CBN SOUTHERN AFRICA PARTNER MAGAZINE
The Importance of Forgiveness ISSUE TWO | 2018
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
02 | The Importance of Forgiveness
08 | Community Blog: Who will bridge your gap?
04 | The Heart of Partnership, Working Together
10 | Superbook Updates & Highlights
14 | On the Ground, Partner Impact
06 | Partner’s Messages & Testimonies
12 | Superbook Testimonies in SA
17 | Bring it On, with Pat Robertson
PO Box 37779, Valyland, 7978 +27 (021) 701 1776 www.cbnafrica.org
13 | What is intercessory Prayer?
Visit the Orphan’s Promise website: www.orphanspromise.org
OUR MESSAGE |
Dear CBN Partner Having just celebrated Easter weekend and the Passover, I have been thinking a lot about what rests at the core of our Christianity. As believers in and followers of a resurrected Christ (in history and in our hearts), we certainly need to be a people of faith. To base our entire worldview and hope on an event that defies logic and for which we have no certain proof, is in itself a lifelong act of faith! But are we known as people of faith, or just as religious people? Faith is powerfully described in Hebrews as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). We are to be people full of this confident hope and assurance in the risen Saviour. A truly confident person is not hugely influenced by their environment. Think of that confident child or grandchild in your life! They walk into diverse situations with diverse people with almost the same approach. Their actions tend to arise proactively from within, rather than reactively in response to changing outside environment and circumstance. This is the challenging call on our lives echoing from the empty tomb – to have Godly, hopefilled confidence and assurance - despite our immediate environment and circumstance - and to constantly act out of that faith rather than reacting out of fear and selfishness.
Ian Walton CBN Southern Africa Regional Director Don’t forget, we also love to pray with you - about anyone or anything. Give our prayerline a call on (021) 701 1776 or you can email prayer@cbnsa.org or WhatsApp +27 71 763 810
We’re Social! @CBNSouthAfrica
Here’s the amazing thing: when we start doing this as believers, everyone wins. When you start doing this, your community starts to be uplifted. The people around you benefit from this kind of active faith, no matter what they believe about Him. Where His Kingdom is able to come through you, value is added and everyone benefits! Just think of how Joseph benefitted the people of Egypt through his faith in God. (Genesis 41:54) So… are you lovingly, constantly, confidently distributing His treasure (which is contained inside you – 2 Corinth 4:7), or are you more often just trying to get people to change their behavior and to think like you? Are you more like a thermometer measuring and labelling everything around you, or more like a thermostat that shapes your environment and changes the atmosphere? What a challenge! Like many of you reading this, we at CBN SA are determined to be known as people of true faith, and therefore a blessing to the people of Southern Africa. Our team wants to be known more for what we’re for than for what we’re against. We want to be shapers of the future, not mere commentators and judges of the present. It is so good to know that most of you share this desire and stand alongside us as we continue down this uncertain but exciting road. Yours in this faith mission together – on the air, on the ground and online. Ian Regional Director, CBN Southern Africa | 01
| FEATURE
The Importance of
FORGIVENESS By Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer
02 |
FEATURE |
In the Bible, priests would stand and pray the blessing that God gave Aaron for the people: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). For God promised, “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (v. 27).
Another image of the priestly blessing is in 1 Timothy 2:8, when Paul says, “I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing” (niv). Where there is anger and disputing, there is no anointing.
This is a relationship blessing. It is being in God’s presence, where His face shines upon us and we find shalom— the peace of God.
WHERE THERE IS ANGER AND DISPUTING THERE IS NO ANOINTING.
IT IS BEING IN GOD’S PRESENCE, WHERE HIS FACE SHINES UPON US AND WE FIND SHALOM— THE PEACE OF GOD. Without His presence, there is no peace. Jesus refers to this imagery, saying, “Whenever you stand praying”—then continues, “if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26). If we hold onto unforgiveness, our prayers go nowhere.
