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Many
came forward in repentance at the end of the morning
plenary session yesterday to meet with God
PHOTOGRAPH:
JOHN ROBINSON
|
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| BUSHWACKED!
By Rebecca Swanepoel
Bush may be in town, the African Union may be meeting
in Maputo, but SACLA is still getting more than its
share of coverage from both the local and international
media. Recognising the significance of one of the largest
gatherings of Christian leaders in Africa, the secular
media – usually highly skeptical of “religion”
– has jammed the telephone lines in the SACLA
newsroom with requests for interviews and information.
SACLA’s
impact is reverberating, not only across the world airwaves,
but is flooding the written media as well. Christian
World News of CBC, BBC Religious Services, SABC - Africa
and Trans World Radio are alerting the world to what
the Holy Spirit is doing among the over four thousand
delegates. Moving footage of Christians of different
cultural and racial backgrounds embracing across the
still gaping divides, are being beamed into lounges
from the Cape to Cairo and from Europe to the USA.
Via
ACB – the Association of Christian Broadcasters
– 13 Christian radio stations receive daily reports
from SACLA, while the over 80 community radio stations
across the country are able to tap into the process.
The print media straddling the national and international
communication is telling the world of the need for the
Gospel in combating the giants of poverty, disease,
and the destruction of God’s earth and His people.
But
for those getting the good news out, a top priority
has been keeping the many Christians who – either
because of time or financial constraints - have been
unable to attend the massive Pretoria event. The media
team has worked hard to make Christians who are not
at SACLA feel a part of the assembly. This is a conference
for the entire church, not just those able to travel
to Pretoria. In order to do this we have created a daily
five-minute drive-time update on proceedings via radio,
the SACLA website has been updated every day and the
address extensively advertised. We have also created
a two-way process whereby people can feed their comments
via sms and email and this is directed back to the track
leaders for consideration. |
|
| Morality
and Respect for Life not well Defined by Churches!
By
Claire Brockleban
The
Church must work hard to reinstate respect for life",
says Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, Archbishop of Durban.
Addressing a crowd of 4000 SACLA delegates, he went
on to give a strong plea for the rights of the unborn
child.
He
stated that whilst the Rustenburg Conference of Churches,
held in 1990, had been an unequivocal success - it had
failed to address two key issues. Namely: "that
they overlooked the need to define and develop a new
morality to replace the one imposed on us by both apartheid
and the struggle against it"... and then at Rustenburg
2 (1994), when "we chose not to declare unequivocally
that life is sacred, and as such it is the supreme value,
to which must be given absolute respect from conception
until natural death". It was at the latter, that
Cardinal Napier traumatised delegates by graphically
illustrating his abhorrence of abortion when he produced
a small bottle of formalin containing a perfectly formed
foetus in its first trimester. He got his message home!
Speaking
on the subject of a new morality, Cardinal Napier mentioned
two pillars on which the moral teaching of the Catholic
Church is built. The first being the Natural Law, and
the second being Divine Revelation. "Natural law
is that which human reason can discover and discern
to be the good that must be done, the evil that must
be avoided, the truth that must be believed and the
falsehood that must be rejected". Because of sin,
however, we can never totally rely on this natural law.
Divine revelation, on the other hand, should set the
precedent. God reveals His purposes to us through it.
It is dependable and can always be relied upon. "Through
it, God tells us who we are, where we come from and
what He expects of us. It also tells us who He is and
what we need to do fulfil His will and plan for us".
Cardinal Napier went on to address the sacredness of
life and stated that our own nation of South Africa
had gone wrong when we used our constitutional democratic
freedom of choice to "deny the right to life"
to the most innocent and defenseless of human beings,
namely the unborn baby. He believes that the Church
has "compromised the respect that is due to all
human life" and because of that we have undermined
one of the true foundations for a hope and future of
peace i.e. our human life and dignity. "Revelation
teaches us that God is Lord of Life" Cardinal Napier
stated. "We have the weapons to challenge the popular
belief (heresy is a better word), that because the baby
in its mother's womb cannot exercise certain rights
under the Constitution, it is therefore not entitled
to the right of life!" He challenged this and stated
that life is sacred, from conception to the tomb.
Cardinal
Napier reminded delegates that our State President had
called on us to intervene with all the resources at
our disposal, especially those that would contribute
to the rebuilding of the moral fibre of society. He
went on to say that our government is sending us confused
messages because "on the one hand they condemn
violence against women and children, while on the other
hand they condone (or even promote) violence against
unborn babies via the “Termination of Pregnancy
Act."
Given
the response from the audience, it seems that many of
the 4000 agreed that the Cardinals' message is one that
is vital to South Africa, and indeed, the world.
Cardinal Napier concluded his address with a quote from
Pope John Paul II. "There can be no true peace
without respect for life". |
| The
Wall that Tells a Thousand Stories
By Stephen Keggie
"Not
allowed to think", "Trusted no one" -
these are some of the words that may strike you as you
walk up to the story-wall in the Church Leaders' Track
in the G Hall. The wall, which was assembled by all
the participants at the track, has impressed itself
on many at the conference as a significant visual symbol.
It renews and re-configures the imagery of apartness,
as is represented, for example, by the Berlin wall or
the word 'apartheid' and its ideology. It re-draws a
picture of segregation.
