Kwasizabantu 2001 Highlights Newsletter
Dear Friends We had so wished to send out a newsletter a few months ago but somehow we get so busy that writing gets neglected. The Lord has been showing His glory in so many wonderful ways – new converts to the faith, new outreaches locally and abroad and many individuals finding freedom from bondage. The awesome power of the Gospel surpasses any attempt by mankind to show his strength. The World Trade Centre disaster is an example of the destructiveness of man’s boastful show of power. When the Lord works He brings down high towers of pride and sin in order to save, heal and bless the nations. It brings us great joy to observe the working of the Lord in the Inyambane Province of Mozambique. A Kwasizabantu co-worker, Carlos Vilanculos, who trained as a mechanic at Kwasizabantu and has been serving the Lord for some years, has returned to his home area and is preaching the Gospel to the local people there. Over the last year a small congregation has been established and is rapidly growing. The area is extremely poor and most of the local inhabitants are deeply involved in the occult. In the month of June 2001 a lady arrived dragging a chain which had been used to tie her down. She was a witch and was suffering the insanity of demon possession.
She told Carlos that she had dreamt the night before that she can come to him for help. He explained the way of salvation to her. He carefully described the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and then (with reference to Rom 10:9) he quoted: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Carlos asked her: "Do you believe in your heart that Jesus has risen from the dead?" The witch, Mama Florinda, said that she did and they prayed together for salvation and for her sanity to return. She was immediately clear minded and
the following day she returned with her daughter whom Carlos also led to the Lord.
Carlos then counseled Mama Florinda to reveal the works of darkness in her life, especially since she had been so heavily involved in the occult. They went to her hut and she exposed all her witchcraft paraphernalia and fetishes and brought it to be burned in a public service.
Please pray for Carlos and the fledgling congregation. The need in the area is overwhelming. Besides the darkness of the occult there is also extreme poverty and degradation. While on the subject of fire services – the Lord was greatly glorified at the fire service held at Kwasizabantu in October. The text was: "Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:19). A vast array of occult fetishes and other paraphernalia was burnt. (See more about it on our website at: http://www.ksb.org.za/fire_service_.htm) One of the highlights this year was the performance of Handel’s Messiah in the auditorium. About 6,000 children and teens from rural areas attended the Händel's Messiah at Kwasizabantu Mission on 8 December, rendered by the Natal Bach Choir and P.A.M.S. Choir with the P.A.M.S. Augmented Orchestra under the baton of Lutz Kohrs. Also present was the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Lionel Mtshali, and the German Ambassador Mrs Peters. It was a very special occasion for everyone present, especially when the Hallelujah Chorus was sung together with a choir from the mission.
YOUTH WEEK: More youth still arrived during that weekend and it was a time of much blessing from 7 to 14 December with so many thousands of young people seeking Christ for their lives. During one service the children were asked who did not have at least one Bible in their family. Almost a thousand registered their names for a Bible. Donors bought them 330 complete Bibles and the Gideons handed out 3,000 Zulu New Testaments. For more information, with photos and video/audio clips, see: http://www.ksb.org.za/outreaches/des2001_youth_summaries.htm.
MINISTERS CONFERENCE POSTPONED - As you probably know, we have been holding Ministers’ Conferences annually for over a decade. The next one was due in March 2002, but with the many activities and lots of work and opportunities that the Lord gave us over the past year, we have not been able to arrange for this Conference in time and we have decided to hold the next one in March 2003, Lord willing. We will keep you informed about the date and other details as the time comes nearer. An international Kwasizabantu Ministers' Conference will be held Lord willing in Switzerland from 6 to 9 May 2002. VARIOUS OUTREACHES: Throughout 2001 many opportunities to spread the Word of God have presented themselves. Teams from South Africa and Europe were invited by various churches and organisations. Whether one is preaching in primitive areas (as in Mozambique) or in `advanced’ countries like the USA, the Gospel is the same. The wicked human heart is lost and needs a Saviour. Sin needs to be confessed and turned from. What a joy it is to bring the “eternal Gospel” to every creature. May the Lord Himself be close to you in this New Year. In His love,
Erlo Stegen