Crime and Corruption by Africa Christian Action

2012 Vol 2 PO Box 23632 Claremont 7735 Cape Town South Africa Tel: 021 689 4481 Fax: 021 685 5884 Email: info@christianaction.org.za Web: www.christianaction.org.za

Crime and Corruption "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption." 2 Peter 2:19 The African Union calculates that every year over US$148 Billion is stolen from the continent by its leaders. That works out to more than a quarter of the continent's entire Gross Domestic Product lost to corruption - every single year. The World Bank reports that 40% of Africa's private wealth is held offshore. Global Financial Integrity calculates that Africa has lost well over US$900 Billion since 1970. That is far in excess of total Development Assistance

given to Africa during that same time. More than US$300 Billion of Western aid has been sunk into Africa, yet most states are effectively bankrupt, weighed down by debt, and failing to provide even minimum public services.

and effective government is the eradication of corruption. Corruption prevents a country from realising its potential. Corruption steals from everyone. It is calculated that every one of us pays at least 20% more for goods

Stealing from Everyone Most African countries today have a lower per capita income than they had at independence. More than half of Africa's total population live on less than US$2 per day. Nahu Ribadu, the former head of Nigeria's Anti-Corruption Commission, has declared that the best way to attack poverty is to attack corruption. The prerequisite to all efficient

Corruption Impoverishes Corruption discourages investment, retards development and increases costs to the consumer. As Robert Guest, the African Editor of The Economist observes in The Shackled Continent: "For half a century now, the continent has been deluged with aid, but this aid has failed to make Africans any less poorâ&#x20AC;Ś it has bankrolled tyrantsâ&#x20AC;Ś or idealists with (continued on Page2)

Christophobia in Europe The secularisation and paganisation of large sections of Europe is tragic. There are surprisingly d y n a m i c p o c ke t s o f spiritual vitality and life amidst the general atheism and heathenism, but the general picture in Europe is of spiritual decline. Missionary Power House In 1900, Evangelicals in Europe constituted 45% of the world's Evangelicals. Now less than 4% of all Evangelicals in the world are in Europe. The 19th

A prayer rally at Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

century was the greatest

and services because of the costs of corruption.

century of Missionary (Continued on Page 4)

In this Issue Crime and Corruption

Christophobia in Europe

Campus Christians Under Fire

Action Items

Biblical Worldview Summit

Upcoming Events

Fight for Family Values

Farm Murders

The Battle for a Christian Calendar

Your Church can have a Christian School

Are You Serious about Missions?

Reclaim Your Campus for Christ

Crime and Corruption (Continued from page 1)

hopeless economic policies… both types of aid have been wasted …doing business in Africa can be tricky. Bad roads, punctuated by roadblocks, manned by bribe-hungry policemen, make it slow and costly to move goods, even short distances… local firms, meanwhile, have been held back by arbitrary government regulations, dysfunctional legal systems and the difficulty for those without political connections, of raising capital… If Africa was better governed it would be richer." Predatory Officials Guest's conclusion: "Africans are poor largely because they are not yet free. They live under predatory, incompetent governments which… impoverish them in many ways: through corruption, through bad economic policies, and sometimes, as in Zimbabwe, by creating an atmosphere of terror…" One Makes a Difference Under Nahu Ribadu, Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured 250 convictions and recovered over US$5 Billion in stolen public funds.

PO Box 23632 Claremont 7735 Cape Town South Africa Tel: 021 689 4480 Fax: 021 685 5884 Email:info@christianaction.org.za Web: www.christianaction.org.za Publisher Africa Christian Action Editor Dr Peter Hammond Associate Editors Dorothea Scarborough Taryn Hodgson Lenora Hammond DTP Brendon Schäfer PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE Christian Action is published quarterly by Africa Christian Action. All articles and news items from this publication may be reproduced, or quoted from, on condition that due credit is given to Christian Action. Please also post, or email, us a copy of any article.

Paul Kagame: “We need trade, not aid!”

Trade Not Aid The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, advocates trade, not aid. He is convinced that it is essential for Africa to end dependency on foreign aid, as foreign aid fuels corruption. Corruption is the second most prevalent crime on the continent. Leaders need to become more accountable to the taxpayers. More auditors are needed. Anticorruption reforms are essential. As leaders steal seven times more than the total value of foreign aid poured into Africa each year, it is clear that far more valuable than any foreign aid would be to end the endemic corruption which is looting the resources of this great continent. Stealing from the Poor Every week our newspapers are awash with scandals about elected officials’ and public servants’ extravagant lifestyles and outrageous expenditures. Yet, despite the state raking in over R600 Billion in taxes each year they continually run at a deficit. Taxpayers wonder where all this money is going when there are so many schools without books, children taught in the open air, hospitals short of medicines and hospital patients going hungry because the provincial government has not paid the service providers.

Looted Treasury The Auditor General of South Africa reported over R20 Billion in unauthorised spending for the last fiscal y e a r. O n l y 3 o f 3 9 government departments had clean audits. The police Special Investigating Unit reports that at least R30 Billion was lost to government corruption last year. The finances of 5 provinces in South Africa are in severe disarray. Heading the list of provinces spending way beyond their means was Limpopo Province. Even with over R2 Billion overspent, the Limpopo government was not able to pay doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, and other public sector employees.