Paul also says in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry, and do not sin” : do not let the sun go down on your wrath.
his is why we should pray, “Lord, am I holding anything against anyone? I don’t want to keep a grudge, because it takes away from my relationship with You. I want Your face to shine upon me. I want Your presence all through me. And I want my heart transparent before You.”He will forgive anything if we ask—and when we have a clear conscience, we can pray with power. As 1 John 3:21-22 promises: “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him.” Scripture is quoted from the NKJV. This teaching was given during a CBN US staff chapel.
Jesus was beaten, spit upon, rejected, crowned with thorns, and nailed to a cross—yet He said, “Father, forgive them.” He would rather have a relationship with the Father than hold onto offenses. He knows the Aaronic blessing is the key. If we have His presence, we have everything. | 03
| PARTNERSHIP
The Heart of
gifts, talents, capacity, and resources in harmony with one another.
Partnership
How can we work together?
Meagan Taylor | Partnership & Sustainability Manager
our brothers and sisters in Christ who make up our partners. Pray that God will continue to meet the need of the ministry and that God would give us boldness and courage to do His work. Pray that the Holy Spirit would show us where His work is and how we can be used for His glory.
We live in a society where relationships are not necessarily as meaningful as they used to be, and we don’t always value community or each other as much anymore. The result of this is a broken society leaving people feeling stressed out and even filled with a deep sense of loneliness. To fix this, we need to realise that Jesus needs to be the central character of every meaningful and authentic relationship in our lives. Without Him, our kingdom-based relationships can not exist. My hope and prayer is that Christ would be the purpose and motivation behind our relationship with our partners. I hope that together we can build a long-standing relationship that can be continued throughout eternity. I pray that the Holy Spirit would bind us together as we get excited about the future and how we can work together to extend the kingdom of Christ. We at CBN desire to take the Gospel to all the nations and to provide help to communities that need it. This means that we need to build kingdom relationships with likeminded people and organisations so that we can operate as one body, in Christ, using our various 04 |
1. Pray - Please pray for CBN and for
2. Promote - Tell your friends and family about what CBN is doing and encourage them to pray for us too. Make use of CBN’s resources that can help build up your family as we are called to build up and encourage one another.
3. Participate - We would love to get to know you as our friends in Christ so please visit us for prayer and a coffee. You can also engage with us on social media or choose to volunteer with us on the ground!
I pray that we can build a Christ centred relationship with you journeying together as one body.
Get in Touch! To find out more about the work CBN South Africa is doing, get in touch with us on (021) 701 1776 or +27 (0) 78 4730 313
PARTNERSHIP FEATURE |
Legacy Giving Planning a legacy begins with reflecting over the blessings and favour God has given you. During your time of reflection and prayer ask God, “What is Your purpose for these blessings? What legacy do you have planned through me?” Everyone has the opportunity to make a planned gift to the charity of their choice. We invite you to create your legacy by connecting with the mission of CBN. The Mission to make Jesus known to the nations of this world, which brings the message of Hope, and answers that transform lives for eternity.
If you would like to know more about Legacy Giving, please contact Meagan on the details below. Through your planned gift you continue to help proclaim the Gospel. CBN’s outreach is to 149 countries and territories, in 67 languages to a viewing audience of hundreds of millions of people. Do something that will last for an eternity! Contact us to find out more. (021) 701 1776 | info@cbnsa.org | 05
| MESSAGES & TESTIMONIES
SOUTH AFRICA These are some of the messages and testimonies some of our faithful CBN partners shared with us in our SA office. We were so honoured to hear these stories and are glad to share them with you! “After a miscarriage, my husband and I struggled to fall pregnant again. At my church, a woman received a message from God that I would fall pregnant with a little boy. Well only 3 weeks after she has spoken those words to me, on Father’s day, we received confirmation that we were pregnant. About 4 months later we received confirmation that it is indeed a boy! I am due to give birth in 4.5 weeks time and can’t wait to meet this miracle from God.”
Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” After our drive to the police station, the mother of the suspect spoke to the police and told them that she was given the cellphone by her son, the one who had been denying that he had the cellphone. We ended up getting the cellphone back, glory be to God!”
“I received healing one day when I called the CBN prayerline, while someone had prayed for me, while being led by the Holy Spirit.”