The
SACLA story-wall is also comparable to another story-wall
- the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, into which worshippers
'post' their prayers. On the story-wall at the Church
Leaders' Track, stories are 'posted' prayerfully in
order to be heard by others and by God and in so doing,
re-told.
The intention of the track facilitators with regard
to the symbolism of the story-wall was expressed by
Rene August, a co-facilitator: "For me walls are
about building - they give shape and structure, they
contain things. What they consist of is a backdrop and
the backdrop is the story." The two segments of
the story (from the 1970s to the 1990s and from 2000
to the present) running down either side of the hall
'sandwich' the delegates between the story of their
past and their future. It is in this space that they
share with each other, dialogue with each other and
so discover together an alternative story.
The
aim of the process of drawing the past into the present
through the story-wall was formulated on the premise
that "being church is about working with God, not
working for God." As Rene August noted, "You
cannot work with God unless you see the patterns of
God working in the past. Scripture is the best example
of a story showing these patterns."
The
magnitude and extent of the story-wall as it creates
a space for dialogue has its source in the diversity
of the separate building blocks. This diversity was
acknowledged by the leaders in relating their different
experiences of the process of story-telling. For example,
Helen Buthelezi from the Cathedral Parish of the Holy
Nativity in Pietermaritzburg, said that "the experience
I had re-telling my story was a bit humorous, looking
back at the things that happened in the past and looking
at them now - I was young and angry at the time, but
now I look back with a bit of humour." She went
on to interpret the story-wall as "...the stories
[of South Africa] from the black side, the coloured
side and the Indian side that really reflect the changes
that have taken place through the decades." Vernon
Pillay, who worships at the Evangelical Church of South
Africa, agrees that the wall is symbolic, because "it
allowed us the opportunity to realise that we are all
human and that we have come through a process where
we have to acknowledge that our existence today is largely
dependant on the fact that we are not denying our stories.
We are being honest and very transparent about it and
so are able to forge ahead."
From
another perspective, Schalk Naude of the Dutch Reformed
Church relates, "I realise that, especially in
the '70s, I was in a very secure comfort zone. I enjoyed
everything, not realising that it was so different for
everyone else... But it’s very wonderful to know
there is a wall. We are forced to talk now and that's
wonderful!" From the first day of wall-building,
the listening group (a group of five people that moves
among the groups and listens to the discussions) discerned
that there was hurt remaining in the lives of both black
and white participants because of the complicit silence
in the church during the 1970s. This period, nevertheless,
did see an awakening in the church as figures such as
Desmond Tutu arose as signs of new hope, redeeming the
image of Christianity for many black people. It was
the first SACLA conference of 1979, following closely
on the Soweto uprising of 1976, that spoke prophetically
into the life of the church, particularly because it
heightened spiritual and political awareness in a context
of unity.
The
story-wall is also a picture of a link between the first
SACLA conference and this one, across the generational
gap that separates them. This link is a bridge from
the stories of sharing and repentance that characterised
SACLA 1979. At that conference the church first began
to deal with societal concerns through the building
of relationships across denominational and cultural
barriers. The outcome of the Church's assumption of
responsibility for the process of change in society
and addressing the government prophetically, was the
momentous Rustenberg Declaration in which the Church
addressed the issue of repentance for Apartheid. The
story-wall is a bridge from these stories of sharing
and repentance at SACLA 1979 to the stories of sharing,
reconciliation and hope that we have just begun to hear
at SACLA II. |
| Tracks
BUSINESS,
LABOUR AND AGRICULTURE
While
the family certainly bears the brunt of HIV/AIDS,
the capability to fight its debilitating effects
rests largely on the boardroom. This apparently
unlikely sphere is increasingly rivalling even
the hospital in the role it must play in bringing
healing to the suffering.
Dr.
Kuku Apjiah is a medical doctor, whose challenge
in today's session cannot afford to go unanswered.
To Apjiah, the challenge is both a moral and an
economic one. "It is those in business who
can implement policies and treatment initiatives
that can do much to alleviate suffering and rebuild
a person's capacity for work," she said.
Going beyond a mere call to action, Apjiah drew
on her experience in business initiatives to present
to the group a diverse range of campaigns that
have proven to be successful. She also admonished
the delegates to take action at both a personal
and a professional level of relationship.
The response of many of the delegates was an encouraging
answer to the questions posed by Apjiah. "We
have to ask ourselves how important the bottom
line is to us as Christian business people,"
said one delegate. "We are called not only
to make money, but to treat others as persons
by serving their needs. By caring in this way,
we can also enable those who suffer to find fulfillment
as productive human beings."
Such remarks are definitely a cause for hope.
If a compassionate consciousness does become typical
of the larger business community, then the response
it can offer will certainly be up to the challenge
that it poses our nation.
Andrew
Alexander
YOUNG
ADULTS & STUDENTS
"Where
is the hope? The hope that everyone has. I want
millions to tell me that the hope they have is
in the Lord Jesus Christ".
These
are the lyrics from a song by Steven Curtis Chapman.
It encompasses the Young Adults track theme for
the day, which was hope. I found this session,
led by guest speaker, Dr Molefe Tsele, very stimulating.
His discussion was based around poverty, unemployment
and crime.
