Youth Day Statement - 2020
On this Youth Day, 2020, REACH-South Africa remembers and mourns for the many young people who lost their lives in the struggle against Apartheid. As we pause to remember our painful past, we are also grieved at the many divisions that still exist in our society today. The current focus on racial injustices in the USA has echoed around the world and reminds us again of the many prejudices that remain entrenched in our society and ultimately, in our hearts.
As we remember the terrible legacy of our Apartheid past, we also confess that our own denomination bears the guilt of silence over many years when we should have made our voice heard. We commit again to ongoing prayerful reflection, dialogue and reformation in our quest to rightly reflect Christ’s united church in Africa.
We affirm that the gospel of reconciliation to God in Christ must also work itself out in reconciliation with each other. This includes caring for the poor and marginalized, standing against injustice and working for a better society. For God’s people, there can be no personal piety without public Christianity. To disregard the suffering and pain of any human being is a failure to live out God’s will for the lives of His people. This is true whether we speak of racial injustice, the abuse of women and children, the killing of unborn babies and the elderly or whatever sins might be dominant in a society.
We pray for our country and ask that God would show mercy to her people over this time of crisis. We ask God to give our leaders wisdom and courage to lead rightly and justly. We pray for Christ’s church in South Africa, that we would be bold not just in proclaiming the gospel but also in living it out. May God’s people set the example in showing Biblical reconciliation, restitution and justice in our land.
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
The Bishops of REACH-South Africa
Youth Day 2020
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 ESV)
Public Statement Concerning Easing Restrictions of Worship Gatherings
REACH-SA welcomes the President's recent affirmation of the role of the faith community in South Africa. We also welcome the recognition of ministers as essential service workers.
REACH-SA wholeheartedly supports the call to a National Day of Prayer on Sunday 31 May.
We also note the easing of restrictions with regards to worship gatherings and recognize that this concession puts significant responsibility into the hands of church leaders.
The Bishops and senior leaders of the denomination have taken a number of concerns into account:
- The current rise in infections, which will potentially increase over this winter period.
- The limitations on numbers (50 or less) as well as risk group restrictions means that manymembers will still not be able to attend worship services.
- Home based meetings also remain off-limits due to prohibition of social gatherings. (Weawait further clarity on weddings and special services.)
- The disinfection and social distancing protocols will have cost and management challengesas well as putting significant limits on fellowship and worship.
The Bishops and senior leadership of REACH-SA are convinced that the current risk factors still outweigh the benefits of limited public gatherings. We therefore do not support a return to public gatherings at this stage. We appeal to all our churches to forego this small freedom in the short term out of loving concern for the lives of others.
We are conscious that all our churches, particularly those in poorer and rural communities, have been significantly affected during this lockdown period. The Presiding Bishop's Recovery Fund aims to help support these struggling churches over this crisis time and we are grateful for several generous donations.
We call on all our members to join the National Day of Prayer on 31 May 2020 (Pentecost) and we look forward to the day when God's people can gather without restriction and declare God's praises together."
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance" 2 Thess. 3:5
Ascension Day Message and Prayer Guide
To listen to an audio only version of this message click here
To view or download the Prayer Guide click here
Ascension Day 2020 - Prayer Guide
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. When he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:8,9
Ascension Day Prayer
Almighty God, grant that as we believe your only begotten Son to have ascended into heaven, so may we also in heart and mind there ascend, and with Him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Let us pray in the light of these great Ascension truths:
Access to the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:14-16)
The Ascension of King Jesus assures us that Christ has fulfilled His High Priestly role of offering an acceptable and complete sacrifice for our sin. We can now speak to God because of Jesus, who stands as our permanent priest (mediator) before the Father (Heb.7:25).
Spend some time giving thanks and praise to God for King Jesus.
Rejoice, the Lord is King,
Your Lord and King adore:
Mortals give thanks and sing
And triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice. – Charles Wesley
Come before the Lord confessing sin. Perhaps sinful habits have re-emerged during this lockdown time. Call on God for forgiveness and strength to repent. Ask God for discipline to persevere in spiritual disciplines during this time of isolation.