“God changed my life when I got saved. I became a missionary based in South Africa and travelled abroad. I love your heart after God and to see God’s provision for us as we tithe and sow into the ministry of CBN. I’ve experienced God’s supernatural hand in healing and salvation in my life as well as in financial miracles and breakthrough. Thank you for your support and prayers as I partner with you to bring about change.”
“When my nephew’s cellphone was stolen, we got a lead and went with the police to the person alleged to have bought it. While we were waiting outside his place, I was reminded of 1 John 3:8, which says “The reason the
“God is faithful and has blessed my marriage after years of strife.”
We would love to hear your testimony, and take part in what God is doing in your life. Please share with your story with us, or give our prayerline a call for us to join you in praying for loved ones and circumstances alike.
(021) 701 1776 | prayer@cbnsa.org | +27 71 7633 810 06 |
ONLINE |
Do you need a Bible or know of someone else who needs a Bible? Get in touch with us on (021) 701 1776 You can also, download the free CBN Bible App on Google Play or from the App Store
#BibleInEveryHome
| 07
| COMMUNITY BLOG
Who will bridge your gap? By Gertrude Moyo, Prayer Strategist at CBN SA
08 |
COMMUNITY BLOG |
“And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple, but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And He declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming and going out.” - Acts 9: 26 - 28 I imagined how Paul must have felt when he faced the apostles and they did not want anything to do with him. You would think they are the first people that must have believed and accepted Paul. They had seen the wonders that God could do and they had access to the Holy Spirit. I do not think they even prayed about whether they should embrace and let him into their group. He had seen Christ, he had vision and passion and was willing to lay down everything but the apostles did not accept him. He had a bad reputation and sometimes it is hard to convince people that you have changed. And then came in a man called Barnabas. I guess he took time and talked to Saul who later became Paul. He got to know Paul and could see he had really encountered Christ. He became the bridge between Paul and the apostles. Barnabas also took Saul and brought him to the disciples and therefore Saul was able to tell his story and his vision. Why did the Lord not tell the apostles the same things he told Ananias when he sent him to pray for Paul? The connection between Saul and Barnabas
was important even as we later see that the Holy Spirit had an assignment for the two. (Acts 13: 1 - 3) Barnabas was an encourager and he was a bridge builder. He bridged the gap between Saul and the apostles and brought unity in the process. We want God to send a Barnabas our way if we are in that place where there is a gap in our relationships or if the people who matter to us are not accepting us. Today let us not focus on us but on others. Today I am encouraging you to be a Barnabas to someone. Ask God to show you someone who needs a bridge in their relationship with God or with church leaders or family. Be a bridge builder. Seek out the rejected, the lonely and those who have no one and bring them in.
STAND UP FOR SOMEONE AND BUILD THE BRIDGE THEY NEED FOR THEIR NEXT LEVEL. Find someone who has a vision, an encounter with the Lord or who has burning passion but seems stuck and encourage them. Take time to know someone who has really changed even though they might have a bad reputation. Stand up for them and build the bridge they need for their next level.
Prayer: Lord teach me to be a bridge builder and show me someone who needs me and how I can bridge their gap in the name of Jesus Christ. | 09
| SUPERBOOK
UPDATES AND HIGHLIGHTS • We are inviting churches to be part of our Superbook Church Curriculum Pilot. Thirty churches implementing four modules over a period of twelve weeks with the aiming of helping us to localize the material so that it is relevant for our local context. So far, we have ten churches on board. • To support the churches, we also conduct mini activations (Meet and greet with Gizmo!) before they implement the programme. We had three activations so far (Bergvliet, Sea Point and Samora Michell). These are often fun as we get to talk to children about the programme as well as encourage parents in their crucial role as discipler’s of their children. • We are also looking to get into schools with our Superbook school programme. We are currently networking 10 |
and looking to partners with various organizations that already have existing relationships with schools. The material we have is an amazing evangelical tool to reach children in schools using current technology. Our dream is to have the bible be part of children’s everyday social framework. Creating platforms that will allow children to experience the bible in different context. We want children to experience the bible like never before!
