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June – July 2008
issue
Nachrichten des ERF in Deutsch
Editorial
Dear Friend
Healthy church leadership is crucial as it greatly determines the priorities and vibrancy of a church. The Church in Africa is indeed growing, but it needs dynamic leadership, based on a solid Biblical foundation, with a true understanding of God’s mandate for the Church of Jesus Christ. For this reason, Christian leadership development is one of TWR’s global focus areas. We have dedicated this issue to this important matter and also seek to encourage you to be even more effective for His Kingdom.
All of us strive for success in our lives. Many of us, though, have a wrong idea of what success is all about. Here are some myths about success:
We believe success is equal to productivity, so we work for it. However, too much hard work could result in a burnout or ruined relationships.
We believe success comes from opportunity, so we wait for it. If only ... When opportunity comes it is often too late to prepare for it.
We believe success comes from connections, so we network for it. We say: “It is not what you know, but who you know.”
We believe success is an event, so we schedule it – conferences, seminars, training.
The secret of our success is instead determined by our daily agenda, understood through a dynamic and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. If we have our priorities in line with what God expects from us, we will make a success through His strength and grace. Matthew 6:33 is crucial in keeping our focus when determining our priorities. Everything we do must have His Kingdom at heart!
May you achieve great success through our Lord!
Greetings
Danie du Preez
(National Director, TWR-SA
Strengthened by solid Biblical teaching
One of the challenges facing the church in Africa is the lack of solid Biblical education for pastors. As a result, many church leaders fall prey to shallow doctrine and false teachings that are sometimes only subtle variations of the Word of God. A TWR listener from Botswana writes about this:
“We are an expatriate family of seven living in a closed diamond mining town of about 14 000 people in central Botswana. The town is wealthy when compared with other African towns and villages. There are no beggars in the streets and medical care is excellent. Just about everyone has good housing and many people drive their own cars. The diamond mining company takes good care of its employees.
“Contrasted with the material wealth of the town, the spiritual poverty of the people living here is appalling. There are not many Bible-believing Christians. There are a few churches, but most if not all of these teach little in the way of sound doctrine. False doctrine is very widespread and I think that many churchgoers here believe that God simply wants them healthy, wealthy and feeling good about themselves. There is no place where people can go to have the truth of God’s Word explained and taught to them, whereas false teaching is available everywhere. Whether it’s coming from so-called Christian satellite TV stations, books, or a ‘Great man of God’ who has popped into town for a miracle crusade, these teachings have greatly weakened the churches here.
Leadership development – a crucial need in the Church in Africa
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Bekele Shanko was born into a rural Ethiopian family. Bekele’s father worshipped Satan and abused alcohol as well as his three wives. At the age of four, young Bekele was officially dedicated for a lifetime of satanic worship, destined to follow in his father’s footsteps.
But God had another plan for him. With no church or Christian witness in their region, Bekele was introduced to the message of the Gospel through a series of incredible events. He was transformed by the living Christ and is being used miraculously by God to bring hope and healing in Africa. Despite his keen intellect and courageous faith, Bekele also displays deep humility and dependence on God as he asks probing questions and expresses his passion to develop as a Christian leader.
Burning Questions: Keys to success
The secret of our success is greatly determined by our daily agenda. Good decisions today will give you a better tomorrow. In John Maxwell’s book, Today Matters, he suggests 12 principles we should manage on a daily basis and which will help us lead a fulfilled, balanced life. We look at three of these principles here and feature the rest in forthcoming issues.
1. Today’s attitude gives me possibilities (Phil. 2:5)
Your attitude at the beginning of a task or project affects its outcome more than anything else. Fix your mind on the facts and not the feelings, and focus on the possibilities, not the problems. Your attitude, not your achievements, gives you joy. The thoughts in your mind will always be more important than the things in your life. Moreover, your attitude towards others often determines their attitude towards you. Your attitude is also contagious.
Decision:
- I will keep a positive attitude and use it to influence others. Every day I will make the adjustments necessary to keep my attitude right and in line with God’s Word.
- Take responsibility for your attitude and change the way you look at things.
- Decide to change your bad attitude areas.
- Think, act, talk and conduct yourself like the person you know God wants you to be.
- Place a high value on people.
- Develop a high appreciation of life.
- Start to appreciate little things in life; then you will appreciate the big things and everything in-between.
- Recognise that your attitude needs daily adjustment.
- Find something positive in everything, in every situation, in every conversation.
- Remove negative words from your vocabulary and speak the Word of God.
- Express gratitude to others daily.