LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE – MindBodySpirit
Discover real life
Love is a drop of When last were you devoted to something? Corruption
must fall!
When passion meets a dream Just Love Mission
water
#PROJECTWATERDROP Ps Louie Giglio All about Passion!
I SSN2223- 473X
Issue 19
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Ed’s Letter
basics
Getting
back to
Celebrating
A call to unite against corruption In recent weeks, I have been prompted by the Lord about the issue of keeping silent about things that were really troubling me – one of which is the disease called corruption. I have no doubt in my mind that this has enabled me to take a public stance in support of the Unite against Corruption campaign. As a South African citizen, I supported this campaign in my personal and professional capacity. As a parent I would like to see my children, my grandchildren and future generations experience a good quality of life in their country of birth. Therefore, I need to stand up and make it clear that I do not condone corruption and that I will do whatever I can to unite with those around me who also want to rid society thereof.
F
ar too many people paint a picture of doom and gloom, hopelessness and despair around us, but God is looking for people who are prepared to go in and implement a lasting solution. He is fully aware of the situation we are faced with. I would like to see myself as one of His helpers by taking up the challenge of fighting corruption. The above quote should remind us that there is a time for silence, as we mull over issues prayerfully, and there is a time to speak or act. Now is the time to act or as you would say in isiXhosa: “Sekunjalo”! There is no shadow of a doubt that corruption is destroying and dividing the very fabric of our society. We can therefore
no longer turn a blind eye to this social ill that has impacted our economy so negatively, for example with the huge numbers of job losses within the mining industry, civil unrest, escalating food prices and increasing transportation costs. With the gifting bestowed to us from above, my team and I have designed the next few issues of Devoted in such a way that will help us to focus on “going back to basics”, transformational leadership and zero tolerance for corruption. We would like to invite you to join hands with us and take a firm stance against corruption (please also visit the website www. uniteagainstcorruption.co.za). As President Jimmy Carter once said, “I
have one life and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” Let us also use the one life we have been given to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. I would like to sign off with the words of Madiba: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” With Love,
Editor
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From the desk of Angus Buchan
Get back to the
Word of God! I greet you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour… First and foremost I want to thank God for His written Word. The Bible says in John 17:17 (NKJV): “Sanctify them (set them apart) by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
I
have fallen in love with the Bible all over again. When you turn on the news and listen or watch Sky News, CNN, BBC World, all we see day-afterday is absolute chaos, complete destruction, pain and suffering. The leaders of the world do not know what to do and are in a quandary. They don’t know which way to go and the Word of God stands like the Rock of Gibraltar. My dear friend, we really need to get back to basics and get back to the Word of God. You will very rarely, if ever, see a photograph of me without my Bible. I take my Bible with me everywhere I go. That is how much it means to me. The end of last year we returned from the USA where we spoke in five states (Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee) in eight days. Each time I got on the platform, it was God’s Word that gave me the confidence to speak to the very special people in America. I have fallen in love with the American people and I regard them greatly, but they are people who desperately need help. I have realised that people want the Word of God, they want it straight and they want the truth. It is the truth alone that shall set us free. Not man’s idea of the truth, not the Bible rewritten to suit certain lifestyles, no omissions from the Bible to please our conscience, but the Word of God. The Word of God does not condemn, it convicts. The Word of God does not bring fear, it brings life. I want to encourage you, my dear friend, to start spending more time reading God’s Word which has stood for eternity. Jesus Christ told us very distinctly and very clearly that Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will never pass away. We need to get back to what the Bible says about the future and the Bible tells us so clearly in John 16:33 (NKJV): “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” That is great news!
We should know God’s Word, because that is the only thing that will give us confidence to look to the future, because the Bible tells us that if God is for us then no man can stand against us (Romans 8:31, NKJV). Encourage your children, encourage old people and encourage your workers to seek the face of Jesus through the Word of God. Do not listen to just any doctrine… it has to be based on the complete and whole Bible. We need to get back to God’s Holy Word. It needs to be a priority in our homes, our businesses and in every aspect of our lives. So may God bless you as you systematically get back to the Word. It will do away with depression, anxiety and fear in your life. The Word will heal you physically, mentally and spiritually. The Word will be a compass and give you direction. The Word will give you hope, it will be a friend that sticks closer than any brother. Yours in Christ’s service, Angus, Jill and the whole Shalom team. Kindly visit our website for more information about our newly released books, television programmes, radio stations and events: www.angusbuchan.co.za
From the editor:
From now on, Devoted will only use The Bible, With Grassroots reflections by Angus Buchan TM – the New King James Version, when referring to scriptures. The format of this particular Bible was designed to “enhance the vividness and devotional quality of the Holy Scriptures”. It contains 366 faith-filled devotions by author and evangelist, Angus Buchan, Grains of Grace for tough times and a one-year Bible reading plan. It also has significant textual explanations, alternate translations and New Testament citations of Old Testament passages. This Bible was published by Christian Art Publishers and is available at CUM Books stores.
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Sample Text 2015 BLOEM SHOW FEEDBACK, RESULTS & STATISTICS
The 2015 Bloem Show was hosted from 23 April to 2 May. As one of the largest shows in the country, a variety of activities formed part of the 2015 show.