A major point that came out of this session was
the link between crime and poverty. Also highlighted
was the misconception of poverty. When we think
about poverty, we think of it in terms of financial
distress. A more important aspect of poverty,
however, is found in spirituality. If you are
suffering from spiritual poverty, it means that
you are completely or partially seperated from
God. The issues of crime, poverty and unemployment
were later creatively linked through a monologue.
From
the group discussion I was in, it was clear that
the monologue had been very successful. It illustrated
God's hope and constant desire to restore hope
in our lives. Valuable discussion time followed
in which concrete solutions were sought out. I'm
looking forward to Friday, when groups will be
placed in provinces to discuss and implement all
that they have learned. The purpose is that they
would go back to their respective communites and
collectively work towards change.
Lesley
Malgas
CHURCH
Church
Leaders Move into a New Chapter
The Church Leader's track followed the theme of
hope, which served as a continuation of the previous
day. Day two was spent looking back at the past
three decades from 1970 to 2000. Delegates were
asked to relate their lives over that period of
time and to think back on what was significant
in terms of themselves, their church and their
nation. As a result, a 20 metre story-wall was
erected where people shared their lives with one
another from that period.
On
Day three, delegates were first asked to reflect
on what was said in the plenary. This was followed
by a very interesting case study of two previously
opposing churches and how they have since been
reconciled. They were the Anglican church and
the Dutch Reformed church in Paarl. The Anglican
church lost its property rights through the group
Areas Act and the Dutch Reformed church bought
the land. Then, on Freedom Day 2003, the Dutch
Reformed church handed back the property to the
original owners, the Anglican Church. "It
was a very touching process that they went through,"
said track leader, Doug Howie. After lunch, the
African Children's Choir performed for the delegates.
"They themselves represent hope," added
Howie. The church leaders were then asked the
question, "what can we as churches do to
create hope in South Africa?", which was
discussed in their various groups. Once the question
was answered, the delegates had to write on pieces
of paper and paste them on the wall under the
banner 'New Chapter - looking ahead'. “On
Day two, we asked people to open their lives.
This was a loose process, but today we are focusing
on being more specific," concluded Howie.
Rebecca
Swanepoel
ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA
Creative Excellence in Media
In
addressing the theme of the day, there were many
references to how Christians in the media have
settled for apathy and mediocrity, and how this
is a bad testimony to God and to the Church. There
should be a new working ethos of excellence amongst
God's people. "Let us forget what all those
who do not know God are doing, and do what God
wants us to do in excellence," were the words
of Landa Cope.
Exciting
new projects that could transform the perception
of Christian programming, emerged from the speakers
in the tracks. Dr Garth Japhet, creator of the
television drama Soul City, shared news of a new
drama to be screened, which will take place in
a church. This will create waves in mainstream
Christian programming. "The Church must prepare
people for something that will shake the children
of God," said Japhet. Working with him on
this project is Jerry Mofukeng (script writer),
who shared a short testimony on the many temptations
faced in the entertainment industry. But temptation
is no excuse to do anything contrary to God's
standards. Christian leaders in the media are
trying to re-iterate that glory should not be
on them or their media vehicles, but that the
glory should be given to God.
Telling
stories is what Jesus did and people remembered
them. The question posed is, "Why can't the
Christian artists use the popular mediums at their
disposal, to further the word of God creatively?"
Bulelwa
Jonas
SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
The
day was spent in small working groups, giving
delegates an opportunity to air their own personal
perspectives. They shared on the issues facing
our land, realising that the enormity and complexity
of the problems could only be addressed by viewing
them through God’s eyes.
The group was reminded of the need to consider
the potential social impact of their disciplines.
Delegates reflected on how the Church, as well
as Christian Leaders in these disciplines, could
ensure that society benefits in the long-term.
Discussions revolved around the effective communication
and transfer of technology and research findings,
using our God given talents for problem-solving.
Other issues discussed were equipping people to
respond to threats and risks, identifying and
responding to the actual needs of the community
and promoting God-directed research, technology
development and creation stewardship.
Our hope for the future must be based on, amongst
others, interaction with other disciplines; whilst
our ultimate hope rests in the Lord. In this regard,
there is an urgent need to work together and across
the disciplines once SACLA is over. Related to
this, three sub-groups have been established that
will likely form the foundation for these future
interactions.
Brent
Corcoran
CHRISTIAN
LEADERS IN SCHOOLS
Wednesday's
sessions allowed ample time for delegates to express
their hopes for their various spheres of leadership.
Debate was rampant around the subjects of HIV/AIDS,
family crisis, sexual violence and racism. Guest
speakers specialising in each topic gave delegates
their professional opinions. "These are all
God-issues. We have to start with God's Word,"
said Revd Royden. After all, life does not have
a formula but God has a formula for life.
Small
group discussions focussed on the visions of the
delegates for themselves, and the the implementation
of these visions in their leadership teams - the
latter with Jeremiah 29:11-15 in mind. Questions
such as: What is your vision for your life and
work? What is God's vision for your life and work?
Are those visions the same? If not, why not? These
challenging questions opened the floor for the
delegates to express their views. When the focus
is on God, His vision can be implemented.
Dr
Eva Ngwenya-Seobi gave a passionate address on
child rape and expressed how perseverence and
prayer can over come this crime. She encouraged
the delegates to "speak for those who cannot
speak for themselves" and to take control
of their situations. Delegates used the mediums
of paint, clay, literature and dance to explore
their hopes for themselves, helping to find themselves
in God through self-expression. A bird moulded
from clay - representing peace, images depicting
how life could be, lyrics and poetry expressing
various world views, were but a few of the items
created.
