Nov - Dec 2003
Index:
LIGHTHOUSE ON THE SHORE
Message by CFT President Rev Fano Sibisi, to the CFT members
during the 2003 Annual General Meeting
First of all, I want to direct my thanks to God
who has lent me breath up to this day despite such daily weakness.
I praise Him for keeping and providing for the ministry of CFT all these years. Our God is
faithful.
On a personal note, let me express my appreciation to the CFT leadership internationally,
in South Africa and to all CFT Staff for the love and respect you have always shown me in
spite of my severe limitations because of illness. Sometimes I fear there isn't much more
left than the 'coat' of what was your president!
'LIGHTHOUSE ON THE SHORE'
The theme "Lighthouse on the shore" is a
rich mine that can't be exhausted over a weekend. My favourite spot in the Netherlands is
the lighthouse in Urk. From there I like watching the boats as they leave and enter the
harbour. I am fascinated by the strong light shining from the lighthouse guiding the
home-coming fishermen of Urk.
I'd like to think of CFT and CFT members as the lighthouse shedding the light to make
'home-coming' safe in this dangerous world.
We want to see babies coming home safely. That's why we'll keep declaring the truth about
abortion - the killing of unborn babies.
We love our children and would like to see them coming home safely. We'll speak up against
child abuse and keep a check on what gets taught in our schools.
Our young people are precious to us. We'd like to see them come home safely. That's why
we'll keep pointing to the dangers of drug abuse and sexual promiscuity.
How we love seeing families come home safely! We can't keep quiet about the menace of
pornography, prostitution and perversions like homosexuality.
Is it too much to expect our societies to come home safely? God's Word shows us clearly
how obedience to Him will help individuals, families and nations to navigate successfully
to the attainment of their God-given potential!
KHANYA PRESS
It remains a privilege for us to print words that
help to shed light on dangerous rocks for the incoming ships.
TLW
As I pointed out before, we are very excited with
the abstinence message that's going out through True Love Waits. A development that also
should be applauded is the intensive use of Radio Khwezi by True Love Waiters to win over
the hearts of our society.
It warms our hearts to see our young people being part of Abstinence Walks which have
caught the attention of the leaders of our country.
Friends, let's give support to the A (Abstinence) and B (Be faithful) parts of the ABC
programme.
As CFT, we can't be part of the condomisation process.
In fact, only A and B will turn the Aids tide!
TNT
We in the CFT leadership have great admiration for
the TNT team which ends up ministering in very tough situations. We rejoice with them at
the opening of doors into jails. May God bless the seed of His Word.
PARTNERS
As you have seen for yourselves CFT has wonderful
partners in the campaign for light against darkness. Friends from other Christian
organisations, we appreciate you. Our co-operation reminds me of those amazing words,
'Iron sharpens iron'. (Proverbs 27:17)
THE CHALLENGE
I am well aware that the increase of evil and
darkness around us could be intimidating, but that's why our Lord forewarned us. After
giving us the grave facts, He says, "Fear not…"
CFT members, our fear of darkness is a bigger danger than the darkness itself. One reason
why it's so dangerous is because we focus on darkness instead of light.
Like a CFT member from Europe wrote:
"It's getting darker and darker in Berlin. So there are more opportunities to let our
light shine!"
If all CFT members would face the present darkness with this attitude, we would in the
words of Paul, "save ourselves and those that hear us".
Let me ask you once more to see the darkness about you as an opportunity to shine your
light!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"
(Philippians 2:15)
May God bless CFT!
May God bless you!
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REPORT BACK OF CFT AGM 2003
This year's AGM (5 - 7 September) was packed with
exciting information, with the theme - `Lighthouse on the Shore'.
The spotlight was on dangerous rocks where many "ships" go aground, so as to
ensure safe directions for Christians' journeys.
Some of the weekend's highlights included:
REV ERLO STEGEN started the weekend by
explaining the Biblical meaning of a lighthouse. Jesus is the Light of the world. But He
also said that we are the light of the world. If it is dark in this world we should ask
ourselves, why it is so. Does the light shine no more? Each one of us should be a
lighthouse, and let His light shine through us.
MR JOHN SMYTH QC spoke on "South
African law and homosexuality". Not only do homosexual and lesbian couples want the
same rights as married people (pension rights etc), but above all they want the same
recognition and status.
