News

Charl's Mission News

Dear Friend

2009 was an exciting year for Frontline Fellowship, my family and I.

Outreaches
The National Day of Repentance and Sanctity Life Sunday are days in which we reach out to mothers going through crisis pregnancies - we pray and make aware the need for grace, comfort, strength and support from family, friends and congregations. We create awareness to 'Choose Life' that the children may be born and brought up in the love and admonition of the Lord.

Our Women's Day Gospel outreaches at various shopping centres, our Life Chain and 'Reformation and Revival Conference', amongst many other ministry opportunities, made this year a time of great spiritual challenge and growth.

Ministry in Zambia
I was ordained a pastor and missionary of Zambia United Christian Action (ZUCA) - under the leadership of Bishop Dr John Jere.  It is has been a privilege for me to minister with ZUCA since 1993.  The organization speaks out and is consulted by government on pro-life, Biblical justice and pro-family issues.

I ministered twice in Zambia this year.

On the first visit I delivered boxes of ministry materials to Zambia United Christian Action and to the World Baptist Evangelistic Association as well as a laptop computer to missionary Ps Somwe Fataki, to enhance his ministry amongst Congolese refugees.

My second ministry visit was with my whole family. We ministered along side Bishop John and Joyce Jere in Lusaka, Zambia.

Dr John and Joyce have for many years run the Samaritan Children's Home (SCH) near Lusaka. The orphanage cares for children who have lost both parents, mostly to HIV/Aids. Some of the children have been HIV positive since birth. 

Many of the orphans are now living with extended family members.  SCH thus now supports 95 children and their host families with food, clothing and medicines.  This is besides the support they extend to suffering Zimbabwean pastors and orphans.

Roberta (12), John-Marc (6) and I joined Joyce and others in our vehicle to deliver much-needed food to these poor families. 

John had organised television interviews for me, as I represented the Christian Action Network, a body that speaks to governments on applying Biblical principles to issues of governing nations. 

These were amazing opportunities to "disciple the nation" and fulfil the "Cultural Mandate" that reformed believers have held to over many years.  That is that Christians have an obligation to live actively in society and work for the transformation of the world and its cultures; to change our cultures and nations into Christ-centred cultures and nations.

Sonja cooked on many occasions and blessed the SCH crowd with her creative cooking skills.  She and Joyce built a special relationship.  She was a listening ear for many struggling girls and women, helped and served where she could and washed and cleaned all day long.

Two teams of literature distributors had a wonderful experience handing out tracts that exposed the 'abortion holocaust' and lie of the 'pornography plague' in the name of freedom of expression.  We pray the recipients of these will keep the heat on those writing the national constitution to protect the preborn and also women and children from the exploitative pornography industry.

One taxi driver, when he saw the literature I was distributing, said, "Give to all of my passengers!" 

Congo Ministry
As many as five million Congolese have died in the wars that have ravaged the country since 1998. Humanitarian organisations believe that millions have fled their homes and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped. The people are traumatised.  I was invited by Bishop Lamba Lamba to minister in Lubumbashi.

I preached at the Come and See Church and REDTCO (The acronym stands for "The Gathering of the Children of God for the Transformation of the Congo"). Television and teaching at the Redtco Congress, including a special session for the youth, was very exciting.

A young Muslim came to Christ through the ministry of my friend, Pastor Jeff Kasongo.  The young man's goal was to become a missionary pilot.  I suggested and paid for him to take English lessons, which would stand him in good stead in ministry. 

I received notice last month that he was shocked to death whilst working with electrical cables.  He is now in the presence of his Lord Jesus with whom he fell in love.

Radio
Our Salt and Light weekly radio programme was a great encouragement to many listeners during the year. Radio Tygerberg is the largest Christian community radio station in South Africa and we are encouraged to be part of what the Lord has been doing through this great ministry for over 14 years.

Bibles and Bikes
 Frontline Fellowship has, with your support, donated thousands of dollars 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'.

US Ministry
 The US is a great country. I enjoyed my ministry trips in May and November - made new friends, met wonderful people, renewed and caught up on older friendships.

I was very encouraged to witness Christians actively involved in discipling the nation.  There is a concern amongst the faithful, that they might end up going the same way as South Africa.

Opportunities included preaching, home group meetings, a home school meeting, radio interviews, television interviews and great times of fellowship with friends and ministry partners.

On my return from my November visit I heard that my friend Ps Oscar, who ministers to Congolese refugees, had all his church music equipment, that took 5 years to accumulate, stolen in one night. 
Another ministry colleague in Zambia had his life threatened. 

Sunday School
My Sunday School class of young men - 10 year olds - went well. The tradition of awarding a penknife to a student who answers a question correctly and making those who got their answers wrong, do press-ups for not listening, still works well.

Family Matters
Our first year of home schooling has gone very well.  The ministry trip of 8000km by road, to Zambia, crossing African borders and driving on really bad roads included many learning opportunities.

This was a true home schooling experience in which our children learnt about different cultures, currencies, geography, history, maths, science etc all in one mission trip.

We also enjoyed a fathers and children tenting weekend in the Cedarberg Mountains.

Roberta (12), Jason (8), John-Marc (7) and Anya (3) have enjoyed a year of spending much more time with us than before.  This has brought the family closer together.  We've enjoyed working through Scriptural teaching and I've helped with Maths and English lessons at home.  Sonja has done everything else.

Sonja has done a wonderful job of directing children's matters in the home and home schooling since January 2009 - our school year starts in January and ends in December (our summer months).

Thank you for your prayers and support during the past year.

We hope and pray that you will have a wonderful Christmas as we all remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Yours in the service of King Jesus,
Charl van Wyk

Friends

I'm in the USA at present and had a wonderful weekend with friends and ministering at the New Life Community Church in Stafford, VA.

Future public meetings I'll, Lord willing, be speaking at include:

15 Nov - 09h15, 11h00 and 18h00
Harvester Presbyterian Church Missions Conference
7800 Rolling Rd
Springfield, VA

20 Nov - 19h00
Tulsa Select
5000 East Skelly Dr
Tulsa, OK

Two radio interviews took place yesterday; one with the US Armed Forces and the other a radio station in New Zealand - another 16 are lined up. Various home meetings, a home school group, firearm magazine interview and other opportunities are to come.

I'd appreciate your prayers for these and also my family back home.

Regards
Charl

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Proverbs 31:8

Life Chain

"So you don't believe in the freedom of speech," I challenged the young atheist.  "I do.  I just believe that you should not be allowed to stand here and force your pro-life views on the public!" he answered.

LifechainThe 200 Christians at the Cape Town Life Chain prayerfully stood holding placards proclaiming "Abortion kills babies", "Abortion: one heart stops, another heart breaks", "Take my hand, not my life", "Abortion: the ultimate child abuse", "A person is a person, no matter how small."