The Extension of Christ’s Kingdom (Acts 1:8)
The ascension of Christ to heaven’s throne is the transition between Christ’s ministry to his disciples on earth and Christ’s ministry through his disciples by His Holy Spirit. We are now empowered to be Christ’s witnesses to all the nations as we take the gospel to the lost.
This lockdown time has presented many challenges to gospel mission. Much prayer and wisdom is needed in how we make progress in proclaiming Christ over this time.
- Pray for the Government. That God would give them wisdom and unity in enacting and enforcing proper regulations that help to preserve life and economy over this pandemic period.
- Pray for mission. Lift up missionaries you support to the Lord. Pray also for your local church pastor and ministry team as they plan outreach in new ways. They all face many new challenges over this time. Pray that the Lord’s people will continue to partner with them in the work of the gospel.
- Pray for the witness of God’s people in your local church. Lockdown stress and financial uncertainty can lead to frayed nerves and emotional swings. Let’s confess those realities to the Lord and pray that He will strengthen us through the trial and enable us to bear witness to Christ in the crisis.
- Pray for the lost. Lift up those you know, families, neighbours, colleagues who are trying to cope without hope in Christ. Ask the Lord to open their eyes to Jesus.
The Ministry of the Church (Eph.4:8-13)
Ascension Day leads to Pentecost where Christ pours out His Holy Spirit on His church. Christ’s ministry on earth continues through us as we seek to make disciples among all the nations. In that, Christ gifts His church with the tools for ministry. The Holy Spirit endows different spiritual gifts upon the church for the purpose of maturing God’s people in Christ.
“But to each of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to people [Ps.68:18]…
It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph.4:8,9,11,12)
- Pray for God’s people to think creatively about putting their various gifts into practice as they serve one another in this lockdown environment.
- Pray for partnerships between local churches to be strengthened so that we are able to unite in caring for the poor and struggling in our communities.
- Pray that God will work in the hearts of His people to address the challenges in our widespread communities. To engage with Government, to address injustices, to care for the poor, to help the sick, to comfort the grieving.
- Pray for the many ministries to the hungry and homeless (many are run through our local churches). Pray for generosity by donors and wise management by the ministry leaders.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph.3:20,21)
Are you in for Ascension Day?
REACH-SA's Annual Day of Prayer happens this Ascension Day, Thursday 21 May 2020.
Look out for a message from the Presiding Bishop as well as prayer guides through your local churches.
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom.12:12)
A Message to the REACH churches
Let’s partner to help our struggling local churches get through this crisis.
Support the Presiding Bishop’s Recovery Fund
Banking Details
Bank: ABSA
Name: Church of England in South Africa
Branch: 632005
Account: 4093108845
Ref: Recovery Fund
www.presidingbishop.co.za
www.reachsa.org.za
Statement from REACH-South Africa
May 5th, 2020
As we enter the second month of lockdown, we commend our churches for their selfless response to the COVID19 crisis. There are many reports of generosity and kindness being shown between our church communities. We give thanks to God for such acts of love expressed in the midst of great hardship.
We also call on all our members to continue to adhere to the stage 4 regulations and maintain safe hygiene practices. We also advise caution with regard to the many conspiracy theories and rumours that are circulating on social media.
REACH-SA is also not remaining silent nor are we deaf to legitimate concerns. In partnership with other church leaders, we are engaging the government with regard to the application of certain restrictions. We are also proposing amendments to regulations that will still ensure the safety of people but also allow for a more measured restoration of public meetings. We hope for a response soon.
Going forward:
- Keep praying (1 Tim 2:1-4). Pray for our leaders to make wise and right decisions. Pray for the many who are struggling with reduced income and the resulting food and financial shortages.
- Keep on caring. Help with your local church food collections, job networks, and other initiatives. This is not an optional extra, this is what Christians do (James 2:14-17).
- Keep up your financial commitments (Romans 13:8). This includes your local church. If you are able, please also consider contributing to the Presiding Bishop’s Recovery Fund.