Christian News
15 December
2007
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Southern Africa:
* REV ERLO STEGEN FROM KWASIZABANTU
RECEIVES THE ROBERT W PIERCE AWARD FROM WORLD VISION - Members of World Vision
together with the National Director of World Vision came to visit the mission on 9 Dec
2007. They presented Rev Erlo Stegen as co-winner of the 2007 Robert W Pierce award (named
after Bob Pierce, World Vision's founder) for his work amongst the Zulu nation for the
last 56 years, since he was 16 years old. World Vision, founded in the United States in
1950, is an international Christian relief and development organization whose stated goal
is "working for the well being of all people, especially children." Working on
six continents, World Vision is one of the largest Christian relief and development
organisations in the world. Witnessing from Christ is a fundamental part of their relief
work and that God, in the person of Jesus, offers hope of renewal, restoration, and
reconciliation. World Vision seeks to express this message through "life, deed, word,
and sign". World Vision's programs and services are provided without regard to race,
ethnic origin, gender, or religion.
World Vision Africa vice president Wilfred Mlay said the following
at the award ceremony on 9 Dec, “I stand here representing the World Vision
International President and World Vision International Board. As you have been told World
Vision works in about 100 countries of the world. The ministry of World Vision touches
directly about 10 million young people and their communities every year.
When the founder of World Vision passed away in 1978 the
International Board of World Vision decided that there should be something that would
remind us every year of the work that he did.
Bob Pierce was an evangelist and a war correspondent in Korea
during the war in 1950. And while he was doing his work he was touched by the needs of the
orphans and the children as a result of the Korean war. And as he saw the suffering of
these children he prayed to God and said, 'let the things that break the heart of God
break my heart.'
So he dedicated his life to meet the needs of the needy children
around the world and to make sure that they get to hear that God loves them.
And as World Vision has worked around the world we have found many
Bob Pierce's. So since 1980 we have been finding these Bob Pierce's around the world. And
this year, 2007, we found 2 Bob Pierce's around the world. One of them is Rev Erlo Stegen,
who we are honoring here today.
Now you might wonder how did we discover in all the countries
where we work, in 100 countries, how did we discover Rev Stegen?
You have already been told the things that we look for when we are
looking for a Bob Pierce. We look for a man or a woman who has dedicated his entire life
to meet the needs of the neediest. We look for a man or a woman who combines the preaching
of the Gospel with meeting human needs in community. We look for a man or woman who does
their work without looking for public recognition. We look for a man or a woman who
touches the lives of ordinary people day by day by day over a long period of time and is
transforming and bringing change to their lives. We also look at the quality of the
ministry itself. We look at how far the work is reaching large numbers of people in the
community. We also look at the challenges they have to go through over a long period of
time before the ministry can really get established.
And then we invite our colleagues and our partners to send in
nominations of people who meet these criteria. We get literally hundreds of nominations
every year. The International Board of World Vision has set aside a small committee of
people who scrutinise these nominations and pray over them for the Holy Spirit to guide
them to the man or woman who should be given this award.
And this year God led us to 2 men. Our own Rev Stegen, and another
Reverend from India.
So as we honour Rev Stegen today we want to honour all those who
have followed his vision and his work here. We honour those who no-one has heard about
before, but who has faithfully followed our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with
the poor and needy to bring them good news about the kingdom of Jesus Christ.”
National director of World Vision SA, Lehlohonolo Chabeli, said it
is fitting that the award was given to Stegen a week after World Aids Day. “For the
past 20 years, Reverend Stegen has been deeply involved in actively addressing HIV/Aids.
Not only does he teach abstinence, but he and his team care for the dying and for orphans
… The Mission also runs the Emseni Care Centre, specifically aimed at women with
Aids.”
Rev Erlo Stegen shares the prize money of $10 000 (R70 000) with
Dr Samuel Kamaleson, who co-founded and continues to lead the Bethel Agricultural
Fellowship and the Friends Missionary Prayer Band in Southern India.
(CFT News, The Witness, 10 Dec 2007) (to index)
* HOPE FOR PROSTITUTES - Doctors for Life
International (DFL) had the following press release, “For many years, DFL has been
involved with practical assistance programs for prostitutes and therefore welcomes the
Government’s latest plan to help prostitutes who want to get out of the business.
These measures are more intelligent and proactive than the old mantra of ‘legalise
it’. The legalization of prostitution in other countries has miserably failed to
achieve the desired result of reducing crime, but South Africa now appears to be tackling
the root problem.
