News
Charl's Mission News
October, 2008
Dear Friend
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, My beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
International Life Chain Sunday
On the 5 October, we celebrated International Life Chain Sunday with approximately 1 million Christians around the world. In Cape Town, 200 people joined us and held posters which read 'Abortion is Murder'. Gospel and Pro-life literature was distributed to the public.
As long as preborn children from our community and nation fall victim to the abortionists' cruel instruments and chemicals, we who know Christ must not betray our youngest fellow citizens and neighbours. Our ministry is committed to prayer and action for the saving of lives and changed hearts in our nation.
Our stand is humble yet bold as we plead the case of our nation's most innocent and most voiceless citizens.
Many baby goods were collected to help the Moreson Children's Home.
Radio
Our Salt and Light radio programme has lately presented our upcoming Reformation Celebrations.
Friday 31 October is the birthday of Evangelical churches. On 31 October 1517 Dr Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation with his bold stand at the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
Our Reformation and Revival Seminar will take place Saturday 25 October in Cape Town and the Reformation Celebration Service at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek on Friday 31 October. Please visit http://www.reformationsa.org/events.htm for more information.
Family
Sonja and the children are doing well.
I discovered on walking into our lounge one afternoon that John-Marc's (6) hockey stick (birthday gift) had miraculously transformed into a guitar, which he was energetically strumming with Christian music playing in the background.
Sonja and I are preparing to start home schooling our four children next year and will appreciate your prayers regarding this. Sonja taught at a private Christian school before we were married and so is preparing to get back into the teaching mode.
US Tour
The dates and venues of my speaking engagements in the USA (1-17 November 2008) are as follows:
Sunday 2 Nov
9 AM Sunday School and Service
Ballston Ctr. A.R. Presby.
58 Charlton Rd.
Ballston Spa NY 12020
Ph: 518-885-7312
www.ballstoncenterarpchurch.org
6 PM Service
Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church
1230 Rugby Road
Schenectady NY 12308-2400
Ph: (518) 377-0801
www.calvaryopcny.org/
Wednesday 5 Nov
PM Meeting
Trinity Bible Church
Willow Park, TX (West of Ft. Worth)
Host: Mr Harry Wynne
Cell: 817-995-3220
Email: hwynne@multatech.com
Please contact host for details and confirm attendance.
Thursday 6 Nov
7:00 PM Meeting
Lighthouse Evangelical Presbyterian Church
336 West Main Street
Richmond, OH 43944
Ph: (740) 765-4175
Friday 7 Nov
6 PM Home Fellowship Social (Cook out)
7495 State Route 646
Bloomingdale, OH 43910
Host: Mr. Robert Bradcovich
Ph: (740) 461-8544
Please confirm attendance with host.
Saturday 8 Nov
8 AM Breakfast Meeting
JC's Restaurant,
662 Canton Rd,
Akron, OH 44312
Tel: 330-796 0999
Hosted by Crossroads Bible Fellowship (330-784-8883)
www.crossroadsbible.com
Sunday 9 Nov
10:30 AM Service
Somerset Hills Baptist Church
510 Mt. Airy Rd.
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Ph: 908-647-7090
www.shbcfamily.org
Wednesday 12 Nov
6:30 AM Men's Meeting
Methodist Men's Group
120 North Knights Avenue
Brandon, FL
Ph: (813) -681-1188 World In Need
7 PM Home Fellowship Meeting
708 Granite Road,
Brandon, FL 33510
Ph: (813) -681-1188 World In Need
Friday 14 Nov
7:30 PM Gunowners of America Meeting
7800 Rolling Road (Harvester Presbyterian Church)
Springfield, VA
Ph: 703-321-8585
www.gunowners.org/
Saturday 15 Nov
8 AM Men's Meeting
Harvester Presbyterian Church
7800 Rolling Road
Springfield, VA
Ph: 703-455-7800
www.harvesterpca.org/
6 PM Home Fellowship Meeting
75 Holly Corner Road
Fredericksburg VA 22406
Host: Mr Albert Veldhuyzen
Cell no: 1-540-220-8596
Please confirm attendance with host.
Sunday 16 Nov
9:15 AM & 11:00 AM Services
Harvester Presbyterian Church
7800 Rolling Road
Springfield, VA
Ph: 703-455-7800
www.harvesterpca.org/
6 PM Service
Bethel Presbyterian Church (OPC)
19856 Evergreen Mills Rd.
Leesburg, VA 20175
Ph: (703) 777-4221
www.bethelpres.com
Please contact Debbie at In Touch Mission International (Tempe, AZ) for any more information you might need: debbie.henry@intouchmission.org or 1-888-918-4100
Hope to see you soon.
Charl van Wyk
PS To partner with us in ministry, visit: http://www.charlvanwyk.info/support.html
In Touch Mission International, PO Box 7575, Tempe, AZ 85281 Tel: 1-888-918-4100
Charl's Mission News
September, 2008
Dear Friends and Supporters
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised . . ."
