As you pray - 25 October 2008

My dear friends

Onkel Klaus Wunderlich has sent me a lovely report together with photos of their trip to Lipetsk/Kuzminka in Russia from 16 to 22 October. He was with Peter Toepfer and Andreas Schlegel. I was very excited to see the young ministry in the former Soviet Union. Let us pray for God's blessing on His work.

Klaus Deis and the team that was with him at the Book Exhibition in Frankfurt are thankful for all the contacts they made which could be useful in future.

Didier Schott, Marc and Stephanie Ruggieri flew back to France on Thursday after lending a helping hand at the 10-year celebrations of aQuelle. As usual, we also got time with Didier to get updates on the ministry in France. As the Lord reminds us let us keep praying for ministries the world over.

Our thoughts and prayers today are at the International True Love Waits Conference in Basel. Invited guests include the founder of True Love Waits, Prof Richard Ross, from the USA.  A similar programme will be performed in Amsterdam, Netherlands, tomorrow.

Here are some specific prayer points from Michael Mueller for the young people that will be attending the conference,

"May they truly find purity and live it out in their homes, schools and universities to kindle a new desire for what is holy into our nations.

We want the Lord to be present and to touch the lives of the young people. From a moral perspective, our country is in a shocking state. Politicians care for financial security but very little do they care for healthy families."

I had to laugh when Michael said that they had wanted Jerusha Olsen to be a speaker at the conference but she has another priority today. She is getting married to Andrew Muller. We join the family and friends in wishing the young couple God's blessing.

Our thoughts are with the Eurochor as they will be travelling to perform in England from Thursday 30 October to 3 November.

Let us also remember the Doctors for Life team that is scheduled to leave on Thursday 30 October for their 3-week outreach to Angola.

Again, 2 young people whose families are close to us, Hendrik Combrink and Sharon Stegen, are getting engaged tomorrow. We wish them God's blessing.

Labour for all

After reading the latest e-mail from Linda Magqabi I cannot contain my joy at what I see God doing through him and the teams that accompany him on various outreaches. He has a secular job as an engineer in Johannesburg but the Lord has given him a ministry and a passion for souls.

It is amazing to see how doors open for those with open hearts for God's working in and through their lives. Linda will tell you all about it.

As a CFT member Linda feels strongly that he has a responsibility to initiate actions that will promote Biblical truth and Christian values.

Big numbers are useful in covering much work within a short time and in demonstrating how widely shared our concerns and convictions are. However, the absence of big numbers should be no excuse for inaction on our part. Linda mentioned to me how pleasantly surprised he was to see how effective even a small team can be.

A special burden that he has at the moment is that people be told the truth about HIV and AIDS. When we are told that 5.5 million South Africans are HIV positive and there are 4 million AIDS orphans in this country I ask myself if any of us should not share Linda's burden.

It struck me that Linda makes use of existing resources. 

Doctors for Life have made an excellent DVD on challenging facts about promiscuity, abstinence, HIV and AIDS. Linda makes good use of the 'In Your Face' DVD.

Some of you have heard about Gcinephi Khuzwayo, a young woman who has a powerful testimony of how satan aimed to destroy her through loose living and AIDS, and how the Lord in His grace reached out to her with His salvation. Linda has invited Gcinephi on outreaches.

In your situation you could think of other people, pamphlets and various reading materials.

These days it occurred to me that the most critical resource you have is you; your walk with God, your love for God and your love for God's people. You might not be eloquent but people will not miss the eloquence of the warmth of your heart.

In the light of these things, is there anyone that is still twiddling fingers, wondering as to what is expected of them?

Consider this line from Fanny Crosby's song 'To the work,'

"To the work! To the work! There is labor for all"

"To the work! To the work! There is labor for all;
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the love of our Father exalted shall be,
In the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!"

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