The placards offended the young man.  I pointed out to him that in South Africa a baby could technically be aborted 24 hours before labour.  We also had a ‘Giant Stork Party’ at the Life Chain where participants could bring baby clothes and practical help for girls going through crisis pregnancies.

"You should rather concern yourself with people who are dying in the war zones of Africa!" he continued.  "We do that too.  I personally work in the war torn Congo," I answered.

We discussed many other issues from science to morality and other religions - I pray that a seed was planted.

Unfortunately many South African Christians let denial take away our compassion and our will to act against this child abuse - the truth is, over 850 000 babies have been legally murdered by abortion in South Africa.

We encouraged Christians to take part in a Life Chain because we desperately need national prayer that seeks God's mercy and forgiveness for our national sin of abortion and the 20 000 murders that take place on our soil annually.  There is no respect for life, made in the image of God.

The Church needs to move from the pews into the market place, just as Christ set the example.  At our outreaches we always meet people who will never put a foot in church and we might be their only contact with a believer who can show compassion and God's love to them.  We need compassionate hearts taking action.

The public needs to see truth in action - believers with conviction, humility and compassion for the preborn and the born.  Much to our indifference many of our preborn have perished within earshot of church bells and pulpits.  I remember when the abortion debate was at its height in Parliament; a young girl told me that the biggest issue on the agenda at her local church was whether women could where slacks to church services or not.

We need a committed army of Christians who will engage the battle until we see life protected in South Africa and around the world.

The World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics was taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre - directly opposite where the Life Chain was held.  The Congress included a Working Group on Prevention of Unsafe Abortion: Expanding Women's Access to Safe Abortion: Public Health, Clinical, Ethical and Human Rights Considerations.

Life chains were held in seven different towns and cities across our country and 1400 locations worldwide.

On 4 October 2009 National Life Chains were the largest peaceful, prayerful, pro-life public witness in South Africa. Over 5 000 pro-life leaflets and Gospel tracts were distributed to passing motorists and pedestrians in Cape Town. 

God uses people like us for His will to be done - let's be willing vessels for His honour and glory.

Gangster Land

GangsterlandOur family took part in an outreach with church friends to the Cape’s gangster land viz. Mitchell’s Plain.  We networked with a local congregation to reach the locals with the true Gospel.  It appears that there is a church on virtually every street corner but Christianity and church are nothing more than a social label and club.

I saw a man with his whole face tattooed and immediately wanted to witness to him.  As I approached Jonathan he was beaming with joy.  He told me his testimony.

He was a member of the Americans gang, and then whilst in jail was a leader of the 28s gang. He was saved by the grace of God 16 years ago and now ministers full-time in prisons. 

Frontline Fellowship supported him with tracts, which he desperately needed for prison ministry.  He looked a bit embarrassed and then said, “I don’t want to be pushy and only if you have one, I really need a new Afrikaans Bible.  Mine is falling to pieces.”

Praise the Lord; this is our ministry, distributing Gospel and discipleship literature. 

“My ministry is very blessed,” Jonathan said after receiving the literature. 


Reformation Celebration

The Reformation in Europe during the 16th Century must be one of the most important epochs in the history of the world.

The Reformation gave us the Bible - freely available in our own languages. The Reformation also pioneered the almost universally acknowledged principles of religious freedom, liberty of conscience, the rule of law, separation of powers and constitutionally limited Republics. These foundational principles of civil government were unthinkable before the Reformation.

All of us are beneficiaries of this tremendous movement of Faith and Freedom. It is very inspiring to examine the personalities, doctrines and events that God used to transform history and give birth to the Evangelical movement.

Every year we celebrate our Christian heritage by enjoying a Reformation Celebration.  This year we meet on 31 October, the same day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, in 1517.

Family

Roberta (12) underwent a tonsillectomy.  The Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist who performed the operation could not believe the size of her tonsils.  We pray that the operation will help relieve the breathing problems she has been encountering.
Jason (8), John-Marc (7) and Roberta have been enjoying gymnastics that is keeping them fit.  Even I feel like I'm getting fitter by watching them train.
Anya (3) loves having older siblings who are at her beck and call when needed.

Sonja has had her sister visiting from out of town, her nephew and his family have now settled close by and a niece will be visiting soon; so she is loving the family get togethers.

US Visit

I'll, Lord willing, be visiting the USA and be available for meetings from 6 – 25 November 2009. I’ll be meeting with friends, speaking at home cell groups, home schooling, church and public meetings in Virginia, Texas and Oklahoma.   

Please contact Debbie at In Touch Mission International (Tempe, AZ) for any opportunities you might want to arrange in these states.

Debbie’s contact details: debbie.henry@intouchmission.org or 1-888-918-4100

Thank you for your prayers and support

Charl van Wyk

PS: US tax-deductible donations may be made, over the web at: In Touch Mission International
or 1-888-918 4100

 

VISIT TO THE USA

I'll, Lord willing, be visiting the USA, and be available to meet with you, from 6 - 17 November 2009 (flexible).

Any ministry opportunities on radio, at home cell groups, church or public meetings or some personal fellowship over a cup of coffee, will be most welcome.   

Please contact Debbie at In Touch Mission International (Tempe, AZ) for any opportunities you might want to arrange.

debbie.henry@intouchmission.org or 1-888-918-4100

Hope to see you soon.

Charl van Wyk

PS I'm getting quite 'technologically advanced' and have a Facebook presence.  Join if you like.
Click to visit Charl Van Wyk on Face Book

”… nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Bishop Deo

“Charl, when can you come minister with me to the Pygmies in the jungles of Eastern Congo?” Bishop Deo asked over the crackling telephone.

One hot afternoon in 1998 Deo woke up from his afternoon rest and found his young son playing with a hand-grenade. 

His wife, Sarah, explained that someone had lobbed the ‘toy’ through the window while he was asleep.

Deo realised that this was no toy; it was a real live hand-grenade and by God’s grace it had not exploded. 

Deo was a devout Muslim leader in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.  He carried both the titles of Sheikh (a title of honour given to an Islamic scholar) and Imam (an Islamic community or spiritual leader).  He had graduated from the International Islamic University of Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after earning a degree in Islamic studies and the propagation of Islam.

In March 1998, Deo visited a local Christian Bishop to find out more about Christianity.  The Bishop agreed that they would meet for further discussions.  Deo never heard from him again. 

Deo explains that he came to know of Jesus through the Quran.  He was concerned that even the great prophet of the Muslims, Mohammad, was not sure of his salvation.  Yet, Christians taught that one could be saved by the grace of God through faith and because of the price paid by God’s son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for their sin; one can be sure of one’s salvation.

This ‘truth’ excited Deo and he soon decided to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  Deo wasted no time in being baptised.  This secret baptism took place on the 5 April 1998 in the local Anglican Bishop’s residence chapel, with an attendance of only 40 congregation members. 