According to Meshack Hadebe, MEC for Social Development in KZN,
R24 million is being made available for poverty relief, part of which will be used to
assist prostitutes in the province by providing skills training and funds to start small
businesses.
The recognition by Government of the circumstances that drive many
people to sell their bodies to survive is encouraging. Many prostitutes support entire
families and the lack of employment opportunities leaves them very few choices, often
driving them to the streets and braving the dangers of the trade. The money made through
prostitution cannot balance the cost of the physical, emotional and psychological damage,
and requires more than financial assistance to repair.
This is especially true when the person is also a victim of human
trafficking and has been forced into prostitution, often enduring unimaginable cruelty. As
South Africa develops a system to identify and assist these victims, Government will need
to inject more funds into the project. DFL, however, cautions that good control measures
need to be instituted to prevent people from “flirting” with prostitution simply
to get access to these funds. There are disturbing reports of girls engaging in high risk
sexual behaviour to become pregnant or even HIV positive to qualify for state grants.
Government should rather strengthen reliable and experienced non-governmental
organisations in the field to continue their efforts to assist ex-prostitutes.
(Doctors For Life International, Dec 2007) (to index)
* KWASIZABANTU YOUTH CONFERENCE,
7 – 14 DEC 2007 – CFT News reports from KwaSizabantu, “Once again we
thank God for a successful Youth Conference where more than 5000 youth gathered from
across the country. The theme of this year's conference was 'Reward or Regret'. Various
preachers, including Rev Erlo Stegen, Rev Friedel Stegen and Rev Chauke from Africa Youth
Evangelism, expounded the Word of God powerfully to the youth.
We read in the Bible that Moses 'chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season'. Moses saw the One Who is unseen. He knew
that the pleasures of this world didn't weigh up with the heavenly inheritance.
In Mark 9 we read of Moses (the leader of the law) and Elijah (the leader of the prophets)
speaking to the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. It is amazing! When Moses
refused the pleasures of sin in Egypt and chose to suffer affliction with the children of
God he could never have dreamt that one day he would come down from heaven together with
Elijah speaking to Jesus about His suffering and death!
Moses wasn't foolish to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of Egypt but chose the reward, not
knowing what he would get. God works above what we can think of or expect!
When the Kingdom of God came down in power on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses was also
there. Moses was well rewarded! He is in the Kingdom of God and God let him come down and
speak the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. One is wise if you follow and choose God rather
than the pleasures of this world. His was a decision of eternal reward.
Live for Christ with all of your heart. That is the only way to be successful as a
Christian.”
(CFT News Report, 15 Dec 2007) (to index)
International
* MUSLIM EVANGELISM IN MINNESOTA –
Dr Peter Hammond from Frontline Fellowship writes, “ Maranatha Christian Fellowship
again organized a series of public meetings for me in three universities in Minnesota,
this time on The Crusades and Jihad.
Previously I’d been invited to speak at the universities in
Minnesota on Sudan, and on Slavery – The Rest of The Story. These presentations had
engendered a lot of controversy and attention, particularly from Muslim students. This
year’s university meetings on The Crusades and Jihad received even more opposition
from Muslim and Atheist students.
The first meeting at Minnesota State University in Mankato was
packed out, with standing room only, and with people sitting on the floor. Many Muslims
came and participated in the question and answer session afterwards. The discussion time
was lively, often highly emotional and volatile. Students who identified themselves as
from Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Sudan participated in the often
tumultuous discussion time.
After numerous students claiming that Islam was always peaceful
and tolerant, that no Muslims take these Jihad verses literally, and that no one who
participates in terrorism or violence could possible be a true Muslim, I asked one student
whether she regarded Osama Bin Laden as a true Muslim or not. “Of course he is a
Muslim!” came her response. “Even though Osama Bin Laden has planned and
organized terrorist attacks which have led to the death of thousands of American
civilians, do you recognize Osama Bin Laden as a Muslim?”“Yes, of course, he is
a Muslim,” she asserted. “We cannot judge him!” agreed other Muslim
students. Uniformly, the large group of Muslim students nodded their heads and agreed and
verbally asserted that of course Osama Bin Laden was a true Muslim.
Then I questioned them concerning the Al Qaeda suicide bombers:
“Are the suicide bombers true Muslims?” Incredibly, these Muslim students
defended the suicide bombers, not only in Israel, but in England as well! They claimed
that because of what Israel had done in occupying the West Bank, and Gaza, the suicide
bombers were justified in blowing themselves up in order to kill as many Jews as possible.
“But what about the civilians in London?” I asked.