1 Chronicles 16:8, 23-25
Meetings
"Who attends these meetings? What is discussed at the meetings regarding preparation for the second revolution? How are people recruited into these groups? Where are recruits being trained? Are there solutions? Is there hope?" A friend and I were being questioned by a movie scriptwriter who is busy working on a $10 million film dealing with African revolutions. My involvement? Ministry amongst ex-revolutionaries.
Yes, there is hope - only in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the application of His Word in contemporary African society.
Bishop Sid Mannie is one who envisions a Christianised Africa. He is meeting with spiritual, political, civic, academic and business leaders in South Africa. This network of leaders is being established in order to train and develop the next generation of political leaders with a Kingdom mindset and to establish meaningful prayer intercessory forums, especially amongst young people throughout Africa.
We met with other leaders on a number of occasions to discuss the establishment of an academy for Christian leaders and politicians in South Africa who are looking at applying the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all areas of life.
On air
I interviewed Rev. Bill Bathman on our Salt and Light radio programme, before his return to the USA.
If you have not yet read his book 'Going Through' you're missing out on an inspiring half century of missionary exploits in Europe, East and West, during the dramatic events of the Cold War. Spanning the time of the Berlin Wall, 'Going Through' includes many stories of Christian courage under Communist persecution in Eastern Europe - a most inspiring read.
Bill Bathman has served the Lord as a missionary evangelist for over 50 years. He is the Founder and President of In Touch Mission International (ITMI). Bill has travelled and ministered in over 100 countries.
Purchase a copy of 'Going Through' from ITMI at 1-888-918-4100 (USA) or Christian Liberty Books 021-6897478 (SA).
The threat
In a South African High Court ruling, a judge ordered a church to unconditionally apologise to a music teacher it fired because he was in a gay relationship. The church also has to pay the teacher around $10 000 for the impairment of his dignity, emotional and psychological suffering and loss of earnings. The judge said the constitutionally protected right to equality outweighed the churches right to religious freedom.
In a published letter to the editor I asked: "If the church is expected to accommodate gays against their wishes, then why stop at homosexuals only, surely paedophiles and those involved with bestiality should also be allowed to work at the church - after all they just have a different "sexual orientation" - and who are we to judge them?"
As a result of the letter, I was called a 'bigot, charlatan and hypocrite' in a published response.
One of the letters threatened: "The GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual) community and its supporters are well within their right to lay charges of defamation, incitement of discrimination and obstruction of the ends of justice, against the Cape Argus and each contributor who tries to defend their antagonistic refusal to support the constitution, using published letters as evidence to the court."
The editor apologised for any offence that may have been caused by my letter and did not print my Right to Reply.
It appears that Christians must not only give up their rights to freedom of religion, belief, expression, association, opinion and dignity in South Africa, but they must also be tolerant of false accusations, name-calling and libel against themselves.
Please pray for our country - and especially the GLBT community, they desperately need to come to repentance and faith in Christ.
Family
Roberta took part in a show of worship dancing - we all had a wonderful time.
John-Marc celebrated his 6th birthday - Jason (7) gave him the greatest gift he could think of; he allowed John-Marc to play with his toys. Being a family espousing free market ideas (as opposed to Marxist principles) we believe in private ownership of toys.
Jason and John-Marc took part in a bicycle race in the beautiful town of Wellington. Andrew Murray, the local pastor (and great author) was a champion of the South African Revival of 1860, which started in Wellington.
Sonja's niece Ritha, who is pregnant with triplets, came to visit us for a week - there was great excitement in the family to have her with us.
Jason posed an important question: "Dad, did they have pencils in the olden days when you were young?" I answered in the positive wondering where he was heading with such a philosophical idea. He considered this and then said, "Well they must have had, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to do your homework!"
US Tour
I look forward to fellowshipping with you in the USA during 1 - 17 November.
Meetings are planned for Ballston Spa and Schenectady, NY; Fort Worth, TX; Richmond and Akron, OH; Basking Ridge, NJ; Brandon, FL; and Springfield and Leesburg, VA.
For more information, please contact Debbie at ITMI 1-888-918-4100 or visit www.charlvanwyk.info
Political chaos
The President of South Africa has resigned after being recalled i.e. fired by the ruling party. Further concern is that 11 cabinet ministers and 3 deputies, including the Deputy President and most importantly, the Minister of Finance have resigned. This is a clear vote of no-confidence in the new leader of the ruling party, Jacob Zuma, who is facing allegations of 783 counts of bribery over 10 years involving $0,5-million.
Rev Kenneth Meshoe of the African Christian Democratic Party has appealed: "..to our citizens to remain calm in the midst of this political storm."
PLEASE PRAY FOR SOUTH AFRICA.
Yours in the service of King Jesus
Charl van Wyk
PS To partner with us in ministry, visit: http://www.charlvanwyk.info/support.html
In Touch Mission International, PO Box 7575, Tempe, AZ 85281 Tel: 1-888-918-4100
Charl's Mission News
August, 2008
Dear Friends and Supporters
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Rom 8:28
Ministry opportunities after attack
Our Biblical Worldview Summit and Great Commission Course were great times of blessing and ministry for all involved. It is encouraging to see whom the Lord is raising up to stand firmly on His Word in Africa and disciple the nations.