Expired medicines still in the warehouses, because the Limpopo government failed to deliver them.

Scandals The former president of C r i c ke t S A h a s b e e n engulfed in a corruption crisis. The Arms Deal of 1999 continues to make headlines, along with the Travelgate abuse of public finances by members of parliament, the conviction on corruption charges of former National Police Commissioner, (and ex-

Former Chief of Police, Bheki Cele.

president of Interpol), the Chief of Police suspended for corruption investigations, and traffic police under investigation for buying illegal licences. The examples of unscrupulous politicians who squander taxpayers money with impunity, stealing from the poor, in the name of uplifting the poor, is endemic.

Former Police Commissioner, Selebi.

Bankrupt If the provinces were commercial enterprises, they would have been declared insolvent and liquidated to settle their debts. All too many politicians seem to view positions in government as an opportunity to enrich themselves at the public expense. The toxic mixture of politics, business and greed is sabotaging development, costing jobs and eroding the economy. Corruption Worldwide Nor is this a problem only for the world. Patrick Johnstone of Operation World reports in The Future of the Global Church, that of US$390 Billion given to Christian causes worldwide, $25 Billion was embezzled. Up to 20% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent on bribery, over US$1 Trillion a year. Up to 50% of all aid to developing countries is stolen before it can reach (Continued on Page 3)

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Crime and Corruption (Continued from page 2)

its intended recipients. World wide, an estimated US$400 Billion is lost to corruption. Every year over 10% of humankind are forced to pay a bribe.

Banksters Probably the greatest corruption and theft in history was perpetrated by b a n ke r s ( n o w o f t e n labelled Banksters) who triggered the Great Recession of 2008, through unethical speculation and selling of worthless derivatives. The cost to the US economy was over 135% of its GDP. The cost to the United Kingdom was over 149% of its total GDP. The only people who have benefited from the Depression caused by the irresponsible speculative bubble, have been the Banksters themselves. "The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight.” Proverbs 11:1 Theft by Inflation A survey on inflation in South Africa (undertaken by the Old Mutual), reported that in 1971 you could buy a car for about R1 000. In 1981, the same amount of money would buy a motorbike. By 2001, the buying power of R1 000 Christian Action

had collapsed so, that you could buy a bicycle. Now a good pair of running shoes could cost over R1 000. "Skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales… I will never forgive." Amos 8:5-7 The devastating impact of u n b a c k e d currency/inflation on pensions and savings is criminal. Biblical Law requires that we use honest scales and honest weights – honest money backed by real constant value (Proverbs 20:10). "Shall I count pure those with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? For her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth." Mic. 6: 11,12

The Cost of Crime It is estimated that approximately one third of all business failures each year can be traced to employee theft. Of course, when businesses close down, employees lose their jobs and families suffer. Yet it is estimated that almost half of all employees are guilty of stealing (often called shrinkage!) Now, obviously somebody has to pay for the cost of all

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this theft. You and I, and all other customers, have to share the burden of the Billions of Rands shoplifted, or stolen, by employees, or embezzled by civil servants. In addition, we have to pay for the increased insurance premiums, the additional security personnel and equipment necessitated by this stealing spree. It all gets added to the price tag of everything we buy. Of course, we also pay for the cost of crime through our taxes, and when supporting the police force, the legal and judicial system, and the prison service, which are all meant to protect us from the criminal elements of society. Corruption Increases "Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough." Ecclesiastes 8:11. Surely that is the common sense answer. Corruption is increasing in our society because criminals are not punished swiftly enough. God has instituted civil government as "an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer" Romans 13:4. Civil government is called to be a minister of God's justice: "To punish those who do wrong" 1 Peter 2:14. Restitution In cases of theft, arson, or malicious damage to property, the Bible decrees restitution, the restoration of what was stolen to the owner. It is reparation for injury, or damage to p r o p e r t y. T h e B i b l e requires that restitution goes entirely to the victim -

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of the crime (Ex. 22:3-6). Christian Integrity As Christians we are called to the highest standards of integrity. We are not to fuel the corruption industry by giving in to pressure to pay bribes, or award contracts on the basis of political connections. Crime can be combatted and corruption can be eradicated if those who claim to be Christians will live according to Biblical principles. A friend of mine in Zambia, Lawrence Temfwe, worked in a bank and over the years embezzled money from it. When he was caught, he was sentenced to prison. There he was converted to Christ and after serving his sentence in prison, worked to re-pay the bank all that he had stolen from it. Now, according to the laws of the land, he had done the crime and paid the time. No one was expecting anything more from him. However, Lawrence knew from the Scriptures that he was responsible to make full restitution. What a testimony when he re-paid the bank! Lawrence Te m f w e w e n t o n t o become the head of Prison Fellowship in Zambia. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11 Dr. Peter Hammond

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Christophobia in Europe (Continued from page 1)

advance. It was a century of astounding inventions and of spectacular advances in technology. Many countries

in Europe experienced dynamic Spiritual Revivals. Christian missionaries from Europe won whole tribes and nations to Christ, in the remotest regions of the globe. For o v e r a thousand years, Europe had been Christendom, the heartland a n d stronghold of Christian civilisation. The 19th century saw such staggering growth in numbers, productivity, power and wealth, that most would have imagined that Europe would have continued to dominate the globe for centuries to come. The optimism which had prevailed in the 19th century gave way to profound pessimism after the First World War.

Devastation However, World War I shattered Europe. An entire generation of young men died in brutal trench warfare. 1914 marked the end of the greatest century of Christian advance and the beginning of what proved to be the worst century of persecution. The consequences of the First W o r l d W a r, continue to have farreaching repercussions to this present day. Of the 60 m i l l i o n European soldiers who were mobilised from 1914 to 1918, over 9 million were killed, 7 million permanently disabled and 15 million seriously injured.

Retreat from Victory At t h e f i r s t World Missions Conference, in Edinburgh, in 1 9 1 0 , delegates were anticipating the completion Lenin and fellow revolutionaries in Moscow, 1918. of the Great Commission within their killed, crippled, or seriously injured, was the damage to generation. the spiritual life of Europe. No one in 1910 would have Europe went from being a anticipated the wholesale majority church attending abandonment of entire population to a continent nations to communism, where most people do not f a l s e r e l i g i o n a n d go to any church. heathenism. Nor would anyone have predicted that Revolution the church would retreat The secularisation of from victory to such an Europe and the moral extent that they would even breakdown coincided with b e q u e s t i o n i n g t h e a great resurgence of existence of the devil, or revolutionary fervour and hell, or reinterpreting Marxist communism which marriage to include what filled the vacuum left by the G o d a n d t h e B i b l e collapse of the Russian describes as perversion Empire and emergence of many new countries in and an abomination. Eastern Europe. Secularism The cataclysmic conflict of The de-Christianisation and the First World War has to secularisation of Europe be recognised as one of w a s n o t o n l y the most tragic and unprecedented in its scope senseless conflicts in and speed, but would have h i s t o r y. E v e n m o r e been unthinkable before devastating than the actual the First World War. Social numbers of the people Darwinism had become popular amongst most governments in Europe. This thinking emphasized

(Continued on Page 5)

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Christophobia in Europe (Continued from page 4)

the importance of armed struggle between nations as healthy and necessary for progress and evolution. In the wake of the two World Wars, many came to speak of a post-Christian era. Wars and revolutions through the entire world led to disorder and Christianity was

convinced are unethical, such as sterilisations, euthanasia and abortions. Many European Union states do not provide for conscientious objection for medical personnel. Many midwives, doctors, nurses and pharmacists are being placed under unbearable pressure to go against their conscience. In F r a n c e , pharmacists are being compelled by law, to sell the abortion drug, RU486. Desecration Churches and cemeteries in Spain and France have been desecrated and vandalised by Muslim immigrants. In Norway many historic Christian churches have been burned down by arsonists.

Soviet tanks devastated Budapest, Hungary, 1956.

generally marginalised throughout Europe. Christophobia Christians in Britain are s p e a k i n g o f a Christophobia, where an irrational hatred and fear of Christianity is increasing. Church buildings have been vandalised with anti-Christian graffiti on the walls and property looted. British Hotel and B e d a n d Breakfast owners have been sued and fined f o r r e f u s i n g accommodation to homosexual partners. Street preachers have been arrested for proclaiming what God's Word says about perversion. Unethical Compulsion Medical staff have been placed under extraordinary pressure to participate in procedures which they are

remnants of this famous Viking Church. Many black metal and witch house music groups openly declare their hatred of Christianity. Marginalisation The marginalisation of Christians and legal limitations on them is increasingly being recognised as a serious problem. Even Queen Elizabeth II has spoken out against this ominous trend. From hate crimes to legal restrictions, arrests and lawsuits, freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom of conscience are under severe stress in most of Europe. Libel One example is how Norwegian mass murderer, Anders Breivik, was instantaneously and falsely labelled a "Christian fundamentalist" by media worldwide. There was absolutely no evidence of this. In fact, his own writings on the web made clear that he rejected Christianity and rejected the Christian God. Ye t a n t i - C h r i s t i a n prejudices needed a Christian equivalent to Muslim terrorism. All too many journalists thoughtlessly and hastily

War Against God Prominent black metal adherents have been convicted of arson, including burning down the 850 year old Fantoft Stave Church. Black metal fans have declared war on Christianity and a prominent black metal band Burzum, produced an album entitled Aske (Ashes) with a picture of the charred

welcomed this antiChristian fanatic as a "Christian fundamentalist". In many cases this is the same media that refuses to identify the terrorists inspired by Islamic Jihad as Muslim fanatics. Fired for Prayer Dr. David Drew was fired for e-mailing a prayer to hospital colleagues. 64 year old Dr. Drew, who for 40 years had been a senior Medical Director at the hospital, was dismissed for e-mailing a prayer which he thought would be inspirational to his colleagues. The offensive prayer was: "Teach us Good Lord to serve as You deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing we do Your will." Double Standards The head of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Mark Thompson, admitted that Christianity is treated with far less sensitivity than other religions, because "it is pretty broad-shouldered." He said that other faiths have a very close identity with ethnic minorities and they h ad to co n s ide r th e possibilities of "violent threats" instead of polite complaints, which is more common from Christians. The BBC tended to apply satire towards Christianity rather than, for example, (Continued on Page 6)

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Christophobia in Europe (Continued from page 5)

secularism: "In the United Kingdom, the policy seems to be that people can do whatever they like against Christianity criticise it or blaspheme the Name of Christ - as long as they do not insult Islam. It is sad because this country is based on civil and religious liberty for all."

Islam. "Without question, 'I complain in the strongest possible terms,' is different from, 'I complain in the strongest possible terms and I am loading my AK47 as I write.'â&#x20AC;?

No Crosses Allowed Although British Airways allows members of other religions special status for religious garments, such as the Muslim Hijab, the Sikh turban, or Kara bracelet, Christian employees have been forbidden to wear crosses which they claim breach BA's uniform code.

Legal Harassment He catalogued numerous cases where British Christians who publicly object to homosexuality, sex education and abortion, or who simply try to share their faith with others, have faced prosecution.

and CE (Common Era). Anti-Christian Bias British member of parliament, David Simpson, responded to the frequent claims of secular campaigners that Christianity has been the cause of the world's w o r s t historical crimes by pointing out that it was, in fact, ideologically atheist regimes that committed the very worst atrocities throughout the 20th century. He also pointed out that Christians are facing increasing persecution at the hands of aggressive

of the most spiritually needy continents on earth. The Church is called to be "a house of prayer for all nations." Are you, your family and your congregation praying regularly for Christians suffering intolerance and discrimination in Europe? Pray that the Lord of the harvest will thrust out labourers into His harvest field to win this continent back to Christ. Dr. Peter Hammond has been a missionary to Africa and Europe for over 30 years.

A Deafening Silence Yet the British government remains mostly silent about the massacres of thousands of Christians at the hands of Muslim militants in Northern Nigeria, in Ethiopia, in Sudan and in Pakistan. Christianity is completely outlawed in many Arab States, including Kuwait, Syria, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The fact is, secular humanism is the most destructive religion of all time and the most intolerant. Europe for Christ Europe today must be one

Senseless Hypocrisy The BBC has also been criticised for its "senseless hypocrisy" in no longer referring to dates by BC (before Christ) or AD (Anno Domini), but to what they call religiously neutral terms of BCE (Before Common Era) 6

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Campus Christians Under Fire A Stellenbosch University professor believes that Christianity “should retreat” and prayer should not be allowed at university events in order for “tolerance to advance”. These comments were made at an open debate held at Stellenbosch, called by University officials in response to a Dagbreek Residence House Committee member who prayed for a troubled student. Several other incidents at Stellenbosch University in the last two years raise concerns about a growing anti-Christian prejudice on campus. No Debate Allowed At their first Biology lecture of the year, First Year students were told by the lecturer: “I know some of you are religious, but I want to suggest that you don't argue or debate evolution in this class, because you will be examined on it, and you have to study it like I present it to you…You will have to make a choice, you cannot attend my class and church... it will either be my class, or church!”

Indoctrination A Dagbreek House Committee member commented that he “doesn't support gays” in response to an Orientation Week talk for First Years in Dagbreek Residence by Mojo, a student group. Mojo then laid a complaint against the student at the Division for Student Discipline. During the talk, a picture was shown of two male students kissing.

Demonic Art A petition asking the Stellenbosch Municipality to remove two perverse half-man, half-wildebeest sculptures placed on Rooiplein – received much attention in the media. The

petition requested that the sculptures be rather placed in an art gallery instead of on an open thoroughfare on campus. Praying for a Student The representative for Spirituality on the House Committee of Dagbreek Residence gathered a group of fellow students to pray for a disturbed student who had been running around naked and hysterical, swearing loudly. After returning to his room, the troubled student bashed himself against the wall and smashed a window. He was then taken to hospital by House Committee members. Red Square Debate University officials then called a special gathering:“Residence Communities and Religious Practice: Where to in a Scientific, Democratic and Constitutional Community?” at the Rooiplein (Red Square) amphitheatre. Die Matie student newspaper reported that Prof. Nico Koopman, Dean of the Theology Faculty and Prof. Stan du Plessis, and the

vice dean of research for the Faculty of Economic Management Sciences, were asked to lead the event. Die Matie reported that Prof Ko o pm an cautio n e d against intolerance. He argued that healthy religious practices must enhance human dignity. No Prayer Allowed Prof. du Plessis suggested the default on campus should be no religious practices, including no prayer at graduation and no religious activities in residences. “There is room for secularisation in halls of residences,” he added. Religion Must Retreat He also argued that tolerance on campus will advance if religion “retreated a little”. “Not Christian” A student stated that Stellenbosch University should not be seen as a Christian University and Dagbreek should not be regarded as a Christian residence. Prof. Koopman responded by saying: “We are not a Christian University. I (Continued on Page 10)

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ACTION ITEMS Biblical Worldview Summit

UPCOMING EVENTS www.christianaction.org.za/events.htm

9 August 2012 National Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Outreaches 30 August - 2 September 2012 CFT Conference - KZN 6 October 2012 National Alliance for Life Conference - Durban 7 October 2012 International Life Chain Sunday 31 October 2012 Reformation Day 16 December 2012 Day of the Covenant 4 - 23 January 2013 Great Commission Course Cape Town

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Fight for Family Values South Africa has become more 'pornified' than anyone could ever have imagined. Children are not only viewing porn, now they're brazenly imitating its brutality; and making their own. In the last three years (2010 to 2012) there have been four gang rapes of girls by teen boys (that we know of from news reports); and in each of the four cases, the boys filmed the abuse, later spreading the video via social media. It is likely (but not certain), that these rapists had been exposed to porn, because they imitated the same abusive, exploitive behavior towards women found in porn.

Women's Day leaflet off the Christian Action website at: http://www.christian action.org.za/ACA Womens Day Leaflet.pdf Yo u c o u l d a l s o encourage your congregation's Bible Study/Home Groups and pastor to focus their discussions and sermons nearest to Women's Day on informing and inspiring people to take action to protect women from abuse and exploitation. We have some helpful resources, books and DVDs which could

Why don't you consider doing a similar outreach in your area? Visit “Projects” www.christianaction.org.za website to get some tips on running your own Women's Day outreach. Contact Christian Action for quantities of leaflets e.g. "The Christian Liberation of Women", “Abortion – the Facts”, “Women are Precious and Should be Protected” and “Finding F r e e d o m f r o m Pornography”.

Women and girls need real protection and respect – practical action, not pious platitudes from politicians and meaningless public holidays! Why not use Women's Day this year (9 August 2012) as an opportunity to inform, inspire and involve people in promoting awareness and taking action against the exploitation of women t h r o u g h p o r n o g r a p h y, prostitution, trafficking and abortion? You can download our Christian Action

empower your cell group to make a positive difference.

We also have several different great Gospel tracts e.g. "Christ is Risen Indeed! Evidences for

the Resurrection" and "The Greatest Book in the World". (We request a small donation for the postage costs.) These tracts can be downloaded from www.livingstonefellowship.co.za. Distribute these from your table and use them as a springboard for discussions about these issues. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 Taryn Hodgson

On 9 August, Women's Day, Africa Christian Action will be setting up literature tables in different shopping malls in the Cape Town area. This is also a great opportunity to reach people such as Muslims who are unlikely to step inside the four walls of a church. If you are in Cape Town, sign up to help out at one of our tables. We need lots of volunteers!

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Campus Christians Under Fire (Continued from page 7)

would not like Stellenbosch to be called a Christian University.” The Stellenbosch University General Academic Calendar, however, states that according to the Constitutional Act of 1996, religious worship “may be engaged” in official meetings, public ceremonies and in University residences. The Calendar stipulates that “religious worship” refers to the Christian faith, as “the substantial majority of the University community at SU is of the Christian faith”. Opportunity to Stand According to Prof. du Plessis, the debate around this issue has only just started. “I hope that there will be more of these conversations and that a leader of one of the big charismatic churches will also participate”. Prof Koopman added that he would like to see specific issues addressed in a more concrete manner in future. An open invitation to students and the general public has been given to comment on the online p u b l i c f o r u m (http://blogs.sun.ac.za/kam pusgesprekke ) that has been created specifically to respond to issues raised at the Red Square Debate. Pastors Respond Daleen Myburgh of Every Nation Christian Church: “I don't agree with Prof Du Plessis' statement that 'for tolerance to advance, religion must retreat.' As Christians we are called to respect and love other people, but that is a higher calling than mere tolerance. Respect means 10

that you can still love a person without agreeing with them. Christians should be known for what they stand for.” Shayne Holesgrove of Grace Life Church: “The amount of Believers on campus who actively live out their faith is continually growing, so it is no wonder that there is increased opposition. As a Christian, if you are not expressing your 'religious convictions' in public then you do not truly believe. Prof. Du Plessis evidently doesn't understand what it means to be a Christian. It is about loving people, not merely tolerating them. We love people by telling them that God wants a relationship with them…helping them see the error of our ways and that we are headed for eternal destruction without His mercy. The Bible calls sin sin, and declares some people to be lost. Believers need to share the Good News of Jesus with them, even if some people might not like it.” Amo O' Kennedy of Shofar Christian Church: “The University of Stellenbosch appears to be discontent with ideas and questions raised by Christians practising their faith on campus. Stellenbosch University is an environment that should embrace critical thinking. One would have thought that these challenging ideas would be welcomed and examined for the truths they may hold. This, however, does not seem to be the case and the

