A Tribute to The Reverend Shadrack Papane
I have known Reverend Shadrack Kgosimang Papane since I was studying at George Whitefield College in Cape Town in the mid 1990’s. He was the first full time pastor of Emmanuel Church, Rocklands, in Bloemfontein. I was privileged to serve my curacy under his leadership while I was in Qwa Qwa. Rev Papane was a man of integrity, dedicated to his work especially serving his Master faithfully. Our relationship grew further when I re-located to Bloemfontein as his successor. We worked together until his retirement. His friendly face will be missed. He fought the good fight, finished the race, henceforth there is laid up for him the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award him on that Day....!! May his soul rest in peace.
Rev. Peter Thinyane
A Trustworthy Saying
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1vs15)
These words of Paul’s are the first in a series of five so called ‘trustworthy sayings’ which are found in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus (see also 1 Timothy 3vs1, 4vs9, 2 Timothy 2vs11, Titus 3vs8). Each of these ‘sayings’ is trustworthy, that is true and worth believing. And each of them deserves ‘full acceptance’, that is, they should be accepted as true and acted upon not just by some people but by everyone. What are the key truths that all people should believe and act upon according to 1 Timothy 1vs15?
First, there is a key truth about our world and about ourselves. According to Paul, the world in which we live is a fallen world and we are a fallen people. The word that Paul actually uses to describe this state of affairs is the word ‘sin’ – a word that has a variety of meanings in the Bible, depending on the context in which it is used. Here in 1 Timothy 1vs15, the word refers to Paul himself as the most extreme example of a sinner (“the worst of sinners”). Thus to be a sinner is to be what Paul himself was, and in verse 13, he tells us that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and an unbeliever, not with regard to God, but with regard to Jesus Christ. According to these verses then, sin is the refusal to accept that Jesus is indeed God, to stand opposed to Jesus and to refuse to trust in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Paul might have been an extreme example of this, but the sad fact is that every person is by nature exactly the same. By nature we are all ‘sinners’ who stand opposed to Jesus.
Second, there is a key truth about Jesus. Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. We are accustomed to the truth that God so loved the world that He sent His Son into the world (see John 3vs16). But is this verse, Paul tells us that Jesus Himself loved the world enough to “come into the world” to save sinners. The message of Christmas is thus a message both about the love of God the Father and the self-giving love of Jesus the Son. This is further emphasised in verse 14 where Paul speaks about the “grace of our Lord” which was poured out on him abundantly, meaning not the grace of God the Father (though He is full of grace), but the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Third, there is a key truth about Jesus’ mission. Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. Over the centuries, people have always tried to redefine the mission and purpose of Jesus according to their own agenda. Jesus has been presented as an insightful prophet, a social reformer, a political liberator, a moral example and a wise teacher to mention just a few. But by His own definition Jesus was and is supremely a Saviour, not of the self-righteous but of sinners. This is of course abundantly clear from the Gospels where Jesus says of Himself that he came “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” and to “to seek and to save the lost” (see Luke 5vs32, 19vs10). In 1 Timothy 1vs15, Paul echoes Jesus’ own teaching when he says that Jesus came to save sinners. Later on in the letter, again echoing Jesus’ teaching, Paul reminds his readers that Jesus saves sinners on the basis of what He has done for them when he “gave himself as a ransom for all men” by dying on the cross (1 Timothy 2vs6). Sinners are thus not saved by changing themselves into better people. They are saved by being ransomed by the death of Jesus. That is why the right response to Jesus is not a decision to imitate His life or to follow His teaching, but rather to trust in His saving work and to depend on Him for our salvation.
According to 1 Timothy 1vs15, it is a trustworthy saying that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. This saying is true and it should be believed and acted upon by everyone. Put in slightly different terms, Paul is thus reminding us that the message of Christmas is a message about Jesus and a message about ourselves. It is also a message for the world! Christmas should remind us that we are sinners – and it is worth accepting that diagnosis of ourselves no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel. But Christmas also reminds us that Jesus is a gracious, powerful and willing saviour. He came into the world with the ability and the deep desire to save us. And save us He will if we are willing to face the truth about our sinfulness and to put or trust in Him.
Written by Mervyn Eloff
4 New Ideas for Congregational Songs during Christmas
Nils Holmgren shares some ideas for new songs from the Sovereign Grace album Prepare Him Room that churches can learn and use during the Christmas season.
