Newsletter

Bishop's Post October / November 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“

Chaos! The value of the Rand is plummeting. Political parties are in a mess. Land reform uncertainty causes havoc. “Abandon ship” some are calling, and many are seriously considering to do so.
“Are you planning to emigrate?” “No,” comes the reply of a young father. “Our calling here as Christians is not finished yet!”

I shared about the upcoming Pastor´s convention in the previous Bishop´s Post. When our pastors met in August, we discussed the way forward of our Church.
There are many challenges, enormous challenges, awaiting us. The text from Jeremiah gave us direction. It was written to the Jews who had just been deported to Babylon. Everything seemed lost. “No” - says God. “I have plans, plans to give you hope and a future!”

In our Bible Studies and deliberations we became aware that time and again, when people are at wit´s end, God really gets going! When, for instance, Peter and John are without a coin to help a beggar, he gets healed in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 3)
When we run out of ideas and solutions - that is when God´s invitation is best heard: Look at me! I have plans for you, I give you hope and a future!
These difficult times are an opportunity for the Lord to steer us into directions that we did not see before.
And so, the biggest, most important task for us to do, is to ask Him: Lord, what do you have in mind! Lord, help us to dare to follow you!
Yes - times are indeed chaotic, political solutions are fragile, dangerous or even disastrous. But we have a Lord who has plans, who has a way forward. We live in a country where by far the largest majority looks to this Lord for help. How wonderful will it be, if we dare to listen and do what he tells us to do!

News from the Church

1. On 2 September Pastor Nicole Otte-Kempf was inducted at the Johannes Congregation in Pretoria East and on 23 September Pastor Dieter Klee was inducted at the Kempton Park Congregation.
We pray that the families will settle in soon. May God bless their journey with their congregations.

2. Jan Duvenhage and Randolph Kassier, together with Christoph Höcht are preparing for their second theological Examination on 25 October. Please keep them in your prayers!

3. In November Bishop Müller will be attending the Synod of the VELKD(Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands) and EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland). With the change of staff members there, and after the visit by the Council of the EKD to South Africa in March this year, it is to strengthen the relationships.

Bishop's Post October / November 2018

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