After the baptism, the Bishop asked all those present not to speak about what they had seen.  Well, ‘good news travels fast’.  Many Christians thought that this was a great witnessing opportunity and told their Muslim neighbours that they too could be saved, just like their Imam, who had been converted to Christ.

Deo, now considered a blasphemer by Muslims, lost all his property acquired as a Sheikh and relief co-ordinator for Muslim outreaches.  His life was threatened; hence the delivery of the grenade.  The Anglican Archbishop in Uganda had to make arrangements for Deo to be moved to Kenya for security reasons. 

Deo had a burden to reach out to Muslims and took many training courses at various Christian mission organisations and institutions so that he could better understand evangelism, discipleship and Christian leadership.  This led to him planting a church in October 1998 in Kenya, which has grown to 200 members.

He also runs a discipleship programme for former Muslims, so that they can understand their newfound faith better and move onto spiritual maturity.  Deo also authored two booklets:  “The Glory of Jesus Christ in the Quran” and “How to win a Muslim for Christ”. 

Deo and his wife Sarah are missionaries to the French speaking peoples of Africa and their purpose is to reach the unreached people groups like the Muslims, Pygmies and Animists in many different areas.  Orphans, street children, gang raped, war traumatised women, as well as prisoners, are blessed by the ministry of this couple. 

In 2007 Deo completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology and is now the Anglican Bishop for All Nations Anglican Church in the Congo. 

He smiles when he tells stories of his work amongst the Pygmies in the jungles of the Congo.  On one occasion when showing the “Jesus film”, one Pygmy hunter was so upset with those crucifying Jesus on the cross, that he pulled out his bow and arrow; thinking that the movie was real, he shot an arrow at the soldier nailing Jesus’ hand to the cross.  The screen tore.  This left one happy hunter who was convinced that he had killed those who had attacked the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bishop Deo Mwamba is now responsible for 70 pastors, 60 congregations and 6 000 church members in the Congo.  He and Sarah were guests of Frontline Fellowship in Cape Town.

Great Commission Course (GCC)

1 – 8 January 2010 Frontline Fellowship will be running a Biblical Worldview Summit (BWS) near Cape Town, South Africa.  This week forms part of the 3-week Great Commission Course (GCC).

The BWS is a one-week spiritually intensive course but also caters for the physical side of life.

Participants are expected to interact with Christian leaders lecturing on how to take the Lordship of Jesus Christ into all areas of life.  Physical training, catered for by age, sex and ability, forms part of the morning routine – an exercised body, produces an exercised mind.  Interestingly enough, many participants have thanked the leaders after the week for this part of the programme.  One previous participant, who had never run as a sport before, went on to run half marathons.        

Dr Peter Hammond, our director, designed the 3-week GCC as an intensive introduction to cross-cultural missions – if Christians don’t understand the worldviews and cultures of those they seek to reach with the Gospel, their outreaches can lead to frustration and strained relationships.

Stretching minds and muscles on the GCC, includes a blend of physical challenges, academic tests, spiritual disciplines, challenging and informative instruction, strenuous hikes, demanding assignments, practical workshops and numerous outreach opportunities which will change the lives of those applicants who are chosen to stay on and complete all 3 weeks.

Prepare to start the New Year with a great spiritual challenge that will move you from ‘pew warming’ to ‘fighting the giants’.

Family

Living in a Mediterranean climate on the southwestern tip of Africa means we very rarely experience snow, except on mountain peaks in the distance.

Family fun in the snow    Family fun in the snow

We received news that there was real snow about two hours drive from home and so we packed the family for a ‘home-schooling snow outing’.  When we arrived at our destination we found that morning rainstorms had washed almost all the snow away – but we were determined – and would not allow such a small challenge to deter us from finding snow.

We found small pockets of snow near pine trees along the roadside and had a wonderful time in the freezing cold.

Sonja’s nephew and his family, with two young children, are moving close to our home, so there is much excitement at home for the anticipated arrival later this month.

Roberta (12) is doing well after her leg operation end of last year.  Jason (8) and brother John-Marc (7 this month) often build forts both in the home and now outside too, since spring started. 

Anya (3) has been pretty miserable and wanting lots of attention since having a cold, so I showed her some Internet photos of kittens.  She looked at them and then asked if I could take them out of the computer for her.    

I’ve enjoyed speaking at the Men Taking Responsibility meetings and preaching at Uyesu Unathi Church in Khayelitsha.  Sunday School teaching and our radio programmes are going well and we’ve enjoyed wonderful fellowship with two American mission families at our home lately.

We appreciate your prayers and support

Charl van Wyk

PS: US tax-deductible donations may be made, over the web at: In Touch Mission International
or 1-888-918 4100

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15

"You believe that there is a Heaven and a hell.  You admit to being a thief and a liar!  Where do you think you will go when you die?" I questioned a young man on National Women's Day.

"To Heaven," he answered.

 I forgot that most young people have been taught 'situational ethics' in our schools.  Lying and stealing in South Africa is justified, depending on whom you steal from and to whom you are telling lies.

"Okay, according to Jesus' definition of murder i.e. if you hate someone, you are a murderer.  You also admit to hating someone and are therefore a murderer."

"Yes!  Okay, then I will be going to hell."  This was easier than dealing with Khaya, whom I witnessed to in jail after he murdered churchgoers at the St James Massacre.  He believed that murdering innocent people for a just political cause was justified and was his ticket into Heaven. 

For more on this, see:
You Tube video

I explained to my friend how God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who was sinless, had offered His life as a ransom for ours; just like a friend taking our punishment instead of us, if we were found guilty in a court case.

"You can be saved by His grace, by putting your faith in Him," I said.

Every year, since 1995, Africa Christian Action has used National Women’s Day on 9 August, as an opportunity for conducting outreaches in shopping centres. This year (10 August 2009) we mobilised outreaches in three different shopping centres in the Cape Town area and two others in Ballito and Mokopane. Tens of thousands of leaflets and Gospel tracts were printed and 3 000 balloons with Scriptures and pro-family messages were produced for the event. We especially printed copies of tracts: “The Christian Liberation of Women”, “The Greatest Book in the World” and “Women Need Protection and Respect” for these outreaches.

I was working in Khayelitsha with my friend Rev Toni and the 7 congregation members from the Uyesu Unathi Church.

Jason (8) and John-Marc (6) helped distribute tracts and balloons at the evening session in Canal Walk Mall.

Uncle Bill

Thank you very much for praying for Rev. Bill Bathman, the Chairman of the Board of Frontline Fellowship. By God’s grace, the surgery was successful in removing all the cancer from his left lung.

'Uncle' Bill reports that his strength is gradually being restored. Read his blog and comment at: http://pennireef1west.wordpress.com/

Attack

Derek Hammond, the brother of our mission director Dr Peter Hammond, and his family have been the target of armed thugs.