Who Would have Dreamed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sqx8cDL8V8
Who is Mighty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPvMJB--R4
PrepareHim Room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egjsEQ6zKpA&index=4&list=PLYdnaVTk3ydF0hZ8atTazcmp8fIWXYOkY
God made Low
http://sovereigngracemusic.org/Songs/God_Made_Low/40
Soul Idols
The temple of Artemis in ancient Ephesus was truly spectacular. It was roughly the size of Newlands Rugby Stadium, with over a hundred columns (sixteen stories high) and huge statues of Artemis, the pagan goddess of fertility. Much of Ephesian city life revolved around the temple and a profitable industry had emerged in the selling of silver artifacts and curios to the multitudes who came to worship.
In Acts ch.19, Demetrius (one of the leading silversmiths) speaks out against the Apostle Paul and the negative impact his ministry is having on business: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.” (Acts 19:25-26)
Sometimes it’s the opponents who give the best summaries of Christian teaching![1] But it’s also pretty clear that Demetrius was more concerned about his personal prosperity, than his goddess of fertility. Money, status and power were the real idols in his life.
Modern day Cape Town doesn’t have a massive temple to a pagan goddess but, just like Demetrius, we will be drawn to worship a variety of idols. These wont be made of wood or stone. They will be what the Puritans called “soul idols”:“No man can serve two masters…when you are more careful and industrious to please men, or yourselves, than to please God; to provide for yourselves and posterity, than to be serviceable unto God; more careful what you shall eat, drink, or wherewith be clothed, than how you may honour and enjoy God….more industrious to promote your own interests, than the designs of God; ….rise early, go to bed late, eat the bread of carefulness, that your outward estate may prosper, while the cause, and ways, and interests of Christ have few or none of your endeavors, this is to idolize the world, yourselves, your lusts, your relations, while the God of heaven is neglected, and the worship and service due unto him alone is hereby idolatrously given to other things.” [2]
So, when your mind and heart is really set on something other than God; when anything is more valued; anything is more trusted; anything is more loved than God, you’re dealing with a soul idol. How then can we identify our own personal soul idols? Here are a few questions you can ask yourself [3]:
- What do you daydream about? I don’t mean once or twice. I mean the things you habitually think about when you are on your own. The things which bring joy and comfort to your heart. Archbishop William Temple said: “Your religion is what you do with your solitude.” Think about what your thoughts turn to, effortlessly, when there is nothing else demanding your attention. That’s one way of identifying idols.
- How do you spend your money most easily? Jesus said: “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.” (Matt 6:21). Money, in and of itself, is sometimes an idol. But people usually desire money so that they can fuel some other type of soul idolatry. So look to where the money is flowing to discover idols. It could be you discover that some good things (like family, personal security, leisure activities) have started to become the dominant thing in your life. “Your money flows most effortlessly toward your heart’s greatest love.”[4]
- What makes you most angry? A fisherman looking for fish seeks out movement on the surface of the water. In your search for idols, think about the things that move you the most and which provoke the most painful, out-of-control emotions.
Those three questions may be the beginning of a very healthy spiritual self-diagnosis. But once you’ve done that, how do you defeat these soul idols? Are you willing to leave them as they are? Imagine being told that an intruder was in your house, robbing you of your possessions and threatening your family. Would you take action or just roll over and go to sleep, hoping things will be OK? Soul idols will rob you of your joy and threaten your eternity. Take action!
What will be the key weapon in this struggle? In short, we fight idols by building a bigger and bolder love for Jesus Christ. The old Scottish preacher Thomas Chalmers[5] wrote a famous essay called: “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”. The title says it all: the one who cultivates a new and greater affection, desire, love for Jesus, will expel the idols of the soul: “Let us try every legitimate method of finding access to your hearts for the love of Him who is greater than the world. For this purpose, let us, if possible, clear away that shroud of unbelief which so hides and darkens the face of the Deity. Let us insist on His claims to your affection - and whether in the shape of gratitude, or in the shape of esteem, let us never cease to affirm, that in the whole of that wondrous economy, the purpose of which is to reclaim a sinful world unto Himself - he, the God of love, so sets Himself forth in characters of endearment, that nought but faith, and nought but understanding, are wanting, on your part, to call forth the love of your hearts back again.”
