believers today are searching out what it means to walk out a life of discipleship with Jesus (Yeshua) as practiced by the first disciples in Acts, said Janicki. He said the only way for Gentile believers to successfully accomplish this is to return to the Christian roots of their faith and realise their role as grafted-in members of the commonwealth of Israel.

Gentile Believers are not supposed to ‘become Jews’ – they have a unique place yet with regard to Acts 15, specific requirements are asked of them. Janicki noted early followers of Jesus were known as God-fearers and he brought solid answers for non-Jews seeking to practice the Christian roots of their faith.

His book God-Fearers: Gentiles & the God of Israel helps us understand more on this subject. Janicki also presented the seminar in Pretoria on the 19th October and more can be learned about FFOZ through their website: http://ffoz.org/

Mercia and Mark Scharneck, with their daughters Kelsey (left) and Megan (right).

A Johannesburg woman who lived in torment for 18 years because of a rape and abortion experience when she was a teenager is being used by God to bring hope to hurting people.

Mercia Scharneck who launched her restoration, teaching and charitable ministry, Mercia Scharneck Ministries, in Cape Town earlier this month, said she is totally free and fulfilled in Christ today and that  ”God can bring turn-around, breakthrough, deliverance and healing  into even the worst of life’s situations”.

Sharing her testimony with Gateway News, Scharneck said:  “I grew up in Pine Road, Woodstock in Cape Town 51 years ago, surrounded by gangs and alcohol. At school, my teacher called me a dunce and said that I would amount to nothing. I struggled at school and quit in Standard 7 (Grade 9) believing what the teacher had confessed over me.”

Tragically, Scharneck was raped at the age of 19 and fell pregnant as a consequence. She then decided to have an abortion. For many years afterwards she struggled to forgive herself. This led to feelings of guilt, condemnation, fear, unforgiveness, bitterness and low self esteem. She tried to forget the ordeals but they haunted her, eventually leading to drinking and wild parties. 

A few years after the abortion Scharneck decided to leave Cape Town and start her life afresh in Johannesburg, hoping to forget the past. That was 31 years ago. She continued drinking for a few more years until she met and married Mark Scharneck, to whom she’s been married to for 29 years. She said that because of the unresolved guilt she carried all her bitterness and condemnation into her marriage and almost ruined a perfectly good marriage and family.

“I was an angry, Mad Black Woman and treated my husband so badly, although he would just walk away and say ‘Mercia be angry on your own’.  He would take our two daughters and just go and have fun with them”, said Scharneck

Calling on God
One day, 14 years ago, after another emotional outburst, screaming at her husband and children about how she hated them, she came to her senses and pleaded with God to show her that He was real by setting her free from the terrible state that she was in. At that moment Scharneck said that God spoke to her and told her that He wanted to change her life.

 “Things didn’t change instantly for me. It was a process but my life is so much better today than it has ever been. God helped me to forgive myself, forgive the rapist and then to ask my husband for forgiveness,” she said.

She experienced real freedom as she started spending time in God’s word.  “ I searched scriptures and found out that God loved me. His desire is to fellowship with me and that He wants me to prosper in every area of my life and that He is all for me”, said Scharneck.  Even though she had rededicated her life to Jesus and things were beginning to change, she felt that she was not progressing spiritually enough. She then enrolled at a Bible School and did a one year Christian counselling course. One of her course assignments was to write about her life story. As she prepared for this assignment, she reflected on the emotional abuse of her teacher and the horrible ordeal of her rape. Her thoughts went to the day she found out that she was pregnant and to making the decision to have an abortion.   

“All my life I was saving myself for the man I would marry and now it was taken away from me. I felt that I couldn’t keep the baby because everyone would know and I wasn’t going to embarrass my family. Looking back, I realise that I could have spoken to them, they would not have condoned abortion and they would have supported me. I come from a closely knit family and they have always impacted my life positively. I will say to anyone out there, do not have an abortion, you might think you will get over it but you never will…it will haunt you all your life. God will help you support your child, if you trust Him to do that,” said Scharneck.

