Foundation for Cross - Cultural Education
NEWS JULY 2010
Dear Prayer Supporters Feel it, it is here! With this slogan, the 2010 Soccer World Cup is being carried into our homes and hearts. Flags from different countries are flying in our streets, colourful vuvuzelas are honking incessantly in our newly built stadiums, and soccer mania is dominating the world media. How did Fifa accomplish this? Within four years they influence people worldwide to become passionate (if not manic!) about soccer and its activities. Then, on the other hand: Two thousand years ago, God intervened dramatically in world history, and yet His followers are still struggling to make this message of salvation known to the ends of the earth. The past weeks FCE was also confronted with the question: why are mission organisations, like us, struggling to get Christians passionately involved in the Great Commission? Why are God’s children not actively involved in world events and is their lifestyle not a solution to world problems? These questions compelled us to examine our training with renewed minds, to test our motives under guidance of the Holy Spirit and to restructure the content of our Discipleship-Mission training. We are wasting our time and energy if our calling and our task as missionaries are not grounded in GOD’S LOVE for the lost. We will never be successful in fulfilling our commission if we do not LOVE HIM ABOVE ALL ELSE. Fifa’s success with world soccer is because of their passion for soccer; they live it with enthusiasm, they inspire others to do the same. Nothing is spared in following after this goal (pun intended!) - no money, time or involvement. For the past four years, they had only one desire and that was to make this world cup the event of a lifetime. They went all out and used all their resources to achieve this goal. I concluded that we do not succeed with the great commission because we do not have a passion for Christ any more. In his book The Key to the Missionary problem, Andrew Murray asks the following: “Why, with millions of Christians in the world, the army of missionaries fighting the hosts of darkness, is so small?” He comes to the following conclusion: “Because of a lack of heart, little enthusiasm for the King – a King to whom every heart should beat warm in loyalty and devotion.” With this newsletter I would like to inspire you to take the Great Commission seriously and personally, and to call out with Von Zinzendorf, the father of the Moravian Mission: “I have but one passion ‘tis He and He only!” Neels de Jager
An important part of FCE’s commission is to teach young people to walk in the footsteps of veteran missionaries, so that they can take over the baton from their leaders and continue the race with enthusiasm. From 2000 to 2004, Hennie and Hettie Mellet were actively involved in building
up Masait and Kalungu. He was a veteran missionary who gave himself fully – his passion was Jesus Christ. Many young students went through his big hands and were honed for mission work. It is with great sorrow that FCE takes leave of ‘uncle’ Hennie Mellet, who passed away recently. His legacy to us: Young men and women who will talk for many years to come, about the precious lessons for life that they learned from uncle Hennie. His last words to us: ‘GOD IS GOOD!”
Feel it, He is here!
CALL TO OBEDIENCE Christ is dependent on His Church to fulfil His Commission and His plan of salvation. Therefore, missions is the responsibility of each believer and is not limited to a small group of ‘chosen ones’ who choose to be ‘in the Lord’s fulltime service’. Obedience to the Great Commission, leads to action and this action leads to opportunities for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts and lives of people. Part of FCE’s mission is to train young people in missions. This training is partly theoretical, but a big part takes place in practical situations. The teams regularly visit the villages around the FCE training centres. The present missionaries in training are divided into three teams and went to three different countries: * Malawi: Sulene and Chimemwe and their team helped Moses and Regina to find their feet at FCE’s newest Training Centre and to build relationships with the people. * Zimbabwe: Eunice and Reagan’s team went to support Boet Pretorius, Makesure and Cuthbert in their ministry. * Zambia: Abraham and Desiree’s team stayed in Kalungu and were involved with the work in the villages and the training centre. MALAWI FCE has been involved in Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa, since 1996. At Masaiti we have been training Malawians as teachers and through the years we have organised many outreaches to the Malawians who have gone through our discipleship training. We are now developing a beautiful piece of land next to the lake, to be our next Training Centre. Moses, Regina and their family are living in temporary housing, as well as Chimemwe and Elizabeth, who are supporting them. Outreach teams have built a fence around the plot and the students have just finished building a storeroom for the hammer mill. This