It seems that, over the years, the Ephesian church lost sight of this. The same church that Paul planted in that city; the same church which had heard him preach so powerfully against idolatry was later addressed by the Lord Jesus in the first of seven letters to the churches, in the Book of Revelation: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2:4-5
They had “forsaken” their first love: Jesus. How are you growing in your love for Jesus? Pray that you never forsake this love. Pray that your love and affection for Him grow so that you can expel the idols of your soul.
Written by Murray Anderson
[1] See also Acts 17:7
[2] David Clarkson (b.1622) from his powerful essay “Soul Idolatry Excludes men out of Heaven”. You can download the essay here: http://tonyreinke.com/2009/04/24/david-clarkson-soul-idolatry-excludes-men-out-of-heaven/
[3] For more detail see also Tim Keller’s excellent book: “Counterfeit Gods” (Hodder & Stoughton, 2009)
[4] Tim Keller: Counterfeit Gods, p168.
[5] b.1780
Glenn Lyons appointed as Chairman of REACH-SA Leadership Committee
Dear Brothers
Warmest greetings to you all on behalf of the REACH SA leadership committee. A month ago I would certainly not have imagined I’d be writing to you all in my new capacity as chairman of the committee but I’m strengthened by the knowledge that Christ is and always will be the true Head of the Church. We were certainly sad to hear that Bishop Des had to step down early but we are very grateful for his leadership through a short but significant time in our denomination’s history.
In God’s providence we now have seven bishops, along with our Administrator and Chancellor, who will share the responsibility of leadership both regionally and nationally.
I am very glad to report that our first committee meeting was most encouraging and I was impressed by the spirit of unity and ministry mindedness in our discussions.
Naturally there will be changes to our leadership structure and responsibilities. The bishops are all rectors of local churches and this will demand a more devolved and shared responsibility. At the same time, we are aware of the need for us to provide the ongoing leadership, vision and encouragement to all our fellow workers in Gospel ministry. We hope to keep you all updated through the various regional structures as well as regular postings on our website (www.cesa.org.za) and the various social media networks.
Finally, I wish to share three thoughts that are uppermost in my mind at the moment.
Praying: Are the current challenges and difficulties in our country causing many to lose heart? My counselling sessions have definitely increased this year. I also know a number of our brothers in the ministry are grieving the loss of loved ones or struggling with local church troubles. Is it not a time for us to be calling our congregations together for focused prayer as we seek God’s help in sustaining the saints and saving the lost?
Preaching: In difficult times there is always a subtle temptation to focus on more "practical” and "results” orientated solutions. We can easily find ourselves trying more ‘quick fixes’ to keep our people happy and regular. Remember that bran keeps people happy and regular but Gospel preaching keeps people from the gates of hell. Let’s keep the hours spent in preparing and preaching of the Word our weekly priority.
Training: A number of us are desperate for extra staff but lack the finances. Ephesians 4 is clear that we are called to equip the saints. Many of us may be missing the goldmine of help that sits silently in our pews. Let’s think about more ways in which we can recruit and equip ‘volunteers’ to help carry the ministry load in the local church. I can also highly recommend GWC’s revised correspondence course material as a valuable tool for training.
I’m very grateful to so many colleagues who have called or emailed me with warm words of encouragement and prayer. I’m so conscious of my weakness and grateful for God’s grace in enabling me to serve His people in this way.
May our God continue to fill us with His Spirit as we trust in Him and continue the glorious struggle of gospel ministry.
Every blessing to you all and may God give us much fruit in the coming Christmas season.
Presiding Bishop of REACH-South Africa Retires
At the REACH-South Africa Annual Synod this past week (2-4th September, 2014), the Presiding Bishop, Desmond Inglesby announced his early retirement due to medical reasons.
This was what he said in his Presiding Bishop’s Charge:
"It is with great sadness that I need to inform you that, for medical reasons, I have decided to retire early. This means that I will be stepping down as Presiding Bishop with effect from the end of September. Unless the Lord had intervened, this decision was inevitable - but it has come sooner than I had hoped or anticipated. It was always my intention, God willing, to complete at least 5 years of my tenure, but that was not to be!!
Over the past few years my physical condition has deteriorated quite rapidly and significantly. I have made my decision on the advice of Medical specialists, and I believe it is the right thing for me to do. The physical demands required for fulfilling my role have become too much for me.
I have thoroughly enjoyed being a local church Minister, an Area Bishop and for the past 4 years, the Presiding Bishop. It has been a great joy and a huge honour and privilege to have served in these roles in REACH - South Africa.