Christian faith has been labelled as “intolerant” for not accepting the politically correct dogma. “As South Africa has a rich heritage of culture and religion, it is unthinkable that we can argue for a secular education system, stripped of all religious ideas and convictions. South Africa is very religious and therefore part of the University's mandate should, in our opinion, aim to stimulate the engagement of students with religious ideas, in the free market place of ideas. “All people are of equal value and should be treated with dignity and respect. Ideas however, are not necessarily of equal value and therefore should be open to scrutiny and debate.” Student Ministry Forum Official Statement representing: Shofar Christian Church, Grace Life Church, Every Nation Christian Church, New Generation Church, St Pauls Evangelical Church, A n g l i c a n C h a p l a i n c y, Kruiskerk, Gereformeerde Kerk, and Stellenbosch Gemeente, “We as the Student Ministry Forum, representative of the majority of student congregations in Stellenbosch, would like to respond to what we believe to be frequent misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the role of Christianity on campus. “The Christian Faith was the original impetus behind the

establishment of Stellenbosch University and we believe can continue to add significant value to this great institution. Christianity has always provided inspiration and motivation to young people to think about their studies in relation to serving society and promoting the common good. “We are committed to Jesus Christ's command to love all people, regardless of who they are and what they believe, while upholding Biblical Truth. We believe this truth is objective and should be lived out in public and are open to it being scrutinized and openly discussed in the public sphere.” Student Reactions One student commented on the official Rooiplein debate online forum, that this debate was flawed to be an attack on Charismatic Christianity.” Another person reacted strongly to Prof. du Plessis' call for secularisation: “The term 'secular' sounds good in theory but what does it really come down to in practice? No institution is ever truly secular. 'Secular' has become the word through which people who hold secular humanistic views expel alternative religious [worldviews] [in the name of being] 'tolerant', 'open-minded', 'scientific', and [rational]. Was it not men and women of the Christian faith who brought about the greatest beneficial changes towards the concept of a free, democratic society we know today? Are we going (Continued on Page 11)

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Campus Christians Under Fire (Continued from page 10)

to deny the very reason that institutions like Stellenbosch, and even greater universities around the world, exist?” Christian Origins Stellenbosch University was originally started in 1859 as a “kweekskool” for training pastors by Rev. John Murray, brother of Andrew Murray. The very name “university” testifies to its Christian origins. Uni Veritas means: one truth. Most professors today don't even believe that there is an objective truth.

speakers, books and films for your campus group, or if you want us to run a Biblical Worldview Seminar at your church: 021- 689 4480 or info@christianaction.org.za Ta r y n H o d g s o n i s t h e International Co-ordinator of the Christian Action Network. She is also involved in student ministry at UCT.

Reclaim Campuses University campuses of South Africa need not be the cesspools of immorality, rebellion and hotbed of anti-Christian worldviews that they are today. By God's grace, they can be reclaimed for Christ. To do this we need to recognise the agenda of Secular Humanists to intimidate Christians into silence and equip Christians to understand and defend their Faith and Heritage. We need to win students to Christ and effectively disciple them in a Biblical Worldview. It is not enough to simply believe. You have to know what you believe and why you believe it. And you need to be able to defend it. Africa Christian Action's B i b l i c a l Wo r l d v i e w Seminar will enable you to understand and respond in a Biblical way to everything from relativism to dualism, from Hollywood to humanism, from Marxism to Islam. Contact us to request Christian Action

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FARM MURDERS by Dorothea Scarborough

In 2011 the ongoing farm murders in South Africa moved the Boer-Afrikaner People to elect a Volksraad and mandate it to lay a charge of genocide against the South African Government and the African National Congress. This charge, together with supporting evidence was then submitted to the International Criminal Court in Den Haag, Holland. For since the accession of the ANC in 1994 about three thousand farm murders have taken place in South Africa, and more than 20.000 Whites have been killed in the country. To commemorate these victims, a sea of white crosses has been erected on a hillside named Ysterkoppie which overlooks Potgietersrus and Pietersburg. It shows that the SA farming community has become the most endangered in the world. Charge of Genocide laid The preamble of this document explains: “Individual members of the

Complainant (the BoerAfrikaner People), are subject to physical and psychological circumstances under which they are being attacked, raped, maimed and murdered in their thousands, whilst hundreds of thousands of survivors have left the Republic of South Africa, their land of birth… and the chances of survival of the Complainant as a recognisable, separate ethnic entity are steadily being destroyed.” 1) The attacks “show tendency of a certain pattern, organisation and uniformity, to which the Government of the RSA and the ANC … are accomplices… NOW THEREFORE A CHARGE OF GENOCIDE is hereby laid against Defendant No. 1 (the Government of the RSA) and Defendant No. 2 (the ANC) jointly and severally; with the prayer that the aforesaid charge is investigated on an urgent basis for purposes of prosecution These charges are being laid on behalf of the Complainant by DIE VERKENNERSBEWEGING VAN SUIDAFRIKA (translation from Afrikaans: 'the Scout Movement of South Africa'),” and supported by other Afrikaner movements. The charges have also been delivered to the South African Government, as the world court only deals with and through States. War against Calvinism It is strange that one of the world's smallest ethnic groups, the Afrikaner people, who number a mere 1,8 million of which 800.000 are impoverished due to affirmative action, is

targeted in such a cruel way. This hitherto God-fearing people of mainly Dutch, German and French blood has done more to develop South Africa from a barren wilderness than any other population group. It has evangelised and missionised the indigenous peoples and established the Reformed Christian ethic in private and public life. It brought peace and plenty to warring pagan tribes, and raised South Africa to the foremost country in Africa. For the Afrikaners believed that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) This religious orientation, however, has been a chief stumbling block to the ANC from the beginning. Its “liberation struggle” was chiefly a religious one directed against Calvinism (and continues so to this day). Fronted by Marxist clergy and supported by the “World Church” their “revolution” has rejected the order of almighty God. By means of the Marxist KA I R O S D O C U M E N T Afrikaners were defamed as

