Devoted issue 13 for web by James Hendricks

Natania Botha understands the beauty of a woman

ISSN2223-473X

Dream Girl SA

Empowering youth Issue 13 to create change www.devotedmag.co.za

Spain

I am a victor not a victim!

Giving hope

and restoring dignity

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Go Further

Ed’s Letter

Embarking

Meet our contributors

on a new journey

Every year just seems to go by faster and faster, and by the time you read this first issue of 2015, it will already be February! But, it is still not too late to wish all of our readers the very best for 2015. May all your dreams come true and I want to thank you for your continuous support and loyalty.

recently listened to a sermon by Pastor Brian Houston from Hillsong Church. He said that if you follow Jesus and make a difference in the kingdom, you will definitely be challenged. And the reason is quite simple: The devil does not want the kingdom to advance, because then his power becomes less. Since I started with Devoted, I have focused all my efforts on being true to my calling and being obedient to God’s instruction. Over the last few years I have managed, by His grace, to build a strong team of dedicated and devoted people who, like me, want to use our God-given talents and gifts to build His kingdom and not necessarily to receive any reimbursement, accolades, rewards, or even thanks for our efforts. And, yes, there were many challenges. The closer we got to success (slowly but surely!), the more the challenges came from all directions. With the help of my dedicated team members (individually and collectively); we are inspired to continue making a difference in people’s lives. We are ready to face even more challenges this year in our quest to build the kingdom and to win souls for Him who created us. The team and I spent quality time over the last few weeks to reflect and to plan our new endeavours and initiatives. We did this so we will be able to continue putting together a high quality magazine that will help others discover life through the gospel. This issue of Devoted is packed with information that target young women and their mothers. It includes topics on health and wellness, leadership matters, business, how to play a part in the community, social issues of our time and many others. Our cover girl is Natania Botha, a young woman who understands beauty and who uses beauty pageants to advance the kingdom. Like Elanie in our inspirational article, I am a victor, not a victim! she did not have it easy all the time, but she refused to stay a victim of her circumstances and she saw challenges as opportunities for growth. I hope that these two inspirational stories will have an impact on your lives. In general, we have spiced up our

content. It is not our intention, however, to turn our backs on things that worked well for us. We will therefore stick to series that work, like the Back to Basic series. The same applies to Fair Flair, a popular series that has made an impact on many lives and of which I have received good feedback. Our testimony articles (pages 24 and 25) are also very popular and have helped to inspire so many and therefore we will continue to provide the platform for Christians to share how Christ has changed their lives. We are also adding a new series to our content, Live for Jesus! (page 16) that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to share the gospel with others so we can win souls, one soul at a time, for His kingdom! We will have regular articles on skills development, leadership, and our ever popular destination column on awesome destinations, nationally and abroad (pages 28 & 29). Devoted is the media partner for an exciting new youth empowerment programme, Dream Girl SA (pages 8 & 9). It is a programme that will mentor teenage girls so they will have the skills to make informed decisions and to help change the world for the better. This programme provides the platform for Devoted to enhance its readership numbers and specifically target a category of readers with huge influence. Women (as wives, mothers, leaders and role players – current and future) have a huge influence on society in general, but also on individuals in their close relationships with family, friends, co-workers, other religious groups, etc. With their help we can enhance the impact Devoted has on the lives of others. Dream Girl SA events will be published in our issues from now on so you all can follow the progress of the participants. Follow the programme on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and receive more information on how to become more involved. I want to encourage you all to keep on dreaming, because everything that is worth it, begins with a dream! Happy dreaming!

Gerda

Mignionette Fair Mignionette has been part of the Devoted team since it was launched; and is now the deputy editor. She is a member of CRC Johannesburg. Mignionette is available for translation and editing services, which includes freelance writing and proofreading. (WEBSITE: www. fairtranslation.co.za E-MAIL: fairtranslation1@gmail.com) Paul Nyamuda Paul is a psychologist, executive coach and motivational speaker. He is known as an expert in leadership and social intelligence. For free leadership resources visit PaulNyamuda.Com. (WEBSITE: www.corporatelegends. co.za. E-MAIL: paul@corporatelegends.co.za) Vicki Fourie Vicki is a former Miss Deaf South Africa and Miss Deaf International 2010 1st Princess. She recently made her debut as stage actress. Currently, she’s a motivational speaker, having spoken at more than 300 schools and functions all over South Africa during the past five years. Her first book and memoir ‘Viva la Vicki!’ is now available to purchase. (WEBSITE: www.vickifourie.blogspot.com E-MAIL: vickifourie@yahoo.com) Johan Terblanche Pastor Johan Terblanche is from Christ Alone ministries, with the vision: “By the grace of God we aim to evangelise, teach and take care”. Christ Alone ministries is an e-mail-based ministry and a non-profitable organisation that offers weekly messages of encouragement, also to ministers encouraging them to stand firm in the calling of God. (WEBSITE: www.christaloneministries.weebly.com E-MAIL: christalone@telkomsa.net) Precious Ntsandeni Precious is a 21-year old student from the University of Pretoria and is currently studying a B.Com in Accounting. She serves in the Kids’ ministry and also as an altar worker in the church. She believes that God has given her a gift that allows her to express herself best in writing. She loves writing Christian poetry. Through this she seeks to glorify the Saviour and encourage those who are able to find strength in her words. Willem de Beer Willem de Beer is a professional athlete and specialises in the 400 metres. He won a silver medal in the 4X400m relay at the 2011 World Championships in athletics in Daegu. Willem studied Theology at the University of Pretoria. Plagiarism disclaimer: It was confirmed by our writers and contributors that no part of the written submissions has been copied from either a book or any other source, including the Internet, except where such sections are clearly shown as quotations and the sources have been correctly identified within the text or in the list of references.

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Front cover picture Natania Botha proudly wears the prestigious Mrs Queen of South Africa 2014 title. She has also been given the opportunity to be an entrant for Mrs South Africa 2015. Read more about her on page 4.

I n t h i s i s s u e CONTENTS ED’S LETTER Embarking on a new journey

DREAM GIRL SA Empowering youth to create change

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, COVER STORY 4 the new has come.” Natania Botha, understands the beauty of a woman 2 Corinthians 5:17 MINISTRY 6 The Jesus Film project ride

Credits MANAGING EDITOR

SPORT 10 Gerda Potgieter Devoted to her God-given talent

E-mail: editor@devotedmag.co.za

INSPIRATION 12 I am a victor, not a victim! LANGUAGE EDITOR

Mignionette Fair ATTITUDE 14 (Fair Translations and Editing Services) Thank you, the forgotten words!

LIVE FOR JESUS Pray, Give or Go

CREATIVE AND DESIGN TEAM Annerine Lubbe HEALTH 18 (Square d’zign studio)

What do we know about being overweight?

PRINTERS WELLNESS 20 SA Print Group (Bloemfontein) Taking a break in 2015

BACK TO BASICS Baby dedication

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Giving hope and restoring dignity

SALES AND MARKETING Alicia Potgieter Cell: 074 460 4123 E-mail: aliciajorge26@gmail.com sales@devotedmag.co.za

TESTIMONIES 26 POPUP changed our lives

WEBSITE DEVELOPER

DESTINATIONS 28 Tony Hendricks Spain, one of Europe’s most beautiful countries

REVIEWS 30 Contact Details Latest movies FAIR FLAIR A clean slate…

VICTORIOUS WITH VICKI Circle of inspiration

Editor: Email: editor@devotedmag.co.za Sales:

Book your advertising space for the next issue, contact Alicia

Email: aliciajorge26@gmail.com LEADERSHIP 36 074 460 4123 A call to young leaders

BUSINESS 38 Attracting your real clients with magazines

Content disclaimer: Devoted is published by DeVine publishers. All rights reserved. While every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of information, the editor, publisher, and Devoted magazine cannot accept liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Devoted team and remains the sole responsibility of the writers. Plagiarism disclaimer: It was confirmed by our writers and contributors that no part of the written submissions has been copied from either a book or any other source, including the Internet, except where such sections are clearly shown as quotations and the sources have been correctly identified within the text or in the list of references.

Cover Story

Natania Botha

beauty of a woman understands the

Natania Botha proudly wears the prestigious Mrs Queen of South Africa 2014 title. She has also been given the opportunity to be an entrant for Miss South Africa 2015. But as you see her today, she is more than just another pretty face, and she is actively using beauty pageants to advance the kingdom of God and to make a difference in people’s lives.

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Natania was born on the 19th of May, 1988 in Pretoria. The second her mother laid eyes on her; she knew she wanted to name her Natania which means gift from God. Natania had a fairly average childhood, growing up with two older siblings in a small town just outside of Brits in the North West province. Growing up, she was labelled as a social outcast and didn’t make friends easily. At the tender age of 16, life threw her into the deep end with what she considered as a major setback then. She had no choice but to become a high school dropout and to take the financial responsibility of supporting her mother onto her shoulders. Ten years later, she has not only overcome that hurdle; she came back with a BANG! Today she hopes to be an inspiration to young woman and that her story will inspire them to be more than what society labels them to be. Natania has a certificate in business practice, a diploma in financial planning and a degree in creative writing. She was also one of the few ladies who were appointed to be the Personal Assistant for the Business Corporate Woman of the Year in 2006. And in 2013 she represented Mine Africa Safety Solutions at the Import and Export Canton Fair held in Guangzhou, China. She says that this new year will be the year of open doors and opportunities for her modelling and corporate career. “What you need to know about the past, is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now!” This beautiful lady is grounded; and she does not dwell on her past defeats. She regards her set-backs as the way in which God simply prepares her for her future success. “Don’t let the sadness of your past, and the fear

of your future, ruin the happiness of your present”, she says. “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. I believe the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity, is our attitude towards it. Every opportunity has an obstacle and every obstacle has an opportunity.” She continues: “Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, education, money, circumstances, failure, successes or than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifts or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday about the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past and we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do, is to play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And it is the same with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.” Natania has a beautiful smile and she uses it a lot! “Anyone can give up”, she says. “It is the easiest thing in the world. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength. And that is the beauty of being a woman! “One of the definitions of beauty I stumbled upon, is: ‘a beautiful person, especially a woman’. I would agree that when we think of beauty in a person, we generally think of women, however, we can see beauty in the actions of any person; male or female. “The Bible has much to say about the beauty of women. Beautiful women may be defined as such because of physical features, but in the Bible we see more about beauty in character. In Proverbs

Cover Story 31, we see an entire chapter devoted to what King Lemuel’s mother taught him about the ideal woman. She taught him to look for something beautiful in the woman that he would have as his wife, because God made all women to be something beautiful. “A certainty in life is that if you can dream it, you can achieve it!” says Natania. “You just have to believe it! I do not have a secret to my success. My faith in God has always been my fuel when I start to run on empty. We are all His daughters. Heirs to His divinity. If you work hard, plan, prepare and always humble yourself in prayer - God will not forsake you. “Whenever you find yourself doubting, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won and all the fears you have overcome. Limits like fears, are often just an illusion. “Finding true freedom in Christ, requires leaving the past in the past. But many of us aren’t able to do that. Though we know that Christ has freed us, our memories haunt us, and we repeatedly put ourselves down for things we did. Some things we’ve kept to ourselves and pray that no one ever finds out about them. Some things we’re ashamed of because others may already know about them. “Whatever it is. Whenever it was. Whatever is dragging you down; now is the time to let it go. You can learn from your mistakes and be disappointed you made them in the first place, but if you want to be free, you cannot keep pointing to them as evidence of your unworthiness or failure. That’s not what God wants for you. “Whatever holds us hostage, keeps us from enjoying a deeper, fuller relationship with Christ. Surrendering your past is not about dwelling on the things you did. It’s about putting it under the blood of Jesus and focusing on the One who looks beyond those things into your heart. “Right here… right now… ask God for His guidance, strength and power as you release the hold that any actions or thoughts have on you. Let the past be the past. Get back to the future and concentrate solely on the One who can heal and lead you.”

Natania has good advice for our young women who aspire to follow in her footsteps: “Cleanse your mind of sinful shadows and let God fill you with the joy of His grace and salvation”. She is also outspoken about gender issues and says: “One of my projects that I have pledged myself to is Thursdays in Black. This initiative is to strive for a world without rape and violence. The reason why I relate to this organisation, is that I once had verbal and emotional violence in my life. But God showed me the light and told me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. “Gender-based violence is a universal and global issue that harms men, women and children in their most private spheres. We often feel helpless and hopeless in the face of so much pain and injustice. However, we can all be involved in a simple, but powerful campaign to address gender violence. Every Thursday, people around the world wear black as a symbol of strength and courage, representing our solidarity with victims and survivors of violence, and calling for a world without rape and violence. “Wearing black on Thursdays shows others that you are tired of putting up with violence, and calls for communities where we can all walk safely without fear; fear of being beaten up, fear of being verbally abused, fear of being raped, fear of discrimination. The campaign is not confined to countries at war, but recognises that violence takes many forms – including domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, incest, murder, female infanticide, genital mutilation, sexual harassment, discrimination and sex trafficking. “Thursdays in Black focuses on ways that individuals can challenge attitudes that cause rape and violence, on a personal and public level. It provides an opportunity for people to become part of a worldwide movement, which transforms the despair, pain and anger about rape and other forms of violence into political action.” This young lady doesn’t only have a beautiful face, she has her head screwed on right: “Only 7% of South Africans can maintain their lifestyle after retirement. It is of profound importance that, irrespective of your age, you must provide adequately for death, disability and retirement.

I do my part to raise awareness about the importance of financial planning in our country. I am also raising awareness about diabetes and cancer, as it has a tremendous impact, not only in South Africa, but worldwide. I believe that prevention is better than cure and that by encouraging people to lead healthier and more active lifestyles, we can significantly reduce the occurrence of these diseases amongst young and old.

“God is looking for imperfect men and women, who have learned to walk in dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with surviving and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life”

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Ministry

The Jesus film project ride

By Ramon Changuion

In 2012, my wife and I went to volunteer with the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) in the USA for 10 months. This was a life-changing experience for us both. While we were at the CMA USA National Rally in Mena, Arkansas, we were exposed to The Jesus Film Project and their efforts to reach the world with the Gospel of Luke through film. We identified with the vision and when we got home, we started the process of taking hands with them to translate the film into two languages on our very own continent. Both language groups, the Kabwa and the Zanaki, are based in Tanzania near Lake Victoria, just outside Musoma. 6

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On 21 April 2014, eight men, six motorcycles and one backup vehicle, left Bikers’ Church in Midrand and set out on a 9 000 km journey with a message of hope in Jesus Christ for people who had never heard about Him. We, as CMA South Africa, had raised money during the previous year to have the translations of the Jesus film completed, and now we were riding north, through Botswana, across Zambia, into Tanzania and all the way to the top to Musoma, to go and experience first-hand how the Gospel of Jesus would impact these people. The ride was gruelling. Long days in the saddle and short nights of sleep with very little food would be the order of the day for the next 16 days. At one point we had eight tired, hungry men doing life together. It was one of those “extra grace required” periods. When we arrived in Musoma a week later, we met up with the team from the Jesus film, along with the group who did the actual translating of the Gospel of Luke to use as the script for the film. We started asking them about their roles in

this project and discovered that we entered this game during overtime. We started this process a year before and a few key people started the process five years before. To hear their stories was both mind-blowing and very humbling. The man I was speaking to was probably my age. Half a decade ago, he had moved his wife and two children (who were babies at the time) from Holland to Tanzania to take the Gospel to lost people. He started off in a language school for six months learning Swahili. After that, he was thrown into a community where nobody spoke English, where he met two shepherds in a field caring for sheep and cattle. These men, being from the Kabwa tribe, could speak Swahili as it is the national language taught to children during their first few years at school. Having the language in common, they were able to converse and become friends. This man shared the love of Jesus with these shepherds every day until one day they asked to meet this Jesus. He started disciplining these two men to

walk a road of growth in Christ so that they could share what Jesus had done in their lives with their families and friends. Jumping ahead to the moment I met them five years later - here they were, standing with me in an open field where the Jesus Film crew had erected a portable movie screen and set up a projector. As the sun set, people started coming from different villages to come and see what was happening. A forgotten people were about to meet the Saviour and Lover of their souls on a silver screen where He tells them that He loves them, and cares for them, and was willing to lay down His life for them in their own language. He showed them how to live, how to love, and how to share His goodness with each other every day. And He got to tell them this because; one man moved his family halfway around the world into very uncomfortable circumstances and learnt a very difficult language. All of this so that he could share this love with two other men who in return said “yes” to this love. Together they developed an alphabet to learn to read and right in Kabwa, as there was no recorded literature in this language at the time. They then started translating the Gospel of Luke into Kabwa so that the team from The Jesus Film could translate the words of Jesus into a language that these men, women and children spoke. This is the message that I want to share with the reader: One man said yes, who showed two other men how to say yes, who showed a community how to say yes to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Here’s a thought: When last did you say yes?

The Jesus film project ride

SWISS BELLS EDUPLEX

10-14 March Tuesday to Saturday

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Dream Girl SA

Empowering youth to create change

“Don’t depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewellery or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful. Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special”. (1 Peter 3:3-6)

Devoted has embarked on a youth empowerment programme, Dream Girl SA, and the programme started with a bang. As the official media partner of this exciting programme, we will keep readers informed on the progress made as well as on achievements and milestones. The Dream Girl SA programme is dedicated to inspiring and guiding young girls (from grade 8 - 12) to discover themselves, to realise their full potential, and to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to make informed life choices. Hopefully, by making the right life choices will help them to make a positive impact on society. This programme aims to provide participants with the tools to develop the skills to successfully navigate through issues young adolescent girls face today. Dream Girl SA is not the typical beauty pageant, although it has fun elements of beauty, wellness and health as part of the programme. It consists of a number of activities aimed at inspiring, motivating and empowering young girls to be successful in all aspects of their lives. The Dream Girl SA programme is the brainchild of Mrs Tereza Troskie-Herbst, who is no stranger to beauty pageants and empowerment programmes. A beauty queen herself and winner of various competitions, Tereza now focuses her life and time to pay it forward by empowering other young women to become future leaders. She is passionate about the empowerment of girls and women, and Devoted has joined forces with her and a dedicated team of experts to promote the programme.

Objectives

The main goal of the programme is to create a safe space for girls where honest conversation can take place about issues affecting them today. General subjects that will be covered in focused workshops include: • Raising awareness about various social and other issues; • Developing the ambassadorial qualities of the participants;

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• Inspiring young girls to become self-assured; • Encouraging healthy, balanced lifestyles; • Motivating girls to realise their dreams through sound education; and • Creating entrepreneurs who will make a difference in their communities. Programme-specific objectives include: • To hold fun and informative meetings, workshops, events and activities within a learning environment; • To develop the entrepreneurial skills of the participants through business-related activities; • To hold at least two elimination events that is aimed at selecting the best of the participants to move on to the next level of the programme; • To select a Dream Girl at an annual gala event, who will act as the ambassador of the programme for a year and who will be the role model for other teen girls; and • To empower young girls with knowledge, awareness and the skills to improve their lives.

Mentoring

Girls, as future wives, mothers and leaders, can change the world for the better - we just need to show them how. This is why the principle of mentoring is used where advice and guidance are given. A process is followed in which an experienced person assists the girls in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance their personal growth. Informal mentoring is going on all the time and formal mentoring activities takes the process to a new level and expands its usefulness. The programme demonstrates all the characteristics of a mentoring initiative: • It takes place outside of the school-learner relationship, at the mutual consent of the mentor and the participant; • It is focused on personal development and includes career development;

Dream Girl SA • The relationship is personal as we provide both professional and personal support; The relationship may be initiated by a mentor or created through a match initiated by the programme.

Empowerment

Dream Girl SA is an empowerment programme for young girls with the aim to create a new class of women. This programme is unique, as it completely moves away from the aesthetic focus of traditional beauty pageants. The participants will be trained and informed to become well-spoken, knowledgeable and graceful young women, who are passionate about a purpose. They will be supported throughout the entire programme, so the journey will be one of positive awareness of their abilities, qualities, skills, talents and power as future mothers, wives and leaders. Empowerment is the end result of mentoring which implies that the organisers intend to make participants stronger and more confident. Within the Dream Girl SA programme, they practice information sharing, rewards and power with the girls so they can take initiative and make decisions to solve problems and improve their lives and performance.

Structure

The Dream Girl SA mentoring programme is structured in a very unique way to ensure impact. Firstly, the relationship between mentors and participants lasts for a specific period of time (approximately seven months) in a formal programme - from February to August. The programme has various chapters in different regions. Currently it has chapters in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Welkom, Kimberley,

Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp. The chapters are managed by a chapter leader, supported with a team of skilled and qualified people to help with all aspects of the programme. Volunteers are also used to help with the logistics and administration. Each mentoring group is diverse in its composition, with girls who have varying strengths and weaknesses, so they can learn from and empower each other. The entire programme consists of: • a number of mentoring sessions (workshops), discussions, guest speakers, conducted by experts; • a variety of dynamic and interesting activities; • a requirement for one community involvement activity per year; • entrepreneurial activities and fundraising for participation in events and community outreach; • Dream Den component where business ideas are discussed and business plans are developed to stimulate the girls’ entrepreneurial spirits. Participants are eliminated from the programme based on performance on a points system accumulated for tasks performed and attendance of workshops, and not on appearance during the workshop phase. Girls who advance to the next levels will compete against each other in August 2015 at a gala event that will take place during the Jacaranda Festival in Pretoria. The winner of Dream Girl SA will be selected and announced at the event as well as a 1st and 2nd princess. The Dream Girl will act as ambassador for the next year’s programme, under the guidance of Mrs Tereza TroskieHerbst. Look out for the articles on Tereza and some of the participants in the next issue. We will bring you more pictures and updates in the next issues.

Top reasons why you should participate in Dream Girl SA?

• You receive mentoring to help you achieve your potential • Mentors help you discover your strengths • We may help you to set career goals and start taking steps to realise them • Interactive workshops on various topics will develop much needed life skills • You will learn from others and your leadership qualities will be developed • You will meet celebrities and role models • You will have lots of fun and will meet new friends • You will learn how to develop a business plan and set up a small business • You have the opportunity to generate income and get financially stronger • Devoted will publish articles on all the topics covered in the programme as well as on the progress of the programme • The winner will grace our December 2015 cover • The winner of Dream Girl SA 2015 will receive a number of exciting prizes that will allow her to use her Dream Girl platform to the benefit of others: cash prize; holiday get-away for the family; beauty and health products; clothes and others • The two runner-ups will also receive cash prizes; beauty and health products and clothes • All 20 final contestants will receive skincare and health care products

Bloemfontein participants

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Sport

Devoted

to her God-given talent by Willem de Beer

“When I am feeling down, my parents know I haven’t trained enough. They always motivate me and support me on the track by shouting: ‘Go Stompie, jy kan dit doen’ (Go Stompie, you can do it).” Stompie is the nickname Chanté Finger’s family gave her. Chanté talks about her mom, Amanda, and dad, Karl, in a loving way with a lot of appreciation for the way they support her. Chanté, who turns 19 this year, finished her matric year at Hoërskool Zwartkop with full university exemption. She didn’t talk about her grades too much and only added that she is very happy with the results. She described that 2014 was a very emotional year for her and that she is grateful it is finished. She further spoke about her devotion to her talent and athletics, which is not just a pastime, but also a dream being realised. This young athlete is quickly making a name for herself on the track. In December 2014, she was chosen to represent the country on junior level (under 20) at the Region 5 Games, which were held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This is a multi-sport event attended by many southern Africa countries and hosts all kinds of sport. At these games Chanté competed in the 400m as well as the 400m hurdles. After competing in different rounds over three days, she managed to win both titles with 56.08 seconds and 62.1 seconds respectively. To top it all off, she also competed in the 4 x 400m relay on the fifth day where the girls walked away with the bronze medal. To acquire three medals at any international event like this is no small feat. She says, “it is great to finally acquire national colours, but” she continues, and here is the twist “the biggest honour was to stand on the podium at the national championships earlier this year and to hear the announcer say that I’m one of his favourite athletes.” She is not only up-and-coming star, but modest too. A trait recognised in a true role model. What makes this young athlete so remarkable, is not only her God-given talent and her devoted lifestyle, but also the fact that she is completely deaf in her right ear. This sometimes interferes with her ability to hear the starter’s gun at the start of a race. Her view on difficulties like these, which is also a message she would like to convey to others, is that “God sometimes puts something in our path, but we will be able to endure it. One must always continue and believe in yourself as well as in God, even when life seems at its most difficult.”

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She mentions that she has always been interested in competitive athletics, though in primary school her dreams were not realised. However, this changed at the age of 16 when she received her first provincial colours. From there on the hard work started and her dreams were rekindled. She went on to achieve second place at the national championships in 2013 and third place in 2014. In 2013, she missed out on representing the country due to a broken collarbone. Her collarbone is now fully healed and so are her dreams through her recent victories. When asked about her plans for the future, she answers loudly and clearly: “Olympic Games”. So many athletes view this as a crowning achievement, and Chanté is no exception. We can be sure to look out for her in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games (who knows, maybe even in 2016 in Brazil). She plans to study sport science at the University of Pretoria in 2015 and to compete for Tuks Athletics. Chanté views her ability to run as a God-given talent. Thus, when she competes, she is not only fulfilling her dreams, but a dream that has been placed inside of her by her Creator. It is easy to see that she is not only devoted to her own dreams and goals, but to God as well. She is very open about her Christianity and openly wears a cross around her neck. She also had a cross tattooed on her forearm. She feels that she has a longing to not only talk about her faith, but also to show it. This should be taken as a sign of her devotion to God, rather than rebellious behaviour which is so commonly assumed. She said that many people, as well as fellow Christians, judge her because she is a Roman Catholic. But like Christians, she also prays every day. Despite judgemental behaviour, she is not deterred to show her love for God. She further gives thanks to God for her recent accomplishments, because she views this as a gift from God. When asked if she has any other talents or hobbies, she laughs and says that there is no time for anything else as she is always on the track. She continues: “If there are any other talents, I have not discovered them yet, but I play a good game of FIFA and I will beat anyone.” At school, Chanté played a little bit of netball, although only at school level. She doesn’t like team sports and says that “as an athlete, I am my

own person and you have to motivate yourself”. This is a valuable lesson from athletics which she has already discovered at her young age. Many times in life, one has to motivate yourself when faced with a difficult situation. This is also true in a faith context. The drive to seek God comes from within. The Spirit of God that resides in us can lead us to God, but we have to take the step in faith. Chanté is a young athlete with a lot of wisdom and certainly someone to look out for in the future!

“It is easy to see

that she is not only devoted to her own dreams and goals but to God as well

”

Steers becomes ‘Steers Uncut’ in stylish revamp Feed that Fire. Live it. Taste it. Live Life, Flame-grilled. Do you remember the first time you tucked into an iconic King Steers Burger? Makes your mouth water, doesn’t it? Almost a half century after its establishment, this well-known South African burger brand is stronger than ever and is loved for its classic flame-grilled burgers, Hero rolls and succulent ribs.

struggling to decide between our four fresh salad options: Chicken; Chicken and feta; Basic green or a Greek salad.

Free Wi-Fi and shaded outside seating

Steers Silver Oaks Crossing has been successfully operating for the past seven years and has now undergone an exciting revamp in line with the latest Steers concept stores called ‘Steers Uncut’. This fresh and innovative upgrade includes a brand new interior design following the current design trends. It is stylish, fresh, funky and hip!

Customer convenience is a top priority for the Steers Silver Oaks Crossing team. With the recent addition of the roof structure over the outside seating area, you can leisurely wait for your take-away order or enjoy a meal with friends and family in the shade. As they say, “Surf’s Up” at Steers Silver Oaks Crossing with the new wireless internet service. With no password and no time limit, there is no fuss! Directly access our free Wi-Fi service to update software, chat and work on your device while on the go.

Flame-grilled chicken

Delivery to your door

Steers Uncut

Steers Silver Oaks Crossing is excited to announce the launch of the new Steers flame-grilled chicken that is now available at its store. From now on, you can look forward to enjoying your classic favourites, and you can now also savour the tender, succulent and healthy flame-grilled chicken. The delectable chicken is prepared with specialised equipment that ensures the chicken remains tasty and juicy throughout the cooking process. Once the cooking process is complete, the chicken is flamegrilled to perfection and basted with your choice of one of the three flavours available: Hot Peri-Peri, Mild Peri-Peri or Lemon and Herb. Different portion sizes are also available and vary from full, half or quarter chicken. New combo options will allow you to enjoy a match of perfectly flame-grilled ribs and chicken!

Handmade chips

Perfect your meal by adding a portion of carefully selected A-grade potato chips to your order. Steers chips are handmade daily, cooked in fresh oil at the right temperature and sprinkled with Steers famous seasoning. It’s what makes Steers chips a cut above the rest!

Fresh salad

Great news for the health conscious, Steers Silver Oaks Crossing now boasts a delicious fresh salad selection. You might find yourself

Steers Silver Oaks Crossing wants to excel at delivering to your doorstep by implementing a call centre with trained staff who are dedicated to handle orders in an efficient and accurate manner. So when life gets hectic or if you are too lazy to cook or drive to Silver Oaks Crossing, don’t worry! Your Steers meal can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or office at any time, by simply making use of our excellent delivery service. Our delivery drivers are equipped with mobile debit/ credit card payment facilities for easy and convenient payment.

Trading hours

Daily trading hours at Steers Silver Oaks Crossing are Sunday to Thursdays 10:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturdays from 10:00 until 22:00. The call centre telephone number is 0128092149. Steers has won the “Leisure Options Award” for the Best Burger for the past 18 years as well as Best Chips for 14 years running. Steers Silver Oaks Crossing invites you to come and enjoy iconic South African favourites, located on Silverlakes Golf Estate’s doorstep. Customer convenience is a top priority for the Steers Silver Oaks Crossing team. With the recent addition of the roof structure over the outside seating area, you can leisurely wait for your take-away order or enjoy a meal with friends and family in the shade. As they say, “Surf’s Up” @ Steers Silver Oaks Crossing with the new wireless internet service. With no password and no time limit, there is no fuss! Directly access our free Wi-Fi service to update software, chat and work on your device while on the go.

Inspiration

victor, I am a

not a victim!

Human trafficking has serious consequences for the victim on so many levels, from illnesses and health problems to serious mental problems. The social impact on society is enormous, starting with the effects on the victim, circling to the family and the community to which they belong. Child abuse and human trafficking go hand in hand; and both undermine the personal development of the victim. Although you are possibly not a victim yourself, whether you know it or not, you are impacted by this horrifying crime against humanity. Elanie Kruger once was a victim of human trafficking, but she became a victor through the grace of God. She shares her story.

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“I

will never forget the heartbreaking phone call from a mother whose daughter had been missing for many years and there was no lead… nothing. She just vanished from the face of the earth. That was one of the many phone calls I received days after my interview on RSG (Radio Sonder Grense). I have tried to put myself in that mother’s shoes, to feel what she feels; and it hurts. It hurts so much and I can tell you I have seen and experienced the pain and suffering of a victim of human trafficking. I am not talking about Taken and I am not talking about Liam Neeson’s great performance in Taken 1 and Taken 2. I am talking about real victims…here in South Africa. Please, I need you, as a mom, dad, grandma, granddad, aunt, and cousin, to simply take a couple of minutes and just read this… This is my plea to you today…just a couple of minutes of your valuable time is all I ask.

Human trafficking is real and it is happening right here in South Africa! Modern slavery is what it is called: the buying and selling of humans - either for the purpose of slavery, hard labour, sex slavery; or simply for harvesting human organs. A child goes missing every six hours in South Africa and the clock is ticking. I have worked with parents who have sold their children for as little as R250, just to buy bread and milk. What happens with their children is not their concern anymore…

We have found some of these children chained up, skin and bones, in underground brothels in Johannesburg. Human trafficking certainly involves people of all ages, from as young as five years old to 21 years old, boys and girls. We have rescued young girls and boys, who were abducted from as far as the Cape and sold in parts of Johannesburg. Now, just to give you an idea of how big and scary this horrible crime is… I was a victim of human trafficking for eight months in Bloemfontein. I was betrayed and locked up, beaten, raped, had between 10 to 15 clients an evening and I was drugged most of the time. I became a victim of human trafficking … all just because I was looking for a job! We have found victims in brothels in most parts of Johannesburg from as young as 12 years old, working on the streets, with their pimps watching them like hawks. We have found young boys and girls selling their bodies in underground brothels for R200 per hour. They are locked up in small little rooms, waiting for one client after another, and some of these children and young girls can be found in pornography movies sold on the street corners of Johannesburg for R100. I can tell you lots of stories; but for now I want to make you aware of the evil that is looming over our country and world. Many people have asked me what the difference between a prostitute and a human trafficking victim is; and believe me there is a huge difference. Have you ever been in a situation where you have no money, no food, you have sold all your furniture, are evicted from your home and you

Inspiration have one, two or three little mouths to feed? You have asked the family for money, the neighbour for bread or you just simply went out and stood on the street corners begging for money, only to come home with nothing and still have the little ones crying for food! As a mother, the only thing you can think of is feeding your children! To sell your body for a couple of hours seems like the only hope. All you have to do is show some skin, put some make-up on, do your hair and go work the streets … And, soon the money starts coming in! Now that is prostitution – when you have no other option but to sell your body. So, next time before you judge one standing on the street corner, maybe go out to her and ask her to tell you her story. I promise you, you will be more grateful for what you have in life! Prostitution is when you have nothing else left to do, but to sell your body to feed mouths or pay the rent.

A human trafficking victim does not do it out of free will, because they are always captured and forced to do it! A victim of human trafficking works in brothels; some do work on the streets, but with their pimp a couple of metres away from them, where they can keep an eye on them. There are huge debates about prostitutes and we tend to judge them. But we cannot do that, we have never been where they are and some people fight me on this, but some say they can go and look for work!

I want to tell you something else: It takes one prostitute about 10 to 12 attempts to leave that kind of work. They are scared they will not fit into society and what will they put on their CVs? Malls are the places where they source most of their victims. Do not give your child a couple of bucks, drop them off at a mall, put the money into their hands and think you have made their day! Maybe you have in a way, but you have to know that the malls are the places they target their next victims. Moms, dads … when was the last time you sat down with your child to find out what was going on in their heads/lives? Do you know what is on their phones? Do you know what they Google? Do you know who their friends are? Instead of giving them money and dropping them off at malls or plugging the PlayStation in, why not just spend quality time with your kid and find out who they are! I can tell you one thing for sure, our children are under enormous pressures and stresses in this life, and believe me, before you know it they will find a place or a shoulder to cry on … and you will just blame yourself if something terrible happens to that precious child! I have outlined some important details about where these syndicates work, but my list is much longer than that. I am not saying that you should lock your child in the house from now on; I am asking you as a parent and as a child…become aware, read as much as you can about human trafficking. Read about things to do if you should be abducted, who to call, what to do and simple things like that. It can save

a life! It can save your life! Parents, become your child’s best friend today; and yes you can do it. It is never too late. I had to pick up the pieces of my life as a teenager and start fresh, and it has been a very long journey. But there has been one Man who has stood by me through it all and I confirm today that He will never leave you either, because His love for us is bigger than anything. He is my Hero, my Saviour, My rock and His name is Jesus…I was nothing and today I am His! If you want more information, please feel free to contact me on 076 855 7227 or e-mail: stoptrafficking@live.com

How the syndicates get their victims

• The promise of a model career – we have had many such cases. • They operate in rural and poverty-stricken areas where they promise parents that they will give their kids a better life. • Job advertisements. Please do some background checks before you go for any interview. Make sure the place where you are meeting is legit. • Facebook, social media, pen pals, advertisements, MXIT, etc.

• 27 million people are believed to have been a victim of human trafficking. • 1 to 2 million people are trafficked every year. • Most trafficking victims are girls between five to 15 years of age. • 1.2 million children are trafficked annually (half are African). • It is a $33.9 billion or R257 billion industry. (Sources: Bales, 2004, www.notforsalecampaign.org, US. Dept of State, Unicef,World Hope Int’l, 2008, Belser, 2006).

Statistics relating to South Africa:

• It is estimated that 30,000 children are being prostituted in South Africa. • Half of these children are younger than 14 years old. • Children as young as four are prostituted. • There are up to 10,000 child prostitutes in Johannesburg. • Up to 1,000 girls are trafficked to South Africa from Mozambique each year. • The Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are the main “recruitment” areas for victims of human trafficking. Source: World Hope South Africa, schoolcurriculum

victory

Global statistics relating to trafficking:

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Attitude

Thank you

the forgotten words! By Precious Ntsandeni

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

andom greetings, expressing gratitude, or even a simple “thank you”, or “please” whenever you are in need of someone’s assistance; all these small acts of etiquette are taken for granted. Society expects that we all know how to carry ourselves around others, but what if what society expects is actually what our Saviour would expect as well? As Christians, it’s essential that we constantly walk in grace and display the love of our God to both people inside and outside of the church. One might wonder, but what does etiquette have to do with expressing Christ’s love? How you treat others is a reflection of what you are harbouring in your heart. With Christ living on the inside of you, what comes out of you should be Christ-like. Mannerisms are anything but a set of rules that are meant to govern the way we treat others. I actually don’t want to view politeness as being driven by rules outside of the grace of God, because even the Word says that man fails at keeping to the law (Romans 3:20). This can be seen when we look at the world outside of the love of God. We go to school and are given rules to live by. Also, to have a driver’s license you would have had to pass your learner’s test, which gives you road rules to abide by, but still cases of rebellion in classrooms, on the road and in many other areas prevail. To do away with this, we must walk in the love of Christ. Now that we have established that the

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root of etiquette is to walk in love, I will explain how this can be done. You can only express what is inside of you and what overflows from the inside out. Fellowship with God strengthens fellowship with those around you. The more time you spend with God, reading His Word, worshipping and serving Him; the more Christ-like we become. The decisions we make, the thoughts we think and even how we respond to others, all of that changes and is no longer in line with how the world would have it. It is much easier to shower people with love, greet everyone that comes your way or even those who offer you help when everything in your life is at a 100 percent. However, because of this life, that won’t always be the case and therefore we need God’s grace. In Isaiah 30:21 it says that God will direct us in the way that we should walk and spending time with Him makes us more sensitive to this direction. The next time you’re driving to work, shopping for groceries, sitting in class or a business meeting; take note of your etiquette. The next time you’re driving out of church, buying a book at the book store, sitting down for some coffee at the coffee shop or when you sit down in the church auditorium; shower those around you with love. What the world tries to do by following a set of rules, we do by grace. Basic etiquette is Christian etiquette, because Christian etiquette is love.

What does “thank you” really mean? By Chris Galatin (Poem sent to Valdenira by her daughter Raquel, 1999).

“Thank you” is one of those wonderful phrases people use to express a special gratitude. But there’s often a lot more to it than those two words can say. When it comes from the heart, from deep inside the nicest feelings and the most special thoughts, “Thank you” means so much. It means thank you for taking the time to show that you care. It means you really made my day, and sometimes it means that you really make all the days so much better. It means you make me feel so nice, and I wish I could do the same for you... just by letting you know how much you mean to me. “Thank you” means you didn’t have to... but I’m so grateful that you did. “Thank you” means that you’ve done something special that I’ll never forget. (Source: http://solascripturatt.org/DoCoracaoDeValdenira/ WhatDoesThankYouReallyMean-ChrisGalatin.htm)

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Join the Devoted sales team and become a

Kingdom builder We would like to expand our sales team. If you have what it takes to be a successful salesperson, we would like to invite you to join the small Devoted team. The funding of Devoted relies on selling advertising space to valuable clients. In this way the magazine will become financially independent and sustainable in the long run – and not be a burden on church resources. Do you know of anyone who may be looking for an income opportunity? Could it be you? Or someone you know? This is your opportunity to be an independent salesperson offering a product with no current competitors. You can become a Kingdom builder by helping us grow Devoted in this way; and you may earn valuable experience in this dynamic market.

Contact: editor@devotedmag.co.za or aliciajorge26@gmail.com or sales@devotedmag.co.za Call us on 074 460 4123 or 082 896 0955

Live for Jesus

Pray, Give or Go By Johan Terblanche

hen looking at the world around us, I’m reminded of Lamentations 4:1-9 which reads: “Our glittering gold has grown dull; the stones of the Temple lie scattered in the streets. Zion’s young people were as precious to us as gold, but now they are treated like common clay pots. Even a mother wolf will nurse her cubs, but my people are like ostriches, cruel to their young. They let their babies die of hunger and thirst; children are begging for food that no one will give them. People who once ate the finest foods die starving in the streets; those raised in luxury are pawing through garbage for food. My people have been punished even more than the inhabitants of Sodom, which met a sudden downfall at the hands of God. Our princes were undefiled and pure as snow, vigorous and strong, glowing with health. Now they lie unknown in the streets, their faces blackened in death; their skin, dry as wood, has shrivelled on their bones. Those who died in the war were better off than those who died later, who starve slowly to death, with no food to keep them alive.” In recent times I have seen so many who are lost, so many seeking a Saviour, so many longing after God. I have seen young children who were hungry, longing for a loaf of bread, but also desiring the Bread of Life. I have seen others thirsty for water, while their souls thirst after Jesus Christ, the Living Water. Helpless, hopeless and without Christ, they are roaming the streets. I have also seen the atrocities

happening in the Middle East and Central Africa. Christians are being martyred. Even small children are tortured and killed. People are dying for Christ’s sake, giving up their lives for the sake of having an eternal relationship with God. While many Christians have Bibles to spare, there are churches that would tear out the pages of a Bible, in order to give each family a page or two to read during the week. Recently, by God’s grace, we were able to send 20 Bibles to Kenya where a church with 20 families was sharing three Bibles among them. Africa, Asia and now even Europe and the America’s are in dire need of the Gospel. Nations need to hear the Word; they need to hear about Jesus Christ, the One by whose name we are set free. We’re all familiar with Matthew 28:19-20 which reads: “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” When Jesus said: “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people”, He also spoke to us (See Mark 16:15). We are also called to share the Gospel, we are also called to evangelise, and we are also called to bring in the harvest. This being said, we can’t all go to Africa, but we can reach out to an African, we can’t all go to Asia, but we can reach out to an Asian, we can’t all go to Europe, but we can all reach out to a European. There are three things you

and I can do: we can go or we can give or we can pray. And should God work in us, we can do all three things or even two out of the three. Today, someone might be dying without Christ, never having had an opportunity to accept Him. You and I can reach out. We can go and tell. Or we can support a missionary to go. Or we can pray, not only for the lost, but also that God will send someone to take the Good news to those lost souls.

The harvest is ready and God is calling: “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?” Will you answer and say: “I will go! Send me!”

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Health

What do we know about being

overweight?

We live in a world where we are continuously bombarded with incorrect information on what to eat and what not. We are no longer sure on what is good for us and what is not. In our reporting on health matters, we make an effort to talk to the experts and to ask their advice on matters that impact on our health and wellness in general. We want to start our new series in this category by showing our readers the facts and fiction on losing fat. Eugene Daamen, our body sculpting and health guru points out what is true and what is not; and he gives us some fun food ideas. High fat diets make you fat

This is fiction. We know that fats contain twice as many calories per gram than protein and carbohydrates, but adding Omega 3 fats, like flaxseed oil, to your diet will actually promote fat burning. Mono- and polyunsaturated fats are the healthy fats that are more readily available to be used as an energy source than saturated fats.

You cannot get lean when eating carbohydrates Fiction, once again. Adequate carbohydrate intake prevents thyroid hormone levels from dropping. Simply put,

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too little carbohydrates means less thyroid function, which means you are slowing down your metabolism. When trying to lose body fat, keep carbohydrate intake to around one gram per pound of body weight. If you are following a very low-carb diet, make sure that you add a high-carb day once a week. Aim for around two to three grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight. (1 pound = +-400 grams).

drink plenty of water to ensure optimum fat burning. Your muscles will also benefit from the water as it will keep them full and hydrated during exercise. You can also drink a glass of water between meals to help burn fat.

Drinking water will help you burn fat

This is a known fact. Missing out on breakfast slows the metabolism and keeps the body in a catabolic (muscle breakdown) state. ALWAYS eat adequate protein and carbohydrates first thing in the morning.

This is a fact. Dehydrated people experience a drop in metabolic rate, so

Skipping breakfast can lead to fat gain

Health Avoid eating carbohydrates after 18:00

This is also fiction. However, this is a tricky one, because it depends on what time you exercise. If you work out late in the day, do not avoid carbs. Training late at night will require a small amount of low GI (glycaemic index) carbs and protein. A banana or whole-wheat grain product 30 minutes prior to your workout can do miracles when on a diet and you still want to have an intense workout. Directly after training, consume some high GI carbs with protein to kick-start the recovery process. A protein/carb drink works best at this time.

Avoid simple carbs

This is fiction. Consume fast-digesting carbs first thing in the morning to bring up blood sugar levels so that you do not feel like passing out on the treadmill or even worse, having your blood sugar drop when you are busy with a set of squats. Always remember to consume fast-digesting carbs after training to return the body to an anabolic state. So in short, when trying to lose body fat, the only times you consume simple carbs will be first thing in the morning and directly after training.

Increase protein intake

This is a fact. When body fat levels become low, the body will look for other energy sources and protein

is next in line. When you do not consume enough protein, your body breaks down muscle for an energy source and this is what we do not want. Another fact is that when the body uses your hard-earned muscle as an energy source, your metabolism slows down and that means fat burning also slows down. Women are so scared to eat protein because they think they are going to wake up with huge muscles, but that is simply not the case. For the men, I wish that was true.

Always train on an empty stomach

This is fiction. Sure, it works great for the first week or two, but then you are so tired you cannot get out of bed to go to the gym. Many trainers give this advice to their clients and they can lose up to 6kg in the first two weeks, but it is not sustainable for most people, so they just give up because it seems too hard. In the presence of glycogen (carbs), you can burn a lot more body fat. ALWAYS eat before you train. It allows you to train harder. Hard training makes you lean and shapes your muscles.

are good choices. Your metabolism slows down the longer you are awake; so it makes sense to slow down your eating.

Caffeine can help to burn fat

This is also a fact. Caffeine increases the amount of fat that gets liberated from your fat cells. Caffeine, as an aid to burning fat, works well around one hour before you exercise. Go for 200400mg in supplement form. Drinking 10 cups of coffee before you exercise might not be possible, so stick with a good supplement source.

You should eat less, later in the day

This is a fact. As you eat during the day, reserves of carbohydrates in the muscle tend to fill up. Overeating on carbohydrates later in the day tends to promote fat storage. At dinner time, try to keep to high fibre vegetables as a source of carbohydrates. Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, green beans and spinach

CRAZY RECIPES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Sun-dried tomatoes are a great way to add flavour to your chicken, tuna and beef. I always use the Woolworths tomatoes and it makes a huge difference to your meal. Tuna is always so dry, so what we have tried is to take one green apple and grate it into your tuna. Then add one tablespoon of salad dressing to the meal to give it some flavour. This might not work for everyone but it sure makes it easier to eat. IsoPro jelly is a winner in my eyes. IsoPro is a whey protein manufactured by SPS and is available in three great flavours and is a great high-protein pudding. I always use the Apple Bliss flavour. Get yourself some apple or lime low-calorie jelly and mix in two to three scoops of the IsoPro and place in the fridge until set. Enjoy a low-calorie, high-protein pudding, and it tastes good too. Weigh-less has a strawberry jam, which when spread lightly on a chicken breast gives it a sweet taste. Take some fillet and chicken breast, and then mince everything together or do them separately. Make patties with the meat; believe me by just changing the way the food looks, makes a big difference. When you see two patties on your plate instead of two chicken breasts, your mind sees it as new food. Egg whites are a great source of protein and also make a great snack between your main meals. I boil the eggs and then remove the yolk. I take half a teaspoon of fat-free cottage cheese and put it on the egg white, then I sprinkle some grated biltong on top and enjoy a high-protein snack. Jungle oats every morning can get a bit much, so try adding a teaspoon of peanut butter to your meal. Otherwise, some crushed almonds also work very well. If you are on the road a lot, buy food at Nandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Steers. Order grilled chicken with a small spicy rice and a salad, no need for other bad take-away places.

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10-14 March Tuesday to Saturday

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Wellness

Taking a break in 2015 By Natasha Myburgh

As we start a new year with exciting possibilities, we also look to ourselves and how we will better ourselves by setting new priorities in place. Make this year better by taking a break from all the inevitable, hectic things going on in your life and make the decision to start taking better care of yourself. You can start taking care of yourself today and it will be easyâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Taking care of yourself involves the wellbeing of your body, mind and soul. You work hard each day and you deserve a break, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as simple as that. Your action plan to start taking care of yourself is going to a spa and getting pampered. Going to a spa is not a sin or just a luxury or only for the rich and famous. Anybody is welcome at a spa and you will be treated by professional therapists, exactly according to your needs and concerns.

Your Body

How your body will be treated at the spa will depend on your physical concerns and preferences. Most people do not recognise the value of a massage treatment. Massage therapy physically aids you in releasing the tension in your muscle groups that has built up over months - or years! You will be surprised how relieving it is to feel totally relaxed in your body and how it will mobilise you. Many people build up muscular tension simply because of stress and anxiety, but it could also be due to carrying your children around, your posture, driving, your sleeping position, pregnancy, sport or exercise and various other things. Not only will your designated therapist aid you in relieving muscular knots, but she, or he, will also help you identify what the possible reasons for your discomfort could be and advise you on how to make the necessary adjustments. Studies show that the benefits of massage therapy are long lasting and also include: weight loss and detoxification, improved blood circulation, lower blood pressure, improved sleeping patterns, increased immunity, stabilised blood sugar, improved lung function and more. Besides massage therapy, there are many other treatments that you can benefit from. You should also consider it necessary to

pamper yourself at a spa so you can get it done thoroughly by a professional, as one does not always get time to properly take care of your personal beauty chores. A full body exfoliation and a body wrap can help you get rid of dead skin cells, renew the glow of your skin, stimulate blood circulation, help get rid of cellulite, detoxify you and treat problem skin on your back and other areas. Hand and foot treatments such as manicures and pedicures are also a vital part of your personal grooming. You do not have to get acrylic or gel nails done, there are many different options for a manicure or pedicure, that can be as uncomplicated as cuticle care, a foot soak, massage, scrub and buff, nail filing and shaping, paint and a hydrating paraffin masque. You also have the option to paint your nails a nice colour or the ever-popular and classic, French paint. For those watching their figure, there are slimming treatments such as the Faradic treatment that tightens and tone your body or the G5 treatment, which improves blood circulation and lymph circulation to target cellulite. One cannot forget to mention the importance of taking care of your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest organ - the skin. Skincare is very important, but taking care of your facial skin is the greatest of them all. At this stage you may feel that it is superficial or simply too late to want to look good. This will change. There will come a day when you wish you had just given yourself the opportunity to take a little time out and get it done. There are many different facial treatments for every skincare problem, ranging from anti-ageing treatments to problem skin and once again your therapist will recommend and treat you according to your personal and unique needs and concerns.

Wellness Mind

Spa therapies are greatly beneficial for your state of mind as well, relieving issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, acute fatigue, irritability, ADHD, posttraumatic stress and more. Through touch, massage presses down on nerve cell receptors under the skin, activating the nervous system and stimulates the release of mood-enhancing chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. This reduces production of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. On a physical level, massage therapy works on the nervous system in the body to chemically alter your mood. Massage therapy and touch can have profound effects on us, in fact it is one of our deepest needs and desires to connect with others and feel cared for. Most spas also incorporate the use of aromatherapy in their treatments, which can have powerful natural healing properties and also have a positive and reinforcing effect on your state of mind. Every essential oil used in aromatherapy has specific benefits, for example uplifting the mood, aiding in concentration, deep relaxation, calming the senses and so forth.

Soul

For many, massage brings a sense of comfort, caring and a feeling of empowerment, which allows for an increased quality of life. During your treatments at the spa, you should ultimately feel comfortable to relax and let go and tune in to your thoughts and feelings while focusing on your breathing. In this time you are free to connect with your inner feelings and beliefs and rekindle them. As your treatment progresses, you will build a relationship with your therapist and learn to trust the person. Establishing a new relationship with a person that is essentially taking care of you and your needs, will allow you to see the good in people again and remember how we are all in search of a deeper meaning in life and a sense of connecting and growing spiritually. The popular French philosopher Descartes, has a theory of body, mind dualism, which essentially tells us that the body cannot exist without the mind and vice versa. If there is one valuable change you should make in 2015, it is to take a break and start taking care of yourself. A healthy body equals a healthy mind, healthy thoughts produces healthy actions and holistically, your entire life will benefit from it. If you want to start your journey in well-being, I can highly recommend Annique Day Spa, situated in Clubview, Centurion. Annique Day Spa is a highly professional, but laid-back little gem, where you will be treated on a personal level according to your specific needs. A beautiful and enchanting setting between large, old trees, will ensure you can make yourself comfortable and be transported away to your welldeserved break. The staff are highly qualified, will openly accept you as you are and treat you with absolute enthusiasm and discretion. You can also choose to make use of the water facilities such as a Jacuzzi, infrared sauna and steam room or sit in a beautiful secret garden while you enjoy a wholesome lunch. How often you want to go is absolutely up to you and your therapist will also guide you in recommending what will be best for you. You are welcome to bring a friend, mother, sister, brother, colleague or anyone you think will benefit from a break. Many people also use this opportunity to celebrate a special occasion, where you can be treated at the same time, in the same room.

You can visit their website at www.anniquedayspa.co.za or send an e-mail with your enquiry to info@anniquedayspa.co.za or alternatively contact them on 012 654 0602/7 to make a booking. There are great monthly specials and packages available, as well as the opportunity to win a hamper filled with exceptional Annique products valued at R3 000, which you can use at home to extend your experience. To enter this competition, simply like Devoted Magazine and Annique Day Spa on Facebook, look for the competition post and share it with your friends and family. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Back to Basics

Baby

dedication By Mignionette Fair

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6)

aby dedications are beautiful! The whole family standing in the front of the church, promising to bring their little baby up in the ways of the Lord. It is a public statement that the parents will seek to instil faith in God in their little ones. The pastors pray for the children and parents and the congregation serves as witnesses to this amazing event in a new family’s journey with God. In the Bible we see many examples of children being dedicated to God. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah dedicated Samuel to God. In verse 27 and 28 she says: “I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be dedicated to the Lord.” Even Jesus was dedicated. In Luke 2:22 the Bible says “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” The Bible also says in verse 40 that “the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” What a wonderful promise! God has a special love for children. Throughout the Bible we see scriptures and examples of this love:

• Psalm 127:3-5: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” • Mark 10:14-16: “‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them” • Matthew 18:10: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” • Isaiah 63:16: “For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognise us, You, O Lord, are our Father, Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.” • Luke 19:34b: “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!”

If you are still wondering if you should dedicate your baby or not, then I hope these scriptures will encourage you to. God is the one Who gave you that precious gift – you wouldn’t be doing anything other than giving back what is already His! He formed our children in the womb. He already had plans and dreams for them when they weren’t even a thought in our minds! Give a lasting gift this year … make a promise to your child, your family and your spouse that you will give your child to God. And you can be assured that in God’s will is the safest place your child can ever be!

SWISS BELLS EDUPLEX

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in the park

Tickets • (012) 333-7143

Online bookings: Visit www.eduplex.co.za/events to view table availability and book your table online.

Skills Development

hope and restoring dignity

Giving

ll of us have dreams, dreams of finding a better job and a better life. No one wants to just survive … we all want to thrive and prosper. But, in order to find a decent job that will enable one to enjoy a decent life and provide for the needs of a family, it is important to have a proper education and adequate skills. Unfortunately, years of social inequalities in our country, lack of access to good schools and lack of basic skills, have resulted in a society ravaged by poverty and disempowerment. Too many families today are caught in the cycle of poverty where members became impoverished for many generations. The only way to break this cycle is through outside intervention.

Sustainable skills development

programmes can change people’s lives for the better. Helping a person develop much needed skills, enables him or her to help lift their communities out of poverty and to reach their full potential individually. One of the biggest challenges young people have to face today is an opportunity divide. This means that there is a huge gap between those who have access to the skills and training they need to be successful and those who do not have access. It is the responsibility of all communities to work together to secure the future of our youth; and of our global economy. If we want to

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By Nerésa Vogel

change our country, we all have to work to make it stronger economically. We should all work together and do what we can to address the skills gap this country is facing. There are organisations that run effective and dynamic programmes which focus on improving people’s quality of life. The Dream Girl SA programme is such a youth empowerment programme that intends to develop skills, knowledge and confidence (see pages 8 & 9 for more information on this programme). POPUP (People Upliftment Programme) of Doxa Deo Christian Church is another example of an organisation that follows a holistic approach to the upliftment of under-privileged communities. POPUP is a non-profit organisation that ensures that all the needs of individuals are addressed – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. POPUP renders services to all persons living in the greater Tshwane and surrounding areas regardless of race, culture, gender or religion. Currently it is situated in Salvokop, Pretoria; and in Soshanguve.

Skills Development and Training

POPUP currently offers six Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) accredited marketrelated skills programmes and non-accredited skills programmes for unemployed people. Learners can register for AET (Adult Education &

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” (Anonymous)

Skills Development Training) and Life Skills. The POPUP Soshanguve Centre focuses on technical skills training in the construction field. The required AET level for all accredited programmes is 4 (equal to National Qualifications Framework level 1). When registering at POPUP, learners might need a learner bridging programme through Readers are Leaders (AET Level 1 and 2) or AET Level 3 and 4, and Life Skills for the learner’s first skills programme. Programmes run between two and 24 weeks, with the exception of ECD training which runs in three blocks of approximately 19 to 20 weeks each.

So far a total of 38 companies were registered by learners who went through POPUP’s skill programmes and who showed the initiative and entrepreneurial spirit that are needed.

the knowledge that their lives have a purpose and meaning. (Read POPUP’s success stories on the next pages).

Social Support Services

For more information, contact:

Job creation and placement

POPUP provides medical services to learners through medical, dental and eye care clinics situated at Sediba Hope Medical Centre, as well as the immediate communities surrounding the Salvokop area. So far 38 033 patients have been treated at the clinics since 2008.

The private and civil sector can employ learners who have successfully completed their studies at POPUP by appointing them as entry level staff members, thus acquiring personnel with sound morals and values. Businesses can benefit through partnering with POPUP by securing B-BBEE scorecard points, Socio-economic and Enterprise Development involvement or receive a tax benefit. POPUP makes use of its own recruitment services office to place qualified learners. So far a total of 5 185 learners have been trained and 2 939 of them were successfully employed over the past nine years. Businesses and organisations are encouraged to contact them if they want to employ some of our current or past learners.

Enterprise Development

POPUP is involved with entrepreneurial development by means of a Project and Enterprise Development (PED) training programme. POPUP also assists learners to create their own small enterprises made possible through the benefits provided to the corporate industry and B-BBEE Enterprise Development and Socio-economic scorecard points obtained when funding such entrepreneurial initiatives.

The community is supported through various food programmes, a soup kitchen, clothing project, counselling and day-care for 66 children. So far 282 264 people have benefitted from these services since 2008.

Medical, Dental and Eye Care Services

POPUP Strategic Communication Manager E-mail: neresa.vogel@popup.co.za Tel: (012) 003 2008 Website: www.popup.co.za

Re-positioning

POPUP recently went through a re-positioning process to follow a more focused approach on skills training and enterprise development. The POPUP leadership went into a strategic partnership with Sediba Hope Medical Centre in July 2014. In future all of POPUP’s medical services will be operating from Sediba Hope which is based in the inner city of Pretoria. Here a full-time doctor, medical sister, dentist and optometrist will be available who will provide more extensive services to POPUP learners and the surrounding community. POPUP is a unique social investment opportunity with training and services rendered at high quality and standards. Through this programme more lives can be restored and more people can gain skills that will make them employable. Learners leave the organisation with

Giving and

hope restoring dignity

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Testimonies

POPUP changed our lives by Nerésa Vogel

Mmapula Naledi Moepya posted the following words on her personal Facebook page: “I see an open door in every mountain”. This post makes it quite evident why the POPUP (People Upliftment Programme) Ministry team chose Mmapula, a 2007 POPUP learner, to be the keynote speaker at POPUP’s Certificate Ceremony held in 2013. In her passionfilled message titled, ‘Provoking destinies at POPUP’, Mmapula kept the audience spellbound with every word of this amazing success story. Mmapula also came second at the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) award ceremony. This is how her fairy tale started:

My life before POPUP:

“I come from a large family of three brothers and two sisters. Being a young girl who just matriculated, I found myself in a situation where I had no hope for the future. I grew up with dreams of becoming someone great in my community, passionate to help people around me. I wanted to become a writer, a television presenter or host, mentoring, growing and developing young girls. “When I completed my matric year, I didn’t have money to further my studies and at that point my family could not afford to pay for my tertiary studies. I lost all hope of realising my dreams; I was broken and felt unloved.”

My life at POPUP:

“In 2007 I heard about POPUP and decided to register for the Computer and Office Administration programme. I will treasure the most amazing warm welcome I received for life. Before proceeding with this programme, we attended a compulsory 10-day Personal

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Restoration and Life Skills programme. We were taught how to conduct our lives, how to deal with different situations and the knowledge of the Creator of the heaven and earth was shared with us. As I listened and learned, hope was starting to rise, and becoming restored once again, I knew that God was busy changing my life. “By the end of my Computer and Office Administration programme, I could not leave POPUP and decided to help as a POPUP volunteer. During that period, Bianca Filmalter from the CSIR heard about POPUP on Radio Pulpit. The CSIR decided to give one POPUP learner an opportunity to be interviewed for an internship. I was chosen from among the five best learners.”

My life after POPUP:

“I commenced my internship at the CSIR in 2008 and before the end of that year I was appointed as an executive PA to the director. I changed positions and started working as a project coordinator in the

Testimonies Project Management Department and after that I was given the opportunity to work in the CSIR Business Development Department. I am currently working in the CSIR Department of Communication, planning events and doing science writing. I’m completing my Bachelor’s degree in communication science and I have received recognition and awards in various fields. “Looking back, one thing I have experienced is how the Lord sustained me with His hand of grace and unfailing love for me. He opens doors and allows me to grow. I can now see all my dreams realising and I am also in the process of establishing my own business. “In my church I am involved as a worshiper and started a girl’s dance group in 2008 with only four members in the area of Refentse. The group is called ‘Daughters of Destiny Dance Ministry’ and focuses on dance performances in churches. By 2009 the group already increased its numbers and as the spectrum grew, the need to including the youth around the communities in the group became bigger. “It became quite important for me to help young, unprivileged individuals to stay off the streets. The dance performances done by the girls recognises the gifts and talents God gave our young people and they can express personal testimonies through facial expression, sign language, drama, mime and body language. Through observing and identifying the needs around the Refentse area, another idea was born; The ‘Donate a Can’ Ministry. Young people get together and collect tinned food and clothing for orphanages, old age homes and unprivileged people that need assistance. “I spend a lot of time doing community work, since I have accepted the grace and the character of God to flow through my life. I allow Him to use me to touch lives of young girls and people I meet in everyday life. I am still growing, but He has changed my life and is continuing to complete the work He has begun in my life. I call myself God’s girl.”

Mmapula shared the following quote: “Success happens where opportunity meets preparations”. Since the certificate ceremony, Mmapula extended the internship opportunity that she received at the CSIR to another POPUP learner. She understands that POPUP offers the perfect opportunity for any success story to be ignited.

From left to right front: Tsakane Rivimbi, Mpho Monareng and Lucky Buyaphi From left to right back: Roeloff Crowther (Executive Director: Mesure Facilities Management (Pty) Ltd) & Marlene Freislich (Executive Director: Strategic Fund Development & Communication, City Changers Foundation) Tsakane and Mpho (POPUP learners) were also placed at Mesure and is currently running their Help Desk.

Luphelo Lucky Buyaphi: My POPUP Story

“My name is Luphelo Lucky Buyaphi and I’m a POPUP learner doing Computer and Office Administration. This is my story of my life before and after POPUP. “I lost my parents at a very young age, so I had to start working to care for me and my siblings. I was working part-time while busy with my high school studies. When I completed my matric, I immediately started working full-time. When the money started coming in, I felt like I needed to make more so my siblings and I could have a decent life. I slowly became obsessed with getting a lot of money without realising it. I thought money would bring me happiness and I pursued it. I started working two jobs, a day job and a night job. Still I wasn’t satisfied with the money, so I started getting into crime and ended up in prison. “My priorities moved from fancy living to knowing God. I began pursuing God more than anything. When I was released from prison, I had to choose between going back to work or acquiring a new skill and more knowledge about God with an organisation that is run by God-fearing people. For the first time, I did not choose money. “Going to POPUP turned out to be the best choice I’ve ever made in my life. The first two weeks of Life Skills at POPUP were the best and will always be in my heart. My experience was life-changing. Some of the most valuable lessons I learned were about purpose. Success is not based on what you have or how much money you have, it is actually walking in God’s perfect plan for your life. God wants us to work hard and earn our living in a decent way. He wants us to be content where we are. He doesn’t want us to be stagnant. He wants us to prosper in all we do, but we should enjoy what we have. “I’ve left the POPUP premises and going back to the world, but I’m not leaving the organisation. POPUP will always be in my heart, and I’m coming back to sponsor POPUP in the future. I am confident that going into the world, with the skills I learned at POPUP and most importantly the relationship I have with Jesus, I’m going to conquer every challenge

that will come my way. I’m happy to say I have found direction, and very sad to think that I’m leaving, because this place has become like a home to me. “I’m very thankful for all that I’ve learned at POPUP. I’m also thankful to all the sponsors who are contributing to the progress of this organisation. POPUP will always be in our hearts and prayers.” Lucky was placed by POPUP’s Placement Centre and started in a procurement position at Mesure Facilities Management (Pty) Ltd in November 2014. Lucky is saving for his part-time studies to fulfil his dream of one day becoming a Charted Accountant. Just think if Maeve, the lady who referred Lucky to POPUP in February 2014 while he was still serving his sentence in jail never saw the potential in this young man, he might as well have fallen back in to his old criminal ways.

If you can make a difference in someone’s life through referring the person to POPUP for skills training, do it today. Contact Nerésa Vogel on neresa.vogel@popup.co.za for more information.