The
creative way in which the delegates have expressed
their hopes, show the wealth of opportunity and
resources we have in our young people.
Sheenagh
Bruce
CIVIL
SOCIETY, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HEALTH & MEDICINE
Why Jesus came to the world
Today's
session focussed on what society would look like
if repentance was the key to transformation and
development. The focus areas for the day were:
what do we leave behind, and where are we going?
An
inspiring address by Dr Tony Compolo, a professor
of Sociology at Eastern University in Pennsylvania
and founder of the Evangelical Association, paved
the way for transformation, and upliftment of
the poor. Compolo referred to Jesus who said:
"I've come to declare the Kingdom of God,"
adding that Jesus meant exactly that. "Churches
prepare people to meet God, rather than preparing
them to transform," he said. He suggested
that churches should come together and form micro-businesses,
where people can own and run businesses to build
a just society. Referring to crime and sexual
immorality, he said the church should provide
an economic alternative for people involved in
these activities, because doing these things is
often a result of poverty. Teaching individuals
to earn a legitimate living will draw them to
salvation. He explained that salvation is a social
system rather than an individual thing.
Compolo
also strongly criticised multinational companies
who produce products that people do not need.
He said that, through the media these companies
seduce poor people by promoting style and therefore
helping to create criminals. He further emphasised
that this responsibility lies within the Church,
which should take swift action. He also reminded
delegates that Jesus risked His Divinity to save
the lost, reveal God and reveal the essence of
what it means to be human. Compolo believes: "The
society is supposed to be like the Kingdom of
God, then the kingdoms of the world shall be like
the kingdom of God."
Sandile
Zamisa
FAMILY
& CHILDRENS MINISTRIES
Stories of hope shake group session
I
was moved to tears at today's track session. I
was definitely not expecting it. As a journalist,
you are programmed to keep your distance. But
no earthly brainwashing can overcome the Spirit
of God, which was loosed upon this session in
a mighty way. What was evident today is God's
deep desire to mend ailing families, to heal the
sick and suffering, and to restore the broken
and downcast.
In
line with today's theme, delegates were given
the chance to share their stories of hope, and
this is what the Holy Spirit blessed, as each
of us was left to hear God's direction. Miriam
Cele from KwaMashu shared about Gozololo, a project
she initiated with other women, to provide care
and support to traumatised children and those
orphaned by AIDS. She issued this challenge: "Boys
need a hug from their fathers, not only their
mothers." The group was further moved when
a lady from Cape Town revealed that she was diagnosed
HIV-positive 10 years ago. She added that God
had sustained her physically and had restored
her health after the time she was expected to
be dying. Others shared testimonies of how God
had intervened in hopeless situations of family
breakdowns and how God had called one to adopt
not just one infected person, but a whole family
affected by AIDS. A delegate summed it all up
with the familiar quote: "It's better to
light a candle than curse the darkness."
I
was left deeply touched and overeager to continue
my own journey of offering the hope of Christ
to a hopeless world.
Nevelia
Heilbron
JUSTICE,
SAFETY & SECURITY
Craig
Dreyer, 22, a law student, is among the minority
of young people attending the Justice and Security
track. "It has been awesome how, in these
two days, my mindset has been changed. I have
learnt how to incorporate God into the government!"
said an excited Craig. The church should be infiltrated
into all sectors of society and for Craig it has
been a shift from short-sightedness to maturity.
Economic
Justice was the order of the day for session two;
Kevin Wakeford, MD of Growth Africa, was the speaker.
The issue of economic justice as it relates to
poverty and job creation, was discussed. Wakeford
made it very clear to the delegates that, “although
apartheid is an era we would like to divorce our
thinking from, we cannot. The reason why our economy
is the way it is, is because it has been impacted
by apartheid. Therefore separating our thinking
from that will be disastrous," Wakeford insists.
As it stands, South Africa has a 40% unemployment
rate and the second highest GEO co-efficient gap
in the world. Wakeford stated that the only way
he sees there being economic justice, is when
Christians and the Church start to change issues
facing our country.
Neville
Grimmet
COMMUNITY
TRANSFORMATION
Transformation
starts within the heart The second day of events
on the Community Transformation track kicked off
with a prayer and thirty minutes of intense group
discussions. The discussions pertained to yesterday's
theme of repentance and how communities could
combat the seven social evils facing the country.
Argentinian
Ed Silvoso, the dynamic founder and president
of Harvest Evangelism had the track audience in
awe from the moment he stepped onto the podium.The
author of many bestselling books, placed much
emphasis on changing the spiritual climate. Silvoso,
who exemplifies an annointed servant of God, delivered
a high powered sermon on spiritual transformation.
He feels that transformation starts first and
foremost within the heart of every man and woman
and that only then can we bring about change to
our communities.The speaker, exuding power in
Christ, spoke about the three dimensional nature
of redemption, which included personal, relational
and merchantile redemption.
The
second half of the track session had a young woman,
named Sarah, testify to contracting the HIV/AIDS
virus from her husband and then being completely
cured thereof a few years later, due to intense
faith in Christ and prayer. She has a strong belief,
due to her miraculous recovery, that God can heal
HIV/AIDS sufferers. The esteemed Dr. Michael Cassidy,
was also one of the keynote speakers.
