Year -end 2006

Index:

• CFT PRESIDENT SURPRISES THE CONFERENCE
• CITY ON A HILL
• CHRIST IS THE LIFE-GIVER
• WOMEN’S DAY 9 AUGUST 2006
• EUTHANASIA AND PAEDOPHILIA
• CHRISTMAS DEVOTION
• DATES TO REMEMBER

CFT PRESIDENT SURPRISES THE CONFERENCE (How our CFT President experienced being able to make an appearance at the CFT Annual General Meeting)

About three weeks ago my wife, Lindiwe, shared a special wish with me - that I would make a brief appearance at the 2006 CFT Conference. The matter exercised me greatly. As I told her the idea was a good one but I feared that emotionally it might be too much for some members -and for me.

In my mind I went back to the early years of my history with Motor Neuron Disease.

The 2000 CFT Conference was our 10th anniversary, an occasion for a big celebration. For me it was going to be challenging in another sense. Even though I had not been diagnosed yet for MND the symptoms were already there. I was so weak that I had to force my body even to do a fraction of what I would normally do at the CFT conferences.

Even though I attended the 2001 conference, I was just a shadow of my old healthy self. Maintaining the balance was a real effort and as much as I tried to strain my voice I was hardly audible. That was the last time that I addressed the CFT Conference in my own voice.

In 2002 I was already too weak to take part in the conference but with the help of a walking stick I made my way to the auditorium to be present during the reading of my speech. Since by then I had to get back to the ventilator from time to time I had to leave before the end of the AGM session. That was very difficult for me as it felt like retreating. Another added pain was the fact that as I left people clapped and waved but I was too weak and limited in my movements to look and wave back. That was the last time that I took part in a CFT Conference and incidentally the last time that I put my foot in the KwaSizabantu Auditorium.

In the light of the experiences mentioned above you can imagine what played in my mind as I considered Lindiwe's wish. As I said to her our God does miracles so anything could still happen between then and the conference.

To be honest with you I am not sure who all did what but there was brilliant teamwork in this mammoth undertaking. Getting me out of my room in an upright position on my bed with all the supporting machinery, transporting me in a big van and carrying me into the auditorium was indeed an amazing feat.

When I looked around and saw the cheering CFT members I had to fight back tears. After four years, there I was amongst the beloved again.

One of the things that moved me most was the love that I was showered with from all sides. It was one of those occasions when in my heart I sing:

"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above."

Pressing on!
Fano Sibisi

To read his full speech which was read on his behalf while he was there, go to CFT's website here:

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CITY ON A HILL

Matt 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."

The director of Kwasizabantu Mission, Rev Erlo Stegen, opened the CFT conference with a strong challenge for each one of us to make certain that our relationship with God is as it should be. He also quoted Ps 24:3-6, "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face." Only those with clean hands, a pure heart and lips that are holy and sanctified will be successful in climbing the hill of the Lord.
If we try to be a "city on the hill" without clean hands and a pure heart we are wasting our time and will only bring darkness instead of light.
Another point which Rev Stegen made is the fact that "a city on a hill" consists of many houses. It doesn't refer just to one person but to the Lord's people. We are to be considerate towards each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to supply each other's necessities. We must delight in each other. We must make other's conditions our own and rejoice together, mourn together, labour and suffer together; always having before our eyes our commission as members of the same body, so that we shall keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
Rev Stegen ended his message by reminding us that we cannot speak about holy things, the Word of God and His work, while we cover up grudges, hatred and enmity towards other Christians in our lives. God's light cannot reach the uttermost parts of the world while there is sin in our hearts. In Rev 7 we read that those arrayed in white robes "have come out of great tribulation and have washed their garments and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb".

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CHRIST IS THE LIFE-GIVER

We were very privileged to have Rev Kurt Dillinger (the international leader of Life International) who was the main guest speaker. He was in South Africa to address the Africa Cares for Life Conference and was able to be with us for most of the conference. Dillinger reminded us of some of the facts and figures of abortion across the world:
In the US, about 1.2 million abortions take place every year. Since the Supreme Court decision in 1973 of `Roe vs Wade', which legalised abortion in the USA, about 47 million abortions have taken place in that country. Every year around the rest of the world about 50 million abortions take place. Every second, two abortions take place somewhere in the world. Every time you breath four abortions take place. Over 3000 abortions take place every thirty minutes.
However, the Bible tells us in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly".

Jesus came to give life and give it more abundantly. The wicked one comes to kill and destroy; abortion is inspired by the devil.
Every preborn child is fully human. We need to value that child as much as God values that child. Every baby aborted is a human being made in the image of God. Abortion is not so much about the woman and child than about God Himself. The wicked one is attacking God through abortion. The wicked one hates God so much that He attacks the most innocent ones made in His image. This is not my or your battle, it is His battle. He is able, we are not. He will win the battle.

