Eastern Cape Province

Transformation Nelson Mandela Bay is co-ordinated by
Mr Trevor Jennings (041 - 5815726) and Rev Mvusi Gwam (041 - 3732007)

"Click Here" to read the end of year report of the Gender Reconciliation Association.

For more info please visit: http://www.pechurchnet.co.za/transformation/index.htm

1. GIANTS:

1.1 HIV and Aids
Discussions were held on Wednesday 29 September 2004 between Transformation: Nelson Mandela Bay and Anna-Marie Franken and her team who organized the nation-wide “Beat the Drum” project in Swaziland, regarding the possibility of the Eastern Cape taking on a similar project during 2005. A meeting is set with Bruce Wilkerson for 14 October 2004 to meet with strategic leaders and potential partners who would be willing to participate in this huge provincial wide outreach.

Under the combined oversight of the Westering Ministers’ Fraternal, the Mordecai Trust has just been established to run an Aids place of Safety for abandoned babies. A large 4-bedroomed house has been given to them by NEDCOR and the ongoing running costs are to be met by the Trust of Pastors.

1.2 Crime and Violence
Richard Smith, a retired Colonel in the S.A.P, has volunteered to champion the Crime and Violence Giants in the Metropole.

The City-Wide Intercessors have encouraged the Area Prayer Groups to make contact with their local Police Station to pray for them and identify their needs (e.g. family violence, rape and abandoned babies). Guidance was given on how to pray for our police.

1.3 Poverty and Unemployment
The Walmer Methodist Church and Harvest Christian Church have joined Robin Good Trust, spearheaded by Colin Fox and Coleen Poisat. The Trust is responsible for supporting over fifty ministries in the Metropole on a monthly basis.

The Annual Week of Sharing will be held during the week of 15 – 19 November 2004 and this year will be held in partnership with the Churches, the Community Chest of the Nelson Mandela Metropole and a number of prominent national business organizations.

1.4 Family in Crisis
In partnership with FAMSA, Family Transformation International and Transformation NM Bay will be hosting a workshop, led by Drummond Robinson and Erna Jonker, in the City Hall on Friday 15 October 2004, to formulate a Nelson Mandela Bay Marriage and Family Commitment Policy.

1.5 Sexism
Ethel Pittaway, chosen to lead the Sexism Giant, attended the recent “Men, Women and the Church: A biblical approach to relationships” conference held at St Johns College, Durham, England. General Sessions were led by amongst others, Tom Wright, theologian, author and senior research fellow at Tyndale College, Cambridge.

An interim working Committee is already in place and the focus is currently on mobilizing a network of Christian Leaders representing Business, Family, Church and Education to commit to the Sexism Track. This group is currently developing a leaflet to explain sexism and the consequences e.g. abuse against women.

1.6 Racism
The Pastoral Reference Group, comprising key leaders of denominations and city ministries, is meeting regularly to network and develop relationships. This group has identified ten issues in our city related to racism, and at each meeting a prepared paper is presented and debated, with the purpose of developing a greater understanding and closer unity. (The ten issues that are currently being debated are Affirmative Action, Two-worlds, Human Rights Day, Ignorance, Fear, Restitution / Reparation, Reconciliation, Unity, Poverty and the question of “Coloured” people.

2. CITY-WIDE INTERCESSORS:

The City-Wide Intercessors (CWI) is a network of Intercessors that permeates Nelson Mandela Bay. Our goal is to consist of a Congregational Intercessor Co-ordinator, plus a Prayer Team in every Congregation in the Metropole. At the moment, 16 Area Co-ordinators lead weekly or bi-weekly Area Prayer Meetings in various localities. These teams are encouraged to pray for true revival, the salvation of souls and the spiritual, moral and social transformation of the Metropole. All these people are invited to attend monthly Networking, Training and Prayer Breakfasts, which are held in various different church venues throughout Nelson Mandela Bay.

The CWI committee consists of nine people, each with a different portfolio and a different sphere of influence. Weekly Prayer Pointers and Monthly Newsletters contact currently 295 individuals regularly. This interaction among responsible, trusted intercessors is facilitating unity among Churches in the NMM. Through the CWI, many intercessors’ homes have been set up as “Lighthouses of Prayer”. In the Despatch area alone, it has been reported that there are 200 “Lighthouses of Prayer.”

The CWI has also set up a Workplace Intercessors’ Network (WIN). This has been established with the aid of a Christian Businesspersons’ Association. Fifteen Marketplace Intercessors have completed the first (eight week) WIN Training Course, which was guided by CWI. A Youth CWI is also in the process of being established.

3. ADVOCACY GROUP:

Pierre van Wyk has accepted the invitation to establish and co-ordinate advocacy activities in Nelson Mandela Bay.

4. RESEARCH GROUP:

Pierre van Wyk has been appointed to co-ordinate SACLA research on a National basis and will be visiting Stellenbosch University during the week of 05 October 2004.

5. TRACKS:

5.1 Church Leaders and Christian Leaders in Community Transformation

5.1.1 Pastoral Reference Group
The Pastoral Reference Group (PRG) in the Metropole, headed up by Bishop Bethlehem Nopece, is meeting regularly and taking shape. In discussions they are dealing with divisive issues that we face in our country. We salute them for their vulnerability and honesty as they grapple with how to deal with them.

