Devoted issue 14

Janet Potgieter

beauty

Using her for a cause

I SSN2223- 473X

Issue 14

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Reaching your full potential in Christ

All about core values

Celebrating our successes

feelings

Are your controlling you?

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DEVOTED

p h o to compet it ion

Devoted magazine, in proud association with Photowise and Dream Girl SA, is running a photography competition for the next four issues.

THEMES: The themes for the competition are loosely based on the pillars of the Dream Girl SA programme.

Faith, Hope and Love (Spiritual Growth) Grace (Social Responsibility) Portraiture, People at Work, People doing what people do (Career Choice, Beauty, Style and Lifestyle) Nature (God’s creation) CATEGORIES: Junior (6 years+) and Adult (19 years+) DATES: The competition opens 1 April and closes 30 November 2015.

1 Faith

2 Grace

3 Nature

4 Portraiture

PRIZES:

First prize in the Junior category: A voucher for a photography workshop bundle presented by Photowise to the value of R3 000. * First prize in the Adult category: A voucher for a photography workshop bundle presented by Photowise to the value of R3 000. * Runner-up prize for each theme in the Junior category: Photography workshops presented by Photowise to the value of R1 380. * Runner-up prize for each theme in the Adult category: Photography workshops presented by Photowise to the value of R1 380. * * Terms and conditions apply The winning and best pictures will be published in Devoted Christian lifestyle magazine. You can also regularly check and “like” the following Facebook pages for announcements on additional prizes: Photowise, Dream Girl SA Tshwane Region and Devotedmag.

HOW TO ENTER:

The competition will be run in a closed Google+ community. To enter, you must register on the Google+ community and request to be accepted to the closed Devotedmag.co.za Photo Contest community. (Ensure that your Google+ profile includes your e-mail address.)

Please follow the link below to join the Google+ community: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/101739376531448713792?cfem=1 You will then be able to upload the images you want to enter and you can submit them via the community.

Image size: Although the initial online image need not be bigger than 1 024 pixels on the longest side, winners should be able to supply a full-size image, with a file size between 20 to 50Mb – this size will enable us to make larger prints if desired.

Image editing: This is allowed within the framework of work which is comparable to what would be deemed as acceptable darkroom processing techniques.

Each image must be renamed as follows: Yourname.jpeg and accompanied by a caption which includes a title for your image.

THE RULES:

Full terms and conditions will be published on www.photowise.co.za and www.devotedmag.co.za.

By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions.

The information given in these terms and conditions is correct, but Devoted magazine reserves the right to change it without prior notice.

Any breach of these terms and conditions by an entrant will cancel their entry.

If a breach has occurred, but it is only discovered after the prize has been awarded, the organisers may require the entrant to return the prize.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

You can find some helpful photography tips and tricks available on www.photowise.co.za.

Presented by ..

and

Ed’s Letter

Celebrating successes

Meet our contributors 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: info@fairtranslation. co.za

This issue is one of celebration, on a personal level, but especially of how far we have come with Devoted.

Y

ears ago, when I received the calling to start a Christian lifestyle magazine, I found my inspiration from Psalm 96:3 which clearly states that Christians must “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all people.”

When I was called to start the magazine, I did some research on the potential by looking at the 2001 census for the Christian market. According to this census, Christianity is the dominant religion in South African, where 80% of South Africans have professed to be Christians. This means that out of more than 44 million (in 2001) people, more than 35 million are Christians.

Wow! What a wonderful target market, because if I targeted only 10% of that market (worst case scenario) it would be easy to establish, and grow a Christian lifestyle magazine! Boy, was I wrong!!!

I have since learnt that there are a HUGE number of so-called Christians, people who say they are Christians, but do not necessarily live a Christian lifestyle. Things like integrity, keeping a promise, honouring deadlines and commitments, loving others, reaching out to orphans and widows, glorifying His name by using talents to build the kingdom – all the things that describe a true Christian - are not necessarily a high priority for them. I have learnt that targeting a Christian business or organisation does not necessarily mean that they would pay for their advert once they have signed a contract to have it placed! I have learnt that people would rather spend R30 on worthless items, than spend it on a magazine that provides them with skills and information on how to enhance their walk with Jesus!

All these challenges, and so many more, sometime cloud one’s mind and

when you struggle to keep a magazine going for His glory and to build the kingdom, you sometimes forget that He will never, ever, give you a task that He has not prepared you for and which you cannot complete.

Therefore, after a recent wake-up call, I deliberately wrote down all our accomplishments and to my surprise, I have found that slowly, but surely – with the grace of our Creator – Devoted has managed to get into the homes and hearts of people.

It is therefore with a thankful heart that I can share with our readers on page 40 (in closing) that, despite the hardship and sacrifices, we have come a long way and managed to reach a number of milestones for His glory. We look forward to going to greater heights and we just want to thank every person who has helped us achieve all these goals listed on page 40. We believe this is only the tip of the iceberg!

Once again this issue is packed with interesting information and superb articles. We are extremely proud of Janet Potgieter, our cover girl, who has recently participated in Las Vegas, representing the entire continent, in the Mrs Africa Globe Classic pageant.

She is the runner up for this prestigious event. Janet, we congratulate you and it is an honour to have you on our cover.

Please enjoy all our articles and let us know what you think!

Love Gerda

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 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 Precous is a 21-year-old student from the University of Pretoria and is currently studying a B.Com in Accounting. She believes that God has given her a gift that allows her to express herself best in writing. She loves writing Christian poetry. In this she seeks to glorify the Saviour and encourage those who are able to find strength in her words. WEBSITE: www.precious.blogspot.com E-MAIL: precious@unimag.co.za Willem de Beer Willem de Beer is a professional athlete and spesialises 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 and the title of his dissertasion was ’n Christelik-Etiese ondersoek na die betekenis van die konsep “rolmodel” in atletiek. WEBSITE: www. willemdebeer.blogspot.com E-MAIL: willem@unimag.co.za Mmathabiso Khalema Mmathabiso is an energetic, born-again member of CRC. She is excited about the growing CRC Johannesburg where she serves as an usher. She has previously served in the church’s arts ministry, as well as a counsellor- but her favourite role is being able to serve using her passion (writing) to reach people’s hearts through the power of the Word as part of the Devoted team. She is passionate about human rights and education and is also an aspiring lawyer.

E-MAIL: Mmathabiso_Khalema@yahoo.com Dibolelo Modise Dibolele is part of a family of three, raised by a single mother and brought up in a Roman Catholic Church. She started to study industrial engineering at TUT but during her orientation week, she changed to study languages. Her passion is writing and public speaking. She plays hockey in her spare time. She is currently writing a book and would like to publish it one day. She is currently unemployed, but would like to study further this year while looking for employment. Late last year she gave her life to Jesus and joined the Helps ministry to build a better relationship with God. E-MAIL: modisedibolelo@gmail.com Gillian Lombard Gillian has been in CRC for 15 years. She has been a marketing consultant for more than 30 years, reaching people in the business environment. Writing to enlighten people of the depth and meaning of the gospel is her passion. She is the author of seven Christian books, soon to be published.

WEBSITE: www.sapcor.co.za E-MAIL: gill@sapcor.co.za

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Front cover picture Janet Potgieter, Mrs. Africa Globe Classic, recently represented the African continent in Las Vegas and brought home a number of awards. Read more about her on pages 4 & 5.

Follow Janet on Mrs Africa Globe Classis 2015 Facebook.

I n t h i s i s s u e

Picture by Sarel van Staden (Photowise) and dress

by Jose De Canha. Make-up by Alicia Potgieter.

CONTENTS COVER STORY 4 Janet Potgieter, using her beauty for a cause DREAM GIRL SA The making of a dream girl...

6

SPEAK UP Those flocking in..

10

LIVING FOR JESUS Reaching your full potential in Christ

12

MINISTRY 14 Family of churches called to transform cities WELLNESS 16 The uncomplicated nature of wellness BEAUTY 18 Top beauty tips to get a glowing skin!

ATTITUDE 20 Are your feelings controlling you?

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all people.”

Psalm 96:3

Credits MANAGING EDITOR Gerda Potgieter E-mail: editor@devotedmag.co.za LANGUAGE EDITOR Mignionette Fair ASSISTANT EDITOR Devereaux Morkel CREATIVE AND DESIGN TEAM Annerine Lubbe (Square d’zign studio)

CAMPAIGN Stolen lives From School desk to Brothel Bed

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PRINTERS SA Print Group (Bloemfontein)

SKILLS Mentorship: a circle of influence The world of social networks A selfie a day keeps the doctor away

24 26 27

SPORT Just another hurdle

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

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WEBSITE DEVELOPER Tony Hendricks

DESTINATION 30 A photo expedition of picturesque Turkey REVIEWS 32 Book reviews FAIR FLAIR All about core values

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VICTORIOUS WITH VICKI Rocking the boat

36

GENERAL 38 Man, I feel like a woman!

BUSINESS 40 Building your dream team IN CLOSING Celebrating our successes

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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 or in connection with the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of any of the Devoted team and remains the sole responsibility of the writers.

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

Book your advertising space for the next issue, contact Alicia Email: aliciajorge26@gmail.com 074 460 4123

Cover Story

Janet Potgieter

beauty

Janet Potgieter is one of those women you want close to you all the time. We met 25 years ago when we held our first beauty pageant together; and to this day I am still drawn to her honest and positive outlook on life and her energetic way of doing things.

Her generosity creates change in the world around her. She not only gives freely of her precious time, but she also shares her love with the forgotten communities and those who know nothing else but hardship and suffering. She wears the crown of Mrs. Africa Globe Classic with pride.

A mother of two and married to the love of her life, Janet manages to also involve her family in her charity work and outreach programmes. She is a great role model on how to use the platform of beauty for the benefit of others. Janet has agreed to share her inspiring story with us

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Using her for a cause “Think about what you will tell people if you can’t even give them hope.” This was one of the strangest statements I had ever been confronted with and at that stage I didn’t really understand what Dries Coetzee, owner of Latlong International (a security company in Goma, North Kivu and the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo or DRC) meant. Living in South Africa and working amongst the poor here, the least you can give them is hope. Hope for a better future when you finish school; hope to at least feed your children with a social grant.

But standing between thousands of women and children in the Bulengo Displacement Camp in North-Kivu a month later, that statement came back to haunt me. The Bulengo Displacement Camp is only one of many places of safety for thousands of refugees in a war-ridden Eastern DRC. These people fled for their lives from their villages that were burnt down during the M23 war that ended in November 2013.

Most of the women in these camps had witnessed how their husbands and some of their children were murdered and most of them had been brutally raped. As one of the rebels in the book “Congo, history of an epic people” told the author David Van Reybrouck: “If you have a mandate to murder, then rape is nothing.” This is the sad history of war in Africa, and actually all over the world.

Meeting five of these extraordinary women again a few months later, I realised

that women all over the world have the same basic needs and that is to have a peaceful life where they can raise their children and give them a future. These women, who had all been through the worst of the worst, signed themselves up for courses presented by the International Rescue Committee. Talking to them, I found out that they had good, happy lives and they had been business women raising their children before the war.

HOW I ENDED UP IN CENTRAL AFRICA:

My life has changed drastically since 28 June 2014 when I won Pageants SA’s title of Mrs. African Queen 2014. It actually started in January 2012 when Mervis van der Merwe gave me a prophetic word: “You are going to change nations and shift kingdoms…” He also told me that the Lord will restore my energy, beauty & health and that He knows my plans are huge and that I will need a lot of money, but He will provide. At that stage I thought “What plans?” He also told me that I will have my Goliaths to face, but with His help I would conquer like David and soar like the eagle.

And yes, challenges are there and will always be there. But looking back on the past three years, I can write a book on how God changed me into what I am today to fulfil that prophecy, but He is not done with me yet. It will always be a journey. For me a journey is to go where angels fear to tread

Cover Story sometimes, but all I do is to keep my eyes on Jesus Christ when I walk on water, because that is the only way I will not sink.

Two days after I won the title, my school friend, Dries Coetzee, who has a security company in Goma, North-Kivu, Eastern DRC contacted me; and in July 2014 he invited me to come and have a look and see if I could stomach the circumstances to make a difference in as he called it “one of the worst war-affected areas on this planet”. He had followed my journey of caring on Facebook for the past four years. Exactly a month later in August 2014, he picked me up from the airport in Kigali, Rwanda and my life changed forever.

TO USE A BEAUTY QUEEN PLATFORM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Carolyn Baldwin-Botha, the owner of Pageants SA, had so much belief in what I do, that she entered me for Mrs. Globe Classic 2015. My title changed to Mrs. Africa Globe Classic 2015 and on publication of this article, I would have had already represented the African continent on 7 March in Las Vegas and hopefully won the titels for our beautiful continent.

My title as Mrs. Africa Globe Classic has already opened so many doors for me to really make a difference where it is most needed. I am currently supporting a number of worthy causes, but my biggest focus will be on our Nzuri Project. Nzuri means beautiful in Swahili and the beginning of this beautiful project is with the story of Elizabeth, a 40-year old Congolese widow from the war-ridden Masisi, Eastern DRC, who has been living with endemic goitre condition for the past 25 years. When I met her with my visit to AMATU, another local NGO who takes care of war victims, I was horrified. Apart from this woman’s trauma of being raped and her husband and some of her children being murdered, she had to live with this enormous growth on her neck that influenced her health very badly. Endemic goitre condition affects thousands of women in Central Africa and the main cause is the traditional eating of cassava and cabbage and a deficiency in selenium and iodine.

Latlong International paid for her operation that was done by Dr. Luc Malemo from HEAL Africa and this woman’s life was changed forever.

Every woman - it doesn’t matter in what conditions she has to survive in - has the right to feel pretty, loved and dignified. To have such a gruesome growth on a place you can’t hide it is not only physically, but

also emotionally devastating. Some of these women are left by their husbands and rejected by their communities and as it is, these women are trying to survive and raise their children in war-ridden Eastern DRC and it is no joke.

With this project, the aim is to reach, treat and educate thousands of women who live with this terrible condition that is actually easy to cure. HEAL Africa can mobilise field hospitals to reach women up to 2 000km from Goma and at only $500 per operation, this is a viable project with constructive results.

The financial and fundraising side of the project in South Africa will be run by the RedRope Foundation and any enquiries regarding the project can be directed to info@redropefoundation.co.za.

JUST AN ORDINARY AFRIKAANS GIRL MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

I am no super woman. I am just someone who decided to live my dreams, refused to let mistakes in my past keep me prisoner and to make a difference. My home is Potchefstroom in the North West Province, where my businesses are run from. I am married to an amazing man who supports me all the way and we have two children and I am lucky to still have my mom with us. But my life hasn’t been easy all the time. We lost everything 13 years ago and I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of a grocery parcel from the church; and my youngest child was born in a government hospital with all it entails. But without this experience I would have never been able to understand what real survival in a cruel, uncaring world is all about.

My biggest aim is to inspire people to make a difference where you are. You don’t have to go into dark Africa to spread sunshine like me. You can do it on your doorstep where I also started. My motto is: “Give what you can, for you it might be nothing special, but for someone else it can change their world.”

At a time in my life, a single bag with basic groceries was my biggest gift to receive. A compliment is sometimes all that is needed.

All that I did during my first visit to Bulengo was to touch these amazing people, to give them some dignity by looking them in their eyes and acknowledge them with a smile as lovely human beings, not outcasts in rags who smell. We are so easy to judge, but I can promise you, if anyone of us were living in those horrific circumstances, we would not do better.

“You are going to change nations and shift kingdoms…”

Congratulations Janet Potgieter on your achievements!

Janet competed in the Mrs Globe Classic in Las Vegas during March. She made South Africa proud and brought home the following awards: • Mrs Globe Heart for women • Mrs Globe Classic 1st runner up • Contestants’ Choice

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Dream Girl SA

dream girl…

The making of a

Dream Girl SA has started off with a bang and is growing from strength to strength. The Dream Girl SA programme is the brainchild of Mrs. Tereza Troskie-Herbst, who is no stranger to beauty pageants and empowerment programmes. She is extremely passionate about the empowerment of girls and women. She has more than 30 years of experience as a beauty queen, mentor, and inspirational speaker. She also has firsthand experience on how this platform can actively and successfully be utilised to make a positive and lasting difference in the different communities we serve in.

dream girl…

“The idea is to get young girls to improve their confidence levels, have them make appropriate decisions and test their negotiation skills. This is also an opportunity for me to motivate girls to realise their dream through sound education.”

Tereza Troskie-Herbst

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Dream Girl SA Meet the Tshwane (Pretoria) Dream Girl contestants and their group leaders Over the next few months, starting April, all the participants will participate in a number of activities that are designed to achieve the following goals and objectives: • • • • • • • •

Raise awareness about various social and other issues; Run fun meetings, events and activities within a learning environment; Empower young girls with knowledge and skills to improve their lives; Develop the ambassadorial qualities of the participants; Inspire young girls to become self-assured; Encourage healthy, balanced lifestyles; Motivate girls to realise their dreams; and Create entrepreneurs who will make a difference in their communities.

Starting a chapter at your school is easy and available to any girl currently enrolled in high school.

This is how you can bring Dream Girl SA to your school:

dream girl…

• Contact the head at your school and share your desire to bring the programme to your school.

• Mothers can contact their daughter’s school to find out what steps are necessary to bring in the independent programme.

• Reach out to other schools, especially underprivileged schools.

• Get other parents involved in your mission.

• Put your own group together.

• Contact any of the chapter leaders. {Visit Dream Girl SA Facebook}

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Dream Girl SA Tshwane (Pretoria) Dream Girl

(continues)

‌ l r i g m a e dr 8

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Dream Girl SA Meet our Dream Girl SA contestants from Welkom

The history of Welkom, situated in the Free State (as we know it) is centred around the discovery of gold in the north-western part of the region. This beautiful little town with a population of more than 200,000 (according to the 2011 census) is also famous for its beautiful women, as represented by our Dream Girl contestants seen below.

The Welkom Dream Girl group is actively participating in the programme and are having fun all the way! Dream Girl SA is aimed at creating a safe space for girls and encouraging honest conversation about issues affecting girls today. If you want to become part of this exciting programme, follow us on the Dream Girl SA Facebook page. You can also visit the following website for more information: www.devotedmag.co.za

‌ l r i g m a dre Thank you to the following sponsors who came on board:

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Speak up!

Those

Flocking

Communication is an art which involves knowing what to say and when to say it.

Far too often people just sit back and say nothing when somebody really needs to say something about an idea, suggestion, observation, a criticism or a message from the Lord…

We believe that silence is deemed as approval. This new series is all about standing up for what you believe and making your peace. Wim Fourie, the writer of this article, does not shy away from speaking up for what he believes in and speaks up when the greater good is the priority

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rowing up my life was far from perfect. I grew up with an absent and abusive father, and I learnt about addiction and drug dealing from him. I started using drugs (Marijuana) at the age of 12. I entered the occult for some years at the age of 14; which left me at the point where I was using drugs on a daily basis for the next 14 years, along with having acquired the skill of dealing drugs in order to sustain my bad habits.

At the age of 27, after my life imploded, I finally found Jesus. At first I had to come to terms with many emotional aspects of my past upbringing - especially not seeing my father for many years since he put a revolver against my head (this was three weeks before my preliminary exams) and told me to get out of the house…

What I’ve come to realise is that these issues from my past dictated much of my youth and young adult years; despite what Jesus had already done for me 2,000 years before. It took me a long time to see myself as God saw me. However, once this reality hit my heart, there was no stopping it. In the same way, in my endeavours with young people, I see this very issue dictating the actions of their daily lives.

When I met Jesus, He taught me “how” to use these issues from my former life as ‘tools of my trade’ when dealing with others who find themselves in similar situations. Yet, despite my past, He has made me a pillar in His House and so I believe it is His plan to raise up those who are willing and obedient.

The Invasion has started, but the flip side of this is also real, and as a paradoxical thinker, it is my intent to get people to think outside the box and look at the flip side of

In…

the coin. This God-Invasion that is taking place will, without a doubt, harvest many ‘unsavoury’ individuals in the eyes of many, and these will be the same ones who will, without a doubt, rock the religious boats of many currently residing in the pews. Dust will be disturbed and a springcleaning is in the process… I mean, look at me! Tattoos, intimidating appearance, earrings… and my question is “Are you ready, Church?”

Are we truly ready to handle the harvest of future destinies and potential that is about to flood into our church buildings?

Are we ready to ‘father’ them; not just be the ‘teacher’?

This generation and harvest flocking to our church buildings, have been reprimanded, rebuked, spoken down on, rejected and abused by many an authority figure up to now, and we are their support once they have come into the light. So… Are we ready? I keep hearing the Spirit ask me that question…

Do we really see the flip side of what we are believing and trusting God for in our Houses? Do we really walk nonjudgementally or what is the state of our hearts towards our own Body; and can we really embrace the expansion of the different parts of our Body, the same way one’s body changes with physical training?

I’ve never heard any guy, or gal for that matter, criticise their physiques while engaging in a rigid training regime. I can almost guarantee that you hear ladies and the guys speak about how their appearances are enhanced as a result thereof…

So, we must celebrate the unique parts of our spiritual Body in the same way… After

Speak up! all, the biceps and triceps don’t look the same, yet they don’t criticise one another, they actually complement and complete the other and adds value to the overall view of that part of the Body.

Someone once said: “Our churches are hospitals for sinners”, and one will not see any healthy people lying in hospital beds, will you? So, my question is: Why are so many of us who are healthy, merely sitting in the pews, gathering dust and as a result not making space for those who are ill, in order for them to find a place of restoration and discover their true selves in His presence?

I believe that in order for us to be relevant and on the cutting edge of this move of God, a new sensitivity to the flow of His Spirit is required. A nonjudgemental view of those He calls to the House is also vital and we will have to deal with our prejudice and judgements prior to these people entering our churches. Let’s face it, even a dog you disrespect will not come to you when he is called.

This is not our season only, but it is theirs to meet with their Maker. I implore us as a Body; please, PLEASE let go of what was good in 2014… Good is the enemy of God and whatever was achieved in 2014 is already mediocre, because God is expecting us to move… Move forward, upward and take ground; and as long as we remain in yesterday’s victories and successes, we cannot embrace the fullness of this season, as we will stagnate in mediocrity.

We have to move with His Spirit, because His Spirit ultimately goes the direction of His perfect will for every season. Let’s follow boldly, let’s worship Him freely, let’s love unconditionally, let’s father those who are fatherless in Spirit and in flesh, let’s raise up a royal priesthood and a peculiar nation, ready, willing and well-equipped to do the work required from them in their lifetime.

Let’s begin to celebrate the uniqueness and individuality of those already flocking to our House.

About the writer:

Wim Fourie, a self-proclaimed abuser of drugs, is not only fully recovered, he actively works with young people through his various campaigns against drugs.

He uses his experiences, knowledge, skills and talents to enhance the kingdom through programmes such as: Youth Against Drugs Association (YADA); Drug Education Agency (DEA); Amnesty Week and a new, exciting endeavour, the Ingonyama Training and Development Trust. Wim is a regular contributor to Devoted and provides educational stories that are aimed at preventing the use of drugs. Wim speaks and writes from a platform of knowledge as well as of experience, and Devoted is proud to have Wim on the team.

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Living for Jesus

Reaching your full potential in

Christ

By Johan Terblanché

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20)

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W

hen have you reached your full potential? Unfortunately, a lot of people believe that they have reached their full potential once they have achieved a measure of success or when they have achieved their goals. However, this is not the case. To illustrate, a group of robbers can rob a bank successfully. A hijacker can be successful in robbing you of your car.

Would you say that they have reached their full potential?

Think about this: A person starts as a labourer at a company and works his way up the ranks until he becomes a shareholder or manager. Does this mean he has reached his full potential? Often we perceive reaching the top of the ladder as success, simply to find that the ladder was placed against the wrong wall! So how do we reach our full potential?

Full potential is only achieved when the fullness of God is revealed in every area of your life, when the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice becomes visible in all you do, when every action or every step you take is directed by the Holy Spirit living in you. In other words, we have reached our full potential when God is glorified in us.

So how do we reach our full potential? In short: It is in dying to oneself that we are able to reach our full potential. We need to die to or lay down the old, worldly nature. This is done by acceptance of Christ and especially His finished work at the cross. We too should be able to say: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me,” Galatians 2:20 (NKJV).

Following repentance and salvation, we should follow Paul’s advice as recorded in Romans 12:1-2 which reads: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.

Readily recognise what he wants from you, and

quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you,” (MSG).

Full potential is reached when we listen to the Holy Spirit who confirms the Word in us, and when we submit to His voice or guidance and live in utter obedience to the Word of God. I believe the Spirit of God is saying that we will never reach full potential when we continue a life of sin even in spite of us knowing the truth as revealed in scripture. For example, an adulterer will not reach their full potential.

A person living a life of sexual immorality will not reach their full potential. A disobedient or unruly child will not reach their full potential.

Why is this? Because God is not glorified when we sin.

To reach our full potential we need to confess God’s Word. Here are a few confessions or declarations of faith that you can declare over your life: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) “In all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us.”

(Romans 8:37) “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

(2 Corinthians 12:10) “Without Jesus I can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Full potential in Christ is reached when we reach out to others, revealing Christ to a hungry and thirsty world, a world longing for the Water and Bread of Life. After all, Jesus did say: “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.” (Mark 16:15) In closing, allow me to share a text from the Message translation with you: “Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully - no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night.” (Philippians 2:12b-16)

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TRY SOMETHING AMAZING

Ministry

called to transform cities “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

A

lmost 20 years ago, God spoke to the leaders of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of South Africa church in Brooklyn to take hands with an AFM church in the East of Pretoria; and the Doxa Deo ministry was born as a result of it. In 1996, God spoke directly to the hearts of the leadership, revealing His dream and special plan for cities. It was then that God entrusted the Doxa Deo ministry with a specific calling, namely to transform the cities into a place where God reigns.

The Doxa Deo (meaning “Glory to God”) ministry, consisting of a number of churches, is living out their calling to transform cities for the glory of God. They believe, among others, that Christians should be equipped to discover their individual destiny and to develop their spiritual gifts in order to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ. The ministry sees themselves as a facilitator in this process.

As a city-focused ministry it consists of various campuses in nine cities, nationally and internationally. Thus far, 11 Doxa Deo campuses (churches/congregations) have successfully been established in Pretoria to do the work God has called the leaders to do. These city changers go far beyond only having church on a Sunday, to serving the citizens by establishing the Lordship of Christ in every area of the society. In this ministry people are not only concerned for the state of the city; they take responsibility for the city.

The activities of the Doxa Deo ministry are focused outward, intentionally engaging the different spheres of society.

The City Changers Institute (CCI) was initiated by the Doxa Deo leadership five years ago. CCI offers, for instance, Christcentred education on a tertiary level.

Can a city be transformed?

The Bible has numerous examples of what happens when God moves in a city to change it for the better: Nineveh, Lydda, Sharon, and others. It has also been documented where modern cities have experienced great spiritual transformation.

Jack Dennison described city transformation as “reaching a critical mass of believers who are so empowered

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by the gospel of Christ that they change everything they touch – family, workplace, schools, business. As this critical mass is achieved, the power of the living God brings significant changes in the problems that plague our cities today – poverty, crime, addictions, gangs, divorce, violence, and a dramatic increase in the things that characterise the kingdom of God – mercy, justice, prosperity (especially the poor) and compassion.”

Cities can be changed, spiritually and also socially; and the secret lies in how churches and leaders leverage the multivalent domains of the communities to solve problems the entire city cares about. To transform a city effectively, leaders should share proven ways to mobilise spiritual impact.

Therefore, the Doxa Deo ministry builds partnerships for change between civil society, governments, schools and relevant institutions; as well as the business sectors. They implement a holistic and multi-sectorial approach to urban regeneration and target the neighbourhoods. They believe that God, and only Him, has the power to change the culture of an entire city.

The Doxa Deo ministry is focused on serving people and on human development; and specifically the development of people, for people; and by people. This implies participatory approaches as the driving force of its work towards transforming cities to deliberate social changes and resourceful sustainability of natural environments; the nurturing of environment and a tolerance for social sustainability; to focused citizenship and the well-being of all its citizens.

This leads us to affirm that cities can be transformed, no matter how challenged they are: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord (Doxa Deo) has risen on you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but the Lord shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. And the nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning. Lift up your eyes all around, and see. ” (Isaiah 60:1-4)

The capital city, Pretoria, by the grace of God, has seen changes on many levels through the work of the Doxa Deo city changers: • Every sphere of society, education, business, arts, church, government, media, social society and sport are influenced by the glory of God. • Families and homes are restored through the power of love.

• Broken relationships are restored.

Churches are becoming environments of grace, where single parents and broken people are embraced.

• Small groups of people are reaching out to one another, supporting people who are going through tough times.

• Churches reach out to one another and church leaders embrace one another. They stand together in unison!

• Children and young people are going to school, colleges and universities with excitement at they are trained in the fear of the Lord.

• Students engage in a godly environment, with an education that establishes a Christian worldview, godly beliefs and values!

• Sportsmen and women fearlessly share their testimonies, living with integrity and humility.

• God-fearing politicians govern righteously. Police men and women love Jesus, hate injustice and lay their lives down for truth.

• The airwaves, social media platforms, billboards, and every creative communication space of our society celebrate kingdom life, without being offensive, judgemental or patronising!

• People are delivered from selfcenteredness and the confines of race, culture and ethnicity. They are reaching out across social, cultural and racial boundaries to touch lives and share resurrection life with one another.

Ministry

Here are some of the Doxa Deo initiatives:

“A city can be transformed when leaders embrace the necessity of God’s involvement in the process”.

(Neal Mc Glohan and Dino Senesi in A Deeper Look at If a City Can Be Transformed)

• Metamorpho is an initiative that wants to influence the youth. It offers young people a one-year, post-matric potential and character discovery course. Their focus is to equip a student for life.

• Heneka Haven is a special needs infant institution, where the staff care for disabled and HIV infected children.

• Lesedi House is a halfway house for orphaned and abandoned babies, some who are infected with HIV. Babies are cared for until adoptive parents are found and as a result, babies are sometimes cared for for shorter periods.

• Makhulong Child and Youth Care Centre cares for maltreated, sexually abused children and children affected by Aids and HIV-related circumstances. The centre consists of two houses. Shalom House cares for children at primary school level and Jabulani House for high school children.

• Ki-Deo is a house caring for children from the ages of five to 18 where they experience the family environment they have been deprived of.

• Victory House takes care of traumatic and abused children by providing a place of safety for them. Primary and high school children are accommodated.

• The People Upliftment Programme or POPUP was established in 2000 to empower the disempowered. It started as a shelter for homeless people and in 2005, its focus changed to a Skills Training and Development Centre for the unemployed.

For more information on the Doxa Deo ministries, please visit www.doxadeo.co.za

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15

Wellness

The uncomplicated nature of wellness

By Natasha Myburgh

According to the World Health Organisation, wellness is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease”. Paying attention to your fitness or diet or emotions only will disturb the delicate balance of your overall wellness. Many of us try so hard to improve ourselves and to make the best choices toward a healthy and positive lifestyle, yet we struggle to be fulfilled

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It is especially difficult in this day and age where one can become overwhelmed by the vast collection of self-help books, blogs, and television shows that are loaded with information, mostly aimed at cornering markets for their own financial gains. Wellbeing is not intangible and it is not only for the elite few that “get it right”, in fact it is very • uncomplicated and intended for all of us to live the best quality of life possible, so that we may also be a blessing to those around us.

You don’t have to sign a membership contract, but you can make the commitment to yourself to go every week. It could cost as little as R80 on average for a class and will also help you get out and be surrounded by people with similar well-being goals.

Get instructional DVDs or use YouTube videos and follow them at home. You can do this weekly, but will need a distraction-free environment and selfdiscipline to follow through with it.

• Take up a sport - Tennis, action cricket, Where to start? gholf, netball etc. Being part of a team We can sit all day long and think of will encourage you to be there and also what we will do and when to start doing get outdoors. so, but the best time to feel better and be • Swim - Use a public pool, the indoor pool better is right now. You don’t need to have at the gym or your own pool at home or everything in place, and in actual fact, there in your complex. This is a high-intensity will never be such a time. Often trying to workout with quick recovery time and think of a plan of action leads to overthinking low risk of injury. and self-defeating talk, resulting in more • Walk - You can take a lovely walk as many procrastination without any results. So, you times a week as you like, where you can will need to start somewhere. also enjoy being outdoors and clearing your mind. If you prefer, you can join a walking club and have motivating Get physical conversations with other members.

Take responsibility for your body. It is nobody else’s business and nobody else’s task • Cultivate good habits - Take the stairs, park further away, sit on a gym ball at - you need to do it. Choose a physical activity work, etc. to engage in on a regular basis. Here are Getting physically active will have some ideas to help you get started: immediate health benefits. Having more • Join a weekly class - Aerobics, dance, oxygen in your blood, calms the mind. pilates, yoga, kick boxing, bootcamp Building muscle and using energy reserves etc. This is a lovely and exciting option.

Wellness stored as fat will do wonders for your figure, heart and mobility.

Once you become accustomed to your level of physical activity, you can increase the intensity or frequency of these opportunities to increase your strength and fitness.

Eating to live

Ask yourself this question, “Are you eating to live, or living to eat?” Decide from this moment that you will only put things into your body that give your body nourishment. Most of us eat more food than what is necessary for us to sustain life. Once you have your mind set the right way, it will be easier for you to know when you are eating for comfort or eating because you are hungry.

Our bodies need food to turn it into energy. All the parts of our bodies, from our muscles to our brain, heart and liver, need energy to function and sustain life. Therefore it is important to maintain balance. If we starve ourselves, our bodies will not be able to function correctly - it will store any food it is given as fat reserves and will also put pressure on your organs. Don’t make nutrition complicated for yourself, you do not need a diet to tell you what to eat. Since the beginning of time we have survived on basic principles: • Eat all food as close to its natural state as possible - Raw, unprocessed and clean.

• Eat a variety of food throughout your day - Protein, good fats, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables.

• Eat moderate portions - Stop eating when you are full.

• Do not eat sweets, cookies, chips, processed food etc. Your body simply does not need it.

Vitamins and minerals that are found in food has nutritional value necessary for various functions in our bodies. Eat what your body needs and you will feel great. If you overindulge in food with no nutritional value, you will feel unwell.

As you embark on your personal journey to well-being, you will experience some discomfort in your body and mind in the early stages. You may get headaches from withdrawal symptoms and feel very sorry for yourself. Do not gratify your sacrifices for trying to be a better you by rewarding yourself with toxic things such as sweets, comfort food or take-away meals or just skipping your exercise and wasting time in front of the television. It is initially going to take active restraint until you have cultivated your good

habits that will become second nature and part of your life. Avoid the temptation by proactively applying yourself to something that is beneficial for you. Here are some ideas to help you: • When you feel depressed or sad - Sing, laugh, watch a comedy or book a massage for yourself.

• If you feel inferior - Get a new outfit, get a facial treatment or get your nails done.

• When you feel insignificant or incompetent – Think of your past achievements and your future goals.

• When you feel sorry for yourself - Think of all you have to be grateful for.

• If you feel exhausted - Push harder. Achieve something more and you will feel stronger than before.

Taking care of yourself through physical activity and proper nutrition will absolutely renew and strengthen your mind. If your body is physically strong and functioning at its best, it will lead to your mind thinking clearer and encourage good behavioural patterns that enhance your self-esteem and self-control. Realising that you are finding relief from negative external fixations such as food, because of sadness, loneliness or exhaustion, is a powerful revelation in growing your spiritual well-being. We should not be dependent on these fixations, which is why it is also so powerful to fast and confirm your dependence on God to aid you in everything in your life. Focus your physical labour and mental attitude on good things and allow yourself to be the best you can be.

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17

Beauty

ise)

en (Photow

rel van Stad

Photo by Sa

glowing skin!

Top beauty tips to get a

By Tamaryn Pretorius

A confident woman radiates beauty; and confidence comes from knowing your worth in Christ. Always remember that you were bought at a price and that you were made in the image and likeness of God

Tip 1:

This may sound like a cliché, but if you want a glowing skin - start and end the day with a good cleansing, toning, moisturising routine and don’t forget sunblock during the day.

Sun damage in your youth leads to terrible pigmentation and premature aging in your 30s. The better you look after your skin, the less foundation and cover you will need to look radiant.

Tip 2:

Apply a primer after your daily routine.

Smashbox has many interesting primers that combat different things like redness or uneven skin tone for example. Primers make your foundation last longer and evens out your complexion.

Tip 3:

Glowing skin is associated with being healthy. Use a light foundation like the Elizabeth Arden BB cream, it has natural reflective particles in it to enhance your glow.

Tip 4:

If you have a sunspot or pimple, don’t use a heavier foundation, stick to your BB cream and use a cover stick or concealer to cover

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the problem area. Remember skin should still look like skin when you are done. Foundation should never have a mask-like appearance.

We use foundation to make our skin look even, glowing and healthy, so we are more approachable and don’t hide behind a mask.

Tip 5:

Use blotting paper or a translucent powder to touch up over extra shiny areas like the nose, chin and forehead. Remember we want glowing skin, not oily skin.

Tip 6:

Use a highlighter powder on the brow bone, above the lip and cheekbones to add a beautiful glow. Fair skinned girls should use a pink, rose or gold highlighter, while darker skinned girls should go for a pure gold or bronze highlighter.

Don’t miss our top beauty tips in the next issue. You can also e-mail me on info@tamarynpretorius.co.za if you have any beauty or make-up related questions.

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Attitude

Are your feelings Photo by Sarel van Staden (Photowise)

controlling you?

by Gillian Lombard

Emotions can be explained as feelings on the inside of us which are caused by pain or pleasure with the purpose of moving us in a certain direction

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A person’s feelings change from day to day and hour to hour and can become our number one enemy. But we simply cannot base our lives on what we feel like or not. We need to become stable, solid and determined believers. Our emotions won’t disappear, but we should learn how to control them and live on a deeper level than what we feel.

Negative feelings such as fear, anger, discouragement, emptiness, frustration, guilt, hopelessness, hurt, loneliness, rebellion, sorrow, feeling threatened, tempted, troubled, unfulfilled, used, useless, vengeful, weak, weary and worried, to mention a few, can cause a person to live an unstable, miserable life and depression can even creep in. Some people also suffer from Yo-Yo type feelings. When things are going good they are happy, laughing and feeling good. When things are going bad, they feel bad and sorry for themselves. Sometimes they blame God and others.

You must make up your mind not to live like this and begin to enjoy life. We must persistently resist our feelings and make the words of our mouth agree with God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit will help you to line your will up with God’s Word and you will find that you can adjust yourself to people and

situations and become emotionally stable.

Self-control is a godly force: God uses this force to get our lives the way He wants it.

Jesus was subjected to the same feelings and emotions that we have, but He did not allow Himself to be moved or led around by His emotions. Jesus knew He was in God’s hands and no one could do anything to Him that was out of God’s will and timing.

This same confidence is available to every believer; our time is in His hands and nothing can happen to us without God’s permission.

We must learn to live as Christ did, with a sense of peace and security that comes from knowing we are children of God. We must learn to view things calmly rather than to build them up in our minds. Every day is not the same, but we should enjoy every day and be thankful that we are alive.

As you and I learn to be led by the Spirit, we will find the place of balance that brings peace. Show your emotions when they are positive and helpful; and control them when they are negative and destructive. God does not expect us to be perfect, but we need to let Him develop the right fruits in us.

All emotions play an important role to help us understand others and ourselves.

Satan, however, often tries to use our emotions to harm us and cause us to sin, but

Attitude through the knowledge of God’s Word we can learn to have self-control, be temperate, respectable, hospitable, gentle, and not quarrelsome.

A man is justified by faith and not by feelings. Learn to never do something on impulse. If you allow your emotions to control you, you will make wrong decisions. Wait for God to bring it around and He will do it without any heartbreak and disappointment. If you trust your feelings, you will fall. Trust God and He will carry you through.

If you base your faith on feelings, then you don’t have faith.

Faith based on feelings is built on a sandy foundation. Faith must be built on what God tells us: this is a solid foundation.

We should only be moved by what we believe and not by what we feel.

God gave us a will and we should use it to obey Him. God gave us emotions and we should learn to exercise control over them. Live a genuine life of faith by praying that God will guide your heart and mind, that He will direct your feelings and actions. A person who controls his emotions has a powerful character.

Walk by faith according to the truth of God’s Word. If you know that Christ lives in you, you won’t ever have to depend on or be controlled by your feelings ever again. With God’s help, you will not be moved, but will be able to stand strong on the firm foundation which is Jesus Christ

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STOLEN LIVES CAMPAIGN “OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER” - MARTIN LUTHER KING STOLEN means “to take without permission or right, especially secretly, or by force.”

Perhaps you look back over the years of your life and realise what has been lost at the hands of others. Maybe it’s been against your will and you have been abused, mistreated and harmed in as physical or emotional way. Have your own poor decisions seen you suffer from an addiction that has robbed you of the life you always dreamed you’d have?

What if you’ve ever been caught in cycles of false friendships, depression, sexual sin, substance abuse and threats of violence, you’ll know the pain and disappointment that engulfed you, and the overwhelming desperation to do life over again, but next time, to do it differently.

Devoted, in collaboration with Christian Art Distributors, wants to help you as you embrace a second chance, with a host of tools that can assist in the restoration of your life, a kind of Spiritual Chemist if you will. From this issue we will focus on a new theme related to the campaign, and highlight the books, movies, messages and music that deal with that specific theme. In this issue we focus on human trafficking and prostitution.

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Campaign

From School desk to

Brothel bed (Van Skoolbank tot Bordeelbed) Written by Jaco Hough-Coetzee The book, From School desk to Brothel bed, describes the true story of Elanie Kruger’s appalling neglect during her childhood and young adult years before the arrival of the millennium – under the name of Angela. It was a time when people did not talk so freely about topics such as child neglect and molestation; child prostitution; human trafficking; and all those other nasty topics. And usually what we do not talk about, does not exist!

Book only available in Afrikaans at this stage.

This is not a “feel-good” book to read, on the contrary, it is a very disturbing book and I could not finish it in one session like I normally do with books I review. Firstly there is the topic which is addressed and Jaco succeeds to punch you in the stomach with his honest and straightforward writing style! If you can read this book and remain untouched, you HAVE to be made out of stone.

The story is based on true events and describes how a 16-year-old girl tries to escape from members of a satanic group; and in the process makes friends with the wrong young man who immediately “sells” her to brothel owners (to settle his debt with them). They held her captive and rented her out to the men who visited the club in search of children to abuse sexually!

From School desk to Brothel bed disturbingly and straightforwardly describes how a life of Satanism, alcohol and drugs can destroy a person’s life. It is a book which HAS to be read by every parent in this country and by every young person. Parents have to read it so they can realise how easy it is for their children to disappear if they are neglected. But also that, even if you protect your child – and even if your child has not been a victim of human trafficking – that even an “innocent act” like dropping your child off at a mall with others to see a movie, that your child is exposed to the danger lurking out there, waiting for them. It is so important that parents must know where their children and teenagers are at all times, who their friends are and what they keep themselves busy with.

Dysfunctionality within a family is one of the reasons why young people unnecessarily get involved with neglect and eventually alcohol, drugs and Satanism – and they come out broken on the other side!

Young people should read the book so they can know how easy it is to trust the wrong people and that everyone does not do potentially good things. Also that they should talk to their parents or a trusted friend when something happens to them which is not right.

So many children and young people keep quiet about the horrible things that happen to them and when it eventually comes out, it is sometimes too late to help!

Every reader who reads this review or other reviews about this book, MUST read this book, so they can know that human trafficking

(with the ultimate goal to promote any form of prostitution, irrespective of the age of the victim, selling organs and pornography where small children are involved) is a much bigger problem – even in our country – than what most people are willing to admit. We dare not turn a blind eye to the problem any longer. Elanie has a passion (and there are many more people like that) to free and help children and young people who find themselves in the terrifying clutches of human trafficking. Every penny we can concede to address this evil is necessary so we, as a community, can sleep peacefully at night. It is also important that we, as Christians, will help to eradicate this evil in our country, roots and all.

Too many people are currently uninvolved.

Devoted also gave Elanie (on whose life this story is built) a voice in the previous issue (Issue 13); and we will continue to actively support any people and projects that are committed to eradicate the absurdity of human trafficking.

We are also starting the Stolen campaign this month, in collaboration with Christian Art Media (CAM) and we ask our readers to also make other people aware of this evil – and to help us fight it collectively.

And no, it is not only the Nigerians who are responsible for human trafficking like we often tell each other next to the braai on weekends.

Like Angela revealed so heartbreakingly in From School desk to Brothel bed; It is often also people we know – parents and godparents; so-called friends and acquaintances; the school teacher; the Sunday school teacher; the “successful” business man with the nice and expensive clothes… It is mostly the ones right under our noses of whom we will never expect it! The ones from whom the child and teenagers only expect protection and love!

The book begins and ends with a message of hope to all victims of human trafficking (in any form). A message that no one has to fight the consequences of this evil alone. There are people who are more than willing to help and then there is Jesus Christ, our Saviour. To Him, we are still the most important person on the planet, with all of our faults, hurts and shortcomings!

From School desk to Brothel bed is available through Jonathan Ball Publishers and only costs R200. For inquiries, contact Charlene.davids@ jonathanball.co.za. For interviews with Elanie Kruger, please contact Andrea Marchesi at (021) 469 8900/083 408 2514.

www.devotedmag.co.za

23

Skills

Mentorship:

a circle of influence

By Mmathabiso Khalema

We are living in the information era, where a constant, savage demand is placed on our attention span. Social network versus social network; gadget versus gadget. How on earth do we filter what is relevant from what is not, what is important, what is of value? The pace of life is quickly accelerating.

Strong definitive answers from search engines and a myriad of sources often mute the stirring of our hearts - where God speaks to us. And this is where mentorship comes in.

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The word mentorship is thrown around quite a bit, and can be approached from many angles. One description I am particularly fond of is “A character-building relationship that takes what has been given to us and passes it on again”. A local business magazine article shows how the traditional paradigm of mentorship has evolved from senior staff sitting down with junior employees and helping them advance to one that takes up various shapes and forms, while delivering more in tangible value to those involved.

The article outlines peer-to-peer mentorship; systematic mentorship; and institutional mentorship. The professional trajectory of mentors and mentees interviewed is brilliantly explained, and the interviewees ever-so-gleefully and gladly share the benefits flowing from the relationship. One mentee comments: “Over the years she’s helped me articulate my expectations to my partners in the organisations with which I work… she’s been very generous with her time and knowledge, treating me like one of her family.”

Scripture is teeming with examples of mentorship. In an article on his website, Douglas Fields outlines four models of Biblical mentorship:

• •

Jesus and his disciples: Being real Eli and Samuel: Instruction in hearing the Word of God • Moses and Joshua: Passing on wisdom • Paul and Timothy: Sharing life Jesus and his disciples were young men who were in their teens and early twenties.

These guys “did life” together. A lot of the mentoring took place through travelling together, shared experience, and formal and informal teaching. These guys were joined by their habits and lifestyles and most probably had inside jokes. Here’s what one young mentee had to say about this kind of relationship: “I don’t remember much of what you taught, but I remember the small details of our time together: trips, hangouts at your house, the way you treat your family and the conversations over lemonade.”

In the book of Samuel, Eli teaches the young boy how to hear from God and respond to His voice. Along the same lines, Benjamin Israeli has been quoted as saying “The greatest gift you can give another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own”.

Moses trained a young Joshua to replace him as leader. Moses delegated leadership and passed on wisdom to his successor.

Paul shared life with Timothy. Although

Skills Timothy had birth parents, Paul called him his son. Often times Timothy represented Paul.

Dr Bobby Clinton, in his book “Connecting; the mentoring relationships you need to succeed in life” mentions four working models: intensive mentoring; occasional mentoring; passive mentoring and peer modelling and mentorship. I am most interested in passive mentoring and peer mentoring. The pervading era of the information age means that we are bombarded with ideas and opinions which are transferred through media consumption (books, social media, magazines and images) often without our conscious assent.

It was Oprah Winfrey who said “we don’t become what we want, we become what we believe”. We see an excellent example of passive mentoring from the book of Genesis 30:25-43, where Jacob wanted his sheep to give birth to lambs of a certain colour. He put branches of the colour he wanted the lambs to be born with in front of the sheep to look at while they mated or drank water. This was a calculated plan, and as a result, the lambs were born with colours similar to that of the branches. This story reveals the power of meditating on something long enough. A person who regularly watches or listens to vulgar music ends up speaking in a vulgar manner. And when he speaks it, it can only create that

which is already a part of his spirit.

Although I have never had the privilege of meeting former president Nelson Mandela, I can positively attest to the fact that much of my thinking and value system has been greatly influenced by his writings.

I have had the opportunity to participate in various home cell structures in the church, and observe peer modelling. I am amazed at just how much I have grown in character and zeal just by interacting with and observing the conduct of those I “do life” with. This culture is prevalent in the various cell structures, as business people raise up kingdom-minded business people, senior students mentor students in campus and youth ministry; artists and musicians get to hone their craft and work ethic in the music and arts ministry.

The power of the Word which says “iron sharpens iron”, and “walk with the wise and become wise” cannot be underestimated.

This is God’s justice - what we sow, we reap.

As young people we tend to have a limited view of the world and various aspects in it this results in timid, small need-mindedness as we focus on our own lack of direction, encouragement and opportunity. We pray and beg, but God’s Word is clear and outright; we are to operate by His principles - seedtime and harvest - living as givers.

We should generously mentor each other, encourage another and share our love and time with another.

The mentorship present in the form of the various types of home cells in the church is but a seed, defined (conveniently, I must say!) as “the source for development and growth”. It is “anything in your possession which has the potential to be planted, sown or released”. The ultimate benefit of planting this seed is hypertransformational, as we move from a lifestyle of need-mindedness to becoming generous seed-minded people who devise great ideas and are freed from our own “familiar territory of our need by opening our minds to unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of other people”, as Barbara Bush said.