Peter reports: As my brother came into the hallway, he was immediately confronted with a man aiming a silver semi- automatic pistol at his head. As the assailant opened fire, my brother drew his pistol, cocked it and returned fire. Five shots were fired at him and Derek fired three shots back, hitting the criminal twice. Although they were standing less than three meters apart, firing at point blank range, in a narrow hallway, barely one meter wide, incredibly, all five shots missed my brother.

As the wounded assailant stumbled back out into the garden, Derek fired four more shots at the other criminals, who fled, leaving his nephew, Ryan, unharmed. His car, with the key still in the ignition, was also left in the driveway. When the shooting had started, my brother’s wife Sandra, and daughter Lauren, fled to a safe room and lay on the ground praying.

Praise the Lord for their safety during this chaos.

Gospel Opportunities

A Zimbabwean outreach including six field workers and couriers, with two vehicles, were sent out with much prayer.  They were to deliver desperately needed food and lifesaving medicines to pastors, pensioners and prisoners in Zimbabwe.

Despite numerous difficulties, delays and frustrations at border posts, the teams succeeded in delivering the much-needed supplies to churches, missions, hospitals and prisons. 

As John, our Field Director reported: “When you see the appreciation, gratitude and affection shown on delivery, there is no way but to look forward to the next mission trip…` I was hungry and you fed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me …’ this is one of the most important aspects of mission work.  The harvest is ripe and the labourers are few …”

Speaking of labourers - our Biblical Worldview Summit (BWS) will be held from 1-8 January 2010.  Come and join us for this challenging course – your life will never be the same again.  The Great Commission Course is an extension of the BWS.

See: Biblical Worldview Summit

We have our Pro-life outreaches, Life Chains and support for women going through crisis pregnancies on 4 October. 

I'll also be speaking at a men's outreach "Men Taking Responsibility" on 22 August.  Their advert emphasises, "The approach taken will be a non-compromising, unapologetic Biblical approach."

Outreaches to Zimbabwe, the USA and South Africa are lined up for our missionaries.  We'd appreciate your prayers for these.

Our radio programme 'Salt and Light' is an important tool in discipling the people of Cape Town and the Lord has blessed this work mightily.  Our programme can be heard on www.104fm.org.za at 8:30pm GMT +2.

We appreciate your prayers, love and support.
God bless
Charl van Wyk

PS: US tax-deductible donations may be made, over the web at: In Touch Mission International
or 1-888-918 4100

“The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”
Psalm 103:19

African bureaucracy

"Dad, there are kittens in the roof gutters!" 
My daughter Roberta (12) was very concerned.  She asked the immigration official at the Botswana border post to get them down. 
"I put them up there!" was his remark.

"Two of your six passports have been stamped with the wrong dates, you have to go back to the South African border post and have this corrected!" 
So off I went, walking back between "no man’s land". 

"Do you have anything to declare?"
I had sorted out the passport date issue and moved onto the unfriendly Customs official of Botswana.  I mentioned my laptop I had in the car. 
"Where is your Form DA65 from South Africa?" he went on.  "Oh you don't have one; you have to go back to the South African border post and declare your laptop."

"I have travelled the world with my laptop and never had to complete forms and declare it on entering any country!" I tried begging and pleading.  Nothing helped, so off I went again.  Thankfully on my return the official was busy with someone else and so his colleague, whose computer game I interrupted, quickly stamped the form and let me move on.

This is African bureaucracy.  I suppose I have to be thankful that my family and I did not have to wait 17 hours at the border, like my Frontline Fellowship colleagues on their trip to help starving Zimbabweans.

By the time I had got through the channels Roberta was in tears and her siblings traumatised by the poor little kittens that had been left to die on the border post office roof.  My children had just discovered how ruthless, uncaring and inhumane pagan Africans treat their animals.  I always wondered why the anti-animal cruelty organisations often operated in Western nations where cruelty was nowhere as severe as in Africa.

"A good man takes care of his animals, but wicked men are cruel to theirs." Proverbs 12:10

Elephants in the wild walked across the national road as we travelled through Botswana; we saw lion spoor and heard them at night whilst trying to sleep in a hut with a door that consisted of a wooden bottom section and canvass above. 

The crocodile- and hippo-infested Zambezi River was a delight to cross by pontoon as we moved on from Botswana to Zambia.  Our family and vehicle crossed with no mishaps; even both motors on the pontoon were working on this occasion, unlike on a previous visit. 

The Samaritan

A quick visit to the Victoria Falls, one of the great natural wonders of God's creation, and photos at the statue of the great missionary Dr David Livingstone, after whom the town we visited was named, we were on our way again. 

We reached Bishop John and Joyce Jere in Lusaka, Zambia and were very pleased to have arrived at our destination.

Dr John and Joyce have for many years run the Samaritan Children’s Home (SCH) near Lusaka. The orphanage cares for children who have lost both parents, mostly to HIV/Aids. Some of the children have been HIV positive since birth. 

Lately many children have been forced by government agencies and UNICEF intervention to be re-integrated into their extended families.  This might sound a wonderful idea from a Western perspective but in Africa these families see such children as a liability and not a blessing.  Normally they would not receive education, only have leftover food and sometimes be sent out to work the streets and bring back money for the family.

SCH thus now supports 95 children and their host families with food, clothing and medicines.  This is besides the support they extend to suffering Zimbabwean pastors and orphans, two of whom have died due to malnutrition because Zimbabwe is falling to pieces while their tyrant president 'Bob' Mugabe exploits the country.

One family of four siblings were brought out of the Congo by their grandmother after they witnessed their father being shot by rebel soldiers and their mother being raped and murdered.  Soon after their move to Zambia, their grandmother died.  They are part of John and Joyce's Christian family now. 

Roberta, John-Marc (6) and I joined Joyce and others in our vehicle to deliver much-needed food to these poor families.  The fact that our vehicle has major repairs needing to be done after struggling on very bad roads to make a difference to the lives of suffering families, is a small price to pay when obeying our Lord's command to 'look after orphans and widows in their distress'. 

Roberta nearly caused riots when she started a Ministry of Sweets Distribution to young children in the areas where we delivered food.

Cultural Mandate

It is important to not only teach Scripture, but live it too.  Helping feed the widows and orphans and then teaching on national socio-political issues is far more effective than just talking the talk.

John, who also founded Zambia United Christian Action, serves on the National Constitutional Conference of Zambia: a body rewriting the national constitution.

John had organised a television interview for me, as I represented the Christian Action Network, a body that speaks to governments on applying Biblical principles to issues of governing nations. 

The crew did not arrive at the conference centre.  I then got chatting with another television crewmember.  He said, "Wait here for me, and don’t go away.  I want to get this on tape."