Reaching this decision has not been easy. I have agonized and prayed over having to step down before my tenure was over, conscious that I may be “letting the side down”. The reality is - I am no longer physically able to fulfill my role in the way I believe it should be done. Although I am disappointed, I am also content with God’s will for my life. I've been blessed with a rich, full and happy life in Christian Ministry, and although I may be stepping down from full time paid ministry, I look forward to continued involvement in a retired capacity.
Of course, I regret that I haven't been able to do more, and I am acutely aware of my own unworthiness to have been granted such a great honour. I also realise that what I have done has been marked by my own sinfulness, frailty and imperfection. I'm grateful that our God is a merciful God.
With Jeremiah, and to the best of my knowledge, I hope I can say 'I have not run away from being your shepherd; nor have I desired the day of sickness. You know what came out of my lips; it was before your face' (ESV Jeremiah 17:16).
Jenny and I want to thank you for your partnership and the incredible support you have given us during my time in office. I especially want to thank the Clergy, the Executive and Trustees for their constant encouragement and affirmation of my role as Presiding Bishop. It has been an incredible experience, and I will always cherish it in my heart.
We want to assure you of our ongoing prayers for REACH-South Africa and for those who will lead our Denomination in the coming years"
Is the world officially out of control?
You probably have watched the news this week and seen the aeroplane crashes, the storms, the violent invasions, the violence, the sorrow and all the pain – and thought to yourself – the world is officially out of control. The Bible, however, tells us that the world is, for the record, not out of control; but continually being governed and directed by a sovereign God.
Lord of all
When we speak of God’s “sovereignty”, theologians also use the word “providence”. “Sovereign” means absolute ruler or someone possessing supreme or ultimate power. This is of course true of God – that’s why we call him “God”. By the term “providence”, we mean that because God is absolute ruler, he preserves and governs everything in the universe as well – including your life and circumstances.
Westminster Confession of Faith
I like the definition of providence in the Westminster Confession. Paragraph one reads:
“God the great Creator of all things does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible (without fault) foreknowledge and the free and immutable (unchanging) counsel of his own will…”
Paragraph seven goes on to say:
“As the providence of God does, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it takes care of his church (Christian people), and disposes all things to the good thereof.”
Holy Scriptures
This is how the Bible puts it:
Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm 115:6)
He (Jesus) upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28)
God is sovereign over all he created. God works all things together (including sinful things, evil things and wicked things) for the good of his people. Conversely, if you are not a Christian, i.e. you have not put your confidence in Christ to save you, God is not working for your good.
Popular worldviews
The truth of the sovereignty and providence of God goes against very popular worldviews:
Deism says God or a “Higher Being” created the world then abandoned it. “God” has nothing to do with the ongoing governing of the universe.
Pantheism says the universe is part of God and we are all god.
Evolutionary theory says we are masters of our own destiny in the struggle for survival and life is ruled mostly by random chance
Impersonal fate says the universe has determined my fate already and there’s nothing I can do to change it.
In contrast to all the above worldviews, the Bible teaches that God is distinct from his creation, has not abandoned it, and is providentially, carefully and consciously ruling over all things – while we are still responsible for our actions.
Joseph’s amazing technicolour dreamcoat
From the account in Genesis of Jacob’s son, Joseph, we see the practical out working of God’s providential care of his people. Joseph was born into a highly dysfunctional family, wickedly sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongfully accused of rape by his master’s wife and then thrown into an Egyptian prison. All through these account we read that the “Lord was with Joseph”. In prison he interprets dreams for Pharaoh’s imprisoned butler and baker and, as a result, ends up interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams. Pharaoh’s dreams indicate that there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of drought and famine. Pharaoh is impressed and makes Joseph prime minister. Joseph in turn begins storing food and when the famine finally arrives, who should arrive in Egypt looking for food but Joseph’s brothers who had sinfully sold him into slavery many years before. Joseph’s words to his brothers show us how God’s providence works:
So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:4-5)
No such thing as coincidence
Joseph’s up and downs were not fate, luck, or chance, but God’s governing, directing and overruling of all things to achieve his good purposes. V5 says “you sold me here”, but at the same time, Joseph says, “God sent me before you” (v5). The same sinful event of selling a brother into slavery is seen in the larger scheme of things as God sending Joseph to Egypt. God “sent” Joseph to Egypt in order to be bought by Potiphar, in order to be falsely accused by his wife, in order to be thrown into prison, in order to interpret the dreams of his fellow inmates, in order to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, in order to become prime minister and collect food, in order to save the Israelite nation – from which Jesus would be born.