Who shaped your life through mentorship while growing up, navigating obstacles as a teenager or throughout your professional career? Who inspired your success? I encourage you to generously sow that seed into another young person or growing Christian. Be a part of an evolution that is beyond amazing! This is the full circle power of mentorship. I dare you to be more intentional in 2015 to mentor another - generously share your time, love, encouragement, knowledge and application of Kingdom principles with others. Be a “sort of a Christ” to another, as Martin Luther King Jr said.

“we don’t become what we want, we become what we believe”. www.devotedmag.co.za

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Skills

The world of

social networks It seems that social media has taken over our lives, and to manage it can be a full-time job. A global independent market research company, Ipsos, found that the average daily use of any form of social networks for younger people under the age of 35 is 4,2 hours. Another survey has found that the best way to reach Millennials is on social media. For Baby Boomers like me, social media has become a nightmare that sometimes clutters up your Inbox. I have asked a member of the younger generation, Bontle Modise, to share her thoughts with us on how to use social networks more effectively

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Between the social media and our busy lives, how effective would you say you are communicating with your loved ones on a day-to-day basis? Before Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, all it took to communicate with a loved one was a simple phone call or a text. Now things are a little more complicated… We find ourselves making calls and getting no responses from friends and family… But if you check your WhatsApp, you will find a message from this very person you are trying to reach. And no, they are not ignoring you; things are just a little complicated right now.

I sometimes find myself calling my friends on a number of occasions and getting nothing back - days later still nothing… and then, eventually, I decide to check my WhatsApp messages and to my surprise I find a message reading, “Hey dear, sorry I missed your call… long week! How have you been?”

The social media has taken over so much that cold calling in sales companies is now substituted by advertisements on Facebook pages or a “follow me” on Twitter. As an incremental process, companies develop social media awareness with LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. More often than not, on these social networks, you are contacting people who already have some sort of knowledge of you or somebody who is in a relationship with you. In this context, social media is a great supplemental vehicle - one that must be handled in the context of a marketing strategy.

On every job application, companies ask for a LinkedIn profile… this is so that if it happens that you don’t get the job or the company finds your skills less suited for the position they are advertising, with your

LinkedIn profile, they can in fact refer you to a company or position more suited to your skills.

Memories are important and if you don’t write them down or take photos of them, you can lose them forever. You go on a beautiful holiday with your loved ones and you take countless pictures on your smartphone and put down memories in your journal… and on your way back you forget them both on the plane because you were reminiscing.

Now, if you are on Instagram, all it takes is a computer or a new phone to regain your memories back; because as you take pictures with your phone, they automatically get uploaded.

Technology has improved the world in just about every area you can think of amazing developments in communication, collaboration and efficiencies. There are constant new kinds of entertainment and social media. “Access to information and the ability to give a voice to people who would never have been heard.”. (Bill Gates) But how is social media killing our relationships?

Less time on your social networking sites equals more time with your loved ones. A social media addiction becomes purportedly more and more prevalent within our lives and society as a whole. Developers have even created software that will help you go “cold turkey” with your social media accounts.

This is because we now live in a world where social media has become even more everpresent with us and the things around us.

Quality time is an interesting application which, in the short term at least, will prove to be a novelty.

Studies show that 79% of people between

Skills the ages of 18 to 44 years have their smartphones with them 22 hours of the day. Four out of five smartphone users check their phones within the first 15 minutes of waking up. Eighty percent of those say it’s the first thing they do in the morning. Seventy-nine percent of smartphone users have their phone on or near them for all but two hours of their waking day; 63% keep it with them for all but one hour. A full quarter of respondents couldn’t recall a single time of the day when their phone wasn’t in the same room as them. Friday through Sunday, smartphone users spend 163 minutes using social media on their phones. Monday through Thursday, they spend 87 minutes.

“The more social media we have, the more we think we are connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other.”. (JR, a French artist) This makes one wonder why calls cannot be answered when we spend such a long period of time with our phones near or on us. It also raises a question: If we have no problem being with our phones 24 hours a day (a little exaggeration is healthy), then maybe, just maybe, communication has evolved to a dimension we weren’t quite aware of. Maybe the most effective way to maintain communication with our loved ones is through social networks.

Maybe that is a thought to ponder over! Hello WhatsApp!

social networks

A selfie a day, keeps the doctor away

By Precious Ntsandeni

How many of us are active users of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many other forms of social media? How many of us are on all those platforms at least twice a day?

How about 10 times, 20 or even 30 times? If we were to match up our quiet time spent in prayer, reading His Word or even in worship, would it exceed the time spent on social media? Does it possibly come in second?

S

ocial media is an amazing platform for believers to reach our world. The internet has allowed for such a vast network where people from even the other side of the globe can be empowered. With that said, this article seeks not to discredit the positive practices that can be associated with the active use of social media. Instead it seeks to challenge, not only the minds, but most significantly the hearts of all believers about the value of time spent in the presence of God. When preaching to the church in Corinth, Paul said that he trains himself in discipline that after preaching to others he might not be disqualified. (2 Corinthians 10:26) This verse sparks two thoughts in my mind that relate to the issue at hand. The most superficial one is the countless pictures that many of us would take or put up on a social media platform tagged with a beautiful scripture to go along with it. The purpose would be that we inspire others with our thoughts and the Word, but this then leads me to another train of thought; how much inspiration takes place behind closed doors?

The Apostle Paul’s training and form of discipline was fellowship with God and hence he was led by the Holy Spirit. It is so beautiful to see the boldness that comes upon believers when they aren’t ashamed to publicly declare

God to their world, but after this public declaration, are they left running dry because that is all there is?

The Bible places so much emphasis on quiet time spent with God, about His Word being a lamp unto our feet and a light in our path (Psalm 119:105), about how as infants would long for milk to grow into maturity, so the Word should be our “milk” that we would mature into our salvation (1 Peter 2:2), also how God uses His Word to equip us for the tasks that we have at hand (2 Timothy 3:17).

So essentially, how far we get to run or how high we get to jump in the kingdom of God is directly dependent on how much time is spent in His presence.

When life hits you really hard, how much can your “selfie cam” equip you against your trials? How much of that time spent on social media would have prepared you for such a time? The Word of God is a sword with which we can enter into battle; it equips us for everyday life, for every valley and mountain top. So by all means, go out and inspire your world, but let that inspiration flow from time spent in the Word that is inspired by the very breath of God. A selfie a day definitely won’t keep the doctor away, but if you have your Bible nearby, that’s just about all the remedy that you will ever need.

www.devotedmag.co.za

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Sport

Just another

hurdle

by Willem de Beer

Man has incredible depth with a soul, heart and mind that involves our whole being.

And something that stimulates everybody’s being profoundly is a gripping story. Man loves to listen to an inspiring story and to tell it over and over again. Of course, Jesus was also a master storyteller and He changed the world through His stories. Devoted magazine now also has the privilege to share the story of Wenda Nel with our readers

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Wenda Nel (formerly Theron) is 26 years old with a degree in dietetics from the University of Pretoria. She is married to Jacques Nel, who practices as a biokineticist and obtained his qualifications from the same university. As an athlete, Wenda is not only setting South Africa on fire in the 400m hurdles event, but also the whole continent.

In 2014 – which she considers to be her most successful year thus far (rightly so) – she zoomed into third place on the SA all-time rankings with a lightning fast 54.82 seconds.

Her time cemented 13th place for her on the world rankings in 2014. In addition to these great achievements, she was also the South African champion, as well as the African champion in 2014. These achievements came under the guidance of Coach Hennie Kotze, who now resides in Saudi Arabia as their national coach.

Wenda moved to Pretoria in 2007 after she matriculated in Worcester in 2006. She not only moved to Pretoria to study and run, she followed her mother, Anneke, to Pretoria.

When Wenda was only two, her biological mother died and when she was six years old her biological father also died, after which Anneke adopted Wenda.

Wenda considers her running talent as a gift from God. She believes that: “He has given each of us something to build His kingdom with.” Because she realises that it is a gift from God, she lives her life so she

can do just this. She is also modest enough to say that “it is not just about gold medals.”

Christianity is not just a religion for her, it is a lifestyle. It is easy to see that her devotion is not wholly reserved for the track but that God comes first.

Wenda’s dream is to compete in the final of the 400m hurdle event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. She would also like to receive a Commonwealth medal at some point in her career, so we can still expect to see her on the track until 2018 - when the next Commonwealth games take place. Her husband also supports her in these dreams.

“Sometimes I think he wants to go to the Olympic Games more than I do,” she jokes.

Where her history and achievements are concerned, it is just another hurdle on the road of her story in the making.

As a role model, Wenda’s devotion is inspiring and ignites a fire not only in athletic lovers but also in those who cross paths with her to seek a devoted life. Her example in enjoying life and enduring its obstacles (whether it is the death of a parent or the patience to work towards a goal) is a story worth telling. Her message that she would like to convey to others is: “That it is good to have goals and work towards them, but it is not only about achieving those goals.

It is more about the journey towards that goal and how others can benefit from your journey.”

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Destination

A photo expedition of

picturesque Turkey

by Gerda Potgieter

There is something so delightful, so magnificent about Turkey that I would recommend everyone should visit the country at least once in their lifetime. Turkey is exceptionally picturesque and the perfect country where one can capture stunning images while exploring. Members of the Devoted team have had the privilege to visit Turkey more than once and from different perspectives: as tourists to explore the history and many attractions; as Christians interested in the many Biblical sites and to explore the Cradle of Christianity; and as media partners to see how we can tailor-make a travel package that will suit the tastes of our readers. Now we provide yet another opportunity for our readers to explore this magnificent country‌ through the lens of a camera, making memories that will stay with you for a lifetime!

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Destination

History Turkey, also known as the “other Holy Land”, plays a unique role in the Bible and therefore has a rich spiritual heritage.

Amongst others, it is home to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor - also known as the Seven Churches of Revelation and the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (Revelation).

Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor) is also called the Cradle of Christianity. It was here that followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians by their Roman rulers. Early pagan rituals gave way to Christianity, but were later replaced by the Islamic faith of the invading Seljuk’s. Today, Turkey is visited annually by thousands of religious pilgrims from all over the world.

The Apostle Paul, born in Tarsus, travelled through Southern and Western Anatolia three times, preaching and converting thousands of people.

The Seven Churches of Asia are located in western Turkey.

