As you pray -7 November 2008

My dear friends

The results of the US elections on Tuesday 4 November had a mixed bag of good and bad news for those who are pro-life and pro-family.

This is how a source in the USA summed up the good news for which we thank God,

:"While Democrats had a good night last night, so too did marriage protection amendments from coast-to-coast. In Florida, the marriage amendment passed with more than 62% of the vote. In Arizona, it received 56% of the vote. And in California, ground zero of the marriage battle, Proposition 8 is leading with 52%. And, according to the exit polls, African-Americans provided some of the strongest support for the marriage amendment in California, supporting Proposition 8 by a margin of 70%-to-30%."

And this is the bad news,

'Perhaps the biggest disappointment at the ballot box last night was the defeat of every initiative related to the sanctity of life. Parental notification failed in California. Expanded human embryonic stem cell research was approved in Michigan. Euthanasia was legalized in Washington State. And efforts to expand legal protections to the unborn were defeated in Colorado and South Dakota.

While the results of last night’s election were hailed as a great human rights victory, the defeat of these pro-life initiatives clearly indicates we still have a long way to go. As Ravi Zacharias recently said, “We cannot talk about human rights without the right to be human.”'

As many of you are aware today is Dr Billy Graham's 90th birthday. Of course, this man of God would never know how many people around the world thank God for him and wish him God's further blessing. We are amongst them.

Here are some excerpts from an article that Dorothea Killus,

We are also thinking of Mrs Ingegaerd Beyerhaus, wife of Prof Peter Beyerhaus, is celebrating her birthday today. God bless her and keep her today and always.

Our prayers are with Onkel Friedel and Tante Rita who are still in Europe. Georg Grau shared with me that they had services with them which started on Wednesday and end today.

Greetings from Klaus Alius in Bielstein. He requests prayers for services this weekend with Ferny Jaegle from France. The children's ministry Sunny-Way will have a service tomorrow. On Sunday the congregation will have a 'small' feast.

Hans Huber and the family are overflowing with gratitude and praise to God. In the midst of the tragic loss of their son Sebastian the testimony of God's mighty hand in it all warmed their hearts. They were greatly comforted by the support from the brethren.

Hans is due to preach on Sunday and he will appreciate your prayers.

Karen forwarded me an SMS from her husband, Dr Albu van Eeden, who is leading a medical and spiritual outreach in Angola. He is overwhelmed by the need and hunger for help. The doors are wide open for establishing a centre with various facilities. Let us pray for God's guidance.

Bruno Hlongwane is thankful for an opportunity that he and his wife Stella had last weekend to address married couples in a church in Sebokeng, Gauteng.

Last Saturday, one of our young preachers, DSS pupil Bongani Gina, organised a meeting in his home area of Richards Bay. The main aim was to pray for the students who are writing their examinations but Bongani used the opportunity to invite TNT to warn young people against drug abuse. TLW also brought the abstinence message, Onkel Heino did the devotion. The community leaders who were there could not thank enough for the messages that went out.

The TNT team, Joseph Greyling, Thaba Gingqi and David Green, are presenting in 3 schools in Dundee today. Remember them.

We join the family and friends of Johannes Mooka and Kwenzeleni Ntanzi in wishing the couple God's blessing  as they will be getting married at KwaSizabantu on Sunday.

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