Newsletter

Bishop's Post August / September 2018

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord ... I give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29;11) Church towards 2030“

This will be the topic of the General Pastor´s convention taking place in the last week of August. Whereas in many things we plan ahead, in Church matters we often only react, many times when it is too late.
When we meet as pastors we will look at facts, logical conclusions and predictions made by researchers. A lot will change in the next 12 years, and we as Church need to be prepared and ready to act, rather than to react when it is too late.
Apart from looking at what researches predict, this also means spending time in prayer, asking the Lord for his opinion and views on these matters. It also involves deliberation, debate and Bible Study.
The continuous readings in September are from the prophets Habakuk and Zephaniah. Both are faced with a situation that they warn about the road ahead to prepare the people, and then find that the people ignore their findings. The prophets were people with open eyes and ears - to God, but also to the events around them. Their warnings were based on facts and logical conclusions.
The New Testament readings from the Bible Reading Plan show us how Paul and others dealt with challenges and prepared the congregations to move forward. The passages from John 8-10 contain powerful words of Jesus that encourage us and show us that HE is in control! You will read the wonderful verses where he says: I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep!

Church towards 2030 - may we move forward with open ears, eyes, a willingness to change where change is needed, to be firm where the faith or gospel is challenged, to be confident, because we have a Lord who gives us hope and a future!

News from the Church

1. Every thing is on track for the arrival of Pastor Nicole Otte-Kempf at Johannesgemeinde. The induction is planned for 2 September 2018.
2. Pastor Dieter Klee is relocating to Kempton Park on 1 September. The date of his induction will be announced. We thank Pastor em. Andreas Wernecke for taking care of the congregation till the end of July 2018. His farewell there was on 29 July.
3. Please pray for the Pastors convention that takes place from 27 - 31 August at Lumko in Benoni with the topic "Church towards 2030".
4. We thank Northrand and Church of Peace for co-hosting a wonderful Brass Festival. Attendance of worshippers is showing a good increase.
The next Festival will take place in 2020 at the newly established United Lutheran Congregation in Wartburg.
5. Now that Stellenbosch University has been identified as our preferred institution for studying theology young people are invited to contact their pastor if they wish to study towards the ministry. UELCSA does offer a bursary. Please also keep in your prayer that the Lord will call and the called will hear!
6. Sunday services have commenced in Shaka´s Rock and Durban North. Please pray for this new venture, pastor Ron Küsel, and all those involved. May a strong team develop to drive this work to the glory of the Lord and the building of His kingdom!
7. eQuip VI takes place from 2-6 January 2019 in Hermannsburg. Details will be sent out in August.
8. "Haus Kandaze" is a holiday house in Shelly Beach on the South Coast, which was purchased by ELCSA (N-T) from the Hermannsburg Mission in 1993. It will now be sold due to low rental income and high maintenance costs.
9. The date for our next Synod has been set for 10-13 October 2019. Please take note of this when drawing up your calendar for next year.

Bishop's Post August / September 2018

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