Melanie
Fourie
EDUCATION
& TRAINING
The challenge to servant leadership.
Educators
were challenged again today by Prof John Jansen
as to how we can implement personal and moral
leadership in our vocations. He gave wonderful
personal examples of servant leadership in his
role as Dean at the University of Pretoria and
asked us to explore ways in which we could do
the same to establish the Kingdom of God in our
various institutions.
Jansen said that we need to bring the heart back
into education. In grappling with the question
of how this was to be done, it became clear that
the most powerful way to establish the Kingdom
of God is at a relational level. We as teachers
need to model Christ in terms of taking a personal
interest in the learners. As Jansen said, "If
the greatest teacher of all time could wash his
disciple's feet, so can we."
On one level, students not only need salvation,
but discipleship. At another level, if our aim
is to facilitate students in finding the truth
and loving the truth, then we need to assist them
in establishing a Christian world view. This should
enable them to relate their studies to their faith.
One lecturer told a very encouraging story about
a student who came back to her years later to
say that she had really left him with a lasting
message through her daily morning devotions with
the class. This came at a time when this student
was unemployed. We need to be people "bearing
fruit that will last" (John 15:16).
Robyn
Newton
POLITICS
AND GOVERNMENT
Many
delegates came to SACLA with very high expectations
and don’t seem to be disappointed. A 25-year-old
Unicity Environment Planner, Maurietta Juries,
is very excited that she could attend the assembly.
She says she is very encouraged to see high profile
politicians and government officials taking their
faith seriously. The track inspired her and she
feels she has been given a Christian response
to daily municipal challenges. "Being young
and black made me too insignificant and easily
intimidated. But now that I have seen so many
Christian politicians who face challenged like
us, I feel I have a role to play in the society.
I have also been blessed to see a councilor who
supported me when it was hard. I did not even
know he was a Christian,” she said. The
theme of hope within the track of government and
politics, encouraged many other people - both
young and old. For Mpumelelo Ntetha (24), an SU
Life-skill worker, it showed him a strong need
for the church to influence the government. "I
think Christians and the church are letting the
government down. We must stop moaning about the
government and start to do something. If we do
projects that uplift the lifestyle of people,
the government will take us seriously." He
said this after a very strong appeal by Dr Brigalia
Bam to remember social action. The groups spent
time looking at how the church can impact and
transform not only the community but the government
as well.
Nhlanhla
Mchunu |
|
|
What’s
all the Buzz?
By Sheenagh Bruce
Buzz
Groups are the heart of SACLA," commented
Jeremy Clampett, Leader of the Youth in Schools
track. After all the talk on the importance of
team and nation building, one can see the importance
of Buzz Groups. Tuesday night's talks by both
Landa Cope and Janet Museveni emphasised the importance
of community. "It takes a village to raise
a child," said Mrs Museveni. Are we not all
children of God?
The
Bible calls us to be witnesses for Christ. By
sharing in groups we are supporting one another,
witnessing to one another and uplifting one another.
Delegates have been brought to tears by the stories
shared. However, through the support of the group,
many have worked through issues that are pressing
upon their hearts.
The
aim of these groups is to promote inter-track
relationships and discussions. Here, delegates
from different tracks, communities, provinces
and social backgrounds can interact. They can
become aware of what is happening at other tracks,
and how it can affect their own track. These issues
and outcomes, be they positive or negative, can
be shared on a deeper, personal level. The prayer
element of these groups complements the ideals
and hopes that are the vision of SACLA.
"The
groups helped me a lot, especially since I didn't
know anyone other than those I arrived with. It's
a good way to meet new people. We spent most of
the time laughing today!" noted Capetonian
Ashleigh Hendricks.
Tuesday's
group session was focused on the individual and
getting to know fellow group members. The theme
of the effects of the seven giants on the lives
of the individual were also discussed.
Wednesday's session aimed to bring out the delegates'
creative side. It did this by challenging them
to write a poem on their hope for South Africa.
What is your hope for South Africa? Tell someone.
"You cannot learn from your theological twin,"
commented Clampett. We therefore encourage all
delegates to step out of their comfort zones and
join a Buzz Group today.
Buzz
Groups happen every day from 17:00-18:00. |
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Political
Track...Clay is used expressively to represent an African
Church with diverse views
PHOTOGRAPH:
JOHN ROBINSON |
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| Prayer
Turns the ‘Giants’ into Locusts!
By Nevelia Heilbron
There
is no doubting the transforming power of prayer and
intercession. So powerful are our litanies in bringing
about change in our country and world, that the team
of SACLA intercessors has renamed the seven identified
giants, 'locusts'! "Locusts are much smaller and
are easily overcome through the power of prayer",
they confidently affirm.
Typical
of intercessors, their presence is not visibly known
- they meet in the glass room at the far end of hall
L (where the Admin Office is). There they intercede
daily from about 08h15 until 20h00, uplifting the four
themes of the Conference - the plenaries, the tracks,
the buzz groups and the general running of the programme.
At times they also do a prayer-walk around the grounds
or attend tracks to discover new issues to bring before
the Lord.