The more I think back to the attack of 1 July 2008, the more I am in awe of God's grace and provision. The Lord blinded the attackers to finding my firearm and in their firing at us, He allowed them to miss the vehicle and us. Ministry opportunities have flowed from the incident and one just has to stand completely in His will. What man used for evil, God used for good (Genesis 50:20).
A police detective, who helped at the scene of the crime, has invited me to speak to his rugby sports club members. Club members are underprivileged youth in a small country town.
Meetings
Lately I've had the privilege of: speaking at a City Partnership meeting, reaching out with the Gospel to businessmen; met with a Christian political leader wanting to grow his support base into our side of the country; lectured to criminology students at a local Varsity College where I had to first delve into apologetics before giving a Biblical basis for dealing with crime and punishment. A meeting with an author of crime and security books was especially interesting, he proposed we do meetings together around the country - I explained that I have an agenda i.e. to get the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all.
Sonja and I attended a parenting evening organised by our church. US author, Dr Paul Tripp, was an excellent speaker and inspiration.
Sunday School
My Sunday School class of young men - 10 year olds - are doing well. The learning of the books of the Bible and 10 Commandments is coming along. I'm very strict with them but then there is no place for sissies in the class - no playing games and showing disrespect when praying and reading from the Word is tolerated, as one poor soul found out whilst rocking back on his chair during a time of prayer.
Understanding Creation and the Law of God are of paramount importance for these young men to defend the truths of Scripture in the future.
Outreaches
Our Women's Day outreaches at local shopping centres were a great success. We distributed free literature from our tables to all interested people. The literature focused on issues dealing with the protection of women from abuse and exploitation and the importance of building strong families for the future of our country. Over 10 000 Gospel tracts were also handed out.
"Who will rise up for Me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for Me against evildoers?" Psalm 94:16
Free balloons, with pro-family messages and Scripture on them were distributed to children, including many Muslim children - this proved to be a huge attraction. It was fun seeing pagan parents trying unsuccessfully to protect their children from our balloons with a Bible message printed on.
At a Khayelitsha shopping centre, US evangelist and artist Paul Young joined us. Paul, who through his "chalk talks" attracted many onlookers, gave a series of great Gospel messages.
Bibles and bikes
Frontline Fellowship has, with your support, donated another $1000 for the provision of Bibles and bikes to evangelists in the Congo to support Gospel work. Please consider becoming a partner in this initiative to further the Kingdom by putting wheels under the Word.
Nation
Pharmacies in South Africa appear to be running out of stock of medicines; one even had a poster explaining that clients need to consider that they might not be able to purchase what they want and will need to settle for a similar medicine. A doctor also mentioned that certain basic medical stock and key medicines are becoming difficult to come by.
South Africa, which was the land of milk and honey to Africa, is now miss-governed by an ideologically crippled kleptocracy. The ruling party's military veterans i.e. ex-terrorists, have threatened war if their new party leader is convicted in a court case in which he stands accused of massive corruption and racketeering. The so-called 'non-statuary forces' have never handed in their firearms and other military equipment used during 'the struggle', to the authorities. In spite of this kind of chaos, we are taking every opportunity to preach the Gospel to the nations. Please pray with us that the Gospel will penetrate and change the lives of Africans.
US Tour
Lord willing, I'll be visiting the US from 1 -17 November 2008 and look forward to fellowship and ministry with friends.
We appreciate your prayers
Charl van Wyk
PS To partner with us in ministry, visit: http://www.charlvanwyk.info/support.html
In Touch Mission International, PO Box 7575, Tempe, AZ 85281 Tel: 1-888-918-4100
Missionaries attacked - attackers flee at armed response
July, 2008
Dear Friends and Supporters
"A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well." Proverbs 25:26
"Don't move! Don't move!" The gun-toting thug held his firearm pointed towards me whilst another came from behind and searched my jacket pockets. "Give us your money and cell phone. Where is your gun?"
I was busy unloading the back of our mission pick-up at 09h00 Tuesday 1 July 2008 in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Sipho, ex-terrorist unit commander, now turned Christian, was passing his bags of clothing from the back of the vehicle. We were giving him a lift from the Frontline Fellowship Biblical Worldview Summit held at Mizpah.
I gave the thieves my wallet, identification document and cell phone. They helped themselves to 10 foreign passports in my jacket pocket. These belong to Summit participants - I was to make copies of the documents so that our foreign ministry guests would be allowed into prisons to minister to convicts during the upcoming Great Commission Course.
The thug, who pointed the firearm at me, walked over to Sipho behind me and asked for his cell phone whilst the searcher carried on body searching me, trying to find a firearm. By God's grace, he was unsuccessful.
The attackers made their way over to my passenger, creation scientist, Philip Stott, a guest speaker at the Summit. I was to interview ‘Uncle Philip’ for a radio show later that morning.
The passenger door was ripped open and the armed thug pointed his firearm at 'Uncle Philip' who was reading and had no idea of what had been going on behind the vehicle. "Give me your cell phone, money and gun!" the thief commanded. Thug two, the searcher, moved in right next to my passenger and stuck a pistol into his ribs. They could not believe that he had nothing. They were agitated, frustrated and aggressive.