being guilty of heresy, devil worship and blasphemy. The revolutionaries demanded, that in view of these their accusations White rule should be overthrown by violence. They hated especially the foundation, the Afrikanerdevised SA Constitution, which read: “In humble submission to Almighty God, who controls the destinies of nations and the history of peoples... we declare that we are conscious of our responsibility towards God and man… to uphold Christian values and civilized norms…” Today's constitution, of course, contains no such acknowledgement of God, and the present leaders admit no accountability to the Lord. Cruelty and Torture Nearly a whole generation (18 years) has passed since the ANC came to power. Yet they continue to envy and blame a tiny Godfearing ethnic group, and provoke violence against them with chants such as “kill the Boer, kill the Farmer.” Black ANC members falsely claim that Whites “stole” their land. They forget that (Continued on Page 13)

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Farm Murders (Continued from page 12)

nearly half the country had no Black inhabitants until recent migratory occupations. Thus incited, young Black criminals target lonely farms and put even young girls and old women to degrading torture. The papers laid before the International Criminal Court contain the evidence: Victims are raped, and killed by shooting, decapitation and mutilation with pangas, by torching, hanging and cutting of arteries or throats. Others are strangled and their body orifices penetrated with long objects such as sharpened poles. Adriana Stuijt, a Dutch researcher, puts the murder figure as high as 3805. One may ask: But do not the farmers provide bread for the nation? Do not 50 Million people want to eat? Why kill those who provide food security? Only Communists do that. Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, for instance, carried out 'land reforms' which caused a severe famine. He said: “Farmers are enemies of the state!” … “The revolution is yet to be concluded” … “Farmers who resist will die.” In 2000, Zimbabwean farmers produced 2 million tons of maize. In 2011, they produced only 900 tons. In 2000 Zimbabwe harvested 250 thousand tons of grain. In 2011, they only had 10 thousand tons. Mugabe thus followed the example of Josef Stalin who, in “exterminating the Kulaks as a class,” dispossessed the productive farmers of the Ukraine and caused 6 million people to die of starvation. Christian Action

We pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) And God, in granting it, reminds us of that other bread which is food for our souls: “Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” He also points us to the Bread of Life which is Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who says: “I am the bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) - Bread and Life go together. He who despises the one, loses the other. In South Africa, too, there is ongoing land reform. Between 1994 and 2009 this caused a 30% decline in arable land under production, for nine out of ten farms given to Africans have proved unsuccessful. Subsistence farming just does not work. “Large-scale,

are now taking action. A book, “Treurgrond,” which chronicles the murders, has been compiled by Dr Dirk Hermann and published by Solidarity. Since no reliable police records are available, South Africans are now asked to add other cases known to them. As stated above, a Volksraad has been elected and empowered to take the genocide case to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. The legal papers have also been submitted to the South African Government. Foreign ambassadors have been approached. The United Nations have been informed, and even the European Union has expressed its concern. These are important events, but they have been ignored by the media.

Charter states: “The land shall be divided among those who work it. All shall have the right to occupy land wherever they choose.” 2) A Government Green Paper has been drafted which outlines the legal steps. Thus, bit by bit, the old order with its respect for life and property is being eroded. The hated Calvinism is being replaced by Marxism. But with the help of God there is now a stirring of faith and a new hope. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 D. Scarborough Gospel Defence League dscarborough@telkomsa.net

PO Box 587 Sea Point 8060 Cape Town South Africa highly mechanized commercial farming,” says Dr Pieter Mulder, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, “is now the way of the world. You cannot turn the clock back four decades.” 2) 6th Phase of Genocide GENOCIDE WATCH, an international organisation led by Dr Gregory Stanton, has classified the South African farm murders as phase 6 out of 8 phases of genocide. So the situation is serious, and Afrikaners

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Like events in Zimbabwe, the “National Democratic Revolution” in South Africa is yet to be concluded. - “In 1994 we were liberated politically,” say ANC members, “but the economic liberation eludes us.” The mere possession of land, they think, will make everyone rich, and especially the ANC Youth League is constantly calling for nationalisation of farms and mines, and threatening farm occupations with violence. The ANC Freedom -

Email:info@christianaction.org.za

www.christianaction.org.za/gdl Footnotes: 1. Genocide charge: “An estimated 1.800.000 Boer-Afrikaners are left in South Africa, while the non-White population probably exceeds 50.000.000.” 2. Die Afrikaner, 1-7 June, 2012: Groenskrif oor Grondhervorming. Blankes moenie grond verkoop nie. 3. Dr Pieter Mulder, Reply to President Zuma's State of the Nation Address , 15.2.12. According to Dr Mulder, the ANC leaders Cyril Ramaphosa and Tokyo Sexwale have bought up large tracts of agricultural land. The latter recently bought 30 farms from White Farmers in the Vryburg area.

