| My dear friends Klaus Alius and CFT-Germany thank God for the blessed AGM last
Saturday. Dr Peet Botha spoke on 'Homosexuality and the Bible.' There was an address from
CFT-Switzerland and reports from Berlin's TAK Radio, True Love Waits and on Pro-Life
actions to oppose abortion. The devotion was a challenge on the theme,
"Wake up, O sleeper!"
Thank you for the prayer support for the trip by Klaus
Alius, Albert Penner and Josias Alius to Moldova and Trans-Dniedster. Klaus says that as
they approached the border of Trans-Dniester, Europe's poorest country, they were advised
to make no mention of Bibles and the fact that they were Christians. Shredded pieces from
the Iron Curtain! In spite of that, beyond the border, the brethren received a warm
welcome and found hearts that were wide open for the Good News.
This weekend, the Bielstein brethren will be visited by the
congregation from Berlin in order to gather around God's Word. They will value your
prayers.
It was good to hear from Didier Schott in Paris. Remember
their school in Bobigny and the need for more teachers.
Didier also requests prayers as he will be travelling to
Alsace to preach in Geisberg, near Wissembourg, on Sunday. There will also be a baptismal
service.
As some of you will know, the Bobigny congregation has many
families from French-speaking African countries and they have initiatives already on the
go in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Didier requests that we pray for the second
round of presidential elections on 29 October in which the Congolese will choose between
the current president, Joseph Kabila, and his challenger, Jean-Pierre Bemba. Regardless of
the outcome, may there be no civil war.
The Berlin brethren will appreciate your prayers for their
program on Sunday. This time their will be "Wozu brauche ich Gott?" (To what end
do I need God?) They will be broadcasting a sermon by Pastor Wilhelm Busch, the well-known
youth pastor from the 60s whose main base was Essen, Germany. TAK will also be asking
passers-by in the street why they need God and Jesus?
Having the Swiss friends Othmar and Maja Voser visiting us
in South Africa for about three weeks was a joy. They hosted us on numerous occasions. Our
greetings and prayers go with them as they return to Kaltbrunn on Sunday.
A recent visit by Kai Knieper meant a lot to me. He is in a
team that is responsible for services in Weenen, one of the young branches of the
KwaSizabantu ministry. It warmed my heart to hear how the Lord is working through His
Spirit in that area and how the fire is spreading to other areas. As the Lord reminds you,
pray for this ministry.
Our prayers were also with Peter Rice who returned today
from Port Elizabeth where he trained the news team of the Christian community radio
station, Radio Kingfisher. Peter is working with the Association of Broadcasters on
training projects.
The debate on the proposed 'same-sex marriages' legislation
rages on. Here is an important excerpt from the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP),
'As far as the Constitutional Amendment process is concerned, I have been advised that
the Portfolio Committee on Private Members Legislative Proposals and Petitions will
reconvene on Tuesday 24 October (probably between 13h00 and 14h00) to consider the
ACDP’s proposal to amend the Constitution to protect heterosexual marriage and
prevent so-called “same-sex marriage”. This will obviously be a crucial
parliamentary meeting, particularly in view of the public sentiment surrounding this
issue. Whilst there are many ANC MP’s who are opposed to “same-sex
marriages”, there is pressure to abide the Constitutional Court order and a
reluctance to amend the Constitution, particularly as the amendment will affect the Bill
of Rights, which, to date, has not been amended.
Clearly, therefore, I anticipate an uphill battle next week, and therefore request your
prayers for this important meeting. I do however, rest in the knowledge that the battle
belongs to the Lord and that when we have done all that we can (ie by making submissions
and filing the constitutional amendment) we are then called to pray and “stand
firm”. I believe in any event that the filing of the proposal is a prophetic action
– and that we will see God’s intervention – sooner, I trust, rather than
later."'
Hearing Russian being sung in my room is always very
special. Today's visit by our Russian American friends Victor and Katarina Matveyuk
together with the children reminded of their people back in the USA. Victor's twin
brother, Paul, and his family are ministering in Russia. Let us remember the brethren in
the USA and in Russia.
Today was another walk down Memory Lane when Tobie and Ilsa
Vermaak brought friends that we have known since the late 70s, Gert and Isabel van
Rensburg from Brits, Northwest. Some of you know their parents, Oom Lang Piet and Tannie
Christa, even better. The Van Rensburgs are large-scale vegetable farmers with large
hearts for God's work. Remember them and the brethren at Pelindaba Mission.
Michele Coetzee from Jivannadi Mission recently referred to
a quote that conveys a profound truth,
"If your cup is sweet, give thanks to
God; if it is bitter, drink it in fellowship with the Lord."
Maybe I could add that if your cup is sweet give thanks to
God and drink it in fellowship with Him. Going a bit further, Job's cup was bitter but he
thanked God for it and drank it in fellowship with Him.
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe
and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart. The
LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."' (Job
1:20-21)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi |