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Destination

Spain

one of Europe’s most beautifulBy PIROSKA countries MAGYAR

If there was ever a country that had something for everyone, Spain would be it! It is a beautiful and diverse country located in the south-west of Europe, including its islands in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. With green valleys, white sandy beaches, snowy mountains, walking and pilgrim treks, more festivals than you can imagine, 50 million friendly people, incredible culinary heritage, some of the world’s greatest sporting arenas, best golf courses in Europe…the list just never ends. No wonder that Spain is the third most preferred and visited country by tourists in the world after the USA and France. 28

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pain, with its 44 World Heritage sites, has the third highest number of these valuable legacies in the world. The official language is Spanish, and together with the Central-, and South American countries, it adds up to 500 million Spanish speakers today, making the language the world’s second most spoken one after Chinese. Spain offers excellent language schools and colleges with accommodation for those who want to learn the language and the culture. Most South Africans like to visit Spain particularly during the autumn and winter time, May to August, when Spain has its warm, summer season. Madrid is the capital and the largest city in Spain. With 6.5 million residents, it is famous for its historical buildings, such as the Royal Palace, renowned art museums, the Gran Via, the tourist hub of the city and its football club, the Real Madrid. Barcelona is the second largest city and has 4.5 million residents. It is the home of art, culture and incredible architecture (like Gaudi, Calatrava, etc.). It is also a favourite with foodies and celebrities. Be sure to visit Las Ramblas, La Boqueria Market and the wine or cava estates and do not forget to dance the nights away. Together with Madrid, these cities are where life never stops. Andalusia is in the south, the Costa del Sol, favoured by tourists and golfers thanks to its 320 sunny days per year and its 800km of lovely coastline. Visitors can learn how to dance the passionate flamenco, taste the Mediterranean diet with the many prizewinning Andalusian wine. Tourists can enjoy the sandy beaches, olive farms, snowy

Destination peaks of Sierra Nevada (3478m), best golf courses, charming people and the cosmopolitan atmosphere. The cities of Malaga, Marbella and Seville are real jewels of Europe. Northern Spain, the undiscovered gem, is beautiful, green and home to Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest food and wine selection. Here you can go running with the bulls in Pamplona, eat yourself into oblivion in San Sebastian and marvel at the masterpiece of Frank Gehry in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The charming and green countryside makes it the most popular area for walkers and pilgrim treks. Gibraltar is a little Britain on the Iberian Peninsula, the busiest shopping lane in the world, where Europe and Africa meet. It is only 14km long and is a duty-free port. The overwhelming wealth of cathedrals, churches and other religious institutions throughout the country gives visitors a pretty clear idea about religion in Spain. Roman Catholicism is the clear front runner, which is more of a cultural aspect than a religious one. In recent years, the immigration wave has ushered in a rising population of various other denominations, missionaries, Protestants, Jews and Muslims.

For more information on tours, properties and how to learn Spanish in Spain, please contact: Piroska Magyar on 012-460-3706 or e-mail to: info@explorespain.co.za website: www.explorespain.co.za

Beautiful Country

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Reviews

LUKEWARM

UNCOMMON

Luke Rogers started out on the right path, but when his dad walked out when Luke was just a boy, his world came crashing down. Working as a bartender to make ends meet, Luke is slowly losing his way. Between the enticements of the nightclub scene and a reluctance to fully commit to his devoted girlfriend, Luke’s crisis of faith is coming to a head. Will he ultimately succumb to temptation or can he take control of his life and try to forge a new bond with his estranged father? Featuring a great cast including Jason Burkey (October Baby), Jenna von Oÿ and Bill Cobbs (The Ultimate Gift), and a universal message of hope, Lukewarm is an inspiring tale of faith, forgiveness and redemption.

Jesus combined diverse people and assorted stories to change the world! Now, He wants to use you!

(ISBN: 9781432122171)

When the students of Rosewood High School lose their theatre, music and dance departments due to budgets cuts, they create their own. Struggling to find the right script, music and choreography the students get advice from an uncommon source; the Bible! Each student becomes uniquely influenced as they discover that God takes them personally. Equipped with unique talents, they bond together to prepare the perfect production by exploring the diversity of parables taught in the Bible. Fighting overwhelming challenges, the teens fight against political correctness to defend their privilege to worship, meet and perform. Will months of constant bullying by the establishment defeat the

(ISBN: 9781432122188)

production and dismantle their faith? Armed with expert legal counsel and unexpected help from Christian music’s finest, these teens realise what it means to be…UNCOMMON

10 COMMANDMENTS THE PERFECT SUMMER One biblical figure is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. His name is Moses, the man who rose in power to defend a people, to free them, and to live in history like no other… A time of danger approaches for all of the kingdom. Danger from a child - a child who will become a Prince of Egypt. With the soothsayer’s dire prophecy, the Pharoah orders the slaughter of all newborn males. But one child, born of Hebrew slave Amram and his wife Jochebed, is put in the care of others to ensure his own safety. As years pass, Moses is raised in a royal Egyptian household and, with no memory of his true family, rises to the stature of prince. Upon discovery of his heritage, and inspired by a fiery message from God, Moses implores his stepbrother Menerith, a highranking official in Ramses’ army, to join him on a fight to reclaim his destiny as the leader and liberator of the Hebrew people. But when Ramses rejects his demands, Moses issues the curse of a coming plague. From a swarming cloud of locusts to a river transformed in to a rushing stream of human blood to a downpour of frogs from the heavens, the

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(ISBN: D9781432121778)

prohesied scourge has been unleashed—Moses has taken the first step toward accomplishing his mission. Charting the dramatic story of the Hebrew leader—from his narrow escape from death to his leadership of the Hebrew people to the parting of the Red Sea, The Ten Commandments unfolds with all the spectacle, the violent human drama, and grand inspiration that has earned its stature as the greatest story ever told.

Sometimes you have to find the courage to make some waves. In The Perfect Summer, fatherless teenager Jake was happy living in Chicago, until his mother decided to uproot them to a small surfing town where her estranged father, Jake’s grandfather, lives. The transition isn’t easy for anyone and it seems everywhere he goes, Jake manages to make enemies, including the town bully, who doesn’t like the new interloper or his interest in young surfing prodigy, Kayla. Stuck in the beach town with no friends and no knowledge of surfing, Jake has nowhere to turn until Cody, the local surf shop owner, reveals that Jake’s grandfather is a surf legend. Tired of feeling like an outcast, Jake asks Lou to teach him about surfing. Jake learns to face his fears, push through inhibitions and realises

(ISBN: 9781432122409)

that winning the respect of his new peers and Kayla’s heart might mean facing the biggest challenge of his life

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Fair Flair

Isn’t a new year just a wonderful thing? Fresh out of the box, still has that New Year smell to it and best of all… anything can happen with God on our side!

clean

hen we give our lives to Jesus, it is the same. He doesn’t just cover the old, sinful nature. No! He gives us a brandspanking new life! A life full of hope and dreams, and most importantly a life that leads to eternal life. Throughout the Bible we see examples of people who received a clean slate from God. Some used it wisely, others did not. Ruth, for example, was someone who used her clean slate to the fullest. When her husband died, she had a choice: She could either return to her family, to the things she knew. Or she could embrace a new life with her mother-in-law… On the other hand, Judas Iscariot wasted his clean slate. Jesus came to offer him eternal life, a chance to change, and yet he chose 30 pieces of silver. Lot of good that did him! Is it scary to use the clean slate? You betcha! Will it be worth it? God says it will be! In Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) He says “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through

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slate…

By Mignionette Fair

the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) the Bible also says “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” How amazing to think that our Jesus, our Saviour, gives us an opportunity to start fresh. To shake off our sinful nature and to embrace all He has for us. I would like to encourage you to accept this clean slate in 2015. The year is in front of you like a blank canvas. You can decide what you are going to paint on it. Will you paint in dark colours, remembering only the bad things that happened in the past? Or will you paint the bright future that God has in store for you? Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” During this first part of the year, take some time to ask God what plans He has for you. Pray about your goals and dreams and then hit the ground running to reach them. And remember, God’s grace is enough for you. There is always a second chance with God!

Augrabies Falls Blyde River Canyon Cosmos Country Cultural Heartland Echo Caves Elephant-Back Safari God’s Window Goegap Nature Reserve Grass and Wetlands Highlands Meander Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve iSimangaliso Wetland Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kuruman Lowveld Legogote Namaqua National Park Northern Cape Oribi Gorge Panorama Route Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens Riemvasmaak Sabi Sands Game Reserve Sodwana Bay The Midlands The Sardine Run The Valley of a Thousand Hills Thukela Gorge uKhahlamba-Drakensberg...

Ai-Ais Richtersveld

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INTEREST* RATE

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FINAL BALLOON PAYMENT

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Victorious with Vicki

Circle of

inspiration By Vicki Fourie

I couldn’t believe it. Finally, finally, Francine Rivers was coming to South Africa, for the first time ever! A meet and greet was arranged for her readers at Bargain Books in Cape Town, and there was no way I could possibly miss an opportunity like this…

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Being a writer myself, I have always looked up to Francine Rivers and the books that she wrote. Chances are good that you’ve read Redeeming Love and Atonement Child. Her first book in the Mark of the Lion trilogy, A Voice In The Wind, was the first ever ‘grown-up’ book I read. And I wasn’t even in high school yet! That Monday – the 20th of October 2014 – I arrived at Canal Walk, nervous and excited. Armed with my A Voice In The Wind book in the one hand and my own published books in the other, I was one of the first people to arrive. My stomach was in knots, and I was constantly pacing back and forth in the bookstore. And then I saw her. She arrived with an entourage of publishers and photographers, and my heart skipped a beat. There she was. In the same room as I! Inspiration at its best! After a brief introduction by her publisher, we all stood in a line and waited for our turn to shake Francine’s hand. We would also have the opportunity to take a photo with her, and she would sign our books. Finally, my turn came. I shook her hand, and I just knew that I had to give back what she had given to me when I was still a child: Pure inspiration. I said to her, “Francine, I have read almost all of your books, and now I’m a writer myself.” “Wow, that’s wonderful!” she replied enthusiastically. I showed her my memoir Viva la Vicki and my devotional book God Lief My. She was understandably bummed out when I told her it was only available in Afrikaans. “But I will write in English – soon!” I reassured her. I also gave her a copy of my profile, which was a brief summary of what I had achieved throughout the years, ever since reading her books. “You planted a seed in my life years ago, and it has now grown into a blossoming tree. I thank you for that,” I said. “Thank you for inspiring me. Now I can go and inspire others.” I could see that she was touched. I went home with a photo of us together, a signed book with a

lovely message inside, and I even wrote about it in my journal. I will always remember and treasure this day in my heart. What about you? Wherever you go, you undoubtedly touch other people’s lives. Sometimes we do it in such an unconscious way that we don’t realise it. What kind of seed do you sow into others’ lives? Is it positive or negative? Does it inspire or break down? These questions are important. It is good to have mentors, people who inspire us. But it’s even more vital to be mentors to others. If you feel like you have a lot to give, but don’t really know where to start, start by looking around you. Most churches have church programmes and home cells where you can disciple and mentor others. And there’s also the Dream Girl SA initiative that Devoted launched the beginning of this year. It’s a fantastic way to make your mark in this world. It’s like a cycle of inspiration: Others inspire you, and in return you inspire others. And those people inspire other people again. On and on and on it goes. The ripple effect is endless; it never ends. There’s another word for inspiration: Hope. I believe it is our responsibility to give hope, not despair, to others. These verses sum it up pretty well: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) Through using your gifts and talents, you are touching other people’s lives. And before you know it, those people will come up to you and say, “Thank you for that. I really needed that.” That is just the thing one needs to be inspired to keep on doing the good works. But true inspiration starts with you. Who will you inspire today?