Exhibitors
Exhibitions @ Bloem Show 2015 • 454 exhibitions • 50 food stalls • 2 949 creative handwork and craft entries • Vehicle exhibitions and demonstrations • SEDA and SMME exhibitions • Pet Hall • Outdoor and sport-, Career- and Fashion expo’s
Other Provinces 2.73%
Eastern Cape 4.1%
W Cape 19.95%
Free State 44.54%
KZN 2.73% Gauteng 25.96%
Exhibitors stats: Based on 2015 statistics Agriculture @ Bloem Show 2015 • 4 266 animals (horses, cattle and small stock) • 1 International Championship Other Countries 2.79% Other Provinces 5.97% • 5 National Championships N Cape 6.63% • 17 Regional and Provincial Championships • 154 entries in Dairy Show Free State 38.33% W Cape 13% • Vleissentraal - SA Stud Book Elite Bull growth test class • Veeplaas Auctioneer competition Gauteng 17.37% • 4 x 4 demonstrations of 8 vehicle brands E Cape • Outdoor exhibitions 8.49% • Sheering demonstrations and competitions North West 7.43% • Farm stall exhibition with agri-related wool and meat products Agri participants: Based on 2015 statistics
Agri Participants
Visitors @ Bloem Show 2015 • 113 274 visitors (7% growth from 2014) • Demographic stats of visitors - 54% female, 46% male - 57% adults, 35% children and 8% pensioners - 37% black, 56% white, 7% coloured - 19.24% visitors overnight when staying in Bloemfontein • Estimate economic value of Bloem Show to the city/province: R30 398 250.00
Other Provinces 7% Northern Cape 4% Gauteng 3% Rest of Free State 4%
Visitors Other Countries 1%
Mangaung 81%
Visitors stats: Based on 2014 statistics Entertainment @ Bloem Show 2015 • 12 top national and internationally known artists, including Bobby van Jaarsveld, Nedine Blom, Elvis Blue, Riana Nel, Bok van Blerk, MonArk, Jay and Lianie, Presss, Tsepo Tshola, Lollos, Tjiff and Tjaff. • Computicket Bloem Show Talent Search – 120 participants, 10 finalists and 1 winner • Beauty contests • Fun park exiting rides and special packages • Kiddies entertainment • Ola Fun Walk • Father and son braai competition • KIDchen chef competition • Travel competition to explore the show grounds with R25 000 travel voucher as prize • Sheep shearing, milk sessions and cattle parade a • Vodacom kiddies train and Quad tjoe-choo o.z c . • Oval Track racing w
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28 LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE – MindBodySpirit
Discover real life
Devoted started the Zero Tolerance for Corruption campaign. We join thousands of people, saying: “Enough is enough…”. Read more on pages 18 – 20 and 26 -27
I n t h i s i s s u e
Cover picture: Shutterstock
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Getting back to basics 2 FROM THE DESK OF ANGUS BUCHAN Get back to the Word of God 3 COVER STORY Love is a drop of water 6
“And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.” Exodus 23:8 (NKJV, The Bible with Grassroots reflections by Angus Buchan)
Credits MANAGING EDITOR
THEME Gerda Potgieter When last were you devoted to something? 8 E-mail: editor@devotedmag.co.za ATTITUDE LANGUAGE EDITOR Prayer is a powerful weapon 10 Mignionette Fair
Made for a time like this
22
I am not enough
24
GETTING TO KNOW Louie Giglio, all about passion 12 INSPIRATION Staying arising
14
THE CONVERSATION Corruption must fall
26
ASSISTANT EDITOR Devereaux Morkel CREATIVE AND DESIGN TEAM Annerine Lubbe (Square d’zign studio)
CONTRIBUTORS Angelique du Toit • Angus Buchan Disebo Pesa • Elizabeth Bekker BACK TO BASICS Dr Hanlie Meyer • Janny Djan Let your yes be your yes 16 Fergus Ferguson • Kevin Cousins Lele Khumalo • Mignionette Flair ACTUAL Zero tolerance for corruption 18 Suzette van Huyssteen PRINTERS SA Print Group (Bloemfontein)
OUTREACH SALES AND MARKETING When passion meets a dream 28 Alicia Potgieter • Cell: 074 460 4123 STANDING TALL Transformational leadership
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TEEN TALK My parents are getting a divorce, what now? 32 WELLNESS Boundaries, creating healthy relationships
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E-mail: aliciajorge26@gmail.com sales@devotedmag.co.za WEBSITE DEVELOPER Tony Hendricks
Contact Details Editor: Email: editor@devotedmag.co.za
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR White ribbon warrior
36
BUSINESS Finance for business owners
40
FAIR FLAIR The fruit of the Spirit: Peace
Book your advertising space for the next issue, contact Alicia
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Email: aliciajorge26@gmail.com
Sales:
Content disclaimer: Devoted is published by DeVine Publishers. All rights reserved. While every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of information, the managing editor, Devoted and the publisher cannot accept liability of whatever nature arising out or in connection with the contents of this magazine. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of any of the Devoted team and remains the sole responsibility of the writers.
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Plagiarism disclaimer: It was confirmed by our writers and contributors that no part of the written submissions has been copied from either a book or any other source, including the Internet, except where such sections are clearly shown as quotations and the sources have been correctly identified within the text or in the list of references.