hammer mill was donated by FCE supporters and is a great help for many Malawians. In the past, they had to walk 20 km to grind their maize. The students stayed in the surrounding villages for two weeks and trusted the Lord to use them. They were exposed to poverty, hunger, grief and demonic working, and returned with Jesus’ heart for people. Good relationships were built, and even the headman of the area now comes to help with the development of the land. With the help and support of our prayer supporters, electricity was supplied to our training centre, and there is great excitement among the people in the surrounding villages, because for the first time they also now have electricity. ZAMBIA Masaiti, Koti ni Eden and Kalungu are getting ready for the outreach groups from South Africa, England and Zambia. Each group has a specific task and we are praying for Jannie and Etienne who are organising these groups. Three student teachers from Norway did their internship for one month at Koti ni Eden school. Our own student teachers are doing their internship in surrounding state schools. The teachers in our schools are also actively involved in the communities. All the teachers get the opportunity to live in the villages amongst the parents and children for a period. At Kalungu the teachers are involved with children’s ministry on Thursdays, where the village children are taught Biblical truths and school readiness programmes are implemented. The building projects at Koti ni Eden are still continuing at full swing and we trust the Lord for the finances for the staff houses - because our move from Masaiti in October is now a reality. At Kalungu, Driekus and his team have just finished a storeroom for the generator and the charcoal. An outreach team will be helping with maintenance at our camping site. A big water tank will also be erected at Kalungu in this time for our vegetable project, which is already getting along well. They are harvesting tomatoes, carrots, green beans, green peppers, broccoli, potatoes, beetroot and onions. The Zambians were introduced to sweet melon for the first time. Georg Paul and Joseph are dreaming of teaching the widows from the villages to start their own vegetable gardens. They already have two widows who are very eager to learn. They are also cooperating with local vegetable farmers to fertilise the soil with compost. A ‘Foundations for Farming’ course will also be presented at Kalungu in August. The more we are active in the villages, the bigger is the opposition from the enemy. A ‘movie house’ was opened in Kalungu and this has a very negative influence on especially the children and youth of the area. The Kalungu team gathered the headmen and spiritual leaders of the vicinity and encouraged them to protect their communities. We are also increasingly confronted with witchcraft activities. USA and CANADA Luke Sichone and Ameck Phiri were in their garden on the banks of the Kalungu river, harvesting tomatoes, when Neels and his team went to investigate that area for development. While Neels was watching them, he felt a stirring in his spirit and he called out to the Lord: “Lord, give me men like these to change Africa for You.” It is now 10 years later. Both of these men have gone through our teacher training. Through the years they have developed into strong leaders in their community and are real missionaries amongst their own people – their passion is to bring their people to Christ Jesus. Neels is planning to take the two of them with him to Canada and the USA during August/September, so that they (amongst other things) can be introduced to FCE supporters who have helped building up Masaiti and Kalungu. We ask you to please pray, as we have already encountered many obstacles. It seems to be impossible for them to obtain visas, as they do not have proof of funds in bank accounts, or of sponsors for this visit. The finances for this journey still need to be provided. But we worship a God who specialises in the impossible!
21 children gave their lives to the Lord and 18 came to get information about how to be trained as missionaries.
ZIMBABWE:
Team photo The team consisted of 6 students from 5 different countries: Germany, South Africa, Zambia, Canada and Zimbabwe.
Lord here am I….. They stayed in Kanyanga village, worked in the fields, played with the children and visited the families. They prayed with the headman and led him to the Lord. Some of the farmers started with ‘God’s way of farming’ and are ready for discipleship training.
Visit to a hospital They played with the children in the hospital and told them that Jesus loves them. Many of these children do not have homes to go back to. The students also prayed for the nursing staff and the matron testified how the Lord faithfully carried them through trying times.
Lord I praise you…. They also visited an old age home and an orphanage with 70 children. These places are dependent on donations and volunteer workers for survival. Our students’ hearts are going out to everyone serving here, without receiving any salary or other benefits. The love of Christ compels them.