He soon arrived with his television crew, interviewed me and that evening I appeared on the evening news.  Amazing how the Lord allows His will to be done.

John organised another full hour live television interview, which was recast the following day.  This was an amazing opportunity to "disciple the nation" and fulfil the "Cultural Mandate" that reformed believers have held to over many years.  That is that Christians have an obligation to live actively in society and work for the transformation of the world and its cultures; to change our cultures and nations into Christ-centred cultures and nations.

Many on the National Constitutional Conference commented very positively to John about the television interviews they had seen.

Two teams of literature distributors had a wonderful experience handing out tracts that exposed the 'abortion holocaust' and lie of the 'pornography plague' in the name of freedom of expression.  We pray the recipients of these will keep the heat on those writing the national constitution to protect the preborn and also women and children from the exploitative pornography industry.

One taxi driver, when he saw the literature I was distributing, said, "Give to all of my passengers!" 

Preaching at churches was a blessing as many repented of their sin of bitterness that was tearing their lives apart and keeping them from experiencing the fullness of God's grace and forgiveness.

Family Life

My whole family joined me on this extensive ministry trip of over 8000km by road.  Often the roads were so potholed that we were down to first gear trying to navigate our vehicle through the maze to reach our destination.

Sonja cooked on many occasions and blessed the SCH crowd with her creative cooking skills.  She and Joyce built a special relationship.  She was a listening ear for many struggling girls and women, helped and served where she could and washed and cleaned all day long.

Jason (8) and John-Marc (6) each had their visits to the Coptic Hospital run by the Coptic Orthodox Church, when Jason reached a high fever and John-Marc jumped off a swing and landed on his coccyx, which we thought might have been badly injured; he struggled to walk.  By God's grace all survived the ordeals. 
Playing with the bows and arrows with which Uncle John blessed the boys and playing soccer with the other boys made Sonja and I wonder where our children were.

Roberta (12) loved visiting the older girls and enjoyed her sweet distribution ministry very much.  Anya (3) loved playing with her new friend, Peter (John and Joyce's 3 year old).  Many a time we would look for her and she would be eating with the children or visiting at John's home.

I've been trying for weeks to teach John-Marc placement in maths i.e. units, tens, hundreds etc.  To my amazement, he quickly grasped the concept when he saw large denominations on the Zambian Kwatcha currency.

This was a true home schooling experience in which our children learnt about different cultures, currencies, geography, history, maths, science etc all in one mission trip.

Many thanks to our faithful ministry partners who make it possible for us to help the needy and further the Great Commission in Africa. 

Charl van Wyk

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"And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" Revelation 11:15

Zambia

Our family will be leaving for Lusaka, Zambia this week - the road trip is almost 3000km and includes long distances on pot-holed roads and border crossings.

We intend supporting our friends Dr John and Joyce Jere who run the Samaritan Childrens Home (SCH) near Lusaka. The orphanage cares for little ones who have lost both parents, mostly to HIV/Aids. Some of the children have been HIV positive since birth.

John, who also founded Zambia United Christian Action, serves on the National Constitutional Conference of Zambia: a body rewriting the national constitution.

"Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling." Psalm 2:10-11

We look forward to supporting them as they serve the Lord in these ministries.

We'd appreciate your prayers for our safety, health and strength to be a blessing, as we serve alongside our ministry partners.

Rev Bill Bathman

The Chairman of the Board of Frontline Fellowship, Rev. Bill Bathman (fondly known as 'Uncle Bill' in Africa), has been hospitalised in Phoenix, Arizona.

Last month, 'Uncle Bill’ was scheduled for a minor surgery, which was postponed because a six centimetre mass was found in his lower left lung. Further tests found that his blood levels were not suitable for surgery, or for a biopsy.  It has now been found that he has cancer of the lung.

Please pray with us for God’s healing hand and for His grace upon Uncle Bill and Aunty Harriett Bathman.

Regards
Charl

"And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:15

Dear Friend

US Visit

My ministry visit to the USA from 23 April - 13 June went very well.  Ministry opportunities included nine public meetings, 18 radio shows and two CBN television interviews.  I enjoyed many personal visits with friends and ministry partners.  Some of the cities and towns I visited included: Pleasanton, CA, Tempe, AZ, San Antonio and Fort Worth, TX, Mt. Vernon, MO and Fairfax, VA.

On entering the US in Washington, DC, we stood for quite a while at Immigration with only two officials helping non-immigrant visitors.  A man behind me in the queue complained about the lack of efficiency in the US.  I was shocked and stated that he had obviously never been to the Congo.  "I have!" he replied, "I travelled in a private jet."  Turned out he works for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and was visiting the US to attend a World Bank meeting.

I loved the idea that the South African Minister of Finance and this SADC bureaucrat had to stand in the same queue as the rest of the visitors to the US.  My friend is obviously used to being a VIP in Africa, and not accustomed to daily life with the rest of us.

On one flight across the US from East to West, I had to change flights en route.  On the next flight we taxied a few yards and then sat in the aircraft for two hours before taking off.  I received two emails from the airline, Southwest.  One apologising for the delay and the other giving me a voucher for more than I paid for the flight, redeemable for one year - amazing service considering that the delay was caused by the Air Traffic Control and not the airline.

On landing in Johannesburg, the wait for my luggage was the longest I had had to endure during my whole trip, which included 12 flights.   I went to my international carrier, South African Airways and asked if they could place me on stand by for any earlier flight to Cape Town.   They wanted me to pay over R800 (around $100) for the privilege of sitting in an empty seat on an earlier flight and if I did not get a flight, my money would not be refunded.  I wished I had taken the contact details of my African SADC official friend!

While in the US I was caught in the May 8 storms in Missouri.  Apparently three people were killed and more than 150 000 were left without power as a result of the strong winds.

The storms hit my friend Jim and Twyla Taylor's home just as we set off to the airport for my flight.  We saw a truck blown over on the highway and some damage was caused to their home.  By God's grace I made it to my destination, despite missing a connecting flight and having my luggage arrive at a different airport.

Ten Commandments

On many occasions I explained to US friends how we as Africans live under the curse of God because we have not obeyed His Word.  As communities and as African nations, we break every one of the Ten Commandments.    

Deuteronomy 28 clearly explains the blessings associated with obedience to God's Word and the curses associated with breaking His Commandments.  Some will argue that these Commandments were only for Israel; but it should be remembered that God expected the non-Israelite city of Nineveh to obey His Word too.

In many communities in Africa, we tend to focus on our personal sin but often ignore our national sin and believe that our Christian walk applies only to our personal walk with Christ, while our corporate sin is ignored.

Sin is defined in Scripture as ‘lawlessness'. (1 John 3:4) i.e. the breaking of God's Law or disobeying His Word.

Many US believers expressed concern that America is following Africa in terms of national disobedience.  “What are you doing in Africa to warn people and turn them back to God?” I was often asked.