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Leadership

Leadership Leadership A Call to

Young Leaders by Paul Nyamuda

My passion and interest is to mentor the next God has a purpose for presidents, CEOs and leaders. The interesting all people. This includes thing is that many of them are already leading and at university or in high school. Make a everyone between the influencing decision today that you will be a young leader who will honour God. Young people are reached by other ages of 13 and 30. young people. Therefore it’s important to raise up a Don’t wait until you are generation of young leaders. 40 to be a leader. Start Why is it important to reach young influencing people people? today. Leadership is God has a purpose for people and he wants not about position, it’s them to engage in it from a young age. The gospel redeems youthfulness. When the disciples were about influence. The chasing the little children away, Jesus declared that enemy’s strategy is to they should not be kept from him. Their personalities are still being molded. raise up ungodly role Vladimir Lenin, one of the founders of communism and an atheist, said “Give me four years to teach the models to influence children, and the seed I have sown will never be the next generation of uprooted”. Today we need young Christian leaders to actively influence young people. leaders. Young people are very influential. In studying history we see that a lot of the major movements, both godly and ungodly, were led by young people. Some of the ungodly ones are anarchic free love

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in the early 60s; and abortion rights. Some of the more noble causes include voting rights today; and abolishing slavery. God operates through generations. God is interested in His purpose being carried into the next generations. He is a multi-generational God. We see this in many of the people to whom authority was given in scripture. Hebrews 11 highlights many generals of faith, who actually started out as young leaders of their day. Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, Mary and others. Even the rabbis of the day specifically raised up young people. Young people have a relevant message to reach other young people. Ninety percent of all Christians come to Christ before they reach the age of 30. Seventy-five percent give their lives to Jesus before the age of 25. Hence, the youth culture represents the largest mission field. Most of the world is relatively young. Six out of 10 people on the planet are under the age of 25 and this percentage is increasing every day. Nearly half of this group are in the middle school to college age group. Where are the young leaders who will lead them? The enemy targets young people. Historically the enemy has targeted youth. We see this with Pharaoh trying to kill baby Moses; Herod trying to kill baby Jesus; World Wars & Civil Wars have resulted

Leadership in the death of so many young people. All these deaths represent destinies that were destroyed. The enemy is afraid of the purpose of God being birthed through these young people.

What does God’s word say about you as a young leader?

• You can be used from a young age (Joel 2:28): “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” There is no baby Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is just as powerful in and through you as He is for anyone else. Don’t limit God. • You must flee from evil desires unique to youthfulness (2 Tim 2: 22): “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” • You should have self-control (Titus 2:6): “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.” • You must not be looked down upon (1 Tim 4:12): “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” • You need to get relevant training (Tit 2:4): “Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children.” • You need to focus on knowing God while you are still young (Eccl 12:1): “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’.” • You need to be respectful towards your elders (1 Pet 5:5): “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud

“

God has a purpose for people and he wants them to engage in it from a young age

but gives grace to the humble.” • You must be a strong overcomer (1 John 2:14): I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

Young leaders who have made a difference in history

William Booth: He was the founder of the Salvation Army and started preaching in the slums of London at the age of 15. Charles Spurgeon: Arguably the greatest preacher of the 19th Century, he started ministering at the age of 19. He attracted such large crowds that before he was 30, he built and was packing out the 5 000 seat Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. Jonathan Edwards: He entered Yale in 1716 at the age of 13 and by the age of 21, he was pastoring one of the most influential churches in the American Colonies. His famous sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” helped spark the Great Awakening that brought thousands to Christ. Amy Carmichael: She was 28 when she left as a missionary for Dohnavur, India. She served for 56 years without furlough in one of the most dangerous areas of the world. Louis Braille: In 1824 he was 15 years old when he developed an ingenious system of reading and writing by means of raised dots. Today, in virtually every language throughout the world, Braille is the standard form of writing and reading used by blind people. John Wesley: He was 26 when he started the Holy Club at Oxford, sparking a revival on the campus that later spread throughout England and America. We need more young leaders like these mentioned above to reach young people. So I challenge you to rise up and start leading. If not now, when? If not you, who?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, also known as the “Prince of Preachers, started ministering at the age of 19. To this day he remains highly influential among Christians. (Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Leadership Leadership

”

Leadership

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Business

Attracting your real customers with magazines

When marketing your brand or services, it is important that you understand the market and also who your target audience is. Gone are the days where advertisers of cars used only beautiful women in skimpy clothes to promote newly launched cars. Now they know that women have risen in power and they have increasing budgets. They also buy cars, from the more economic ones right up to the expensive, sporty ones!

rowing up in a big household, I noticed early on that it was only my mother, as the caregiver, who did the shopping for the house small and big items; and I had to target her if I wanted something. We mostly determined what brands were important, while my mother opted for the cheapest version. When I started with my own family, this pattern was repeated. Characters such as Superman, Ninja Turtles, Ben Ten, the list is endless, determines the choice in some children’s items and producers cleverly use it on plasters, to toothpaste, to breakfast cereal and the list goes on! Research has shown and economists have emphasised that women have a lot of spending power and that they are the dominant buyers in almost every category. Married female consumers make the majority of the purchasing decisions for their homes, while single women have become independent and confident consumers who are buying things for themselves. In general it is considered that women are a powerful consumer force. Tom Peters, world renowned economist, emphasised the power of women in the marketplace: “Forget China, India and the Internet - economic growth is driven by women.” He also stated that women are becoming more important in the global marketplace, not just as workers, but also as consumers, entrepreneurs, managers and investors. Faithnomics.com suggests that women disproportionately control spending power in the USA grocery stores, mass retailers and drug stores. Women, as a demographic, will also control two-thirds of the consumer wealth in the USA in the next decade and they will continue to grow to “unprecedented

levels as a segment”. The same trend is already happening in our country. Teenagers are also more aware of brands and they are adamant on what they wear, and what electronics they buy. They have become extremely important to advertisers because they are early adopters and they also have great purchasing power. Are you taking the women and teenager factor into consideration? What are you doing to make your business environment easier and more pleasant for them? Are you targeting the female market? It is definitely in your business’ best interest to do so. With all the options out there, it is also hard to decide where to spend your marketing budget. While most of us agree that word-ofmouth advertising remains one of the best and more cost-effective options, the original source of the information had to see or hear about your product or service somewhere first. Print media is still alive, and despite other options it continues to flourish – and for good reason. Although social media and online advertising are cheap, even free in some cases, spam has taken over our inboxes and the Internet to such an extent that your message is lost. Personally I delete all marketing e-mails before I start my day – without even looking at it! For me, e-mail marketing and also internet marketing are just not to be considered! Having your business appear in a magazine conveys a certain level of professionalism, resulting in respect for your business. The key to successful magazine advertising however, is repetition – so that people can remember you! If you plan to only advertise once in a magazine, chances are good that you can be considered by your market as a “fly-by-night” business.

Top reasons why you should advertise in magazines: • Long life span • Relevant and targeted • Loyal readership • Credibility • Leading influence on word-of-mouth • Magazine ads garner the most attention • Supply credibility • Audiences accumulate fast • It sells • It is valuable content • Prospective of reaching large numbers of people • Print and digital audience is growing • It drives web search, traffic and action taking Top five reasons why Christian lifestyle magazines should be your choice for advertising: • Trust and strong bonding between magazine and readers • Statistics show that most readers of Christian magazines prefer doing business with advertisers whose products have been featured in the magazine • It is cost-effective • Targeted audience More effective than most niche speciality marketing For more on this subject you can also read the following articles: The Buying power of women (www.oiwc.org) Buying power of women (www.she-economy. fom) Four tips to reach the 85% buying power of women (www.myprcoach.wordpress.com)

Fergus Ferguson is a franchisee of the global business coaching company – ActionCOACH. He is an accredited business coach who assists business owners to significantly grow their profits and develop their entrepreneurial skills. Main: +27 12 665 1015 • Mobile: +27 82 650 0867 • Email: fergusferguson@actioncoach.com

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Do not miss the opportunity to showcase your business or ministry Advertise in Devoted; the Christian lifestyle magazine with a difference Research and studies show that advertising during ANY economy has a marked effect on customer loyalty. It also enhances the long-term competitive advantage of any business.

HOW CAN YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANISATION BENEFIT FROM ADVERTISING IN DEVOTED? • • • • • • • • • • •

Position your business as a market leader Increase your brand awareness Educate the market Build a prospective database Strengthen your relationship with existing markets Attract new customers Launch new products Devoted can go where preachers sometimes cannot – right into people’s homes! It helps you to keep in touch with other churches, congregations and fellow churchgoers We distribute bi-monthly to an estimated more than 20,000 readers We help people discover life through the Gospel and you have a role to play in that

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WHY SHOULD YOU ADVERTISE IN A CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE? • • • • •

Magazine advertising offers the most effective advertising option. Advertisers using Christian lifestyle magazines enjoy a greater range of responses Christian readers have the tendency to establish very strong bonds with their publications of choice Christian readers are loyal and often re-read past issues an average of 2.3 times and pass on the magazine to family and friends It is usually more cost-effective and generates a new, and loyal, customer base

Devoted meets the two most critical elements necessary to carry out a successful print advertising campaign: reaching a focused target audience AND doing it cost-effectively.

Visit our website at www.devotedmag.co.za CALL US NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPACE

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In Closing

Consider the

lilies By Jonathan Garner

One day, as they had many times before, the disciples, along with a crowd of thousands, gathered in the countryside to hear Jesus speak. While teaching, Jesus wanted them to know that they needn’t worry, since God will provide for His people. To help them understand, He turned their attention to the flowers blooming in the fields around them.

“C

onsider the lilies”, He said, “how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!” (Luke 12:27-28 ESV). This wasn’t the first time God used lilies to illustrate His provision. Many years before Jesus descended from heaven to earth to

save us, the Lord said, “I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily” (Hosea 14:5). This promise, affirmed by Jesus, is as true for Christians today as it was thousands of years ago. The Bible also has another verse about lilies for us to consider. Solomon said of his bride, “As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women” (Song of Solomon 2:2). The church is called the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7), and Jesus provided us, His Bride, with salvation, washing our sins away,

leaving us pure and lovely like blooming flowers. When we consider the lilies, in scripture and in nature, they remind us that our loving God has and will always sustain us. The disciples, who saw Jesus point to flowers as symbols of God’s provision, probably didn’t fully understand then, but once Christ had died and risen again, they definitely did. The God who sacrificed His own Son for us, will graciously meet all of our needs. That you can be assured of.

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Hazeldean is a 900 ha nodal development in the booming Pretoria East region. It is an eco-friendly secure suburban precinct with schools, office parks, shopping centres and more. A variety of residential developments will leave you spoilt for choice...

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