LHM-SA Newsletter, NOVEMBER 2004

In this Issue...

1. A Ministry Referral

About 9 weeks ago John* contacted LHM-SA. John was a homosexual and he needed help very badly.

Very often Christians react towards gays in a wrong way by being homophobic and judgmental, or expecting a prayer for deliverance to bear instant results. In this process the Kingdom of God is made inaccessible to such a person.

John was a real challenge and we chose to respond to him in love: to love the sinner and not his sin. Truth dispels error. I took up contact with "Trailblazers" and "Restoring Wholeness"

(www.restoringwholeness.org) and downloaded excellent, relevant and valuable information. God used this information to gently guide John during the following weeks. The big lie, that the homosexual tendencies are in his genes and that he was made this way, was debunked. After several sessions we were able to refer John to a ministry that assists people to break free from a lifestyle of sexual brokeness.

I am happy to report that John is doing very well. He is gradually changing step by step. This is a process and a new foundation and building blocks are being built into his life. The people who are now taking this ministry further, can identify with his struggles and temptations. They had been there themselves before God changed them – that is their testimony. They are able to speak with great empathy into John’s life, with authority and sensitivity.

No matter what a man’s past has been, his future is spotless in our Lord Jesus Christ. Help is always available if we respond to people with the love of Christ and refer them to specialised ministries who can take them further.

* not his real name

By Leon Heyl



2. A Letter from Prison

Five Bibles were presented to women in the Female Section, Johannesburg Prison, due to a kind donation from Eugene Naidoo. They received NIV Bibles in a language of their choice. Each Bible costs R44.

Dear Eugene, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen. I thank you very much for your Bible. God bless you so much my brother to give us Blessing. Goodbye. Your sisters, Vivian and Thoko



3. Outreach in Phoenix

In our first missions committee meeting we identified growth hindrances, positive aspects and our missions strategy in Phoenix. Hindrances are the style of the church building, the absence of a welcoming notice board, the unfamiliar liturgy and the need to be able to read in order to participate, as well as a white pastor. Positive aspects are that Lutheranism is regarded as steadfast, with less corruption and that it seems to be the only congregation in Phoenix that is really open to all races, which reflects in the membership.

There is a great need for spiritual and pastoral care in the immediate neighbourhood of the church and all pastoral care is gladly accepted. People literally cry out for prayer in their difficult crises in life. However they are don’t want to enter the church building for such ministry.

This is why we have decided to initiate contact points outside the church premises for pastoral and spiritual care. It was decided to have a "Tracts Table outside a housing apartment once a week. Members will assist the pastor in singing choruses and attending to the people as they approach the table. The people will have an opportunity to contact the church and be gradually to the church premises and our way of doing things.

Apart from the new initiative, the Phoenix congregation is already involved with a missions project to heart in a squatter camp in Durban. Inhabitants of a squatter camp are often on the fringes of society. They come from rural areas to look for work, but don’t regard the squatter camp as a home and they have no desire or motivation to build permanent homes in the city, even if they have the money to do this. Waste and rubbish is dumped just around the corner, even if the municipality arranges rubbish pick up points and they are not interested make many friends in their new makeshift urban surroundings. The local urban population has no desire to incorporate or accommodate such backward people and therefore often look down on them, fear them or despise them for bringing property prices down. This situation is a social time bomb. The children are especially at risk. They roam around and often have nobody to take care of them.

The Church absolutely needs to become involved to alleviate the problem, to provide some sort of social or spiritual anchor for these people, so that they can know there is a place of belonging and there is a God who cares for them and knows about their plight.

So the Phoenix congregation has initiated this missions project to reach out to the children. On Sunday afternoons we play Lutheran Hymns on the in Temple Road squatter camp and the children already know that they are in for Bible story treat. The children are fascinated by these stories, which they usually hear for the first time. Honest amazement is seen on the faces when they hear that there is a God who rides on a donkey and who spent most of his time with the poor and the despised of society. Some grown ups also come and are intrigued by a white pastor, Indian helpers and black children together. There is some opposition. That shouldn't surprise us, because there has always been opposition even from the very first missions project of the New Testament and probably with most others thereafter.



4. ENGAGE-EQUIP-PROCLAIM Workshop Feedback

The very first ENGAGE-EQUIP-PROCLAIM (EEP) workshop end of September was a great learning experience for the presenters, Rev. Dr. H. C. Eggers, Rev J. Henning and C. Scharlach. Here are some comments on the EEP workshop from participants:

The movement within churches world-wide is gaining momentum in our midst. At last there is a solid, concrete course with the necessary theological Basis that offers practical help to congregations. Each Christian needs to increasingly become aware how enormous God’s grace and abundant blessing is. We need to live out what we are: Light of the world and salt of the earth! – Rev Klaus Damaske

Women need to step out of their comfort zones. We do not have to take over men’s jobs, but there are many ministries out there which Christian women could be involved in. It is time for us to make a difference. – Shireen

The ENGAGE-EQUIP assist members to serve the Body of Christ as individuals or as part of a ministry team in the congregation, but always as part of the congregational structure and with the blessing of the local pastor. The PROCLAIM aims to equip members to serve on a congregational Mission and Evangelism team for outreach in the local community. Short, medium and long-term local and overseas missions are discussed as well.

For more information about EEP and having the EEP workshop offered in your congregation, please call and speak to Christel at 011-792 8440 or write to scharlach@lutheranmedia.net.



5. The Pet-Napping Mystery

On the 6th October we offered free copies of the children’s book "The Puzzle Club Pet-Napping Mystery" to listeners of "Spotlight" on Radio Pulpit, as well as 10 copies of the video to people in children’s ministries and 290 books were distributed!

SPECIAL OFFER: If you would like to have a free copy for your child, grandchild or Sunday School, please contact Marilda at (011) 791 1661 and give her your details. It will be posted to you.



6. Ministry Statistics

Drama Ministry in Prison- 25 inmates requested "Real Life" Bible Correspondence courses or other material and spiritual ministry.

Radio Ministry – 317 people called us in response to booklet offers on Radio Pulpit and Rainbow FM.

Newspaper Outreach – 297 responses to inserts in the Daily Sun newspaper.

BCC Ministry – There are currently 1026 students enrolled in the "Real Life" Bible Correspondence course.

Prison Ministry – 44 women inmates requested Bible study lesson and/or the Prayer booklet.

Website Ministry – 32 e-mails were received from people requesting Bible study lessons, booklets and/or other ministry support.

Congregational Outreach – 5 guests responded to invitations to the Bring-a-Friend Sundays at the English Lutheran Fellowship.

Thank You to each of the 15 donors who donated a total amount of R 10,473.81 this month! We really appreciate all the prayer support of people.



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