The truth about life
God ordains events, circumstances, illnesses, joys, promotions, retrenchments, trouble and all things to achieve his good purposes in the world. Joseph goes on to say:
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:7-8)
God overrules human deeds, whether good or evil, to achieve his saving and good purposes. God is sovereignly orchestrating every event in all human history. No-one and nothing escapes God’s sovereignty; not sin, not slavery, not dreams, not pharaohs, not wars, not plane crashes, not disasters, not ISIS invasions, not retrenchments, and not cancer. For the Christian it is great comfort to know that God is working all these things for the good of his people.
God is not the author of sin
It is important to remember that God is never the author of sin or evil. All people will stand accountable to God and responsible before God for their sinful deeds and evil practises. On the great Day of Judgment nobody can say, “God (or the devil) forced me to do it.” But God can and does use even sinful deeds and evil practises to achieve his good purposes.
The killing of Jesus
The classic example of God using evil for good is the killing of Jesus. The killing of Jesus was a sinful, wicked, evil deed; yet God used that deed for ultimate good – the forgiveness of sin and the assurance of life for all God’s people.
My car “accident”
Friday 5 October 1985 changed many lives. In 1985 I was 10 years old and went ice-skating with our church’s youth group. We were driving home in convoy after a fun-filled evening and my uncle was driving the bakkie (a small pick-up) I was in. On the front seat with him were three children. I was in the back of the bakkie with four other children all between the ages of 10 – 13. It was about 10:30pm and we were driving on the national road just outside Paarl. A drunken driver in front of us did a U-turn on the dual carriage highway and collided with us head-on. Everyone on the front seat died instantly. The bakkie’s canopy was thrown aside and all of us in the back were thrown onto the national road in front of oncoming, speeding cars. Yet, in the providence of God, the first car to arrive on the scene (the car travelling right behind us), was an off-duty traffic officer. He was able to secure the scene and call for medical help. I was unconscious for two days, but after excellent medical care, God’s goodness and my parent’s perseverance, I was able to make a full recovery. God called my uncle and three children to glory that night. Another boy was paralysed from the waist down. Yet, even in that “accident” (as we often refer to it) God was providentially overruling, directing and caring. I certainly do not know if I would even be a Christian today if that so-called “accident” had not happened.
Our crazy world?
The world is not out of control. God is orchestrating all things according to his good purposes. Atrocities and great evils are being committed – possibly in your own personal history too. Please know that no-one will escape God’s judgement and all will stand accountable before God for their sins. However, the account of Joseph and the death of Jesus, show us that God can and will use even great evil for even greater good.
The world is officially in control.
Andre Visagie
Christ Church Tygerberg
Compassion...Prayer...Evangelism
There’s an old story about two shoe salesmen who travelled to a third world country in the early 1950’s, in search of new business opportunities. One man called his head office the moment he landed, telling them, “I’m coming back home. There’s no hope here. Nobody here is wearing shoes, so there’s no one to sell to.” He boarded the next flight home. But the second man called head office saying, “You wouldn't believe what I found here. There is so much opportunity. No one here is wearing shoes. I can sell to the whole country!”
A 2012 poll indicated that the number of South Africans who “consider themselves religious” decreased from 83% of the population in 2005, to 64% of the population in 2012. Given that, in 2001, 80% of our population claimed to be Christian, we can assume that the 2012 stats represent a significant decline in the number of professing Christians in South Africa.
No doubt, there are plenty of flaws and superficialities with these kinds of statistics, but I wasn’t surprised by the overall trend. We can even assume that the percentage of genuine believers is far lower. Our country and our community has changed. Fewer and fewer people are being exposed to the gospel and to Bible teaching as they grow up. Fewer and fewer people are becoming Christians. Other societies (especially in the West) have been through very similar changes over the last fifty years.
So, how should we respond as Christians? Historically, churches have responded by being, at times, pessimistic about the power of the gospel; at times unwilling to assess their own culpability in the decline and, at times, downright apathetic about trying to reverse the trend.
We could, instead, learn a thing or two from the attitude of the second shoe salesman, above: there is a massive opportunity to take the gospel to people who desperately need to hear it!