But
it is not solely the role of the intercessors to be
praying for the conference - we are all called to "pray
without ceasing". Dr Bennie Mostert, task team
leader for Prayer and Intercession, is adamant that
we need to pray for the ability to listen to one another
and give each other the chance to share our views during
our group discussions. For those who are a bit uncertain
about what areas to pray into, a prayer guideline has
been compiled and distributed. This gives details of
the daily themes and is freely available at the Information
Tower.
There
are also other practical ways to impart God's blessing
on every aspect of the conference. While walking to
your various venues, ask God to bless the grounds and
each the places where we all meet; ask God to lead you
as a team to His solutions; or while you're waiting
in the thousands-long queue for food, ask God to bless
everyone with the fruit of patience...!
While intercession is a specific gift that entails "standing
in the gap for others", all of us have access to
God's throneroom of grace. The beauty of prayer and
intercession is that the only "qualification"
it takes, is being open to the Spirit of God. Let us
set the world ablaze with the prayers of the righteous
which, we know, availeth much.
Minds
black, white, old and young gather together in small
groups
PHOTOGRAPH:
JOHN ROBINSON |
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Editorial
They
say you can choose your friends, but not your family. Thank
God for ever calling SACLA II into being! What a joy to
be gathering in the magnificent diversity of the Church
of Jesus Christ in this nation. We may be different, we
may not agree, we may even fight - but we are family, and
there is no way we can ‘unfamily’ each other.
Dysfunctional families do many things, but one thing they
don’t do is talk about what is really wrong. They
talk about anything but the real issues. It is always a
sign of hope when such a family begins to talk.
At SACLA II the family has begun talking, talking about
what really matters, about the real issues. You just had
to spend time in some of the tracks to see that there have
been many disagreements. We have been offended, or pushed
beyond our comfort zones, perhaps in discussion with others,
perhaps by a speaker or two... or three - they don’t
come from our church tradition, or our generation, our social
group or our culture.
Talking
can be deeply unsettling, particularly when another’s
perspective calls our own into question. When the boundaries
of our worldview are rudely shifted by another, the knee-jerk
reaction is fight or flight. How forceful is the temptation
to reject the bearer of words that threaten to unseat the
paradigm we have always assumed was real. When confronted
with the iniquity of their family for the first time, those
growing up in a dysfunctional family classically deny the
reality of the problem. This is because growing up in an
alcoholic or abusive family system family members assume
their experience of reality is not abusive but normal. This
denial is a powerful defense mechanism designed to ensure
the psychological survival of the person - but it can also
get in the way of healing. Only when we are confronted with
another reality, another norm, do we begin to see such experience
for what it is, abusive.
We
need one another. We need the broad cross-section of the
family of God. We need the many different families within
that family, if only to be presented with a reality which
reveals to us our own iniquity - the sin carried down the
generations in our particular part of the Body of Christ.
Crossing the divides into reconciliation and unity is the
theme for the day. What is reconciliation and unity? Is
it to agree on everything? Which family does? Is it to all
conform to a single expression of faith? A family of clones
is hardly a healthy one. No, our unity is not based on ourselves.
Its foundation is not in our ability to get it together.
We are one because we have a common ancestory, we are children
of one Father, siblings of one Brother, many parts of one
Body under one Head. And our reconcilliation is not based
on what we can do, but on what Christ has done. Through
Christ’s death and resurrection, by the power of the
Holy Spirit, we get to participate in the divine family.
His blood now courses through our veins, his flesh is now
our flesh. We belong together eternally. “There is
one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one
hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all
and in all.” And on this basis alone we can “make
every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace” (Eph 4).
While
I was writing this my assistant editor came to tell me of
the incident in the evening plenary when a man stood up
and expressed the pain and hurt he felt at comments made
by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson in his morning plenary. The family
is talking about the real issues - praise God!
David
Larsen - Editor, SACLA News
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Where
is the Refugee Crisis Giant?
By
Linda Martindale
A
young man called Mdalaga, who had to flee his home and
family during the Rwandan genocide, begins his long
journey south after the initial terror-filled flight
to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After years of walking from village to village, living
hand to mouth, working where possible and suffering
the trauma of displacement, Mdalaga eventually made
it to Cape Town in the hopes of a better life. The logistical
nightmare and xenophobia that met him could not dampen
his soul - it had been dampened long before.
Africa
- a vast land of rich resources with its heart-rending
history, is ours. Numerous political strongholds, governmental
crises, war and unrest, have forced many Africans to
risk their lives … in the hopes of saving them.
Fleeing country and home has not been their first -
but for many, their only choice. After making the journey
to ‘safety’ these men, women and children
face the frustrations of not being able to do a simple
thing like opening a bank account, or getting a driver’s
license, let alone finding a roof over their heads.
Some of these people are doctors, teachers and professors
in their own right - people who can add tremendous value
to our society, but who guard our cars while we shop.
Whilst
South Africa has been said by the UNHCR to have one
of the more liberal refugee policies, the situation
that they come to is by no means rosy. We are a nation
that is struggling to get on its economic feet after
years of colonial rule, and the massive debt that the
apartheid government left squarely on the shoulders
of the first democratic and freely elected ANC government.
With a near 50% unemployment rate, it’s understandable
that South Africans panic at the thought of over four
million illegal residents descending on the country.
With no work permits and little other option for income
generation, many refugees or asylum seekers turn to
crime.