Only preaching the Gospel and turning to Christ in repentance and faith will make a difference.  We are called to disciple the nations.  By Prayer, Bible study and Action, we seek to live out what Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”   

We sometimes like to use our prayer as an excuse for doing nothing, rather than a launching pad for action.

From an outsider’s point of view, I believe that the US still has a large remnant of believers who truly love the Lord and His Word.  They are willing to make a difference and are prepared to stand firm in spite of the onslaught from satan and his earthly supporters.

Oliver Cromwell said it well when speaking to his troops: — “put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry.”

Family

Sonja and our four children are very happy to have their father home again.  They were so blessed by the many gifts received from friends in the US.

Roberta (12 going on 22) has started running and swimming again after the operation she underwent on her right leg and foot.  Many thanks for praying for her.

Jason (8) took part in a pentathlon a few weeks ago – the sport which includes running, swimming, fencing and air pistol shooting (at his age), was enjoyed by the military in many nations; later civilians also took part.  

John-Marc (6) wants to be a ‘Bob the Builder’.

Anya (3 going on 30) loves carrying the poor cats around.  I don’t know why they put up with her ‘playing’ with them.  They get pushed around in prams, held in blankets, carried by their necks and just put up with it all.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry.

Charl van Wyk

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"Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:10 

ONCE again, come 22 April 2009, South Africans will be casting their votes for incumbents of both the national and provincial parliaments.  This is the fourth election since the advent of what have become known as the  ‘golden years’ - which began when Nelson Mandela came to power in 1994.

South Africa has a proportional representation system, so that voters vote for parties rather than individual representatives.  One of the weaknesses of this system is that once appointed, MPs are accountable to their leader and not to the electorate.

The Golden Years

On closer examination, these ‘golden years’ of Mandela have not been as golden as one would like to believe.  During Mandela’s tenure as president, he forced ANC (African National Congress) MPs to vote for the legalisation of abortion on demand, thereby circumventing a vote of conscience on the issue.

Mandela also accepted responsibility for the Shell House Massacre in which security guards at the ANC’s headquarters attacked and killed 19 IFP  (Inkatha Freedom Party) members, who were peacefully marching past in a legal demonstration. 

Further, under Mandela’s rule, race classification, finally abandoned by the former National Party government, was re-introduced under the guise of Black Economic Empowerment or Affirmative Action.  We are the only country in the world where Affirmative Action discriminates in favour of the majority and against the minority.

Banana Republic

South Africa has arguably degenerated into what one US official referred to as a ‘Banana Republic’. 

Dinner party conversations are peppered with anecdotes about the growing number of citizens emigrating, the desirability of their various destinations, or the gruesome details of the latest murder, or rape, to make news.  Often, crimes such as murder and rape don’t even make it into the media any more, because they have become so commonplace. 

Besides the more than 20 000 murders and 55 000 rapes we experience annually, the New South Africa also has baby rapes, such as a recent incident in which two adult men raped and tore the tongue of a 16-month-old baby.    A local radio station especially interrupted one of its programmes to appeal to members of the public for financial help after the victim underwent reconstructive surgery.  

All this, leaving aside the spate of electricity blackouts and allegations of gross mismanagement of the only nuclear power station in Southern Africa, Koeberg, which have prompted some to fear a re-enactment of Chernobyl. In addition we have had to contend with water supply problems, the scourge of AIDS (we are among those countries with the highest incidence of AIDS cases), xenophobic killing sprees and millions of refugees who pour through our borders to escape the horrors of war and famine in their own countries.

Zumaphobia 

Then there is the issue of corruption. Jacob Zuma, the ANC’s third party president since Mandela, recently faced 743 charges of fraud, tax evasion, corruption and money laundering and while his partner in crime, Schabir Shaik went to jail, Zuma escaped scot-free, as the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) conveniently withdrew all charges against him, paving the way for him to become our next president.

Zuma, an ex-Communist Party member, once served as the intelligence chief of the ANC military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe or "Spear of the Nation."

Apart from being a talented toyi-toyer (an energetic protest dance peculiar to the ANC), he is also an accomplished dancer and singer at political rallies, well known for his signature tune, the somewhat provocative and controversial: "Bring me my machine gun!" 

Freedom

Like many African states, we are quick to celebrate the day we received our freedom and independence from colonialism and white minority rule.

But it is often forgotten that most African governments still grant its subjects far less political freedom than did those previous National Party governments in this country.

In a post-apartheid South Africa, the ANC has revoked car and firearm licenses, which were previously issued for life. While dangerous criminals continue to have easy access to lethal weapons, law-abiding citizens are forced to undergo laborious procedures for "re-licensing".

Under the present regime, the right to privacy has also come a cropper. South Africans are compelled by law to furnish a plethora of unnecessary personal details to banking institutions. If they don’t, they risk having their bank accounts closed.  Our most personal information is often freely distributed to the highest bidder. 

Government has tried to dictate profit margins, rather than stimulate competition and has almost brought several industries to their knees. These include the pharmaceutical, insurance, optometrist and security industries, not to mention the state airline – SAA – which has become synonymous with corruption, drug smuggling and managerial greed.

The mass extermination of the nation’s farmers (over 2000 white farmers have been viciously murdered) and the constant threat of government land expropriation has demoralised the agricultural sector and turned us into a net importer of food, where once we were a sizable exporter. 

Government has forced several tertiary educational institutions to close with the result that many valuable educational programmes such as the MBA have been discontinued. Concerted efforts to establish a Christian University have been thwarted at every turn and it has been made virtually impossible to legally register such an institution.

Take the firearm industry. Once formidable, it has now collapsed; over 500 gun shops have closed their doors; often, those who obediently handed in their firearms to the state, have seen these very same firearms being used by violent and unscrupulous criminals.

On 31 August 2009, Gun Owners of South Africa (Gosa) will take on the government in the Cape High Court. All it is trying to do is to force Government to obey its own laws and to compensate those who have dutifully given up arms.

Gosa has brought charges of ‘theft under false pretences’ and ‘intimidation’ against senior police officials because of the means they used to force gun owners to hand over their firearms to the state.

It should also be noted that the latest firearm laws also replace the widely respected ‘presumption of innocence’ with the ‘presumption of guilt’, and searches without a warrant have become legal.

On the edge

In a country that has become a murder and crime capital of the world, the influential ANC Youth Leader Julius Malema, a man not known for his diplomacy and circumspection, has publicly announced that he and his cohorts are prepared to "take up arms and kill for Zuma!"

An ANC leader recently verbally attacked the breakaway party, COPE, accusing its members of "behaving like cockroaches and (needing to be) destroyed."  Almost the same words (cockroaches) were used in Rwanda by the Hutu government supporters to describe the mainly Christian Tutsis and lead to the massacre of almost a million Tutsi’s in the Rwandan Holocaust in 1994.