5.1.2 Pastors Prayer Initiative
Transformation: NM Bay along with a “Prayer Pastors’ Initiative”, facilitated a Pastors Prayer Summit on 29 July, with 85 ministers/pastors attending. The Pastors’ Prayer Initiative (a growing group of deeply committed kingdom-minded pastors) continues to meet on a monthly basis to seek God’s face, wait on Him, and strategize for the way forward in reaching our city for Christ. On 12 October this group will be hosting Pastor Aldo Martin of Rosario, Argentina, who has been heading up their local Fraternal and where the city-wide Church has mobilized prayer and action in transforming their communities.

5.1.3 The Global Day of Prayer: Sunday 15 May 2005
It is all systems go for next year! A marketing team has been put together under the leadership of Oswell Ncongo of Radio Kingfisher. The organizing committee should be finalized by Tuesday 26 October 2004. Due to the rotating basis, the above event will be held next year at the Adcock Stadium in Korsten.

5.1.4 Gqebera Project
The extensive networking that has taken place over the last few months in Gqebera is at last bearing fruit. The Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, AFM, Summerstrand Community and several other smaller Churches have joined hands in the above project. During October Dawn Ministries will present a final “GPS Spiritual and Community Needs Survey” workshop to all role players in Gqebera and we hope to launch the project by 01 November 2004.

Also participating in the project is the Pakamisa Trust (which represents a coalition of nine NGOs working together in Gqebera) whose main aim is to fight HIV and Aids, Crime, Violence and Poverty.

The project will be led by Rev Zola Nanana, Rev Richard Gowana and Max Popo.

5.2 Christian Youth Leaders in Schools, Churches, Young Adults Groups, Student Organisations and Leaders in Education

5.2.1 Youth
In August the proposal of a Youth Leadership Network was presented to a dynamic group of young people from across the city. Since then a city-wide database of church and ministry youth leaders, along with JOT teachers, has been established. Our next quarterly youth leadership get-together will take place on Tuesday 09 November 2004 at Sumcay, with the purpose of city-wide networking and training input. It will also be the pre-meet for our regional SACLA “Change Agents” Conference - 18-21 March 2005. We have invited Brian Helsby to lead the discussions at the 9 November meeting. The group has also decided to become involved in the Nelson Mandela Bay (Municipal) Youth Forum.

5.2.2 Education
We are currently updating a detailed database of all the schools in the Metro (+/- 380) and identifying which of these have Christian ministries. “Moms who care” prayer groups are functioning in several schools and we are connecting with these schools. New prayer groups are being established in other schools. A “package” is being developed on how to start a prayer ministry in a school – initially to generally pray for the school, staff and pupils; then gathering intercessors to pray for each standard/class; then motivating godly parents to become involved in the governing bodies; and finally, to influence policy both locally and nationally through an advocacy desk.

5.3 Christian Leaders in Business, Labour (including Agriculture), Politics, Government, Science, Technology & Environment

5.3.1 Business & Labour
Ongoing discussions are taking place with leaders in business, Mike Smith, Peter Booth-Jones and Steve Rowley. Business forums (ICCC) are working through “The Transformed Working Life” manual. Individual businesses are getting intercessors to come alongside them and pray for their company and its employees and to this end. Workplace Intercessors Network (WIN) has been established. Business people are linking up with the SACLA/Transformation process here in Nelson Mandela Bay.

5.3.2 Politics and Government
Fred van der Westhuizen currently meets every Wednesday in the Mayor’s office and prays with the staff.

We have had significant contact with Municipal staff in the Metro structure, and praying Christians in various departments have been identified and are being contacted to form a local government prayer network.

5.4 Christian Leaders in Civil Society, Health, Medicine, Justice - Safety & Security
Deon van Vollenhoven, the liaison person in the metro for the Christian Lawyers Association, is currently assisting us to ensure that we meet all the legislative requirements and the drafting of a constitution for Transformation: Nelson Mandela Bay.

5.5 Christian Leaders in Arts, Entertainment, Media, Sports & Recreation
Transformation Nelson Mandela Bay has its own regular time slot on Radio Kingfisher every Wednesday evening from 18h15 – 18h30. In June Ethel Pittaway spoke on Sexism, in July Shan Fox spoke on Prayer Evangelism and in August Diana Nkesiga spoke on the HIV and Aids Giant. Moira van Rooyen teaches on Intercessory Prayer regularly on Tuesday evenings between 21h30 and 22h30.

PE Churchnet plays a major role in connecting Christians throughout the metropole. It produces a weekly “What’s going on in the Bay”, maintains the Christian Database and maintains Transformation Nelson Mandela Bay and Youth Force websites.

5.6 Christian Leaders in Family and Children's Ministries
Pastors, businesspersons, members of the Justice System and other interested parties are being invited to participate in a workshop to discuss the formulation of a marriage and family commitment policy for Nelson Mandela Bay. The objectives of the workshop are: firstly, to stand together as a united metropole to work out a policy to fight this Giant that threatens to destroy the cement that holds our society together, secondly to adopt a commitment policy and to formulate and implement specific strategies to reduce the breakdown of marriages by 50% in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole.

6. GENERAL:

We are busy drafting a constitution, which will ensure that Transformation: NM Bay meets all the legislative and corporate governance requirements of a Public Benefit Organisation. The two key structures that are being put in place in the Bay are the Pastoral Reference Group (under the Chairmanship of Bishop Bethlehem Nopece) and an Executive Committee (under the interim chairmanship of Bishop Lunga ka Siboto).