Whilst
there are no easy answers or quick solutions, this is
a national crisis that shouts for the Church’s
attention. It’s not simply the government’s
issue - and we, the Church of South Africa, cannot bury
our heads in the sand and hope the crisis will sort
itself out. Africans that have already faced more than
their share of human misery and trauma, need to be met
by a church community that is dealing with resolutions
and not living in blind ignorance. This is God’s
heart. The Bible clearly states: “Do not mistreat
an alien or oppress him …” (Exodus 22:21)
and “The alien living with you must be treated
as one of your native born. Love him as yourself …”
(Leviticus 19:34). We need to open our hearts in faith
to our African brothers and sisters, and allow them
to add their value to our society.
Practical
and broad-based solutions, open hearts and a church
that has the fortitude and strength to tackle issues
like the seven giants that we are discussing here, is
what we need to tackle what I would term one of the
‘eighth giants’ - a giant that is notably
absent from the predominant agenda of SACLA II. |
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The
Importance of Family in Society
An
Interview with Landa Cope
By
Neville Grimmet & Sheenagh Bruce
"The
very fact that the South African church is willing to
look at social issues together as a priority is monumental,"
commented American missionary, Ms Landa Cope. Chairperson
of the University of the Nations campus in Switzerland
and teacher in family issues, Ms Cope is encouraged
by the focus on family issues at SACLA II.
Ms
Cope feels that as a church body, "we have not
focused on discipleship and community involvement".
Instead the church has focused on church planting and
growth. This has lead to our generation having perhaps
the largest body in history, but perhaps the weakest.
She believes that we are not Christians who think of
our faith in terms of local action but in terms of the
salvation of other nations. When asked her opinion on
the seven giants being addressed at SACLA, Ms Cope highlighted
the degeneration of family issues as the most fundamental.
This includes the loss of values and moral structure
found in communities. She stated that the family is
the most important and most influential unit in society.
This decay of moral foundations found in the family
is not because of the media and persecution, nor is
it found only in the developing world. But it is because
we have just given up responsibility for each other.
Ms
Cope understands that once the vision of family is lost,
all things associated with the family will fall apart.
We have lost a sense of what is really valuable. Yet
she finds a sense of hope in the fact that people have
arrived at SACLA with a hunger for change. "When
the focus is on God all other problems are minor."
She
left us with these words,” We need to take ourselves
and the issues of the world somewhat lightly, not because
they're not painful, but because they're not the only
reality. There is something humorous about all of us."
PHOTOGRAPH:
CHAD BARTLETT |
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A
Continuing Process and Ongoing Fellowship
MICHAEL’S
MUSINGS: 
MICHAEL
CASSIDY
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Brothers
and sisters, I believe that, by the grace of God,
the Church of South Africa is back on the national
map in a way that has not been the case for quite
some time. What a blessing and opportunity we
now have before us!
But,
what will we do with it? Will we return home after
SACLA merely to remember what a wonderful time
we had here in July 2003? Or will we let this
be the catalyst for a proactive and continuing
process as we stay in fellowship for ongoing follow-up
initiatives? I believe with all my heart that
we must seize with both hands the unity, sense
of common purpose, and public attention we in
the church are now gaining as a result of SACLA.
But
please note something. Paul says to Timothy, “But
as for you, continue in what you have learned
and have become convinced of…” (2
Tim 3:14). |
|
We do want you in these concluding days of this
assembly to think and pray deeply about what you
have learned here and become committed to. Then
take these new outlooks and commitments back home
and share them with others. Also resolve to stay
connected to those who have been with you at SACLA.
You see, SACLA is not an event, but a process.
So we must ensure it carries forward in practical
follow-through. So we ask you to be willing to
meet post-SACLA in various follow-up gatherings
which will assemble around both the Track categories
as well as the seven giants. Your Track connection
should already be established, but in addition
we want you to be in prayer regarding the primary
giant you will be a part of tackling as the SACLA
process carries forward. In your Tracks, we'll
help you identify these.
So
friends, do get into this forward-looking process
of being salt and light and bringing practical
solutions to the needs of our land as we share
and live out the Gospel with our fellow country
men and women.
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A
Call for an African Expression of Worship
| DANDALA
DELIBERATES:
MVUME
H DANDALA |
A
few people have come to me to express concerns
regarding the representativity of the music at
SACLA. The worship here is great, the songs used
are meaningful, but like them, I feel that sadly
we are not hearing much indigenous African music.
The matter has been brought up in the steering
committee and those involved are looking at ways
of including more African indigenous songs at
this conference.
This oversight has not been out of any malicious
intent on behalf of those serving us in the music,
but rather because it did not come to their attention.
This highlights the fact that in the cultural
milieu in which we live, in which the dominant
‘world’ culture is so very alluring,
we have to actually make a conscious effort, working
hard to include songs from our own heritage. |
| I
am not just speaking here of songs in African
languages. For example the song ‘Jabulani’
is received by us all because it is South African.
We need to be worshipping primarily using songs
that emerge out of our own context. We must be
very careful not to lose our own identity in the
global culture in which we live. This is as much
for ourselves as it is for the world. God has
given us a unique contribution to make to the
nations. We can only do that if we are fully ourselves,
fully all that he wants us to be. |
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What
Can Happen When You Move the Church
By
Andrew Alexander
"Community
transformation is about moving the church out of the building
and into the city."