Uncle Philip was cool-headed whilst explaining why he had nothing to give them. He wisely also did not look either of them in the eye - many attackers fear being recognised in court and will easily kill you if they think you may be able to recognise them later.
This gave me time to move towards the driver’s door of the vehicle and draw and cock my 9mm Heckler and Koch pistol. Sipho heard me cock my firearm and thus took cover on my side of the vehicle. I moved to the front of the pick up, I shouted at the thugs as they were threatening the life of Uncle Philip. For a split second they were distracted and I opened fire.
They fled, and are hopefully still running. What I had not realised was that there was a third party covering them from a distance. He returned fire. I heard Sipho shouting, "Charl get down!"
I took cover behind the vehicle at the driver’s door, which I opened; Sipho and I jumped in and we drove off as fast as possible. By God's grace none of us were hit by flying bullets and not even the mission vehicle was damaged.
On the highway, a taxi van with about 12 passengers drove past; the passengers were waving, making hand gestures and showing thumbs up. "They are showing us that you hit one of the attackers Charl," Sipho explained.
Praise the Lord for His grace and protection over us.
We'd appreciate your prayers:
- That the thieves will come to repentance and faith in Christ
- For me dealing with the police
- That application for all bank cards, licenses and cell phones etc will run smoothly - that can be pretty onerous
- The return of the passports of our foreign guests - it is difficult to get travel documents - embassies are 800 miles from Cape Town - the expense, time wasting and inconvenience for Frontline Fellowship is crippling
Yours in the service of King Jesus,
Charl van Wyk
www.charlvanwyk.info
Charl's Mission News
June, 2008
Dear Friend
"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."" Mark 16:15
Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Congo visit
On my ministry outreach to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), at the invitation of Bishop Lamba Lamba, I had the privilege of speaking at the REDTCO (This French acronym stands for The Gathering of the Children of God for the Transformation of the Congo) Youth Leaders' Meeting, preached and taught at various Come and See Churches around the DRC and interviewed Christians deeply affected by the war. Bibles and bicycles were delivered and more are to arrive soon.
I preached at two Sunday morning services on the 18th May at the local Come and See Church in Lubumbashi. The Sunday afternoon I attended a debate on 'violence against women' at a local congregation, where they gave me 15 minutes to make comments on this issue.
Off to Kinshasa
My flight from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa, the capital, was a hair-raising experience. The storm weather on the Equator around Kinshasa was throwing the Boeing around as if it were a light aircraft; the people around me were singing Hallelujah praises, and I think the rest were praying. The Hewa Bora Airline, with which I was flying, is banned from landing in Europe and America and has lately had two major accidents.
Confusion
French is spoken by most nationals in the Congo; in Kinshasa we had one of our language mishaps again.
On arriving the evening, we stopped by at the local Come and See Church and my interpreter announced that he was going to "weep". I must have looked very confused, so he repeated himself. When he realised that this guest had no idea of what was taking place, he said, "I am going to the water closet."
In Kinshasa I heard of a local church pastor who was suspended from his pastoral duties because family members attacked his wife, and he did nothing to protect her. Due to the disgrace this incident brought on the Name of Christ and the Church, he was suspended from ministry.
In Kinshasa I also met Rt Rev Deo Mwamba, Bishop of the Anglican Church Worldwide; he has a Masters degree in Islamic studies from Saudi-Arabia and later came to Christ.
I had the privilege of being driven around by a Lieutenant in the Police Force and this made the bureaucracy so much easier in that very controlled society.
War torn Kisangani
In Kisangani I was hosted by Pastor Physton who has a wonderful church ministry, amongst a war traumatised people. His ministry includes devotional meetings at 05h30 every morning, at which I ministered, and the week I visited, Gospel crusade meetings at 16h00. Ps Physton bears the scar on his forehead of a rebel attack on his home - after weeks in hospital, by God's grace, he survived and could carry on with his ministry.
My friend and interpreter, Pastor Oscar, and I rode into the jungle on the back of motorbikes, and visited Oscar's training base where he was trained in the Congolese Defence Force. Another pastor I met, Ettienne, asked me to please come into the jungle with him to take the Gospel to tribes who have never heard the Gospel, some of which have maybe only one old Bible that they received many years ago.
I met Jean Botuli Kazadi who was born in 1981 and at the tender age of thirteen joined the Zaire (renamed Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997) Defence Force of Mobutu Sese Seko. Jean became a rebel soldier and later turned to Christ. More on his testimony on WorldNetDaily.
Ps Physton, Oscar and I appeared on 'city wide' television with a clear Gospel message and encouraged viewers to attend the crusade taking place during the week. Bishop Lamba Lamba arrived in Kisangani the day I flew out and was welcomed by a television crew and many church members. On leaving the war torn area I was blessed by the Commanding Officer of the Presidential Guard accompanying me at the airport to complete all my paperwork; he saw me off on the runway at the aeroplane.
On meeting a young unmarried girl who is the only family breadwinner and bringing up her 6 siblings due to absent parents, or a pastor whose 3 brothers were taken to war by rebels - (1 never returned), and the many others with similar stories, one can only be grateful for the grace of God on ones own life. You learn more than you teach under these conditions.