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Cover Story
Love is a drop of
water…
“It does not matter what you do, as long as you do something!” The impact of one person can be powerful… Caroline van Sassen from Middelburg, Mpumalanga demonstrated this when she started with an awareness campaign on social media to inform people of the devastating results of one of the worst droughts South Africa has experienced in over 30 years. She also co-founded Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA) and started encouraging travellers to take water with them to help people who were affected by the drought. Within a week, the Facebook page had more than 8,000 followers and it just grew from there. This selfless act created a ripple-effect and caring people across our country started donating and collecting water for those in need of it. Within eight days, more than 70,000 litres of water was donated and distributed. By end of January it was 7 milliard litres, and it still did not stop there!
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ow rainfall in parts of South Africa caused a severe drought and water scarcity since November 2015. Although the drought affects us all, some areas were more affected than others and millions of people and animals were badly affected by the water shortages. There were – and still are - heart-breaking stories of farmers committing suicide because they could no longer take the helpless pleas from their animals; small businesses going out of business; new and old farmers losing their livelihood and the farms that were part of their families for many years; animals and children going hungry, contracting diseases and dying from the water shortages. The effect of the drought will surely be felt for years to come… However, out of the devastation and hurt came the most heart-warming stories I have ever heard – stories where unison and love are the main ingredients. The WSSA initiative called for the collection of water by selfless people who did not even know the people they were collecting water for. Collection points were set up across the country and people were requested to donate water and deliver it to the collection points. From there it was transported to the affected areas and channelled to the people and animals that needed it the most. The logistics associated with this project are mind-blowing and the selfless acts of kindness even more so… The community outreach started small, but it quickly rippled across the country, uniting caring people who reached out to others. Thousands of
Caroline van Sassen from Middelburg, Mpumalanga, co-founder of Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA)
South Africans united in their empathy for the destitute and they started collecting water from various parts of the country. Jacaranda FM, News 24, Carte Blanche, Cape Talk & Radio 702 were just some of the media partners that created awareness for the level of devastation and asked listeners, viewers and readers to become involved. Animal Care Team (ACT) ensured that people were also informed of the suffering of countless animals. “ACT is a small, but dedicated group of people who - as the acronym suggests - believes in taking action, making a difference and being the change we want to see in this world”, says Michelle Wolmarans (de Lange). “We saw the growing impact of the drought on animal welfare. As education and creating awareness forms an integral part of our mission statement, we felt that the WSSA initiative was the most effective and viable project to team up with and support. This initiative not only creates awareness, informs and educates, but it also builds bridges between complete strangers from all walks of life - people realise they CAN make a difference’. “I was amazed by the resulting tidal wave of goodwill and commitment, to selflessly supply water at no personal gain. An essential requirement for survival and general welfare for man and beast has given and continues to give our nation hope again. For once, we were not focused on ourselves, but focused on the welfare and survival of the greater collective”. (Continued on page 15)
Cover Story
#PROJECTWATERDROP
One of the most successful and heart-warming outreaches during the drought was run by The Complimentary Breakfast team from JacarandaFM. The team heard about the water shortages and decided to do something about it. They partnered with WSSA and Boere in Nood and spearheaded #ProjectWaterDrop.
O
n 22 January 2016, Rian van Heerden told listeners that the greatest need was to transport donated water to the areas that were most affected. The areas that were targeted were isolated from the water distribution points that were implemented by WSSA in the North West areas. Within hours the listeners reacted… they opened their hearts and many people and businesses committed to providing trucks for the delivery so that The Complimentary Breakfast team could help with the distribution of the donated water. Listeners were also asked to drop off water at the Jacaranda studios in Midrand and they asked listeners to keep on sponsoring water as the need was huge. JacarandaFM opened their offices to the public on 22-24 January for people to bring water. The “sea of blue” as it was described on their Facebook page, surprised everybody involved in the project and showed that South Africans could stand together
to make a difference. More than two million litres of water was collected. On January 26, the Complimentary Breakfast team published on Facebook that the convoy would depart from their head office to bring relief to the affected areas that morning. Thirtyseven trucks lined up to be escorted by the Tshwane Metro Police and take the water to where it was most needed. Areas that benefitted from this amazing project were Sannieshof, Delareyville, Vryburg, Mahikeng, Setlagole, Tosca, Pomfret, Swartruggens and Lichtenburg. Devoted would like to give a thumbsup to the wonderful JacarandaFM team and all their supporters. Thank you for showing that you care by taking action and for initiating such an effective outreach project. It is our hope that others will follow their initiative by reaching out to the communities in which they serve - and that they will continue to do so. Together we can show the world that we still are the rainbow nation that cares…
Pictures: Jacaranda FM Facebook page
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Theme
When last were you devoted to something? Being devoted to something implies that you are focused on that particular thing and that you work to achieve its goals. It also implies that you spend a lot of time and energy on something. I hope this article will inspire you to take the first step in making a difference in the lives of others. I hope Devoted can inspire you to help us make a difference in the communities we live in
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D
evotion is all around us in the world, but unfortunately people have become more devoted to things that are not of eternal value. It is easy, very easy, to become so devoted to something that it infringes on one’s relationships with others. We see the result of this culture everywhere around us: Greed, corruption, lack of commitment, lack of devotion, disrespect for others and lack of basic and good manners… It is sad that we, who have been placed on earth to serve others, have lost control of our own lives. We have forgotten the purpose of life. We have forgotten to maintain balance in our lives. And, we are all feeling the pinch of the chaotic world where people have become disconnected from others and where lives have become cheap and meaningless. We are facing the reality of children and women being raped, abused and neglected and we see the devastation where governments practice corruption and nepotism. They only take care of themselves – instead of servicing the communities that they are responsible for. The list goes on and on… Now is the time to remind people that we all have been placed on earth to serve others… That we have to be committed to things that really matter… When we are devoted to a higher cause, our lives are transformed. A higher cause goes hand in hand with commitment, dedication, loyalty and sincerity and we begin orientating our activities toward what we really need to live a balanced, fruitful and unforgettable life. People and circumstances that no longer fit in with this just fall away. Being devoted to something is associated with having a purpose. Having a purpose in life is the difference between making a living and making a life…
The most important reasons why you should have a purpose in life are: • A purpose for your life is the starting point of life: When you have a purpose it is really when conscious living begins. You know what you stand for and what your place in the world is. • You have clarity on the important things versus the unimportant things: Most people are so caught up in a million things that they do not make a difference in life – or in the lives of others. They go through life like rolling stones… • When you have a purpose for your life, you live a life of direction and meaning; and you live a more fulfilled life. • Purpose gives you constant drive and passion: The energy, passion and constant excitement about what you are doing gives you the ability to pursue your life’s purpose. • If you follow a purpose-driven life, you will become more successful and you will enjoy what you are doing.
We feed our readers the
good food…
As a lifestyle magazine with a difference, we provide • Good and informative articles for the body, soul AND spirit • A wealth of information and opportunities for personal growth • A source of information for a fruitful and unforgettable life • Tools to help our readers to cope with everyday issues. We distribute in hard copy and Devoted is also available online (digital on the website). It has an estimated more than 100,000 readers per issue – and it is still growing. If you believe – like us – that life ends the day that we stop talking about the things that REALLY matter, you are invited to join us.
Alone we can make a difference … together we can make an impact. Read Devoted on-line on www.devotedmag.co.za Like us on our Devoted Lifestyle Magazine Facebook page • Write to us at editor@devotedmag.co.za Advertise with us - Email: aliciajorge26@gmail.com Cell: 074 460 4123
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE – MindBodySpirit
Discover real life
Attitude
is a powerful weapon The movie War Room has How do you choose the themes of been a roaring success, mainly your movies? Courageous hit theatres, we rested and because the timing was “After began praying as a team for the next project. excellent. In a falling world, the Pursuing God during a season of prayer between films for a year has consistently power of prayer has become resulted in much clearer direction. It was more relevant as more and during 2012 that God began prompting me with a message of: “Call my people back to more people are desperately prayer!” After researching scriptures and looking for hope. Devoted getting counsel, we began writing the plot for War Room. Powerful scene ideas, truths about is going back to basics this prayer and a mission to teach people to fight year and what better way to their battles in prayer began developing. We grew up in a praying home, attend a praying start than focusing on how to church and have seen God work miracles improve our prayer life? We during the production of every film. Now that War Room is complete and the church is asked the producers of the dealing with so much spiritual attack in the of divided nations, we can see God’s movie, the Kendrick brothers, a midst wisdom because this message is exactly what few questions is needed in the world right now”. What are your hopes for War Room?
“Our hope is that viewers will not only be inspired to go deeper in their prayer life, but that they will develop prayer strategies for their marriages, children, churches and culture. When you realise how powerful prayer can be, your desire to pray will increase. God reminds us in Jeremiah 29:13 that: ‘If you seek me, you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart’. We need to be seeking God in prayer and in the Word more than ever!”
What is the most important message of War Room?
What God did with marriages through Fireproof and with fatherhood through Courageous, we hope He will do regarding strategic prayer through War Room. We believe the tag-line... Prayer is a powerful weapon. We know that it truly works and is so needed right now. There is so much division, hurt and hopelessness in our cities and nation. The world continues to turn away and reject
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God, the One they need to be seeking more than ever. Both the New Testament church and our country were founded by people of prayer. But history also shows us that married couples and families who pray together are exponentially stronger. Everything can change in someone’s life when they genuinely connect with God and begin to encounter Him personally through answered prayer. There is no issue or problem in our homes, families or nation that prayer cannot address if we learn to approach God the right way and ask in faith”.
How can filmmakers show viewers how to live for God while they deal with everyday situations?
“People have always been drawn to engaging stories. Jesus used them to make powerful points about truth, love and the kingdom of heaven. Just as Jesus used parables to present truth, we’re using visual parables in the form of motion pictures to tell relatable, engaging stories. Sometimes that’s more powerful than a sermon. But we’d never want to dismiss the preaching of God’s Word. That’s still a very effective way to share the Gospel”.