Chinoyi High School 150 children turned up. The Lord led the team to give their
Australia and New Zealand In 1997, FCE opened its first Training College for Teachers in Wellington, SA. Little did we know against which forces we would have to contend, and in the process, our college was forced to close down in November 2003. A second door opened when Hebron Theological College gave us the opportunity to offer a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) under their auspices. However, this door is also closing on us. In the mean time, we continued training teachers in Zambia (where our courses are accredited and registered with the Zambian Government).We are sending men and women into education with a heart for Christ-centered teaching. Our teachers are teaching in government, private and Christian schools and wherever they work, we see the positive results of their commitment and service to the Lord. Through the years, the Lord brought us into contact with Colleges and Universities all over the world and we have made contact with Christian lecturers who have a desire to send teachers into the profession who are ready to win the next generation for Christ. In Australia Neels had discussions with the leadership of a Christian College about the possibility of having our Kot ni Eden campus as a satellite campus of their College. This process is still in the very early stages and the first delegation of the College will visit the FCE College in September in Masaiti. Please pray with us that we will move in God’s will. I know that this idea might even seem absurd to some of you, and this can only succeed if the Lord opens the doors for us.
We also used the opportunity to thank the Mackay Christian College and Family Church in Queensland for the faithful years of involvement in the work of FCE. Their financial support made it possible for us to build the Koti ni Eden School. The doors of this College are always wide open for us and our students. Craig Murison, the administrator of the school, will be one of the guest speakers at the National Convention for Christian Teachers in September in Bloemfontein. Neels also strengthened the relationship that he’s been having with Bethlehem College in Tauronga, New Zealand. Anita Grobler and Bernice Norkee, lecturers at our Zambian College, will visit this college during September or October. Visits to these colleges will broaden our horizons and keep us in step with what is happening in education (specifically teacher training) worldwide. We add our voices to that of Andrew Murray: “We feel the need of a special effort to secure the rising generation for Christ. And oh! How deeply I have felt the plight of children entrusted to unconverted teachers. Christ’s lambs given to the charge of the world. In visiting down country congregations it’s clear to me how much ground we have already lost with the young people by the influence of a worldly teacher and we have not an hour to lose if we want by means of pious teachers to win the younger generations for the Lord.”
Feedback: Art Exhibition King’s Highway Somerset West
Thank you very much for the interest and support for the King’s Highway Art Exhibition in Somerset West. Many visitors popped in during the weekend. People were impressed by the quality of the art works. The wooden articles that we are marketing from Zambia, under the name “King’s Highway Design”, found a ready market. Gert discovered a talented Zambian who makes these articles for us, and the FCE art exhibition creates an opportunity for him to be encouraged to use his God-given talents and honour Him. Please continue to market the FCE guesthouses in Somerset West, Namibia and Zambia. We trust the Lord to convert our business initiatives into ministry and training opportunities, and to bless it financially, so that we can fulfil the Great Commission.
FCE TRAINING
We would like to bring it to your attention that we have made some changes to our training structures. In order to lead people to spiritual maturity and spiritual responsibility, we have decided to lengthen our training. This offers us the opportunity to train our students also in Bible skills and to give them the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in practical situations. From 2010, the training is as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Discipleship – Mission Training (Condensed) This 6-weeks-course will only be presented in Wolseley (SA) once a year in October. Discpleship - Mission Training (Foundation) This 3-month training will be presented annually in January and July in Wolseley, Zambia and Malawi. Discipleship – Mission Training (Advanced) This 9-months training includes the Foundation phase (no. 2 above) which will be offered annually in January and July in Wolseley, Zambia and Malawi. Diploma in Basic Education (3 years) This teacher-training course equips students to teach from Grade 0 to Grade 9 and is being presented in Zambia. Certificate in Community Development (2 years) This course equips students to work as facilitators in communities, to bring about Biblical transformation in all areas of life. This training takes place in Zambia.
Contact our office for more information, a prospectus and registration forms, or visit our website: www.fce.org.za.
COURSE DATES 2010 Discipleship-Mission Training (Condensed) 11 October – 21 November.
Box 126, Wolseley, South Africa 6830 Tel/Fax: +27 (0) 23 2310 208 Info@fce.org.za www.fce.org.za