Upcoming Events and Activations • 27th May : Superbook Activation @ Brentwood Church Ottery • 30th May : Superbook Testimony shoot • 7th July : Family Movie Night @ Langa Baptist Church
SUPERBOOK |
SUCCESSFUL ACTIVATION IN LANGA
We believe in partnerships. African wisdom dictates that in order to raise a child a whole village needs to be involved. Langa Baptist Church is one of the 30 churches that have decided to join our Superbook Church pilot in order to reach not just children but the caregivers that are involved in shaping children’s lives such as school teachers, parents and church ministers. We started on the 18th March by introducing Superbook to the congregation with purpose bringing awareness to children and parents about Superbook and the Superbook app that has educational activities and games that can be used to nurture children’s spiritual formation and development. On the 31st of March we successfully completed a Superbook Church Curriculum training workshop targeted at ministers involved with children’s ministry. Later on this year we will be working with the church to launch the Superbook school programme in five primary schools in Langa. Its partnerships like these particular ones that involve the church that we are so grateful for. We believe that churches play a key role in transforming communities and we could be more happier than to have Langa Baptist Church as our partner. | 11
| SUPERBOOK
SUPERBOOK TESTIMONIES IN SA Superboook has been growing and growing in Southern Africa. Children have been encountering the Lord through the Bible stories expressed visually like never before! “My son Will, who is 5, watched the Superbook series during the December holidays last year, and he was absolutely captivated. He knows most of the Bible stories and themes, but Superbook really brought them to life for him, as well as helped him relate to them via Chris and Joys practical experiences. A particular instance which demonstrated the impact it has had on him was when he was preparing to start at a new school this year, and was very anxious the week before and the first week of school. But as he was reminded of the last episode of Superbook (Revelation) which was his favourite, and how Chris heard God say “Do not be afraid, I will never leave you nor forsake you”, he responded “oh yes, I know that, God is always with me, I will never be alone, not even at a new school”, and I could see he really knew that too in his heart. He has since often spontaneously mentioned out the blue “I am never alone!” He also recalled that this promise of God made a “shield” around Chris, and that he was protected. These gave him so much assurance, and helped a lot through anxious times. And no doubt will continue to help through life ahead. So thank you to Superbook and the team for helping bring these lessons and promises to life in the hearts and spirits of our kids!” - Trish
To find out how you can partner with Superbook in Southern Africa, get in touch with Yolanda! yolanda.magida@cbnsa.org 12 |
PRAYER |
WHAT IS
Intercessory Prayer?
not of this earth. The Bible says, “We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above” (Eph. 6:12). Intercessory prayer takes place in this spiritual world where the battles for our own lives, our families, our friends and our nation are won or lost. Sign up for our free intercession training workshop, which will be held at the CBN Southern Africa offices in Westlake. You can email us to sign up on info@cbnsa.org or give us a call to put your name down at (021) 701 1776
Have you ever wondered what intercessory prayer is really for? If you find that you are interested in speaking to God on behalf of others, intercession is definitely for you. The heroes in the Bible all the way from Abraham to today were fierce interceders for the people of Israel, and today we have Jesus, who intercedes on our behalf. How exciting would it be to join in with the saints as we intercede for our family, friends, community and even nations. Prayer, makes a huge difference! Intercession is prayer that pleads with God for your needs and the needs of others. But it is also much more than that. Intercession involves taking hold of God’s will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass. Intercession is warefare -- the key to God’s battle plan for our lives. But the battleground is
Pray
for us..
• We pray for the ministries who partner with us locally. Churches, and other NPOs who do the work of Jesus on the ground in South Africa. • We invite you to pray for our CBN SA team. For strength and creativity and to remain aligned with what God is doing in and through CBN. • Pray for Orphan’s Promise and CBN Humanitarian, that we would reach out to bring hope and restoration to many lives, through the vehicle of CBN ministries. | 13
| ON THE GROUND
The First 1000 Days Program The First 1000 days program, run by Living Hope and supported by CBN Southern Africa, aims to reach out to pregnant women (some teens) and mothers with their babies. Where staff and volunteers seek to reach these women for Jesus by emphasizing that God has a special plan for each person and that He has a plan for this baby. While also promoting mental health wellness, physical and brain development from conception, through pregnancy and birth, to the age of two years. Below is a testimony of one of the women who knocked on the door and was impacted by the program.