Why do you think Christian movies are so important; and why is there a market for it? “Followers of Jesus used to be among the greatest artists, musicians and writers in the world. But somewhere along the way we decided to just put a ‘Christian spin’ on whatever the world was doing. But we’ve realised that we took a backseat to powerful and creative expression and are now starting to reclaim much of that influence. So, yes, we came late to the party in recent decades when mastering new forms of media for the advancement of the Gospel. But we’re seeing a growing level of excellence in film, music and writing that is very exciting to see”.
Attitude WAR ROOM War Room centres on the power of prayer.
How should we pray?
“When it comes to having an effective prayer time, you should always begin by reading the Word of God”, says the Kendrick brothers. “When you begin to pray, we recommend using the ACTS method”. “We start our prayer time with adoration — loving and worshipping God, adoring Him for who He is. Next is confession. If there is something you need to get right with God then confess it, ask Him to forgive you and commit to not repeating the same mistakes. Thanksgiving is when you take time to reflect on all that God has done for you and you respond by showing your thankfulness. Supplication is when you present your requests to the Lord”.
See more details in Bernina@Atterbury 012 753 0082/ 083 964 4335
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Getting to Know
Louie Giglio: All about passion
By Gerda Potgieter (Research by Elizabeth Bekker)
Devoted recently had the honour to meet Pastor Louie Giglio during his visit to South Africa to promote his latest book and Passion tour to South Africa. His work through the Passion Movement has already changed the lives of millions of people and continues to do so. He is not only the founder of the movement, but a talented author, speaker and his passion for the Lord – and for people - is contagious!
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ntroducing such a talented preacher is not easy, and his achievements and successes speak for themselves. Pastor Louie Giglio was born on June 30 in 1958. He graduated from the Georgia State University, thereafter, he went on to pursue further studies and earned a Master of Divinity from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2009, Pastor Louie and his wife, Shelley, founded the Passion City Church (PCC) in Atlanta and as they say – the rest is history! Pastor Louie is not only in charge of several thousand people in his congregation, but in 1997 he began the Passion Conference among college students and reached millions of students in the process. This movement is known for their annual gatherings focused on youth. One of the main focal points is to create a unity between Christians and spiritual revival among them. The idea is for them to get the youth in accord with the Word of God and to prepare young people for the life and destiny God has in store for them. Through his preaching he encourages them to build strong Biblical foundations and morality. He brings hope to people in a fallen world through his preaching and the impact he has by influencing minds and changing hearts has been tremendous. “At the heart of it all, Passion exists to see a generation stake their lives on what matters most”, says Pastor Louie. The Passion movement is also in charge of sixstepsrecords - a record label company that is home to a number of famous artists. Pastor Louie is the author of several books and in his most recent book, The Comeback, he explores the inspirational stories of men and women who have gone through hardships and come out through the grace of God. “These stories
teach us that no matter what we might be walking through, we can still have confidence that Jesus is the God of the comeback and our story is not over as long as He’s in it.” Probably two of his most famous talks – and the ones that made me fall in love with his preaching - are Indescribable and How great is our God. It contains a specific clip of the Laminin molecule, which is described as a protein that holds the body together, and its rise to fame is that it is in the shape of a cross. This specific clip has been viewed more than 3 million times on YouTube! His talks, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made and New Life, New Genes (available on DVD) have forever changed my life and what stayed with me was the truth that it does not matter how good or bad we think we are… What really matters is whether (or not) our souls have come to eternal life through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Every time I listen to these messages, I discover something new that speaks to me... and for me, that is what distinguishes an outstanding preacher from the rest. Pastor Louie is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in - even if others think the topic is controversial. He also does not shy away from defending his position on controversial matters against influential people in powerful positions - something that the president of the mightiest of nations had to find out. It is his passion for people that drove him to become involved in the fight against human trafficking; something Devoted is also passionate about. Pastor Louie speaks out against all forms of modern slavery and he gets actively involved in social ills. “Slavery still exists. We want every man, woman and child to know that there are 27 million men, women
Getting to Know and children, just like them, living in the shadows, working as slaves, in 161 countries, including our own.” This man takes challenges in strides and rises above them, making him stronger and more influential than ever. The fruit in his life and the impact he makes, makes him stand out above the rest. He deserves to be respected and valued for his work.
Pastor Louie Giglio in five seconds… • He founded both the Passion City Church in Atlanta and the Passion Movement; • He has written over 46 books; • In collaboration with his congregation, he has donated millions of dollars and is actively involved in fighting human trafficking; • He founded sixstepsrecords, a record label that is home to famous artists; • The Passion tour to South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town) in February was a roaring success.
One of the Devoted team members, Jacques Theron (founder of Random Moments of Faith) attended the Passion event at Loftus, Pretoria, representing the magazine. Jacques reported that it was a life-changing experience – an evening that he will remember for the longest of times. “Conferences and events like Passion does something amazing, It makes the world stand still and we allow God to immerse Himself completely in our everyday life and problems. This happens because our faith is no longer just something we express on a Sunday in our various churches but we unite as one city, one nation, one family believing that God can be the change that makes our world the place we want it to be. Seeing 40 000 people on their knees on a Friday night, shows the power of the passion team, readjusting our Focus back to Jesus. I know that if we as a city and a country can stay on our knees in 2016, we are in for awe inspiring Miracles that will dwarf our problems”.