The definition of marriage is a matter of what God has ordained in His holy Word - the
definition of marriage is a matter of religion. Contrary to all what we hear, see and read
in the media, there is an extremely strong case for resisting a redefinition of marriage
in South Africa.
The threat of Islam was underlined by a slide show
presentation on 'Islam in Africa' by DR PETER HAMMOND (Director of Frontline
Fellowship) and a newly released film 'The New Barbarians' which shows the disastrous
results of Islamic religious ideology and political fervour. The most vicious terrorism
originates from the least evangelised area of the world - the Muslim Middle East. This
poses a missionary challenge to the Church. The Lord gave us His Great Commission to reach
the ends of the world with the Gospel and we must not only praise our Commanding Officer
(the Lord Jesus Christ), but obey Him.
A presentation on `South African Education laws
and Christian families', by JEANINE MCGILL. The National Curriculum Statement
issued in the middle of 2001 included examinable sex education and the promotion of
inter-faith religion. They want the youth to abandon the Bible and internalise the values
of the Constitution. As Christians we must pray, work towards a new government and
Constitution, be on the governing bodies of our local schools, stand together with other
Christians at court cases, and let the light of our lighthouse shine where we are.
A Powerpoint slide show on the year's CFT
activities, South African and other countries, as well as pointers of the way ahead. CFT
representatives from all over the world, as well as CFT actions like True Love Waits and
The Naked Truth about Drugs and Alcohol (TNT), reported how God enabled them to shine
where they are.
We were challenged to be single-minded in our fight for the truth, and to send out a clear
light for "ships entering the harbour", lest they are shipwrecked.
To equip you further, CFT put together a computer
CD that contains most of the weekend's talks and slide shows. This CD can be ordered from
CFT Head Office for the price of R25.00 (including postage & packaging).
CFT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: 3 - 5 SEPTEMBER 2004
D.V.
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DEVOTION
"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the
Lord been revealed?" Isaiah 53:1
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We
have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of
grace and truth." John 1:14
Once again it is Christmas time and our attention
is turned to the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. If we look around us at what
is happening in the world today and in the Church we could quite easily despair and lose
hope. What progress have we made in promoting the Gospel, what impact have our lives made
on the world around us? Is the Church the Church Victorious in the world today? Is the
Church conquering as it should? If we must be honest and face facts it looks as if the
Church is loosing ground.
But let us take heart. When the angel announced His birth to Mary, only Mary knew it. When
Jesus was born, He was born in a stable; only the shepherds knew it. Only the wise men
from the East came to pay Him homage; none of His own were there. His earthly parents had
to flee with Him like refugees to Egypt, but He was the Almighty. He grew up as an
ordinary child; he worked in a humble carpenter shop. No one knew who He really was, only
His mother, Joseph and a few others to whom the 'Arm of the Lord had been revealed.' When
He started His public ministry, many rejected Him. Only a few followed Him to the end. And
what an end He had. The Lord of Glory was crucified like the worst of criminals. But
praise God, He rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father. It all
seemed so insignificant. So few really believed it and yet His birth, life, death and
resurrection changed the history of the world.
So even now, when we celebrate His birth, though most don't believe our message, though
most reject the Saviour and it looks as if many are falling away, let us, to whom the Arm
of the Lord has been revealed, rejoice greatly. Remember what Jesus said in Matt 16:18:
"And on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome
it."
His Church is the 'Great Church Victorious' but like His birth, life, death and
resurrection it is not revealed to all. Christmas is only celebrated in truth by those to
whom the Christ Child has been REVEALED. John said: "We beheld His glory…"
Only a small number, even in today's world, truly see the glory of Jesus.
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LIFECHAIN
IN DURBAN
About 200 - 250 people gathered for International Life Chain Day,
on 5 October 2003, at the Durban dolphinarium to commemorate the right to life of the
unborn. Once again SA's conscience was pricked by the reality that "Abortion is
murder". We received a very positive response from those who passed by. The small
tracts "Say No to abortion" and "What is CFT all about?" also
contributed greatly to the Life Chain. Most people receiving the tracts responded
positively and many of those passing or driving by showed their support for the right to
life of the unborn.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING DATES
KWASIZABANTU YOUTH CONFERENCE
5 – 12 December 2003
Please remember bedding and eating utensils. For more information
contact
(032) 481 5500
1 February 2004
21 March 2004
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