* REJOICING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW AUDITORIUM AT KWASIZABANTU MISSION – The KwaSizabantu Auditorium which burnt down on 14 June 2008 has been rebuilt and opened during the Easter weekend from 10 – 12 April 2009.
There was much rejoicing in the new Auditorium during the Easter weekend. On Friday evening, Good Friday, Rev Erlo Stegen started the services with a message on the Cross, from John 19: 23 - 27. The Saturday morning service included the participation of local leaders. The official opening was at 2:30pm and the evening service was a concert with the EuroChoir.

* BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR USING YOUR VOTE - In 2009, South Africans who have registered will have the responsibility of electing representatives for provincial and national government. How we exercise this right and responsibility of voting will have far reaching consequences for almost every area of our lives.

Concerning the role of Christians in social and political matters, the Bible instructs us to:

Pray "I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Repent "If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14

Expose Evil "Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:11

Improve the Community "See the trouble we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace." Nehemiah 2:17

Seek Justice "Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice." Isaiah 1:16-17

Oppose Ungodly Rulers "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting..." Daniel 5:27

Uphold ChristianStandards "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13

Disciple the Nations "Make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded..." Matthew 28:19-20

Select God-fearing Leaders "But select capable men from all the people - men who fear God; trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials..." Exodus 18:21

Of course, many Christians will protest that they thought they were voting for a Christian candidate or party with a pro-life platform, and were horrified to learn how their chosen candidates actually voted when in Parliament. The Bible warns us to beware of deception: "Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way…" 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Of many prominent politicians who profess faith in Christ, it could accurately be said:

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good" Titus 1:16

"By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." Romans 16:18

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:13

Yet, despite these clear Scriptural warnings, it is incredible how so many Christians can be so gullible when it comes to trusting the promises of pagan politicians. To many South Africans, politics and sports have become an idol. Consider this: Many church-goers will stand silently by while someone blasphemes the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet should anyone criticise their favourite sports team or chosen political party they will protest most loudly!

"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men who cannot save." Psalm 146:3

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength." Jeremiah 17:5

"Of this you can be sure: no immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." Ephesians 5:5-7

In the words of Samuel Adams: "Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt." Without a spiritual revival to reverse the disastrous deterioration in moral and spiritual standards - South Africa will reap what it has sown. Hundreds of thousands of copies of pornographic magazines and DVDs have been distributed in South Africa.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature... will reap destruction." Galatians 6:7-8

Over one hundred thousand people (including pre-born babies) are murdered each year.

"Bloodshed pollutes the land and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it." Numbers 35:33

And so one could continue. The damage done to countless minds, morals, marriages and families is incalculable (Isaiah 24:5-6). One must not be naive and think that just by voting we could reverse the degenerate tidal wave of deception, filth and violence which is flooding our land. Not even prayer and preaching alone will save our country from the judgement of God. Only the grace of God seen in whole-hearted repentance and faithful obedience, could begin the process of Reformation and Revival. But voting wisely according to Biblical principles will be one essential part of reversing the paganisation of South Africa.

Most Christians today are worldly —their thinking has been molded by the world. They may feel like Christians but they think like humanists. This is inevitable - when one spends more time watching TV than in worshipping and serving Christ, What else can one expect when most Christians in this country spend more time reading the newspapers than reading the Bible?

Therefore, it is not enough to support and vote for those few parties which adhere to Christian principles. We also have to pray and repent and work for Reformation and Revival in the churches of our land.

"Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster He has pronounced against you." Jeremiah 26:13

Study the Biblical issues. Go back over the Scriptures in this newsletter. Obtain and read books like: "Biblical Principles for Africa" and " Make a Difference – a Christian Action Handbook for Southern Africa ."

* NEW DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS MARTYRS OF TURKEY - "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit." - John 12:24

Three Christians were brutally murdered on April 18, 2007 in the offices of a Christian publisher in Malatya, Turkey. The five Muslim men who killed them all carried identical notes in their pockets: "We did this for our country. They were attacking our religion."

Instead of hatred, Christians responded with love. On national television two widowed mothers echoed Christ: "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Muslims across the nation wondered how Christians could respond with such love.

Malatya, a feature-length documentary film, tells the story of three men willing to give up their lives to share the gospel with Muslims, and the fruit that has grown up from their sacrifice.
(The Voice of the Martyrs, April 2009) (to index)

* ON A LIGHTER NOTE - A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.

Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke ..

The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the aeroplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

"Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and everything within her small world was calm and orderly.

"Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvellous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.

Having commented about the storm and the behaviour of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home."
(CFT News, Apr 2009) (to index)

* OBAMA PRESIDENCY AWAKENS PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT - The Obama administration's string of pro-choice appointments and actions in its first 100 days has awakened pro-life Americans in a growing tidal wave of enthusiasm and action.

"There was a concern that after the president was elected, the pro-life movement would be so demoralized that it would be almost a death blow," said Charmaine Yoest, president and chief executive officer of Americans United for Life, the oldest national pro-life organization in the country. "But in fact, just the opposite is true."

