In this Issue…
1. School Outreach in Ethiopia
Pupils of a government school in Addis Ababa are participating in a puzzle-building competition during a LHM School Outreach.
For a free copy of the “Puzzle Club” puzzle, call Desmond Kaas at (011) 791 1661 during office hours.
During the Director’s Conference of the Africa and Middle East Region, the LHM Directors of Lebanon, Malawi and South Africa were invited to accompany LHM-Ethiopia on a School Outreach. More than 850 pupils from a government school in Addis Ababa climbed half-way up a mountain to spend the school day watching gymnasts, taking part in competitions, listening to the LHM choir and hearing the Gospel presented to them.
2. New Direction Confirmed
Lutheran Hour Ministries is known as a Mass Media Ministry, proclaiming the Gospel to the Nation. So what is new? The New Direction involves offering workshops and training to congregations in what is called “ENGAGE – EQUIP – PROCLAIM”, or in short, EEP. At the EEP workshops lay people are equipped and mobilized to serve their congregations and communities.
Dr Menkir Esayas, Area Counselor for Africa and the Middle East, introduced the EEP workshop to the Directors at the recent Conference in Addis Ababa attended by 11 National Directors.
This New Direction will be presented in a workshop to the LHM-SA Board, staff, volunteers and any interested persons on the 21st May, 9am to 5pm at the English Lutheran Fellowship in Ferndale, Randburg.
Interested to attend? Please call Christel Scharlach at (011) 791-1661
As a young person I was impressed with the example of Mathilda Vrede and Elsa Brandstroem, who had spent their youth serving prisoners. Later I read biographies of people who had to spend many years of their lives in concentration camps and prisons, because they chose to believe in Jesus Christ. Their names accompany my life: Marie Durand, Hanna Harms, Gerty Fischer, Sabine Wurmbrand, as well as the Girl’s Orchestra in Auschwitz. Those are a few women, amongst many nameless ones, who were thrown into prison arbitrarily, because of hatred and jealousy – as Josef, the son of Jacob was in Egypt.
The prisons I had read about were different to Diepkloof. We also had to wait for many doors to be unlocked for us by door guards and once we had to produce identification documents. The premise is relatively well maintained, with barbed-wired fences and burglar-guarded windows and doors. None of this, however, reminded me of a hell on earth. The corridors and rooms were empty, but large, bright and friendly.
Eventually we arrived in the dining hall and met the group of prisoners. There was a lot of noise and I was told that one gets used to it. A proverb came to mind: Man is a creature of habit. He survives the most humbling situations, numbed like an animal.
It moved me to see these young and middle-aged women: lovely faces, well-dressed and nourished, clean and disciplined. I learned that most of them came from a Christian background. They knew something about the saving plan of God.
The work which is done here among these women, who have realized that they have to spend a huge portion of their lives in prison, is a blessing. With the help of literature, discussions and the Bible they are introduced to the foundations of our Christian faith. They grow spiritually and are equipped to become co-workers of God among their inmates. Only eternity will reveal what this simple work has done in the lives of many people. Whoever spreads the Gospel helps to increase the kingdom of God. John was allowed to see this in Revelation 7:9. These prisoners in Diepkloof also should be added to His kingdom. They also belong to Jesus’ flock, lost sheep who need to be found. They live in all races and nations, as rich and poor, as spiritually dead and self-righteous as Pharisees, as criminals and prostitutes, thieves and murderers – hardened sinners. During His lifetime of earth, Jesus looked for all of them.
Paul challenges us to live with the same attitude as Jesus did and to follow His example (Phil. 2:5-11). He told His disciples to ask for co-workers for the harvest of God. Not everyone can do prison ministry by ministering to the inmates in person. However, all can be co-workers in one way or another.
Anybody who experiences the imprisonment of the law longs to be saved and for freedom. The prisoners sometimes experience the benefit on two levels – freedom from sin through Jesus Christ (Luke 7:47), and by becoming co-workers of God. They need our prayers, much wisdom and a relationship with God in order to obey Jesus’ New Commandment – for us to love each other as He loved us. (John 13:14-15).
May the Prison Ministry at Johannesburg Correctional Services continue to be a great blessing!
By Mrs. Elise Volker
4. National Certificate in Radio Training
LHM-SA, in partnership with world-class trainer, Doc Fick of Choice Words, offers hands-on training at the refurbished, modern recording LHM-SA studio in Randburg.
Doc will be hosting training towards the National Certificate: Radio Production
(SAQA 49125) from May to December 2005. The training enables students to produce
radio programmes which cover commercial, public and community radio.
Modules:
Sound Mixing and Editing, Multi Track Re-cording and Packaging, Writing for
Radio, Voice Presentation, Interviews and News gathering, Research and Content
Develop-ment, On Air Transmission.
Format:
Theory (2 days/week) and Practical Pro-duction Internships with local radio
stations.
Cost: R 8,000. LHM-SA is willing to partly subsidize the training in return
for high quality radio programme productions where LHM material is offered.
5. Tsunami Update
An appeal for donations for the Tsunami victims appeared in the “Bekennende Lutherische Kirche”, the quarterly magazine of the Free Evangelical Luthern Church in South Africa (FELSiSA) and we thank each congregation that responded, especially Ev. Luth Peter Congregation in Greytown, Our Saviour in Wartburg and the English Lutheran Fellowship in Randburg. Two anonymous donations of R 3,000 each were also received.
January 2005 - R 12,900
February 2005 – R 5,000
March 2005 - R 7,839
Total: R 25,739.00
To view a short program on DVD, showing how your support is helping the victims of the Tsumani, please call Christel at (011) 791 1661.
6. Ministry Statistics
Prison Ministry - Inmates received 12 Bibles, 407 Bible Study lessons, 111 booklets and/or other material this month, apart from the weekly time of ministry, which includes prayer, Bible readings and discussions.
Radio Ministry – 553 listeners of “Spotlight” and 138 listeners of “Rainbow FM” received LHM booklets. This month’s topics were “Why Do Bad Things Happen?”, “How to Forgive and Forget”. We also prayed with some of the people and call them again to see how they are doing.
Web site Ministry – We had 8 requests for booklets and Bible Study lessons.
BCC Ministry - There are currently 440 students enrolled in the “Real Life” and the “True Life” Bible Correspondence courses.
HEARTFELT appreciation to the 9 donors who sent gifts of over R 14,000 in March! These are gifts over and above the donations given for the Tsunami Relief Fund. We are also truly thankful for the much needed R3,100 upgrade to our office security system, donated by a kindhearted person who wants to remain anonymous!
Thank you for your ongoing prayer for the work of this ministry. Please continue to pray for us, for the New Direction and for the expansion of God’s kingdom.
International Lutheran Laymen’s League – Lutheran Hour Ministries
P O Box 555, Ferndale, 2160, South Africa
Tel: 011 791-1661
E-mail: southafrica@lutheranmedia.net
27 Basil Street, Ferndale, Randburg
Fax: 011 792 8440
Web site: www.lutheran.co.za
Banking details:
ILLL, Standard Bank, Randburg, Account Number: 021642 745
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