But, even better, lets consider the attitude of Jesus Christ when he was confronted by thousands of unsaved people: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36)
When Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on them. The original word means: to have a very deep, emotional response. We might say that when he saw the crowds he was gutted for them. Why? Because they were “like sheep without a shepherd”.
That’s how Jesus felt. How do you feel when confronted by people who are critical of the church, mocking of the Bible and apathetic about anything Christian? Hurtful as these attitudes are we need to remember that they come from those who are lost, like sheep without a shepherd. And so, our underlying emotional response should be one of compassion. Heaven forbid, we ever feel self-righteousness or bitterness, for we know that we too were once lost and that it was only by grace that the Shepherd brought us into his fold.
In Matthew 9:37-8 we see that Jesus moved beyond feelings to action, and his first action, importantly, was a call to prayer: “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
We have a massive and wonderful opportunity for harvest and we need to be depending on God to provide all we need for that. As a church, lets always be praying for the lost, asking God to keep on drawing people into his Kingdom through the work Gospel-teaching churches throughout our country.
Jesus felt a deep compassion for the lost, he prayed for God’s provision in reaching the lost, and then he actually sent the disciples out. Their first mission (Matt 10:1ff) is a foreshadowing of what would happen on a far larger scale once Jesus had ascended and the Holy Spirit had been sent (see Acts 1:8). As Jesus’ disciples today, we are called to the same mission. We too have the Holy Spirit to sustain and guide us. We too are sent out into our community, country and world to spread the good news of a compassionate, saving God.
Some of us do that as full-time church workers, some of us do that as missionaries in the field, but the great thing is that everyone can be involved in this mission, regardless of their careers, stage of life or family situation. This mission can be on our minds in all the day-to-day interactions we have with people in our lives. Consider Paul’s words to the Colossians: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”(Colossians 4:5-6)
Paul called on Christians to be wise in their conduct towards unbelievers and to be alert to any kind of opportunity for gospel witness or gospel explanation.
Consider this perspective, from CS Lewis, on the importance of every contact we have with unbelievers: “The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations---these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit---immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.”[1]
So, as we survey our changing society and all the challenges posed, lets respond with compassion, expressed in humble prayer and godly evangelism.
Written by Murray Anderson, St Peters Fish Hoek
[1] From “The Weight of Glory” (1949)
Bishop Edwin Mgcineni Ngubane
Bishop Edwin Mgcineni Ngubane was consecrated as a Gauteng Area Bishop in REACH-SA in 2010. His ministry amongst the ministers and ministry workers in that Province has been well-received, and has born much fruit over the past 4 years.
After suffering a number of strokes the Lord saw fit to call Edwin home on Sunday 29th June, 2014 at 21:00
His Memorial Service was held at Christ Church, Midrand on Saturday 5th July 2014. The church was packed with family and friends and REACH-SA ministry colleagues.
The service was led by Rev Don Kirkwood, the Rector of St Paul’s Church Pretoria. Edwin was ordained while working at Christ Church Pretoria under Don’s Rectorship. Don has continued to be a good friend to Edwin and Genevieve over the years.
Eulogies were given by Rev Njabulo Mazibuko and Rev Bryan Haigh, his REACH-SA colleagues and friends, Rev Siegfried Ngubane, the SA SIM Director and family member, Rev Nat Schluter, the Principal of JBC (Johannesburg Bible College) and good friend of Edwin and Genevieve and Bishop Martin Morrison, who together with Bishop Edwin is a REACH-SA Gauteng Area Bishop. Rev Andries Tsehle, lecturer at JBC spoke on behalf of the congregation and Church Council of Christ Church Hillbrow, where Bishop Edwin was currently ministering. Without exception, each of these folk made mention of Edwin’s sense of humour, his zeal in serving the Lord and His people, and his fierce loyalty and commitment to REACH-SA, the denomination which he loved to be part of.
Bishop Desmond Inglesby, the Presiding Bishop of REACH-SA, preached from 2 Cor 5:1-10 “What happens when a believer dies” (Dismantling his tent; covering his nakedness; coming of age; and arriving home).
Bishop Edwin died at 41 years of age, and he left his wife, Genevieve and their 2 young children, Stephanie (age 7) and Langa (age 5). Genevieve has been a great support and encouragement to Edwin in his ministry, especially in his role as Area Bishop, even though it took him away from home for periods of time. His death is a great loss to his family and friends, and to our REACH-SA denomination.