Xenophobia
South Africa is struggling with the humanitarian aftermath of the xenophobic violence of the past weeks that has left over 50 people dead and seen thousands housed in makeshift camps, community halls and churches across the country.
Several businesses owned by foreigners in the townships have been looted and destroyed. Foreigners have been burnt alive and others beaten to death. In Gauteng Province, fifty were taken to various hospitals for gunshot and stab wounds.
Many churches made their buildings available to house and feed fleeing refugees.
Television
Sunday 1 June the Life 24/7 Christian television programme aired the interview they had with me concerning the St James Massacre and the outreach to the ex-terrorists with the Gospel. The nation wide broadcast gave a great Gospel presentation opportunity.
Family
Sonja and the children are doing very well. Roberta (11) is writing school exams, Jason (7) is loving his hockey, John-Marc (5) is learning the New Testament books of the Bible to earn his pocket knife and Anya (2) is ordering the rest of the family around.
Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.
Regards
Charl van Wyk
PS To partner with us in ministry, visit: http://www.charlvanwyk.info/support.html
In Touch Mission International, PO Box 7575, Tempe, AZ 85281 Tel: 1-888-918-4100
Charl's Mission News
April, 2008
Dear Friend
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Can you envision a land where Christian families have been split by war for years, where pastors have been buried alive because the Church would not stop praying as demanded by rebel soldiers?
Bishop Lamba Lamba of the Come and See Church, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has invited us to minister in 3 major cities amongst some of their 700 congregations.
Our trip will focus on discipling the suffering Church in this forgotten country of much war and devastation. The purpose of our mission trip will be threefold:
First, I'll be speaking at a Youth Conference and church services, praying that the Lord will work in our lives and those of attendees of our meetings and seminars.
Second, this ministry opportunity will help us focus our support for the suffering Church, not only in prayer, but practically. We are aiming to deliver Bibles and Bicycles to pastors, to help in their ministry over vast areas.
Third, I'm, Lord willing, hoping to visit and take food to a brother in Christ, Pastor Fernando Kutino, who has been sentenced to 20 years in jail despite much of the evidence against him being disputed.
Children of friends of our ministry have saved and donated pocket money for the Bibles and Bikes project and a church held a car boot sale to help struggling pastors. This is how the pastors responded on a previous occasion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDI0-CpaWzo
Your prayer support will be much appreciated.
Regards
Charl van Wyk
Charl's Mission News
March, 2008
Dear Missions Partner
"..praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.."
Ephesians 6:18
Chaos
South Africa is slowly falling to pieces. Our education system is now being rated at the lower end of a field of 50 countries. The health care system is falling apart. National power failures are leading to major economic catastrophe. Contaminated water supplies in some areas have lead to outbreaks of cholera; one newspaper reported 'South Africa is on the brink of a water contamination crisis'. We have one of the highest crime rates in the world. Disintegrating roads in the rural areas. Government officials being charged with criminal activity. The rich and educated are leaving in another wave to Western countries. And we have around 4 million refugees who have entered South Africa from other African states that have more chaos than us.
In spite of this chaos, Frontline Fellowship is having unprecedented opportunities for the Gospel and discipleship.
Africa Christian Action demonstrated outside the e-TV studios in Cape Town on Thursday, 17 January 2008 to make our voice heard and to cry out for God's mercy on South Africa because of the sexually explicit material aired on television screens. A group of us, including two of my ex-terrorist friends who have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, Sipho and Sandile, joined us for the outreach. It is very important that young believers have opportunities to take a stand for their faith and hand out tracts to the public so that they learn to evangelise (and later disciple) the nations very early in their new found faith. Most of the people we make contact with would probably never put their foot in a church, so evangelistic tracts are an excellent means of reaching such people.
Sipho has also spent time being discipled at the KwaSizabantu Mission near Cape Town. We laughed as he mentioned a dinner table at the mission with him sitting have a meal and discussions with two ex-policemen. Previously enemies, they now have Jesus Christ uniting them as brothers in the faith.
Labour for Life
Sanctity Life Sunday was remembered on the 3 February, the day on which we celebrate life and also remember those who are suffering due to crisis pregnancies.
1st February was our National Day of Repentance commemorating 11 years of the 'abortion holocaust' that is taking place in South Africa - 700 000 babies have been killed since 1 February 1997. I chaired the Christian Action prayer vigil outside the main gates of Parliament in Cape Town, which was preceded by a funeral procession with small coffins and banners, which moved from close to the City Hall, through the city streets and joined us at the main gates of Parliament for the prayer vigil.
Many tracts were handed out en route as the procession, backed by our very large pro-life billboard trailer, made its way to Parliament.
Sunday School
I have a wonderful Sunday School class of grade 3-5 boys. We started the year with the class creating their own rules which to my surprise included 10 press-ups before the lesson starts. Other rules included 10 press-ups for talking when the teacher is talking, for the same rule broken a second time, the offender leaves the class for a while and on the third offence, they will be sent to join the girls class for the rest of the year. Strangely enough I've had no trouble after they leave the class for a short time.