These are the seven major churches of Early Christianity, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation.

“Churches” in this context refers to the community of Christians living in each city, and not merely to the building or buildings in which they gathered for worship. Today, this historic site mostly consists of ruins, which provides the most gorgeous opportunities for stunning photographs.

Highligths Our tailor-made photographic tour will suit the taste of a wide variety of travellers, but definitely photographers – both professional and people who just do it for the fun, but want to learn how to improve. You can explore some of the areas of Apostle Paul’s ministry and discover ancient Biblical sites where you can photograph Turkey’s legendary cities and ruins. You will also have the opportunity to explore the lively markets, from Istanbul to the countryside and capture the colourful hustle and bustle of everyday Turkey life. You will also be able to shoot stunning panoramas and enjoy the beautiful Turkey in its many exciting forms: from day life to nightlife!

If you have a group of 10 or more people in your community or church who want to visit Turkey during August/September this year, let us help you put together a tailor-made tour, specifically for your needs. If you are alone and would like to join a group of like-minded people, you can also contact us.

Devoted has partnered with Photowise and with Global Travel Services in Turkey to ensure that you have a travel experience of a lifetime.

You can call me on 082 896 0955 or e-mail me at: editor@devotedmag.co.za, to discuss details. The price and itinerary of the tour will depend on your individual needs; and once you have contacted us, we will provide you with more details. Also read about our photographic competition on page 1.

Turkey

www.devotedmag.co.za

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Reviews BURIED SECRETS

THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES FOR YOUR FAMILY

THE THREE HEAVENS

Book Synopsis: Every child and teenager (like every adult) expresses and receive love through one of five communication styles, or “Love Languages”. If your love language is different from your child’s or teen’s, you’d better learn to translate - and fast - or you could miss your chance to meet their deepest emotional needs. Find out which one of these languages your child or teenager speaks: Words of Affirmation; Quality time; Physical Touch; Receiving Gifts; and Acts of Service

Book Synopsis: Would it surprise you to know the Bible talks about three different heavens, not just one? Are you curious about the difference between each heaven and exactly what goes on there?

Pastor John Hagee’s much-anticipated sequel to his current New York Times bestseller, Four Blood Moons, details for his multitudes of readers what’s to come at the end of this life— and why it’s time to start thinking about the world that awaits.

Unconditional love is something everyone needs. “The Five Love Languages of Children” and “The Five Love Languages of Teenagers” will help you make your child or teenager feel secure, loved, and more willing and open to interact with you and your family. Learn to fluently speak the love languages of your family members!

This breath-taking, biblical tour of heaven also reveals something people rarely consider: the unseen battle that is fought over us every day.

The Three Heavens clarifies how this timeless clash between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness has influenced world history, among others.

TAKEN

A TRIP AROUND THE SUN

SHADOWS ON THE MOUNTAIN

Book Synopsis: An investigator who knows tragic loss first-hand, and his new client, missing far too long...

Book Synopsis: What happens when we take Jesus at his word when he says, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full?” New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson and his mentor Richard Foth have done just that with their lives--and in A Trip around the Sun, they show readers how they too can experience their life and faith as the ultimate adventure.

Book Synopsis: Caleb and Joshua Roar to Life in this HighImpact Old Testament Saga Two men were brave enough to tell the truth about what awaited the Hebrews in Canaan.

This is their story. From the slave pits of Egypt to the efforts of an eighty-five-year-old Caleb as he drives out the last of the giants, Shadow of the Mountain is a vivid portrait of two of God’s chosen champions, and a meditation on masculine mentorship and the challenges and blessings of growing older. For the sake of his new God and his loyalty to his friend Joshua, Caleb will not spend his twilight years resting, but taking the battle to the enemies of God’s people until his dying breath.

Book Synopsis: They both wanted quieter, safer lives.

But crime never sleeps . . . and killers keep killing.

After years as a Chicago homicide detective, Lisa Grant is ready for the kinder, gentler life of a small-town police chief. But the discovery of a human skeleton by a construction crew at the edge of town taxes department resources. Enter ex-Navy SEAL Mac McGregor, the detective sent by the county to assist on the case. As they work to solve the mystery behind the unmarked grave, danger begins to shadow them. Someone doesn’t want this dead person telling any tales-and will stop at nothing to make certain a lifeshattering secret stays buried.

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time.

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn’t mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they’ll stop at nothing to silence her.

In a fun, storytelling style, Mark and Dick challenge readers to shake off fear, dream big, and quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. The accumulated wisdom from their combined 117 trips around the sun radiates from every heartfelt page, invigorating those of us who have found ourselves stuck in a rut dug by our sense of duty and our fear of the unknown.

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From his early days as a mercenary for Pharaoh in Egypt watching the Hebrews suffer under the yoke of slavery, all the way through a desperate fight with giants in the dark forests of the hill country, this is a story filled with epic battles, gritty intensity, and supernatural events that made Graham’s Lion of War series a hit.

“OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER” MARTIN LUTHER KING

PORNOGRAPHY The challenge every man faces...the From movies and television, to print media and the Internet, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It is impossible to avoid such temptations... but, thankfully, not impossible to confront them and gain victory over them!

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Millions have found Every Man’s Battle the single greatest resource for overcoming the struggle and remaining strong in the face of temptation. With extensive updates for a new generation, this phenomenal bestseller shares the stories of dozens who have escaped the trap of sexual immorality and presents a practical, detailed plan for any man who desires sexual integrity.

emotional bond with another man. You feel like you matter to someone again.

And the door you thought was locked suddenly ajar.

The only way women can survive the intense struggle for sexual integrity is by guarding not just your body, but your mind and heart as well. Every Woman’s Battle can help you learn to do that.

Includes a comprehensive workbook and a special section for women, designed to help them understand and support the men they love.

Porn has become so commonplace, even among Christians, that its use has woven itself into the daily lives of countless men and women, disrupting marriages and short-circuiting believers’ effectiveness for God. Users of pornography know their habit is wrong, but they ask, “What can I do to stop? How do I say no when porn tempts me?”

Author Joe Dallas has worked for more than 25 years with Christian men caught in the porn trap and has

Homosexuality, prostitution, pornography, cults--secret sins rival the glitter of Hollywood for young actor David Kyle Foster. Winning wholesome television roles, his star on the rise, he is relieved to be free from his father’s harshness.

But the desperate loneliness and sexual obsession that characterized his youth now accompany his rise to success--and bondage to a double life seems the only answer. Can Jesus’ love reach one so broken?

the cycle and developing a practical structure anyone can implement to keep himself from the destructiveness of pornography.

Whether you’re grappling with your own darkness or know someone who is, this gripping and inspiring memoir shows you that, no matter how bleak it may seem, there is always hope: God can heal and restore the soul that hungers for love.

FIVE STEPS TO BREAKING FREE FROM PORN DALLAS J 9780736953368

LOVE HUNGER FOSTER D K 9780800795801

www.devotedmag.co.za

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Fair Flair

core values

All About

By Mignionette Fair

God’s way My way

“If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything” (Unknown)

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Isn’t this statement so true? It all comes back to your core values; the values that define who you are as a person. Choosing these values are extremely important, because if you choose the wrong values to build your life on, it will inevitably crumble into a heap of bad decisions.

Pastor Keith Craft from Elevate Life church in Texas says: “When you find out what matters most, you can begin to live a life that most matters.” What is he saying? If you know what your identity is – your core values – you can begin to live a life of impact!

“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” This quote from Roy E. Disney sums it up so nicely. If you know that you are more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens you (Romans 8:37), you will never quit or give up. If you know that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), we will not worry about the future or provision.

If you know that your Bible says that God so loved you that He sent His only Son to die for you (John 3:16), you will never feel unloved or unworthy!

These core values extend to every area of your life – and especially as a young person, you need to make sure that your foundation of values is built on Jesus and His godly principles. Things like not drinking alcohol are a personal choice – but, it becomes a core value when you decide to stop drinking because you rather want to be filled with the

Holy Spirit than “Klippies and cola.” Ephesians 5:18 “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…”

If you decide not to have sex before marriage, that is a personal choice – but, it becomes a core value when you decide to keep yourself for your husband or wife because your body is a temple of God. When you abstain because you want all of God’s blessing on your future union that becomes a core value! 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” A good place to start when choosing your core values is God’s word. I want to encourage you to go and see what the Lord says about you in His word (blessed, precious, saved, children, bride, part of the body, redeemed) and then start building your foundations on the revelation of God’s love for you.

This way, nothing the devil throws your way will ever be able to shake your foundations! Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

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Victorious with Vicki

Rocking

the boat

By Vicki Fourie

Imagine this: You’re Peter, sleeping on a fishing boat in the middle of the night. You know that the Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden storms that whips into a mad fury. Right now – just after 3am – the sea begins to break into high waves. Within seconds, the boat is filled up with water.

You’re going to drown.

Gulp. Help!

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Then you see a ghostlike figure, shaped exactly like Jesus, walking on the sea. “It’s all right,” He says. “I am here! Do not be afraid.”

You want to believe Him. You want to go out there... and walk on the water.

Your faith is small, but it’s great. It’s something.

Before you know it, you’re walking on the water!

But then you look around you again. You start choking on your fear. You start thinking, “Are you kidding me?! I can’t walk on water! I’m only a fisherman! I’m nothing!”

Then you begin to drown.

“Save me, Lord!” you barely whisper. The waves drown out your voice, you can no longer see Jesus.

That familiar, old feeling begins to creep up in your heart. A feeling called doubt.

“Who am I fooling? I don’t have what it takes.”

“You must be joking! I’m not good enough.”

“What if I drown...?”

“Stop being afraid,” Jesus suddenly commands. “Why do you doubt Me..?”

Want to walk on water? Start by rocking the boat. Gently. Back and forth, back and forth.

Gather up the courage to do what you actually want to do. Look your fear right in the face, and tell your storms, “I may be afraid, but I know I can do it. With God on my side, I can face any tumultuous waves in my life.”

Jesus is right there, in the midst of the avenging storm. He will reach out to you when you start to drown, just like He did with Peter thousands of years ago.