Yoest told WND that news of Obama's victory in November launched an immediate surge of pro-life activism, including over 700,000 people who have signed the group's petition to stop the Freedom of Choice Act, which Obama has said he would support and sign into law upon passage through Congress.

"Immediately after the election, our servers melted down from so many people looking to take a stand against an abortion agenda," Yoest told WND. "Subsequently, what we've found over the last several months is that every time we've asked people on that list to do something, the response has been overwhelming."

"A lot of activists are waking up," said Joy Yearout, political director of the Susan B. Anthony List, to Politico. "For eight years we had President Bush and his veto pen to protect us – and we don't have that anymore."

The Susan B. Anthony List, a political action committee that helps pro-life women gain election to Congress, told Politico that its supporters have sent more letters, e-mails and faxes to Washington in the first quarter of 2009 than during each of the last two years.

And as WND reported, the Red Envelope Project, which encouraged supporters to send Obama red envelopes symbolizing the empty promise of lives snuffed out in abortion, buried the White House in a flood of nearly 2.25 million envelopes.

"I've been here 35 years, so I've seen presidents come and go," a White House mail worker calling himself "Steve" told WND. "This campaign ranks up there with the big ones."
(WorldNetDaily, 13 April 2009) (to index)

* PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN JOURNALIST FACING DEATH THREATS - A Christian journalist in Pakistan feared for his life Easter Sunday, April 12, after receiving threatening letters for publishing pro-democracy columns in a national daily and refusing to convert to Islam.

George Masih, 43, who lives with his wife Suneeta Bibi and his three young children at Gulistan Colony at the town of Lahore, wrote a number of columns and articles for the Aaj Kal, a Lahore-based daily.

His first column, "Qaum Ab Jaag Jaye" ("The Nation should wake-up now") allegedly aroused anger among Muslims in the area after its initial publication on August 11, last year.

Unaware of the sentiments, George wrote two more columns titled "Jamhuriat Ka Suraj" ("The Sunrise of Democracy") and "Jamhuriat Ki Fattah" (The Triumph of Democracy") in September. Another column was published on October 16, entitled "Main Pakistan Hoon" ("I am Pakistan").

Masih wanted to promote more religious tolerance and democracy in the Islamic nation, said the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which supports the journalist.

George said he received his first threatening letter October 28, from the Islamic Tanzeem Organization, threatening "dire consequences" for him and his family, if he did not convert to Islam.

"George it would be better if you embraced Islam as soon as possible. Your name is the same as the [ex-president] of the USA, George Bush. We hate that stupid American. You should change your name and embrace Islam, or else you will suffer along with your family," the letter said.

On December 12, 2008, George said he received another letter in which "the fanatics" again urged him to embrace Islam, and "directly threatened to kill" him and his family.

He initially ignored the threats but eventually turned to police for help, following more threats, CLAAS said. Local police initially refused to take action against suspects, and questioned his motives but changed their mind after they were ordered by the Session’s Court Lahore on February 11 to take action, trial observers said.

However so far no suspects have been detained and George's family was in hiding this Easter amid of more attacks, Christians said.

CLAAS National Director Joseph Francis condemned the threatening letters and urged law enforcement agencies "to resolve the problem and provide sufficient protection to the Christian journalist and his family."

There have been reportedly an increasing number of Islamic threats and attacks against Christians in several areas of Pakistan.
(Worthy News, 12 April 2009) (to index)

* ISRAEL PREPARES FOR WAR WITH LARGEST EVER MILITARY DRILL - Israel says it will hold the largest military exercise in its history, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Jewish state may have to prepare for war with Iran and other rogue states.

Netanyahu declared dealing with Iran's threats "a top priority" of his administration within a week of taking office. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has triggered outrage in the West by saying that Israel should be "wiped off the map", although he denies Iran is a threat.

Israel's government disagrees. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) confirmed that it will be preparing to hold "the largest exercise ever" in Israeli history to prepare the nation for the possibility of war breaking out. The exercise is scheduled to take place in roughly two months, Worthy News learned.

The head of Israel's Department for Population at the Home Front Command, Col. Hilik Sofer, told Israeli daily Ha'aretz that "we need to train for a reality in which, during war, missiles can fall on any part of the country without warning."

The aim of the nationwide exercise "is to transform the population from a passive to an active one. We want the citizens to understand that war can happen tomorrow morning," Sofer added.

The drills are expected to last an entire week and prepare the nation for a series of scenarios that include missile strikes with conventional and non-conventional warheads, fired by militant group Hezbollah, Syria or Hamas, military officials said.

The reaction time to prepare for impact of a rocket attack in Israel is roughly two minutes or less. The Home Front Command and IDF said they want drills to encourage people to prepare for the possibility of war.

Israel's military said however it is prepared for possible attack and said the Israeli Air Force "successfully" conducted the 17th test of its newly upgraded Arrow 2 missile system capable of intercepting Iranian missiles.

The newly tested system employed advanced radars, including the newly acquired X-Band radar deployed in the Negev Desert in 2008 by the United States, Worthy News established.

The test was conducted in joint cooperation with the IAF, and the United States Missile Defense Agency, officials said.