My men are learning the New Testament books of the Bible and some are already able to recite it with no mistakes.
We are learning about the Scriptures and big words that teach theological truths. We have such a dumbing down in our society that I'm making sure Sunday School is not one of the areas this will take place.
Radio
Our radio programmes on a Christian radio station have been interesting as we deal with contemporary issues the Church has to face in our society, the latest being a government suggested pledge for school children. Other topics recently covered include abortion, corporate guilt and Biblical economics.
You can listen to our programme at www.104fm.org.za every Tuesday at 9pm GMT +2.
Biblical Principles for Africa Book
This new completely revised and expanded edition of Biblical Principles for Africa by Dr Peter Hammond, our director, is practical and packed full of tried and tested Scriptural solutions to Africa's most pressing problems. It deals with economics and education, crime and punishment, ethics and entertainment, families and free enterprise, politics and poverty, God and government. There are chapters on The Battle for Your Mind, The War Against the Children, Poverty - It's Causes and Cure, Rediscovering the Christian Work Ethic, Understanding Other Worldviews, A Practical Strategy to Restore Biblical Values and so much more.
Order your copy at www.christianlibertybooks.co.za
Family
Roberta (10), Jason (7), John-Marc (5) and I enjoyed a night sleep out on a farm with many other father and children teams from our local church. We swam in the dam, enjoyed fires at night and fellowship with like-minded believers. The sighting of a Cobra on the dam's edge is what the children remember most vividly.
The boys have harvested the fruit of their labour from our vegetable garden. John-Marc (5) has now started 'big school' and is slowly settling into the new routine.
Sonja and the children (and I with much reservation) decided it was time to have 2 kittens in our home and so there are now 8 of us in the family. Anya (23 months) is very fond of the 'tats'.
Eastern Cape Ministry
I had a very productive speaking tour to the Eastern Cape Province; the ministry trip started with an invitation to be the guest speaker at a Godly Governance Network Consultative Meeting. The hosts included a provincial government official and a government cabinet minister's office manager. The government officials are extremely concerned about the homosexual marriages, abortion and pornography that they have been forced, by their party leaders, to vote for. Our Parliamentary system is run on proportional representation and not on a constituency basis and so the ruling party's MPs are often dictated to on how to vote and even threatened to look for another job if they vote according to conscience rather than party policy.
I also spoke at a Biblical Worldview Day Seminar in the KwaDwesi Township near Port Elizabeth where I was very encouraged by the interaction of the seminar attendees - young people wanting to apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life.
The Sunday morning service in Bethelsdorp at the Rauch Ministries Church was particularly interesting - I was the first guest speaker of the church since they had moved into their new building, a converted storeroom. This congregation is particularly wanting to take the Gospel into the streets and close down the shabeens and prostitution dens in their community. Please pray for them.
Television Interview
I spent a day with a television crew of believers who are taking the world of the arts for Christ. They are making a programme on the impact of the Gospel in reconciling people to the Lord and each other - a very exciting project.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry.
Charl van Wyk
Ex-terrorist submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
Jan 2008
"Since I have converted to the Christian religion, things are not going well!" Sipho noted over the phone. "I got into a fight and my cell phone has been taken."
"Are you telling me that since you've converted things are going wrong for you?" I was just making sure I had heard correctly.
Sipho* is an ex-unit commander of the terrorist Azanian Peoples' Liberation Army. He was part of their intelligence structure in July 1993 when his colleagues attacked us with hand grenades and automatic assault rifles during a church service in Cape Town, South Africa - eleven people were murdered and over 50 injured - the attack became known as the St James Massacre.
"That is called spiritual warfare Sipho," I answered, "We'll talk about it when we meet next week."
Sipho had taken part in our bee-keeping training, an outreach programme in November 2006 to reach ex-combatants with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since then we have kept in touch and spent time together discussing eternal matters.
Ex-Combatants Beekeeping Course
Six ex-combatants participated in our Gospel outreach. The two mornings were set aside for Gospel presentations and the afternoons for the beekeeping course. Surprisingly, I couldn't find a church that would allow us to use their buildings and facilities; probably due to an uncertainty over the past actions of the participants.
Eventually we were blessed with the use of a small wooden church building in Khayelitsha with no running water, toilet facilities or even electricity. This meant that we had to run leads across the road from the pastor's home and use the pastor's kitchen to make food for the young men on the course.
While travelling from the township for our afternoon session to the beekeeping facility, one young man (Sipho) made sure he sat in front of the pick-up vehicle with me and misguidedly shared that he believed we all serve the same God; he said that Africans worship god through their ancestors, the Muslims through Mohammad and the Christians through Jesus Christ.
I asked him how it was that we all had a different message of salvation and that the Muslims believe the only way you can be sure of paradise or heaven is to die in Jihad whilst trying to murder Christians? The Christian God tells us that we are saved by His grace alone through Faith and the finished work of Jesus Christ, His Son, on the cross. I commented that the messages are very different and can't both be right.
He looked into the distance in deep thought; the seed had been planted.