Imagine this: Jesus is pulling you up while you’re drowning. He smiles at you and says, “Isn’t it fun to rock the boat sometimes? Courage is not the absence of fear; it is action in the presence of the fear...”* Sources: Eerdman’s Concise Bible Handbook & The Bible (Matthew 14:22-32), *Joyce Meyer, The Confident Woman (‘Courage is not the absence of fear; it is action in the presence of fear.’)

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

Christ-Centred

Counselling for the Community

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37

General

woman!

Man, I feel like a

By Mignionette Fair

There was an interesting article that appeared in Housekeeping Monthly in 1955 called the Good Wife’s Guide.

It’s interesting because it shows a different perspective on being a wife to what we may have become accustomed to

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Some of the points in the article were: 1. Be happy to see him; 2. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him; 3. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time; 4. Don’t greet him with complaints and problems; 5. Don’t ask questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity.

Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

Perhaps a little extreme for a relationship between a husband and wife? But what about our relationship with God? After all, we are his bride. If we look at it in this light, we see that some of these points meant for the “good wife” are actually points to be a “good child” as well.

1. Are you happy to go to church on a Sunday? Or is your face longer than a donkey’s? The Bible says we should “enter His gates with thanksgiving, go into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). We should be as excited as a little child to see their parents when we go to the house of the Lord.

2. Do you make room for the anointing?

Just like the Shunemite woman made room for the prophet Elisha in her house, you should greet the anointing and the presence of God with a warm smile. Make room for it in your life and be sincere in your desire to please God.

3.

This point is tough! Mostly because us ladies LOVE to talk! But when God arrives, it is our time to listen, not talk! Because when God speaks into your life – you need to make sure you listen.

4. Some of you might giggle at this one, because don’t you think we all do this?

“God, why is this happening to me?”

“God, this is too hard!” Yup! We have all been there. We constantly greet God with complaints instead of praise! “I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on my lips.” (Psalm 34:1) 5. Don’t question God! He is the Alpha and Omega; He is the Beginning and the End! And yet, we think we know better than Him. God will never do something that will harm you or tempt you. James 1:13 “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.” God also knows the plans He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

He knew what those plans were before He formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). So all that this tells us, is that God knows best…trust Him! We have the chance to have an amazing relationship with our God, our Saviour and the Lover of our soul, if we apply some of these “extreme” principles. I hope that you can discover your true femininity in Christ and that He will wrap His arms of love around you. Please know that you are special to God and that you are the only woman for Him. He loves you unconditionally, and if you shower Him with your love, you will “drown” in His reciprocal love.

Celebrating

life!

“A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

Devoted magazine is inviting you to join us in a break from the norm. We are breaking away from the rat race and environments pregnant with negativity. We are setting aside time to slow down and to celebrate life and successes. Most importantly, we are taking time to celebrate our accomplishments personally and otherwise.

Why have we decided to celebrate life and our successes?

• To cultivate a positive outlook for ourselves so that we can be happier, more productive and efficient in building the kingdom; • To acknowledge ourselves and all that we have accomplished; • To remind us of our goals and objectives and why we set them in the first place; • To motivate our team and stakeholders to continue delivering good work; • To help us and others to focus on the positive and not the negative; • To help build momentum so that we can move forward with more ease and speed; • To help us connect with those who played a role in our successes.

Devoted, in collaboration with Christian Art Distributors, supports the Stolen campaign. We want to help those whose lives have been stolen by others. For more information, contact the editor on the following email: editor@devotedmag.co.za

Come share with us in the joy of giving and caring.

DATE: Saturday, 16 May 2015.

TIME: 09:30 to 13:00 VENUE: Eduplex School, Queenswood, PRETORIA THEME: “Celebrate life!”

COSTS: R250pp

Meet our gorgeous presenter, Hykie Berg, well-known actor, winner of SURVIVOR Maldives Celebs vs Plebs of 2011 and ambassador of PSARU (People Search and Rescue Unit)

“OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER.” (MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.)

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT

Visit www.devotedmag.co.za for more detail Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/devotedmagazine

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Business

Building your

dream team

To understand the meaning and importance of a dream team, there is this handy acronym: T.E.A.M. – Together Everyone Achieves More.

As every successful entrepreneur knows, human capital is the greatest asset of any business. A dream team makes it possible to accomplish the business’ overall objectives, to be more productive and ultimately more profitable. But more importantly, a great team in place frees the business owner up to concentrate on further growth.

One of the biggest complaints of business owners is that they cannot find qualified, competent help. Entrepreneurs asked to critique their own businesses point out how they could do much more if they only had more capable and enthusiastic employees, who were also invested in the growth of the business.

Business owners complain that their sales team is not professional enough, but often they refuse to provide adequate sales training or attractive incentives. Others think that if their employees would just be more productive and make fewer mistakes, revenues and profits would increase.

However, these same owners have no adequate systems in place to help eliminate human error or maximise efficiency. Then there are business owners who want to control everything and battle to delegate to

their teams. Then they wonder why their staff cannot assume a greater leadership role and shoulder more responsibility? Until business owners acknowledge their accountability to the teams they create, these complaints will continue and employees will remain stifled.

There are four factors that contribute to the success and synergy of a well-rounded team: 1. Unleashing the power of vision Before you place a recruitment advert, clearly define a vision statement for your business, so your team can all play by the same rules. Without one, a business is like a society with no culture. A vision statement serves as a framework and guide for everyone working in the business. It defines acceptable behaviour and forms the central theme or philosophy regarding customer service. It becomes a roadmap for executing every detail of the business, from a specific agreedupon and shared premise.

2. SMART goals Achievement depends on the underlying infrastructure of clearly defined and realistic goals. Goals offer direction to keep the team focused on the mission and vision of the

business. Goals should adhere to the acronym S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented and set within a reasonable Timeframe.

3. Rules of the game and action plans Define boundaries and areas of quantifiable responsibility so that your team knows their unique and specialised roles to prevent unnecessary overlap. Provide an action plan. Give each new employee an appropriate title, a written contract, a detailed job description and line of reporting.

4. Risk taking Business teams are like trees – they are either growing or dying. Without being open to some degree of healthy risk, it’s impossible for a team to flourish and push the limits of creativity and performance.

Putting all this together, plus supporting your team with tools, training, technology and systems, will free you up to operate your business from a distance and concentrate on your next profitable venture.

Fergus Ferguson knows from experience how to build a world-class team and demonstrated it during Burns Night on 11 February. This special occasion was also a celebration of 20 years of the existence of Ferguson Associates; Fergus’ 55th year roaming the terra firma and the event also serves as a kick-off function for the new year’s activities.

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

Website: http://actioncoach.com/fergusferguson

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In Closing

Celebrating our successes Devoted has come a long way and we are grateful to our Father for all He has done for us. We would like to share with our readers what Devoted magazine has achieved so far and hopefully also encourage you to never give up on your dream and your calling. With God, all things are possible.

If you feel called to become involved in this magazine, please feel free to contact us on editor@ devotedmag.co.za

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• We have managed to build a strong team of professional, committed people who share our dream to help people discover life through the gospel. Devoted is packed with useful articles of high quality and we receive many compliments for the content and diversity.

• We have built genuine and meaningful relationships between church members, church leadership and fellow churchgoers.

Over the years we took hands with many churches, among others: Christian Revival Church (CRC); Rhema; Kohen Ministries; Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA); Solid Rock Church; Doxa Deo. We will continue to do so until we have partnered with as many denominations as possible to unite in our love for Jesus Christ!

• Devoted serves as a platform for writers, artists, cartoonists, graphic designers, photographers, etc. to showcase their talents; and it provides an opportunity for church members to share their experiences and skills to produce a world-class Christian lifestyle magazine for the benefit of Christianity as a whole. Our readers have an open invitation to become involved.

• Christians have the opportunity to reveal to others the role and influence God has in their lives by publishing true life experiences and stories that fit the criteria of life-changing interventions. Over the years we have given hope and inspired our readers through uplifting articles about international inspirational people such as Pastor Chris Hill (The Potter’s House), Pastor Ray and Laila Bevan (King’s Church), Nick Vujicic, Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss), Francine Rivers, as well as our own national heroes: Madiba, Pastor Ray McCauley, Pastor At Boshoff (CRC), Pastor Aidan Jeffrey (CRC, Cape Town), Pierre Spies, Hettie Brittz, Hykie Berg, the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr.

Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Tereza TroskieHerbst (Mrs. SA 2000), Natania Botha (Mrs. Queen SA and 1st Princess CANSA 2015).

• Devoted motivates people and organisations to make a positive difference in the lives of others - especially the less fortunate, widows and orphans. It reports on projects, programmes and initiatives that are aimed at improving the lives of others.

• Devoted helps to position businesses/ churches/ministries as market leaders: We help them educate the market, build a

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•

•

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prospective database, and strengthen their relationships with existing markets.

Devoted helps businesses to build their brand and increase brand awareness.

Having a business appear in our magazine, conveys a certain level of professionalism, resulting in respect for our business partners through our loyal readers.

We not only distribute by ways of print copies, we also have a serious online presence. Devoted is available online at the “click of a button”. As a result, we received more than 30 000 hits on our website recently and it is expected to grow even faster. We also distribute the magazine through our comprehensive e-mail database.

Our Facebook page has received more than 400 new “likes” in the past month - which means that we have many new fans supporting us. We plan to run regular competitions to keep our fans informed and to build new relationships.

Devoted is one magazine in many locations; We distribute through various CRC bookshops; the Solid Rock Church; strategic channels such as hairdressers, salons, businesses and Christian events, airports, restaurants, our advertisers; through the powerful Dream Girl SA multi-level platform and online. We currently have an estimated 100 000 readers, and it is still growing.

Over the years we have partnered with a number of high-profile organisations with similar aims and objectives like: Association of Christian Media (ACM); Christian Art Media (CAM); Kingdom Culture and Commerce; People Search and Rescue Unit (PSARU); Stop Bullying Now SA; Freedom of Religion SA (for SA); Feed-a-child; Youth Against Drug Abuse (YADA); Drug Education Agency (DEA); People Upliftment Programme (POPUP); and Action Coach.

Devoted is proud to be the official media partner of the exciting youth mentoring programme, Dream Girl SA. This programme aims to empower our young girls through a mentoring programme built on the following pillars: spiritual, business and entrepreneurship, beauty, style and wellness, and also social responsibility.

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