“Surely you cannot support suicide bombing in London?” Yet, the Muslim students
persisted in defending the suicide bombers, even in London, asserting that England was
“a Crusader state!” and that I deserve to die because I was “a white
male!”
After so many passionate assertions of how Islam is only peaceful,
and always tolerant, and that they never support violence or terrorism, it was shocking to
those present to hear those very same Muslims passionately defend Osama Bin Laden and Al
Qaeda's terrorism and suicide bombers, including those who attacked the commuters in the
London underground.
After many Muslims had insulted and threatened me, numerous black
Christian students from Sudan stood up and defended my presentation, with personal
testimonies of their experiences suffering under Islamic Jihad in Sudan. “What our
brother has said, is true. We have seen it. This is the truth. Jihad is a reality in
Sudan. Many black Christian men and women have been murdered in Sudan in the name of
Jihad, in the name of Allah and Muhammad, and many children enslaved in Sudan.”
Then a young woman from Azerbaijan presented her dynamic
testimony. Vera had been raised a Muslim in this 99% Islamic state. She testified how the
Lord had saved her and healed her and brought 20 other Muslims to Christ through her
testimony in Azerbaijan. She testified of persecution, and being imprisoned and threatened
for her faith.
The tension in the lecture hall was absolutely electric. You could
have heard a pin drop after Vera’s radiant testimony. When the meeting closed,
numerous evangelistic discussions ensued, with Christian students, including the Sudanese
believers, interacting with the Muslim visitors and sharing the Gospel with them most
passionately.
(Frontline Fellowship, Dec 2007) (to index)
* MPS PROPOSE FREE SPEECH CHANGE TO 'GAY HATE' LAW,
UK - A cross-party group of MPs has tabled a free speech amendment to the proposed
incitement to 'homophobic hatred' law.
The amendment has been signed by MPs Jim Dobbin, Ann Widdecombe,
Alan Beith, David Taylor, Philip Hollobone and Colin Breed. A vote is expected on
Wednesday 9 January.
The amendment closely follows the suggested wording of protections
called for in a joint statement issued last month by the Church of England and Roman
Catholic bishops.
The joint statement said: "Christians engaged in teaching or
preaching and those seeking to act in accord with Christian convictions in their daily
lives need to be assured that the expression of strong opinions on marriage or sexuality
will not be illegal."
Even those who are sympathetic to 'gay rights' have voiced free
speech concerns about the planned hate law. Critics of the law include homosexual
journalists, Matthew Paris and Iain Dale, and gay activist, Peter Tatchell.
The proposed law is part of the Government's Criminal Justice and
Immigration Bill, which recently completed its committee stage in the House of Commons.
While the new amendment could provide important safeguards,
critics say there is still a danger that the very existence of such a law could have a
'chilling effect' on free speech.
Stonewall, a homosexual lobby group, is campaigning against a free
speech protection.
(The Christian Institute, 14 Dec 2007) (to index)
* CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHRIST IS 'DAFT', SAYS
EQUALITIES CHIEF, UK - The head of the UK's equality watchdog has defended the idea
that Christmas should centre on Jesus Christ.
Trevor Phillips, head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission,
will tell delegates at a conference on diversity in London that the true meaning of
Christmas should not be sidelined for fear of causing offence.
A recent survey revealed that four out of five primary schools
will not perform a traditional Nativity play this year, opting instead for more innocuous
titles such as 'Whoops-a-Daisy Angel' or 'Scrooge'. Local councils and employers are
expected to downplay their Christmas celebrations to avoid discrimination claims.
Mr Phillips will tell the conference: “A lot of these stories
about Christmas are the usual silly season stuff.
"But I can't help feeling there's sometimes an underlying
agenda to use this great holiday to fuel community tension.
"That's why I asked leaders in different religious
communities to join me in saying: It's time to stop being daft about Christmas. It's fine
to celebrate and it's fine for Christ to be the star of the show."
Speaking about Muslim, Hindu and Jewish festivals, he will go on
to say: "The logic is baffling: to welcome Eid and Diwali and Hanukkah in celebration
of our glorious diversity, whilst brushing Christmas under the carpet as an embarrassing
episode in our mono-cultural past."
Meanwhile, David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party,
has attacked the political correctness that seeks to downplay Christmas in local councils
and schools.
He said: "...the idea that anyone ever could be offended by a
Christmas card that says 'Merry Christmas and happy new year' and we've got to send one
saying 'Season's greetings'; I think it's just insulting tosh."
(The Christian Institute, 10 Dec 2007) (to index)
