As you pray - 23 November 2007

My dear friends

We thank the Lord that Peet, Andra and John are back safely from a blessed ministry in the USA.

From the other end of the globe, Ian and Karin Engelbrecht together with the children are back from Australia. We dare not take for granted God's travelling mercies so we thank Him together with the family and the brethren.

Our prayers are with the Eurochor as they prepare this weekend for their Christmas Concerts in France (1-2 December) and Germany (8-9 December).

The TAK Radio team in Berlin requests prayers for their programme tomorrow afternoon. Their hosts will be Werner and Anneliese Schulz, the owners of Schulzenhof, a farmstead in Guetzkow with an interesting historical background. The aim is to expose the listeners to good family values.

We were also glad to hear from our missionary friends in Senegal, Jose and France-Lise Oliveira. Their November newsletter is dedicated to 'Thanksgiving' for the Lord's blessing on ministry of Mission Inter Senegal.

Together with the Oliveiras we join our American friends as they celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Who of us has nothing to be thankful for?

Mario Rocha and Peter Roos request prayers as they set off for Mozambique today. They together with Andrew Roos will be accompanying Dr Paul Zuidema and other Dutch Doctors for Life friends (Cees Blaauw, GerritJan Vierhuizen, Jaap Vos, Han vd Werfhorst) who have the ministry in Mozambique at heart. The main purpose of the trip is to get the building of the clinic in Zavora going.

TNT are thankful for the opportunities that they are getting to warn people, especially the youth, against drug abuse and pointing them to the Cross. Joseph Greyling reports that during the Zastron outreach (5-9 November) just under 3 000 people were addressed. On 17 November TNT joined True Love Waits for an open-air meeting in Pietermaritzburg. TNT have also been invited to give testimonies in a drug abuse meeting in the Pietermaritzburg City Hall on Wednesday 28 November. We pray on.

Our thoughts are also with the Domino Servite School personnel and pupils as the Junior School will be staging a play at KwaSizabantu this evening. The play 'Repentant' is a musical allegory on the 'Prodigal Son.'

One more meeting that I will be missing on Sunday afternoon is the year-end CFT-KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Committee function. It will be an opportunity to look back and thank God for the past and to plead for His guidance into the future.

Again, CFT-KZN is planning a Christmas action in Durban to remind shoppers, holiday-makers and passers-by that the essence of Christmas is Christ.

"Reward or Regret' is the theme of the Youth Conference (7-14 December) at KwaSizabantu. Your prayer support for the massive preparations for this conference which attracts thousands of young people will be appreciated.

Hats off

On Tuesday 20 November many people around the world paused for some moments to celebrate with the British Royal House the Diamond (60th) Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip.

A friend sent me a copy of the letter from King George Vl to his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth to Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. As I read it, my father-heart was deeply moved.

"I was so proud of you & thrilled at having you so close to me on our
long walk in Westminster Abbey, but when I handed your hand to the
Archbishop I felt that I had lost something very precious.

You were so calm & composed during the Service and said your words with
such conviction, that I knew everything was all right ...

I have watched you grow up all these years with pride under the skilful
direction of Mummy, who, as you know is the most marvellous person in
the World in my eyes, & I can, I know, always count on you, & now
Philip, to help us in our work. Your leaving us has left a great blank
in our lives but do remember that your old home is still yours & do come
back to it as much & as often as possible. I can see that you are
sublimely happy with Philip which is right but don't forget us is the
wish of

Your ever loving & devoted

Papa"

Surely, many fathers would identify with the sentiments expressed by King George Vl. Sons-in-law (I too am one), take no offence; I guess that a colourful American preacher went a little too far when he said that the day he gave away his daughter he felt as if he had just handed her over to a gorilla.

Indeed, 60 years later ' Lilibet's Papa' would be happy to know that "everything was all right ..." Has it been a perfect 60 years for the royal couple? I doubt. But in these days of an alarmingly decreasing life-span of marriages we honour them for sticking to their vows.

Somehow I believe that many people cheered on Tuesday not just because they are monarchists, but something within us testifies that marriage should be a lifelong commitment.

A lasting marriage - that is what children expect of their parents and that is what parents desire for their children. To crown it all, the Author of the institution of marriage meant it to be "till death do us part."

Gentlemen, hats off as we prepare to salute the royal couple. To Queen Elizabeth we say, "Your Majesty." To Prince Philip we say, "Your Royal Highness."

"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matthew 19:6)

Have a blessed weekend.

Pressing on!

In His love

Fano Sibisi

As you pray -23 November 2007