An everlasting love
“I realised that God was not holding out on me.  He was never distant from me but I had hindered my own progress because although I had rededicated my life to Him, I was holding back. At that moment I felt His loving arms around me and a burden was lifted off my shoulders and I felt so free. At that point I knew God loved me with an everlasting love, that He never holds out on me and that He was there with me when I was raped.  He saw the abortion. He knew everything I went through and He was reaching out to me, to bring beauty for ashes and joy for mourning. God is real and if you’re struggling with something more painful than I have, our God that created you, can bring about total restoration in your life”, Scharneck said with conviction.

After she completed the assignment of writing about her life story, she said that God prompted her to tell her husband all about it.  She recalls: “My husband just held me and told me he loved me and that he knows God has forgiven me. Later I had the opportunity to share with my daughters everything. My eldest daughter said ‘Mommy, it would have been nice to have an older sister’, and they wanted to know how old she would have been, so for the first time I sat calculating the age”. 

When she rededicated her life to Christ about 14 years ago, Scharneck said she told God that that she would serve Him and do all that He has called her to do. She also asked that He save her husband, Mark ( who was an atheist) , so that they could go to church together, pray together and trust in God together. When she tried to encourage her husband to go to church he said: “ Mercia, I don’t mind you and the girls going to church, but don’t come to me with that happy clappy stuff “. 

Great new things
“God continued to prompt me to only pray for him, and not to preach to him about Jesus, because He was working in Mark. It was approximately two years later, when the girls and I were getting ready to go to church; Mark asked if we could wait for him. He said that he would love to go to church with us. I had tears in my eyes. My youngest daughter was in the room at the time and she held her thumb up saying ‘Mommy, God answered our prayer’. That was the beginning of great new things. Mark committed his life to Christ and from that day until this day we go to church together, pray together, stand in agreement in trusting God for big things in our lives”, said Scharneck. 

Two years ago, Scharneck started her ministry in her home in Johannesburg. It began as a ministry to women only, called “Gods Girls”. This year God told her to open the bible teaching to men as well. 

In 2013, she registered Mercia Scharneck Ministries, as a non -profit organisation and she launched the ministry on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Claremont Hall in Cape Town. Mercia Scharneck Ministries is involved in feeding schemes for the homeless. “On a monthly basis we go and prepare a large supper for abused young girls and relieve the staff of their duties. We also support another charity organisation financially and through donations of clothing.” She said any donations to the ministry are used only to feed the homeless and to assist families in need.

She said: “My desire is to go into many different denominations; Anglican, Catholic, New Apostolic and many different churches to share this marvelous gospel of Christ”.  

Today, Scharneck is a free woman in Christ, loving herself, as well as enjoying the call on her life. “God has been good to me and I want others to know it doesn’t matter at what stage you are in your life, God can heal and restore. It’s been many years now since my freedom and I’ve fallen in love with my husband all over again and love my two daughters, who are such a blessing to us. We also have our fair share of trials and tribulation, but God said ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you’.  He brings the victory in every challenge that we commit to Him,”said Scharneck.

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe.

South African church leaders this week spoke out strongly against “blasphemous” remarks by the ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe over the weekend” in which he compared the political Tri-Partite Alliance (ANC, Cosatu and SACP) with the Biblical Holy Trinity.

Apostolic Faith Mission President, Dr Izak Burger said he was shocked by Mantashe’s “blatant blasphemous statements” and the Moderator of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church Prof Nelus Niemandt said many Christians are hurt by “this type of blasphemy”.

According to media reports Mantashe made the Biblical comparison while addressing a political meeting at Wedela, Carletonville on Saturday. Beeld reports that Mantashe also said that as Jesus had 12 disciples, the ANC has had 12 presidents in its 100 year history, and that Mandela had led the people of South Africa as Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea.

“With these statements, Mr Mantashe stooped [to] the lowest level of political opportunism. What qualifies Mr Mantashe to make these statements? Can he explain his Christian orientation and theological accreditation?” says Burger, in a media statement released on Monday (November 4).

He continues: “Mr Mantashe’s cheap politicking also insults Christians of all races. If the previous misuse of the Bible has not caused concern amongst Christian citizens – then these latest pronouncements should be cause for great concern.

“The high levels of corruption, personal enrichment and pathetic service delivery by the ruling party indicates a complete lack of respect and fear of God.

“Mr Mantashe owes Christians in South Africa an unconditional apology. He should also explain why the Bible and the Christian faith are repeatedly singled out for exploitation and cheap political gain,” says Burger.

In his statement, also released on Monday, Niemandt says: “In recent years the Christian community in South Africa has expressed its dislike of political leaders’ abuse of the Bible and that which is holy to Christians — especially at election times. The President has done it, and now the Secretary General of the ANC the Holy Trinity has also misused and degraded the Holy Trinity as a metaphor for a political alliance for political gain. Many Christians are hurt by this type of blasphemy.

“We call on the ruling party to strongly censure this kind of behavior. We call on all Christians in our beloved country to stand in opposition to such behaviour. We want to call on other religions to help us to oppose this kind of abuse of our religions by registering their opposition to it in the strongest terms that they may deem fit. We know how the Muslims or Jews or Buddhists would have felt if they had to experience this type of religious abuse.

“May all of us at this time of the approaching elections, exercise wisdom and self-control in order to act in a way that is worthy of our country and our faith.”

The Beeld report notes that the ANC has a history of making controversial religious remarks in recent years, as follows:

February 2011: Zuma: “”When you don’t vote for the ANC you should know that you are choosing that man who carries a fork … When you are carrying an ANC membership card, you are blessed….When (Jesus) fetches us we will find (them) wearing black, green and gold, the holy ones belong to the ANC.”

October 2013: Zuma: “Whether we like it or not, God has made a connection between the government and the church. That’s why He says you, as a church, should pray for it (the ANC) .”

May 2008: Pres. Jacob Zuma: “”It (the ANC) is even blessed in Heaven. That is why we will rule until Jesus comes back.”

Cross of Hope Project Coordinator Robbie Hift (centre) and two employees of a Jeffreys Bay engineering firm, in front of a gate that is earmarked to help secure the cross that has been erected to deter suicide jumps off the 140m high Van Stadens Bridge west of Port Elizabeth.

Just over a year ago Eastern Cape businessman Robbie Hift had a vision from the Lord to erect a giant steel cross to deter suicide jumps off the 140m-high Van Stadens Bridge west of Port Elizabeth. The public responded with an outpouring of practical and financial support and today the 14m-high white cross stands tall, proclaiming hope in Christ to passing motorists and the finishing touches of the project are nearing completion.

Quite a bit of maintenance was done on the cross recently after high winds thundered across the valley and the steel cables anchoring the structure became slack and had to be tightened, said Hift. A perspex panel 6m above the ground was cracked as a result of the wind action. The maintenance team had to erect scaffolding and organise a team to climb up and replace the panel, he said.

Scaffolding in place for recent repair work on the cross.

The giant letters spelling ‘JESUS LOVES YOU’ have been manufactured and a team is busy constructing steel frames onto which the letters will be bolted. The frames will be erected on the hillside in front of the Cross of Hope.

In another recent development a Karoo farmer caught the vision and offered to erect an electric security fence around the whole installation. His R25 000 funding covers the fencing but there is still a need for a steel gate to enclose the area and protect the Cross of Hope from theft and vandalism.

“We have managed to locate a beautiful, strong galvanised double gate which is 4 m wide and 8 feet high and we can get this for a bargain price of R5 000. So we are calling out to compassionate people who are willing to help us to fund this double gate,” said Hift.

He said anybody wishing to support the gate appeal can make a deposit into the bank account of St Nicholas Church at Standard Bank Account No. 080023649, Branch 050-017 in the name of St Nicholas Church, using the reference “Bridge Cross”.

Outlining further vision for the project, Hift said that once the “Jesus Loves You” letters and the fencing is completed, solar lighting will be installed to illuminate the cross and the letters.

“We have been promised this solar lighting from the Rhino Group in Port Elizabeth. They are busy building a prototype showcase house at Crossways Farm Village,” he said.

He said that anyone wanting to offer any kind of help with the Cross of Hope project, or to share a testimony relating to the cross, is welcome to email him at info@ecmirror.co.za.

A photo of current construction work on the bridge where barriers are being erected by SANRAL on both sides to stop suicide jumpers. The project began in March this year following extensive lobbying by Friends Of Van Stadens Bridge Trust.