Such an opinion may appear to disrupt all our preconceptions
of what it means to be in ministry. However, for Dr. Edgardo
Silvoso, it is this truth that has led to the transformation
of entire communities. It is obviously Dr. Silvoso's belief
that if the people will not come to church, then the church
must be brought to the people; and the result of such belief
has brought results that none would have thought possible.
Dr.
Silvoso's unique ministry is predicated on the belief that
the church is not purely concerned with saving souls, but
rather with reconciling the world with Jesus Christ. As such,
he believes that it is the responsibility of Christians to
pastor the community and the nation, in all the spheres in
which humans are active. "Transforming communities is
not just about making converts, it is about taking care of
and renewing our nation," he said. "By serving in
all spheres of our community as believers, in government,
in education, in all these different areas, we take care of
our nation. It is in this way that we fulfill what God has
called us to do."
The
truth of such a belief has been proved by what has been observed
in Argentina, as well as in other nations where community
transformation initiatives have taken place. Silvoso can describe
instances where the church has changed the climate of whole
cities, where crime has decreased, poverty has diminished
and families have been strengthened. Perhaps most surprisingly
to those who believe that God is only interested in saving
souls, the economies of these nations have also been revived.
Such
a movement can only be cause for encouragement to those of
us who live in South Africa. Dr. Silvoso believes that South
Africa's destiny lies in the arena of spiritual reconciliation.
"Where there is significant defilement, grace will overflow,"
said Silvoso. "South Africa has undergone a great defilement
in relationships between peoples and communities. Therefore,
this is a place where the grace of God to restore can be experienced
most profoundly." In a nation crippled by crime and poverty,
these words are certainly cause for great hope.
Edgardo
Silvoso, founder and president of Harvest Evangelism and leader
in Argentina during the 80’s transformation
PHOTOGRAPH:
CHAD BARTLETT |
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First
Lady Inspires the Nation
By
Melanie Fourie
Mrs
Janet Museveni, the eloquent first lady of Uganda, was
given a heartwarming welcome by the assembly on 8th
July. She felt the HIV/AIDS pandemic to be an extraordinary
problem, one requiring equally extraordinary measures.
She also felt the Church had been a rock in the many
adversities Uganda has faced thus far, including their
past fight for freedom. However, in the light of the
euphoria Uganda experienced at the end of the war, the
nation was faced with yet another challenge - the AIDS
pandemic.
Mrs
Museveni said,"The most important strategy in combating
this pandemic is still prevention. Over 90% of Ugandans
now know what HIV/AIDS is and how it is transmitted
and how to avoid it. However, in order for us to achieve
the change, people must go beyond knowledge and internalise
the information as a people of conviction that will
cause them to change their lifestyle. We must therefore
keep talking and encouraging the people so that they
don't relax or get confused, especially with the advent
of new drugs and condoms which have become available
and which makes HIV and AIDS sound less dangerous."
Her
other concern is the youth of Uganda, which makes up
11 million of the country's 24 million population. All
young people under the age of 18 have been born in the
era of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Mrs Museveni, feels that
in spite of the overt danger AIDS has exposed the youth
to, they now have a chance to be taught awareness to
ensure their survival. She feels that it is easier to
change youth, as opposed to adults, and has been using
the mass media and the school system as a catalyst.
In
light of the subject, she noted that there was a sharp
decline in the HIV/AIDS statistics – from 30%
in 1995 to 5% in 2002. She, however, felt the 5% to
be enough of a disaster and stated that there is no
room for complacency, as the disease has weakened the
extended family system. Mrs Museveni also said that
the outcome of AIDS is sickness and poverty and that
many young people have been orphaned. She believes that
in order for our efforts to succeed, we need to be undergirded
by the principles of the word of our mighty Heavenly
Father. |
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Tears
of Joy
By
Nhlanhla Mchunu
Mirianah
Lourens' tears of frustration at losing her bag were turned
to tears of joy when a security guard (Moses Dube) came to
Christ through a situation that was potentially bad. On Monday
the window of her borrowed car was smashed while waiting at
the streetlights and her handbag snatched. She described the
experience: “It was scary. I am from PE. I did not know
Pretoria and it was at night. I phoned a friend who comforted
and encouraged me." She could not even sleep that night
thinking of her bankcards, diary and many other valuables.
" I was so angry with myself and this young man. I spent
time asking why this happened to me? I finally decided to
hand the whole situation to God and prayed for this man. In
the morning I prayed again that God would help me to truly
forgive and accept the fact that my bag was gone for good."
She could not believe her ears when she was told by her husband
that somebody phoned to say he found the bag. "I went
to collect it. When I arrived, the security guard handed me
my diary and drivers licence and said the bag was with his
supervisor. I could not hold myself back, I praised God and
thanked him for all his goodness. But I noticed that the security
was puzzled and I asked him if he knew Jesus as his personal
saviour. He said that he attended church but had not accepted
Jesus into his life.” Mirianah then explained what it
means to follow Jesus and asked if he was willing to accept
Jesus. "I rejoiced when I heard him say 'yes.' Then we
prayed together." When his supervisor arrived he told
him with joy that he was now a Christian. Even though Mirianah's
purse and bankcards were not recovered, she thanks God for
turning a bad situation into something that will last for
eternity. |
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Three-hundred-and-sixty
kilograms of polony, 31,300 pieces of fruit, so little
time
PHOTOGRAPH:
TOBIE SMUTS |
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