At the moment, billions of taxpayer Rand's are being spent so that South Africa can soon host the 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament.

Our economy is weathering the worldwide recession better than many more developed economies across the globe.

We have democracy, political freedom and moderate economic prosperity. Indeed, to outside eyes, all may seem well.

But is it?

No one would dare defend the racial discrimination of apartheid as morally defensible.

But it is arguable that, in some respects, the crime, corruption, chaos and Affirmative Action that has replaced it, is not much better and in other respects, is even worse.

Under the yoke of apartheid, the majority of the population was admittedly far from free. Today, with our unprecedented levels of crime, a pervasive veil of fear ensures that almost no South African is free.

Ministry Opportunities

This threatening climate makes ministry opportunities abound. 

Our Africa Christian Action ministry organises and hosts Sanctity Life Sunday, the National Day of Repentance, National Women’s Day outreaches in shopping malls, and the Life Chain. 

This year marked the 12th 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, Taryn and I also speak on many local, national and international radio stations.

Tons of food and relief aid were delivered to starving Christians in Zimbabwe.  Hundreds of prisoners were supplied with soap, toothpaste, antiseptics, rice, salt, books, stationery and other vital supplies.  Many pastors and evangelists were equipped with audiovisual evangelistic equipment and thousands of Bibles and Christian books. 

Leadership Training Courses have been conducted in Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Congo (DRC) and Sudan.   

We produce Frontline Fellowship News, a newsletter updating our friends and supporters about the work and make available information that will enrich your prayer life.

We have also been sending out an average of six e-updates per month.  We regularly receive feedback from around the world to these articles and news items by e-mail.

Aside from producing the regular Frontline Fellowship News, Prayer and Praise Updates and other E-Updates, we also produce the Christian Action magazine, which is distributed throughout South Africa and to 40 other countries.  We regularly receive positive feedback over the CA articles, particularly the film reviews, dealing as they do with such important culture shapers. 

Our Libraries for Pastors and Bibles and Bikes for Africa programmes have also received some tremendously encouraging responses from as far afield as Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, India, Congo and Nigeria. 

Every month Frontline sends out many packages of books in response to requests from pastors, evangelists and students throughout Africa and even further afield. 

Thank you for your partnership in ministry

Charl van Wyk

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US Visit

I'll, Lord willing, be visiting the USA and be available for meetings from 24 April – 10 May 2009.

Any ministry opportunities on radio, at home cell groups, church or public meetings etc will be most welcome.    I can report on our ministry to the Congo and Zambia.  Topics like forgiveness, South Africa’s slippery slide of surrender to the pagans (and the Christian response - working for an African Reformation) can be dealt with.    Self-defence is a topic for both Christian groups or gun associations.

Please contact Debbie at In Touch Mission International (Tempe, AZ) for any opportunities you might want to arrange.

debbie.henry@intouchmission.org or 1-888-918-4100

Charl van Wyk

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Congo Visit

Then the LORD said: "... but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD- " Numbers 14:20-21

Dear Friend

As many as five million Congolese have died in the wars that have ravaged the country since 1998. Humanitarian organisations believe that millions have fled their homes and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped. The people are traumatised.  I was invited by Bishop Lamba Lamba to minister in Lubumbashi.

Arrival

My arrival at Lubumbashi International Airport was without incident, only because my friends Ps Jeff, Ps Andre and the RTIV television crew were standing to one side of the terminal calling me. They dealt with all the necessary bureaucracy, something we Africans just can't do without - it's our way of creating jobs.

Then it happened; Ps Andre arrived at the vehicle and advised that the immigration official said that because I had a new passport I had to pay US$10 - I pointed out that the passport was old (1 year) and that I had already travelled to the Congo on this passport last year. The previous visa was available for all to see, and I had paid the 'new passport fee' last year - it worked - no fees.

Redtco Congress

One can get called on at anytime for a television interview whilst ministering with the Come and See Church and Redtco (The acronym stands for "The Gathering of the Children of God for the Transformation of the Congo"). Once again I was caught by surprise (in Africa we don't plan anything too long in advance) but when we arrived at the television station all the electricity went off, so the interview took place the following day.

I found out the theme of the Congress when I arrived the day before we started - my lecture topics were given at the same time.

The Minister of Education, Minister of Sport for Katanga Province and the Mayor of Lubumbashi were guest speakers at the Congress. The Mayor had her body guard in the church hall with an automatic assault rifle over his shoulder.  Not often one sees this in a church.

The main theme of the Congress was: The Search for Identity

My lecture topics included:

Youth

Of the three day Redtco Congress, one was dedicated especially to training the youth. In dealing with families as the building block of society and one of God's ordained areas of government, I spoke about the most taboo subject viz. sex and relationships. Protection was also high on the agenda.  The Congo is a gun-free zone. Then came the question from the floor: "How do we protect the young in the East (the war zone), they get kicked around like political footballs?"

I explained that arming families would be the only way to protect the young children. I then thought that a family explanation would do: "I have a firearm in South Africa that I use to protect my family...I have also armed my two little sons (6 and 8 years old) with knives (they have been well trained in the use thereof) and I've explained to them that if anyone attacks their sisters (2 and 12 years old) that they must stab the attackers with their knives."

This story was too much for my Congolese friends to contain.  The hall erupted with shocked laughter and loud discussions in the pews. My friend and interpreter Ps Oscar still has a good laugh every time he remembers the episode.

It is amazing how illustrations to African youth differ from those in Western nations e.g. I told the girls that when a boy wants to sleep with them out of wedlock, they must tell him to go and play with the crocodiles in the river.

One politician mentioned that the youth must have smaller families when they get married.  She said that if they 'only have' 5 children then they will have less problems than if they have 10 children. (I corrected her humanistic thinking during my lecture.)

Devotions

I led morning devotions at the school of 700 pupils at which Ps Andre is headmaster - the assemblies take place outside; there is no hall. The children listened intently when I dealt with the St James Massacre and how I had to deal with bitterness and forgiveness thereafter. Again when I explained that I had returned fire at the terrorists in the church, shocked laughter and discussions started.  I had to wait for the excitement to calm down before I could carry on.

I suppose when you've lived in a gun-free country, where only the government and criminals have guns (no country is gun-free, the government and thugs are always armed) it is pretty shocking to have a missionary shoot someone in church, albeit a terrorist.

Marriage

I learned how various culture groups in the Congo prepare for marriage:

The Congo is a wonderful place to work, the Congolese have had enough of the chaos of the past and are looking for real answers to life's challenges. The humanist worldview has caused the mess and people are very open to the Gospel and Biblical discipleship to see real change that will further the
Kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of man. A consignment of bicycles to help further the Gospel by 'putting wheels under the Word' is on its way to the Congo thanks to the blessing of ministry partners and friends in the USA.