The preborn are amongst the most persecuted on the face of the earth. They are also amongst the largest unreached groups. 250 million babies are conceived every year. And we are called to reach them. The abortion issue has resulted in an huge mission field.

Abortion is operating and functioning in 183 countries around the world. Planned Parenthood is functioning in 183 countries in the world (See Powerpoint chart on CFT's website).
Most of the abortions in the world occur in Asia. There is hardly any pro-life movement in all of Asia. The highest abortion rate in the world is in Vietnam. We are called to go and shake the very gates of hell itself and proclaim truth and bring life. This is our challenge. God is able.

Rev Dillinger gave the example of a certain lady in Bucharest, Romania called Roxana. She is 32 years old, called by God to proclaim truth and life to her community of 3 million people. Last year, she proclaimed truth to 4000 women. 160 women came to Christ and made Him their personal Saviour and Lord. More than 200 babies were given life who would have otherwise died by abortion. One person reached thousands.

2Chron 7:14, "If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their sin and heal their land".

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WOMEN’S DAY 9 AUGUST 2006

It was raining and cold on Women's Day, 9 August 2006, in KZN. This, however, did not put out the fire in the hearts of women who feel strongly about women issues in SA.
The Amphitheatre outside the Workshop in Durban was the venue for the day's proceedings, which took place from 10am-2pm.

Radio Khwezi provided the sound system and speakers which had to be covered because of the constant rain. A crowd gathered to listen to the hot topics addressed such as: abuse of woman, rape, abortion and the enormous physical and emotional effects such behaviour causes.

Woman need to make informed choices to solve these huge problems. They were also challenged to remain pure and abstain from any sexual contact before marriage and practical solutions were also given to help them deal with such experiences.

The highlight of the day was a demonstration by two women bound by ropes. This was a visual portrayal of the bondage caused by these mental, emotional and physical abuses - and how they found freedom at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ and were washed clean by His precious Blood.

Liberty and healing are available for all that will admit their need and come to the Saviour.

By Mrs Tish Kelly

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EUTHANASIA AND PAEDOPHILIA

When the discussion around the relaxation of the euthanasia law in the Netherlands was still raging at the end of the 90's, a prominent Dutch Christian speaker warned about the slippery slope: once you have crossed the threshold of the sanctity of life, the borders will be expanded more and more. Unless you say clearly that life is holy and humans may not interfere with it, there is no guideline to go by and human intervention is apt to appear in all stages of life. This is exactly what happened with euthanasia. In a very quick way, one step followed another. The next step which is being discussed is a pill which elderly and sick people can take when they are tired of life.

Further evidence of the decline we see with the new 'Paedophile Party' in the Netherlands. A new party has started in the Netherlands, which consist of people who actively propose sexual contact with children. Their main point: no age limit for sexual contact. According to the founder of the party and an active paedophile, Norbert de Jonge, sex is allowed as long as a person (or an animal!) shows consent. "[L]et's take a child that isn't able to speak. Just like an animal -- even a baby is able to smile or to cry when it either doesn't like or does like something," De Jonge was quoted on Cybercast News Service. "So the question is not whether an animal or a child can show its resent[ment] or give its consent. The question is whether the adult will notice the expression of the animal or the child and what its feelings are."
The start of the party has caused an international uproar, and even in the Netherlands, people have expressed their concern about this development in an overwhelming way.

But let us look again at the slippery slope. Since the sexual revolution in Europe and the USA in the sixties, the views on sexuality have changed dramatically. From the dominant view in western culture that sex was meant to take place within the confines of marriage, it has changed to be seen as pleasure, for anyone. The threshold that sex belongs only within marriage, has been crossed long ago.

Since then we have seen the slippery slope leading to erotic advertisements, pornography coming from the 'underworld' into the open and a youth which is saturated with sexual education and actively putting it into practise from an ever younger age. If you look at the Paedophile Party in that light, it is just another step in a process which has gone on for decades.

It is an almost inevitable step in a process of self-destruction. Unless we clearly state that sex is something for marriage only, there is not much which can stop the present tendency. Only a return to the life-giving laws of the God of the Bible will be able to stop the destruction of civilization.

Written by a Dutch CFT leader

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CHRISTMAS DEVOTION

"Behold, the virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us." Matt 1:23

This is indeed Good News! That God should be with us is glorius truth to be celebrated every day. It is important to note that He doesn't come to be with us in our sins but rather to save us from our sins. In verse 21 it is clear that the Son, called Jesus, shall save His people from their sins.

Are there sins which still trouble you? Let this Christmas be a time of applying the Good News to your own life in such a powerful way that you'll never be the same. Don't limit God's power but rather let the Lord enter His rightful possession, for He has "bought you with a price". Deal honestly with God and you'll experience that He is "mighty to save".

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Please take note of the following dates:
Stay in contact with your local CFT committees, as CFT-actions might be arranged on some of these days.

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