Great Commission Course (GCC)
We invited Sipho to come and interact with the participants at our Great Commission Course in July 2007. Dr Peter Hammond, our director, designed the GCC as an intensive introduction to cross-cultural missions to stretch minds and muscles, which included a blend of physical challenges, academic tests, spiritual disciplines, challenging and informative instruction, strenuous hikes, demanding assignments, practical workshops and numerous outreach opportunities.
Participants had to understand the worldview and thinking of even ex-terrorists. He answered questions from the floor on one condition: 'no recordings to be made'. Every question was answered and he admitted honestly when he had no answer. Participants were surprised that an ex-terrorist could defend his belief better than most Christians their faith.
Forsaking All
When Sipho claimed to have become a Christian, I was skeptical of this conversion. Having worked cross culturally for over 17 years in business and missions, I well knew that in the African culture people are extremely gracious and normally tell you what you want to hear, rather than offend you.
Sipho and I had breakfast together. On previous discussions I had given him a clear picture of the Biblical teaching of repentance and forgiveness, not the mild, 'just pray this prayer after me' kind of message.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" Psalm 19:7
All the ex-terrorists I have met are idealists. They are willing to die for their cause, to change the world into a communist utopia in which we will all be free (as long as you do what you're told) and will share all resources (what I own is mine and what you own is also mine).
Repentance, asking for forgiveness of his sin, turning away from it and not carrying on in it, is well understood by Sipho. Forgiving others he also well understands - these people are bitter and angry for having fought in a revolution, and now those whom they helped come to power in South Africa are 'not sharing their power (i.e. resources)' with them.
He also knows that he must make restitution for previous sins committed.
We have a long road of discipleship ahead.
"Soon after I converted I was held at gun point by a young man. I looked behind me and there were four others; they wanted my cell phone," Sipho recalls the troubles he has had since coming to faith in Christ, "the young man holding the firearm was on drugs and was shaking as he asked for my phone, the trigger could have gone off at any moment.
"Charl, I could easily have wrestled the firearm from that young man and shot them all, but enough blood has been spilt in South Africa. We must not spill anymore."
Without having other income, Sipho has given up his employment with his political party at Parliament because it will 'compromise' his new found faith in Jesus Christ.
He would like to study at a Christian teachers training college - he left his studies to fight in the revolution - please pray for Sipho, that his dream might be fulfilled.
"Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7
The Bottom Line
All people need Jesus Christ to transform their lives by His Gospel. Eternal salvation is open to all who repent of their sin and turn to Him in faith.
Have you?
* Name changed to protect identity.
Charl's Mission News
Dec, 2007
Dear Friend
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now..." Philippians 1:3-5
2007 has been a great year of many ministry opportunities. Let's reminisce.
Congo Ministry
I remember the words of Pastor Jeff as we drove past the demolished houses and school near Lubumbashi, in the Congo: "This is the gift from our new governor of Katanga," he explained. The reasons for the demolitions appear to be varied from, 'buildings being too close to the railway line' (strange that some even closer than those demolished, were still standing) to 'he does not want the poor people living there, he wants the rich people to build apartment blocks there'.
People were living under a suspended piece of plastic between the rubble.
Rob Pompe, my friend who ministers to businessmen, and I, had just arrived at the Lubumbashi airport in Katanga Province, Congo.
Ministry in the Congo included praying for the sick, Gospel tract distribution, preaching, teaching at a leadership training event, encouraging a church planter, teaching business people how to reach others with the Gospel in the business arena, a radio and television interview and visiting business people at their work place, encouraging them to take the Lordship of Jesus Christ to this needy area.
Pastor Oscar prayed for a lady with her baby who was so sick the child's body appeared to have no life. The mother cried as he prayed. He explained afterwards that her husband had left her, she was left destitute - Ps Jeff explained that the state hospitals have no medicine - the baby probably just needed a drip.
Frontline Fellowship has been blessing pastors with bicycles - Pastor Jeff received one that would enhance his ministry in the large village on the outskirts of Lubumbashi. "Sometimes I am visiting families on one side of the village and then receive an urgent call to go and pray for a sick family on the far side of the village, a bicycle will help me enhance my ministry," he explained.
The pastors are very excited about the French copy of the "Biblical Principles for Africa" book, by Dr. Peter Hammond. Frontline Fellowship has distributed thousands of copies that are being used as a teaching aid for pastors and congregation members.
At the Shalom School 370 children are receiving a Christian education in a small village near Lubumbashi. They cram 100 children into a classroom of 25m2, have no ablution facilities and have by God's grace now been blessed with an underground water dispenser which is kept under lock and key.
We have helped the English teacher (at the French school) with Gospel literature in English with which to teach the children to read.
Shooting Back DVD
This year WorldNetDaily produced a DVD documentary on my book Shooting Back.
Awards
I was honoured to receive a certificate of commendation and medal from the Possenti Society (USA). The patron of the Society, St. Gabriel Possenti, was a Catholic seminarian who saved villagers of Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy from a terrorising gang of renegade soldiers in 1860 with a striking, one-shot, lizard-slaying demonstration of handgun marksmanship.
Another blessing came in the form of an award of Gun Rights Defender of the Month (July 2007) by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (USA). With this award I received a beautiful plaque.