Opportunities

Crime is still out of control in South Africa; burglary, murder, rape and hi-jackings are happening where we live and near the Frontline Fellowship mission.  However, the government attack on legal firearm owners is gaining momentum.  We have to renew our gun licences we were issued for 'life'. I've helped establish a court action for the state to pay compensation to those who have to hand over their firearms to the state.

Our ministry radio programme on Radio Tygerberg is still going strong and reaching tens of thousands of listeners every Tuesday.  You can listen to our programme at www.104fm.org.za at 9pm GMT +2.

Dr Peter Hammond's Biblical Principles for Africa (French Edition) has been consumed by the Congolese and is now out of print.  There are desperate pleas for more copies.  Please pray with us that we will be able to print more for these desperate brothers and sisters in Christ.   

Yours in the service of King Jesus

Charl van Wyk

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Zimbabwean ministry

On 28 November 2008 a Southern African Development Council tribunal in Windhoek ruled in favour of 78 Zimbabwean farmers who, having exhausted all means for a fair trial in the Zimbabwean courts, sued the Zimbabwean government for compensation for their farms expropriated i.e. stolen, during
the land grabs by the now infamous dictator Robert (Bob) Mugabe.

The full bench of judges ruled unanimously that the confiscation of the farmers' lands was both discriminatory and racist.  The tribunal ruled that the Zimbabwean government has to pay full compensation for the land and not just the buildings - as suggested by the Zimbabwean government.

It was a tough road for the applicants.  Ben Freeth and his 75-year-old father-in-law, Mike Campbell (and his 66 year old wife, Angela) were abducted prior to the hearing.  All three were brutally tortured by Mugabe's militias for hours in an attempt to force them to abandon the court action.

Obviously Mugabe and his ruling thugs will not obey the court ruling.  Why should they?  Mugabe's ZANU-PF has already lost elections and is still hanging onto power with little international pressure to hand over the reigns to the legitimate winner, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Mugabe's ZANU-PF has already gotten away with:

So why now obey a tribunal ruling? 

Naturally, the population first had to be disarmed before all this chaos could take place because it is very difficult for tyrants to do these things when the population is armed.

At the height of the farm expropriation program in 2000 a government decree, aimed at the white commercial farmers, forced citizens to hand in their firearms.

Again in 2005 Zimbabwean police had to order civilians to hand in their firearms - some citizens just don't listen - when they demolished thousands of homes and informal businesses in the 'urban clean up' campaign during which shanty homes of almost 1 million people were demolished. 

Thousands are dying from a Cholera outbreak since water supplies have collapsed. 

Our Frontline Fellowship mission team reported, after their mission trip, that hospitals have effectively closed down due to nurses not being paid, chronic power failures and the collapse of plumbing systems; this has hammered the final nail into the coffin of the collapsed health care system.

Frontline Fellowship is preparing another mission trip to take in supplies of Bibles, medicine, food and Gospel literature to help the suffering.

Charl van Wyk

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January, 2009

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 

Dear Friend

I've just returned from visiting the south central African state of Zambia.  The first time I really took any notice of this country was when I heard in 1987 that four missionaries had been jailed in Lusaka Central Prison under the then dictator, Kenneth Kaunda.  Kaunda, during his 27 years in power, managed to not only nationalise the copper mines but also bicycle shops and laundromats - know wonder the country fell into ruin.

Missionary Prisoners

But back to the prisoners:  Peter Hammond and fellow missionaries were crossing the border into Zambia en route to a ministry outreach to Mozambique.  The local customs officials demanded bribes but when these were not forthcoming started literally taking their car to pieces looking for illegal items; they of course found none but the missionaries were incarcerated anyway.

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher personally took up Peter’s case at the Commonwealth Conference in Vancouver.  He was released with apologies.

Peter later returned to Zambia and preached in the prison and reached out to inmates with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He returned on many occasions to minister and deliver Bibles, soap, food and medicines to the same prison.

Samaritan Children’s Home

I’ve just ministered with my friends Bishop John and Joyce Jere of Zambia United Christian Action.  John and Joyce run the Samaritan Children’s Home (SCH) near Lusaka.  The orphanage cares for little ones who have lost both parents, mostly to HIV/Aids.  Some of the children have been HIV positive since birth.

UNICEF and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Service have since 2005 been imposing all sorts of rules and regulations like minimum space, equipment and furnishings requirements on all local orphanages.  The standards are foreign and very difficult for local Christian organisations and churches to meet.  Strangely enough, SCH has never received the $1000 monthly government grant with which to feed the children. 

SCH has to report every child that gets sick to government and detail all the action taken e.g. doctors visits, medicine taken etc.  Government has warned those caring for orphans:  The children belong to the state, not to you; you are just caring for them (obviously at your own expense!)

Government, under UN pressure, forced SCH to have older children reintegrated with any of their extended family members.  Christians, and not Muslims or Chinese Communists, run most orphanages - and the UN is making it as difficult as possible for local Christians to run such institutions.

The children were devastated about being forced to leave; John even rented a house away from the SCH premises to accommodate those who had nowhere to go.  The house is run by a 12 year old and the children are still fed by John and Joyce.

The ministry now has much higher costs because John and his team visit all the orphans at their new homes to make sure that they get fed and go to school.  One young 13-year-old girl was raped by a neighbour of the family she was forced to live with - she has subsequently returned to SCH.

Joyce is running a Christian school at SCH for their children and others in the community.  John also reaches out to the poor and suffering in Zimbabwe and Lukulu West areas and is serving on the National Constitutional Conference of Zambia: a body rewriting the national constitution.

Preaching

I was privileged to preach at the morning service on Sunday, which lasted almost 3 hours including question time. 

Soon after the service another was held in which I was ordained a pastor and missionary of Zambia United Christian Action (ZUCA).  It is has been a privilege for me to minister with ZUCA since 1993.  The organization speaks out and is consulted by government on pro-life, Biblical justice and pro-family issues.

On this visit I delivered boxes of ministry materials to Zambia United Christian Action and to the World Baptist Evangelistic Association as well as a laptop computer to missionary Ps Somwe Fataki, to enhance his ministry amongst Congolese refugees.

Outreaches

Our National Day of Repentance outreaches and march to Parliament in Cape Town, including a time of prayer at the gates of Parliament, take place on 30 January and Sanctity Life Sunday on 1 February.

I’ve also been invited as a guest speaker to the Second International Congress of REDTCO in the Congo.  The First Congress (2005) was exceptionally well attended by hundreds of Christian leaders from all over the Congo and Africa, including lawyers, judges and politicians. 

This year I believe will be a great opportunity to minister at the Congress.  The host 'Come and See Church' also has a citywide television and radio station.

Please pray for these events – that His kingdom will come and His will be done in Africa as it is in heaven.

Many blessings

Charl van Wyk

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