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THE BATTLE FOR A CHRISTIAN CALENDAR The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) is conducting hearings in all provinces into whether Christian public holidays in South Africa “unfairly discriminate against holidays of other religions.” Hearings have been held in J o h a n n e s b u r g , Bloemfontein, Durban and Cape Town, and are still to be held in North-West, Limpopo and the Northern Cape provinces. Cape Town Hearings At the CRL hearings in Cape Town (28 June), representatives from Christian, Muslim, Khoisan and Business groups present agreed that Good Friday and Christmas should not be removed as public holidays. The Christians represented also felt very strongly about bringing back Ascension Day. Christians for Truth reported the same from the Durban hearings. Abraham Warren from Christians for Truth reminded the floor that “the religion of secular humanism is unfairly favoured by government, with at least 9 public holidays being clearly humanist.” Rethink Secular Holidays A representative from the Cape Chamber of Commerce stated that “we need a complete re-think on the amount of public holidays in South Africa. We have far more public holidays than most other 14

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countries in the world. We cannot afford to add any more holidays… that would be detrimental to our economy.” Some Christians felt that some of the meaningless and hypocritical secular humanist public holidays such as Human Rights Day or Women's Day could be removed. They stated that these are meaningless because the most innocent and helpless people, preborn babies, are not given their most basic right - the Right to Life; and women are not protected from the exploitative pornography and prostitution industries. "Holy Days" The very name holiday means "holy day". Most holidays have religious significance. The events that a society chooses to centre its holidays around speak volumes about the religious worldview and value systems of that society.

later He rose from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into Heaven. Ten days after that He sent the Holy Spirit upon His disciples at Pentecost. One great Day He will return to this earth and judge the nations. History has a goal. Time has meaning. Our calendars should reflect that. A Christian Calendar It is appropriate that the biggest and most important holiday event of our calendar year is the one that commemorates the Incarnation of Christ, when God took on human form and was born in Bethlehem. Christmas celebrates the greatest gift of all, the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him. We give gifts on Christmas Day to celebrate the official birthday of the King of kings, and out of gratitude for the great gifts He has given us.

History is His Story The Christian view of history is linear. Unlike Eastern religions which hold to re-incarnation and have a circular view of history, or atheists who believe that "you have come from nothing, you're going nowhere, life is meaningless", Christians believe that History is His story.

The Atonement The second most important Christian holiday is Good Friday, when we solemnly remember the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, His great sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary. "In view of God's mercy… offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…" Romans 12:1

God is sovereign over time and space. At one point in history, God created the world. At another time He judged the world in the Flood. At the appointed time, Christ came and died for our sins. Three days

Resurrection The third great Christian holiday event is Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday is a joyous celebration of the victory of Christ over death, hell and the grave. Jesus is

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Risen from the dead. He is alive forever more. Death is defeated. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. In Jerusalem there is an empty Tomb. "He is risen!" The Great Commission The fourth most important event in the Christian calendar is Ascension Day. Forty days after Resurrection Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of Christ into Heaven. He is above every other name and authority in Heaven and on earth. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We have an Advocate in Heaven. He hears our prayers. He will crush all His enemies. He will come again. Therefore, we must go and make disciples of all nations. Does your calendar reflect your Faith? Parliamentary Review Once all the provincial hearings have been held by the end of July, the CRL will compile all the responses and present them to Parliament. Parliament will then review the Public Holidays Act (1994). Yo u c a n e m a i l y o u r concerns to: Sipho Mantula: sipho@crlcommission.org.za

The CRL requests that you specify your church denomination and city. “Contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all delivered to the saints…” Jude 3 – 4 Taryn Hodgson International Co-ordinator Web: www.christianaction.org.za

* Free DVD “The Biggest Question” or “The Attack on Jesus” with every subscription to CA or renewal. Subscribers pay R60 per year (only R5 per month!), and this will cover the printing and postage costs, of 4 issues a year. (Overseas subscribers $20. USA subscribers please send to Frontline Fellowship USA PO Box 728, Manitou Springs, CO 80829 (E-mail:info@frontlinefellowship.net) Other overseas subscribers send to Christian Action in South Africa. Supporters pay R120 (only R10 per month!) and not only cover direct costs, but very importantly contribute to the research, writing and action expenses. Each supporter will receive a free copy of Practical Discipleship or Answering Skeptics and regular updates by Email. Partners pay R1200 or more (only R100 per month!) and enable us to expand the action we take, address more issues, make more resources available, become better equipped and staffed and make a greater difference. Each Partner will receive a free audio MP3 boxset of Understanding History plus a complimentary copy of Victorious Christians Who Changed the World (380 pages, 250 pictures). We are the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World. The future of Africa is in the balance. Will Christians resolve to work for Reformation and pray for Revival, or remain passive and accept the humanists' agenda?

OR pay into account: Name: Christian Action Network Bank: Standard Bank Account number: 072906901 Branch: Kromboom Branch number: 026209 Please use your name as the reference, and fax us the deposit slip (fax number: 021-685 5884), with your name and postal address, or e-mail the amount, date paid, reference and your postal address to: mail@christianaction.org.za. Christian Action

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Christian Action

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