Biblical Worldview Summit (BWS)
This year we challenged our Summit delegates to get back to the Word of God and Reclaim Africa for Christ.
Starting with PT early in the cold winter mornings, over 100 delegates from as far afield as America, Australia, Ghana, Nigeria, Romania, England, Zambia, Zimbabwe and all over South Africa, participated in the week-long Reclaiming Africa for Christ Biblical Worldview Summit, which formed the first part of our Great Commission Course (GCC).
The BWS (29 June - 6 July) included 14 lecturers, 8 films, outreaches in the nearby town and township, visits to the Huguenot Monument and Museum, a parallel children's programme (in which Roberta, Jason and John-Marc participated), Evangelism Workshops, a Science and Scripture Workshop, Public Speaking Workshop, Debating Workshop and a Christian Action Workshop.
Those involved in the Great Commission Course, after the BWS, prepared for the even more intensive GCC programme ahead.
Participants completed 4 hikes, including night hikes up and over Lions Head and Table Mountain (my legs were in pain for a week after this) and other night hikes in the forest including wading downstream in rivers.
By God's Grace, several participants of the BWS and GCC had the privilege of leading people to Christ on the streets, and in the shopping malls, during outreaches.
US Tours
Sonja joined me on my May US speaking tour. We had a wonderful time ministering and visiting friends and supporters.
My November tour included speaking at a Maryland gun show, a Bible study, churches and a meeting with congressmen and a senator; visit to the Creation Museum of Answers in Genesis (Cincinnati), 16 radio interviews, wonderful times of fellowship with friends and supporters and ended with a television interview and lecture at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC.
The Christian Broadcasting Network and The 700 Club used the footage for a news report on a Washington, DC firearm related court case - www.cbn.com/cbnnews/273674.aspx
Family
Sonja is a wonderful wife and mother to our four arrows the Lord has blessed us with. During my November US tour Jason (6), John-Marc (5) and Anya (18 mths) all had chicken pox. Roberta (10) also wrote her first set of school exams. Sonja's mother and my parents all stepped in to help with the clan.
Roberta has just completed Grade 4, Jason Grade 0 and John-Marc will be starting Grade 0 in January 2008.
Thank you for your love and support over the past year.
PS. To financially support our family using a visa card, visit: www.intouchmission.org/itmi_donation.htm or phone 1-888-918-4100 in the US. US Cheques may be posted to: In Touch Mission International, PO Box 7575, Tempe, AZ 85281.
Charl's Mission News - November 2007 - Part 2
Friday, Nov 30, 2007
Dear Friend
For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:3
I, on occasion, am asked what I do on a normal work day at Frontline Fellowship. I'm going to try and give a short overview of just some of the ministry activities our mission is involved with in.
Equipping Evangelists
Evangelists throughout Southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains, have received God's Story VCD kits and Bible Media Gospel Messengers (tough tape recorders which can be solar powered or hand cranked) with teaching tapes and flip charts. Evangelists in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique have also been equipped. One evangelist reported having used the VCD kit that we have entrusted him to evangelise five hundred families. Another evangelist reported that the Gospel Messenger we had entrusted to him had been used to evangelise and disciple over three hundred people. Another reported that he had used the Gospel Messenger an average of twenty times a month. The Gospel Messengerhas nine hours of Bible teaching tapes with accompanying flip charts and Scripture readings to illustrate the message proclaimed. These evangelistic kits are particularly effective in areas where a majority of the people are illiterate.
Textbooks for Teachers
Over the years our field teams have been able to supply schools in Sudan with Christian textbooks (from Kindergarten to grade 7). We have also been able to supply another 20 Christian community schools in Zambia with textbooks.
Love in action
Tons of food and relief aid were delivered to starving Christians in Zimbabwe. Hundred of prisoners were supplied with soap, toothpaste, antiseptics, rice, salt, books, stationery and other vital supplies. Many pastors and evangelists were equipped with audio visual evangelistic equipment and thousands of Bibles and Christian books. Leadership Training Courses are conducted in Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Congo (DRC) and Sudan.
Pro-Life Presentations to Parliament
We have been at Parliament presenting written and oral submissions, arguing for the right to life of pre-born babies to be respected and protected by law. Our submissions urged that the abortion legislation in South African be scrapped. Other occasions we have come before Parliamentary Committees on the right to self-defence issue as well as standing against homosexual marriages.
Film Outreaches
In addition to our Jesus film outreaches in several languages, our mission has conducted numerous outreaches with the Luther film.
Africa Christian Action
Africa Christian Action organised and hosted the Week of Action, Sanctity Life Sunday, the National Day of Repentance, National Women's Day outreaches in shopping malls, and the Life Chain. This year marked the 10th year of Africa Christian Action running the weekly Salt & Light radio programme on Radio Tygerberg. This makes Salt & Light the longest running programme still broadcasted by Radio Tygerberg. Peter, Tim, Taryn and I also spoke on many national, international and local radio stations.
Keep in Touch
We praise God for His abundant grace, for all His mercy in provision, protection, guidance and blessings.
We are most grateful for your prayers, encouragement, advice and support. May the Lord continue to be your joy and strength.
Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission
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