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Inspiration
Staying
arising By Disebo Pesa
Phuti Chelopo is a dynamic lady who inspires me a lot. She has discovered the vision for her life and is faithfully pursuing it. Phuti is in the will of God. She works at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a scientist and she is constantly asked to provide practical experiments and inspire school learners who go to the CSIR for their study tours. We captured her touching testimony:
What are the strong pillars that hold you?
“My career aspirations kept evolving depending on whom I met or who inspired me at that time. I have had the desire to be successful for a long time, but I had this idea that being successful meant making it on TV. That was the measure of success I had as a young person and thought I would have to do whatever it takes to make it there. I learned to be realistic when in grade 10-12. I came to appreciate my passion for science and I was excelling in biology. I admired great scientists, but never thought at that time that I would ever get close to what they have achieved. I attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and did a three year biochemistry degree. In my very first semester I developed a greater vision for my life when I chose to have a relationship with Jesus. I realised that He has a special purpose for me. It may not be for me to be famous, yet His plans were to prosper me’. “I managed to finish my degree in the set time without failing a module and my grades allowed me to proceed with a post-graduate degree. I discovered how scientific research fascinated me. That was when I realised that I was on a path toward great discoveries as those ancient scientists I admired. I finished both my Honours and Master’s Degree at UKZN. Coming from a disadvantaged background, you are expected to strive to support your family after your first degree. However, I had the most supportive mother, she did not pressurise me when I decided to go for my PhD degree. Making it to the CSIR was a heavenly sent gift to me. I met very inspiring young scientists who made me feel right at home. My calling was scientific research”.
Please share some of the lessons you have learned in life so far
“All these events in my life made me realise that God has a plan for each of us and we should wake up every day, push and try. I am almost at the end of my PhD and it’s only Him that has kept me here. I have learned that it makes you a winner to have the courage to do what you feel strongly about, even when the odds seem against you. It is always difficult
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at the beginning, but the first step is very significant’. “Another important lesson I learned was to make use of every opportunity that comes my way. I learned to keep my eyes open; to try and be a better person; and to learn new skills. One of my most recent achievements was applying for an international training programme. I was accepted into this great programme at one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Novartis in Switzerland. This experience made me more passionate about healthcare and ensured that I work hard to see patients live better lives through medicines that I can help develop. I learned from a great leader to use every opportunity, even if it means putting your foot into an almost closed door… Eventually, you may have your full body in. That may change your life completely”.
Please share your greatest motivator
“I love Oprah Winfrey: her success, spirituality and desire to help people speak great volumes to me. I aspire to be in a position to inspire and help people without limits. My supervisor is a brilliant lady in my circle. She is young, yet already an associate professor. I love her energy. She is very driven, smart and determined. She pushed me to do better in my current research. I also admire Boitumelo Semete who was groomed at the CSIR. I have noticed her humility and great accomplishments. I have also noticed her great influence on science that has led to her being one of the great leaders at the CSIR. She is amazing’. “I believe faith in God’s plan for your life is the essence of it all. This is ensuring that you completely surrender it all, knowing that nothing good lies in your flesh, but Jesus has overcome it all. It also has to do with the belief and desire to see yourself grow every single day, be willing to learn new things daily. Attend women’s conferences. Take a short course and go to training seminars. My secret is hard work, doing my best, not wasting time, and devotion to God. There is so much to life and people need to embrace this beautiful gift given to us. Although I did not grasp this at the beginning, I now realise the need to have a clear vision for my life and where I aspire to be. Shoot for the moon; you may end up between the stars”.
Sample Text
Love is a drop of
water…
T
he real heroes of the outreach were those who worked endless hours behind the scenes to make sure the objectives are met. These people, too many to mention, created a snowball effect of love and kindness with an idea they deeply and lovingly believed in. While most people only talked about the drought and how it would eventually affect them, these volunteers were passionate enough about the well-being of total strangers to make a difference. These are there stories, as told by photos and some of the volunteers. “What an amazing experience! I was on Facebook while lying in bed on 4 January 2016 when I saw that Caroline had started the Facebook group for WSSA. It was heartbreaking to know that there were people and animals without water. I realised that I was far from these areas, but that I could do something. I phoned Caroline the next morning and asked her what I could do to help. I realised that I could be one of the drop off points in the North West (Brits)’. “The community in Brits/Hartbeespoort started to donate water. In the beginning it was only a few bottles, but after our first week, the water was just coming and coming. Our community joined hands and helped people in need’. “A sad, but also great, moment for
Jorina Cohen
me was to see the children running and jumping to get to the water and how grateful they were. It was sad because children are normally excited about something like toy … but these children were excited about water! It was a humbling experience to be part of the amazing team at WSSA. This was an experience I would always carry with me.” Jorina Cohen “My childhood dream was to become a fireman. In 1981 this dream became a reality and I spent 33 years in the fire service. While in the service I felt the urge to get involved where I could make a positive difference in someone’s life without them expecting something in return. When the WSSA project came to my attention, I thought: “Here is the opportunity to fulfil that urge.” I have not regretted that I put my weight behind this project (for as long as it takes) for one minute.” - Deon Smit “It has always been my passion to help the needy and I have been involved in numerous causes. Water is life. Without it, many give up hope. I chose not to give up, but instead get involve with WSSA to assist and dedicate myself to those in need of water… The blessing so many of us take for granted. Understanding the implications the harsh drought had on the areas most
Deon Smit
affected, I decided to devote my time to helping those in need. I was saddened by every plea from a resident in these areas, but it brings me great pleasure and peace of mind knowing that I have been able to help. I do not take any recognition for what I put in, as this is not about me… Somewhere out there, there was someone and animals without water’! “They say you can change the world with one random act of kindness at a time. I joined WSSA because I felt that God called me to help those in need of water. I firmly believe that no human or animal should ever have to go without the basic necessities and seeing pictures of little children drinking out of dirty troughs, cattle in mass graves and reading about a young farmer who took his life because of the drought broke me. I said to God, “Here I am” and He showed me where He needed me to go. I don’t think I can change the world, but I can change my country with one random act of kindness at a time. Water is life, but so is God.” - Magda JansenSchenck.