“Mid – February, at 22h30, a desperate mom, Shana , knocked on the door of one of our Living Hope carers, who resides in the same street as her. Full term pregnant, this mom was in agony, as she had severe lower back pain, which she thought was due to the fact that she did extreme home chores earlier that day. The carer advised her to 14 |
lay down while she contacts the ambulance service for assistance. She was informed that help will be sent as soon as there was an ambulance available. On return to the mother’s side, the carer was shocked to see that her membranes have raptured and baby’s head was crowning. In shock, but not panicking, the carer again phoned the emergency number and was instructed not to stop labor, and that assistance would be there as soon as possible. Baby forced her way into the world with minimal intervention from the carer, who focused on what she learnt on her training on what to do in an emergency as the one she was presented with. Ambulance arrived soon after delivery, a healthy baby and relieved mom was taken to hospital. It is amazing that our carers can be identified in the communities they serve as the “go to” person. On follow up visit, both mom and baby were healthy and were referred to our 1000 days program.”
ON THE GROUND |
You can join us in prayer for the following: • Many parents are barely children themselves and are unable to provide any security or for the daily needs of the children. Most have not completed their schooling and are therefore not able to market themselves or even get a job. • The lack of education and hence employment causes hopelessness and boredom, and in this context other social problems emerge – such as alcohol and drug abuse, irresponsible sexual behaviour which in turn contributes to high +HIV infection rates, the breakdown of families and so on. Parents who are unemployed are unable to take care of their children and often they cannot meet essential needs such as feeding their families properly, paying school fees and getting necessary health care. • As an organisation we aim to equip people to become more resilient in their situation and to learn how to cope with their social issues rather than giving handouts. We therefore need prayer for our support group facilitators to be blessed with a vision for the need in our communities and a heart to be able to comfort and care.
To find out more about our current CBN projects here in Southern Africa, feel free to contact us on our office line (021) 701 1776 or you can email us at info@cbnsa.org If you would like to become a CBN partner you can donate to us online at www.cbnsa.org/give
PARTNER IMPACT Below are just a few things you have been doing around SA & beyond
Lesotho Although the water quality was good, the availability was not always there, with the well drying up during the summer season. We were able to sink a 50+ meter deep borehole, which will be linked to a 5000L tank, with an access point for the public to obtain water at any-time, night or day. Our hope is to build another borehole for about 2000 villagers in Mohale’s Hoek in the near future.
Westlake Our business park is continually blessed by our prayer room being open on Wednesdays. Someone recently gave her life to the Lord. We are so excited for how God is using our office space to reach His precious children. Check out our On The Ground to see more of how you as a partner have been impacting the lives of many people. | 15
| ENCOURAGEMENT
“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:15-16
To partner with CBN South Africa, give us a call on (021) 701 1776 or visit www.cbnsa.org/give 16 |
BRING IT ON |
BRING IT ON
Q&A
Your questions, with honest answers by Pat Robertson
Q: Since we are not under the law, will God still curse us, or will He just not bless us?
Pat Robertson Founder of The Christian Broadcasting Network
Do you have a question for Pat? Log on to CBN. com/BringItOnline and follow the instructions to submit your question.
A: There’s no longer any curse or condemnation because we are not living under Old Testament law. But if you know the Lord and walk with Him, you will want to please Him and not want to sin. The Bible says if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ continuously cleanses us from all sin. But if we forsake Him, it’s dangerous. I don’t counsel anybody that they can live any way they want to. I don’t think that’s wise. Our choices have consequences. There are also natural laws that have consequences when you break them. For example, if you break God’s eternal laws, you’re going to suffer for it during the time you live here physically on earth. He has set up laws that have to do with health. He set up laws having to do with interpersonal relationships. And I believe if we break these eternal laws, we will suffer consequences in this life.
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