As you pray - 3 October 2008

My dear friends

We are thankful for the blessed ministry of Onkel Erlo and the team that was at the Youth Conference in Malelane, Mpumalanga. Being a blessing and being blessed is one of the precious gifts  in Christian ministry.

Linda Magqabi would like to thank you for the prayers for their outreach to rural schools and the surrounding communities in Bizana, Eastern Cape. The trip was fruitful; the message went out and valuable contacts wear made.

The focal point of the outreach was the reality and seriousness of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. In the afternoons Linda went out to visit individual families that have been affected by the disease. The account of what he saw and heard breaks the heart.

Linda ends his report with a passionate plea,

"If there is something that you can do in your personal capacity, I challenge you to do it and not sit down."

Here are excerpts from CFT's Media Release on the International Life Chain,

"CFT, together with other SA organisations, together with thousands of other groups across the world, are joining hands for the regular LIFE CHAIN this weekend. Officially, Sunday 5 October 2008, is the date for the International Life Chain, and it will be happening in about 900 locations across the world. CFT is involved in Life Chains at various places on Saturday and Sunday. These include: Empangeni, Durban, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Cape Town..."

"It seems to amaze the media and they make major news about the increasing numbers of newborn babies being discarded in pit latrines and rubbish dumps. This begs the question: what’s wrong with infanticide if it’s alright to kill the baby when it’s safe and sound in the mother’s womb? The culture of violence to unborn babies is only naturally being played out after birth as well. The real worth of a human being is cheapened since our Government condones and even encourages it’s citizens to abort their unwanted unborn babies."

A colleague of ours, Lilian Schaup, went home in the Eastern Cape for a special reason this week. On 16 September her father turned 100. The family celebration of the birthday will be tomorrbw. Dr Albu van Eeden has been invited to share from God's Word. It is Lilian's wish that due glory will be given to the Giver of life,

A visit by young members of the Smithfield team, Anthonie and Michelle Kruger together with Magdalena Jacobs, impressed on me the need to request prayers for Gideon Jacobs and the ministry. Let us pray specifically for God's direction into the future.

On this, the Day of German Unity as friends of Germany we join them in their celebration.. 

As a frequent visitor to Germany before my illness I have memories of the drama of travelling through a divided Germany.

For me, the falling down of the Iron Curtain in general is one of the miracles of our lifetime.

Have a blessed weekend.
 
Pressing on!
 
In His love
 
Fano Sibisi