You can read more about this wonderful project and find out how you can get involved on www.water-shortage.co.za.
Magda Jansen-schenk
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Back to Basics
Yes
Let your be your By Mignionette Fair
When we were younger, we had the bad habit of saying: “I swear/ promise it’s true.” My mom had the good habit of reminding us what Jesus said about this in Matthew 5:33-37: “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
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e have probably all done it… Your presentation at work is late and you say, “I swear/ promise I will have it to you by the end of the day.” Or you ask someone, “Promise/swear you will do it?” Jesus said that any embellishment next to your yes or no probably means it is a lie. Sometimes it is difficult not to swear or make a promise… After all, you want people to believe you when you say something. But let me ask you which is better: To swear or promise you will do something in 24 hours and then do it in 48 hours (or never) OR to say you will do something in 48 hours and do it in 24 hours? This is a trap that business people fall into regularly. In Proverbs 20:25 the Bible says: “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.” Or in other words, not counting the cost before speaking (Luke 14:28). The Bible also says in Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.” I have learned to
rather not to say anything than to make a promise I cannot keep. Even in my relationship with God, I have learnt not to make empty promises, but rather to be honest with God about what I can do.
“It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Let this also be true in your relationship with God: “This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him.” I want to encourage you to be a person whose word means something. In 2016, if you say ‘Yes’ to something… do it! And if you say ‘No’ to something… don’t do it! May we be people, in our daily lives, in our businesses and in our families that respect God and people by keeping our word.
Actual
Zero tolerance for corruption By Suzette van Huyssteen
Pictures courtesy John from Expose It and Zach Steward
A corrupt person behaves in a way that is immorally wrong, especially by doing dishonest and illegal things in return for either money or power. Corruption has become somewhat of a norm in our country. But, it is also clear that people have had enough of this culture that is not only impacting negatively on our country’s resources, but also stealing the future of our children and their children. It is clear that people are saying, “Enough is enough, we are no longer going to tolerate this”. Devoted also believes what Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”
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hrough the anti-corruption marches that took place late 2015 in some of South Africa’s main cities; it became quite clear that the people of South Africa have no more tolerance for corruption. Several thousand people joined the marches in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to protest corruption on all levels. More than 350 civic rights groups, religious organisations and labour unions backed the demonstrations. The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) was one of the key unions in organising a mass anti-corruption march demanding corruption to stop. Thousands of people marched through the CBDs holding placards calling for government to be held accountable. According to the nation’s Auditor-General, state entities wasted R1.17 billion through the year and incurred R33.6 billion in irregular expenditure. Protesters demanded that the political party funding be made transparent, that the Auditor-General conduct regular lifestyle audits of senior public officials, that public servants wear name tags when on duty and that anticorruption laws be strengthened. Senior church leaders from a broad spectrum of South Africa’s churches called on Christians to join the Unite Against Corruption marches. Reverend Moss Ntlha, one of the leaders and General Secretary
of The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa, said the marches represented the people of South Africa taking responsibility for themselves and for what is going on in the country.
“Nowadays people have simply abandoned hope as they feel powerless to change anything. We believe ordinary citizens need to take responsibility again to make sure that corruption ends in every sphere of society. This includes churches, civil society, businesses, the government and homes where men abuse their power against women and children. This is a comprehensive call. Every person who marches is doing an act of repentance and is calling others to repent.” To fully understand what the corruption marches were all about, one first needs to understand what exactly corruption is. According to the dictionary, corruption is
Actual dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. Nepotism, the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs, goes hand in hand with the corruption monster in our country. The antonym of corruption is honesty. If you want to change the world and in this case your country, you should start with yourself, looking at your own integrity and living an ethical life. As Mother Teresa said, “If everyone only cleaned their own doorstep, the whole world would be clean”. You must be the change you want to see in the world. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. In Romans 12:2 God says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”. We should meditate daily on God’s word and love and in prayer make all our hearts desires known to Him. In essence we can fight corruption in our country through prayer. We can pray that God will break the strongholds on our leaders’ hearts and set them free from their enslavement to corruption. “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19) 2 Peter 1:4 also says, “By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” We should live a life that is pleasing to God and build our characteristics to be more like Jesus. You should be the person you want your leaders and fellow South Africans to be. Pray that God will expose corruption in your own life. For example: Is your yearly tax returns filed honestly; do you pay the traffic ticket instead of bribing the officer; or if somebody gives you too much change, do you return it? Pray that God will show you the way to get in line with His will for your life. By living according to God’s ethical standards, you will enjoy peace within your heart..
THERE IS HOPE
God can heal our land: “That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). In God we will find our peace as He has already overcome the world as seen in John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We should never lose hope for our country or give up the fight as God is in control and we should trust Him with the finest detail of our lives.
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Actual “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” (Martin Luther King Jr.) A recent survey conducted by Ipsos revealed that President Zuma is currently South Africa’s least favourite government leader, and that corruption is the biggest concern. Devoted looks at how a few people and institutions expressed their concerns about the current level of corruption. These views will forever be documented “… (people) of questionable moral and ethical character (are) running the country. We have become a society in which obscene and unbridled opulence exists alongside deliberating poverty and deprivation; a society that relentlessly promotes a culture of untrammelled greed and conspicuous consumption above the public and common good; a culture that judges one’s worth by the amount of personal wealth amassed.“ (Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Rhodes University) “Public protector Thuli Madonsela has delivered a searing indictment of the Zuma administration in three damning reports that expose gross misconduct, deceit, unlawful acts and outright corruption at the highest level of government.” (Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2013/12/01/threedamning-reports-expose-zuma-s-sinking-ship-of-corruption) “From the very beginning, Zuma’s presidency was destined to corrupt the soul of the country. The dramas that unfolded during his court trials and after his acquittal have been burned into our collective consciousness. Among these, members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, who abandoned pupils in the middle of examinations in order to join Zuma’s supporters at his trial, scenes of aggressive protest against the young woman who accused Zuma of rape; the extraordinary admission by Zuma inside the courtroom that he had had unprotected sex and took a shower to minimise the risk of HIV infection, and Julius Malema leading the crowds of Zuma’s supporters and threatening to “kill for Zuma” if he were not acquitted. These were disturbing images and, in my view, laid the foundation for what Zuma has called the “moral decay” that has gripped our country”. (Source: http://mg.co.za/article/2013-05-24-00-zuma-hascorrupted-the-soul-of-sa) “Zuma has faced significant legal challenges. He was charged with rape in 2005, but was acquitted. In addition, he fought a long legal battle over allegations of racketeering and corruption, resulting from his financial advisor Schabir Shaik’s conviction for corruption and fraud. On 6 April 2009, the National Prosecuting Authority decided to drop the charges, citing political interference”. (Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma) ALSO READ THE CONVERSATION ON PAGES 26 AND 27
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Attitude
Made for a
Time
like this By Johan Terblanche
Mordecai wrote to Esther: “Maybe it was for a time like this that you were made queen!” (Esther 4:14) I have often heard people say: “Things are not the way they used to be” or, “Look at the world, see what’s going on today” and, “I don’t know why I’m here”.
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B
ut, perhaps you (and I) were made for a time like this. Some might say: “But Esther was queen”. Yes this is true, but you are also royalty, you are destined to reign in Christ, destined to be a ruler over your situations and circumstances. Yes, you too were made for a time like this. A young girl might say: “I’m only 18 years old”. This means God planned for you to be here 18 years ago. The old man sighs: “Well… I’m 80 years old already”. God planned for you to be here too. “I can’t speak” or, “I have no influence” or “I can’t make a difference”. If this is what you think, you’re wrong. Through Christ, you can do all things. When we look around us, we see the poor begging for bread, the lonely old man sitting on a porch, the child wearing a thin short sleeve shirt in the midst of winter, the pregnant girl – barely 13, and the mother crying after being assaulted and abused once again. We see the world at war, in economic turmoil and political uncertainty. Corruption is rife, thieves are walking the streets and bigger thieves are sitting in parliaments around the world. Some murderers find themselves in prison, while others rule countries. More murderers (of unborn children) are paid huge wages in
clinics and hospitals and are even given fancy titles.
So, what can we do? Where do we begin? • • • •
Love one another - John 15:17 Respect one another - Romans 12:10 Pray for one another - James 5:16 Preach the good news of Jesus Christ Mark 16:15 • When you have a feast... Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind Luke 14:13 • Look after the widows and orphans John 1:27 • Do not become tired of doing good Galatians 6:9
You were made for a time like this. You were made to make a difference. Not to be seen, not to be admired, not to be taken note of, but for Jesus Christ to be seen, for His goodness to be revealed in this world. No, we do not do good for the sake of or in memory of a man, but we do it because of Christ, who lives in us. And, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin (James 4:17).
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Attitude
I am not
enough By Lele Khumalo
There are so many ways in which we tend to belittle ourselves and too often we listen to the voice of the enemy
G
od clearly tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Him. We often condemn ourselves by focusing on everything we are not, instead of focusing on the Creator who can use His power to work through us for Him. He tells us that we can do anything through Him and that He will always be there. It clearly says in the Bible that we are made in the image of the Almighty. Therefore, I am strong, I am bold, I am righteous, I am merciful, I am everything He is and I can do everything He says I can. At one point or another we tend to
feel beaten and broken in one way or another, just as Jesus felt when He was on the cross. Jesus first had to be broken down and battered to reach perfection. Obviously Jesus never did it alone; He had God right there with Him. His suffering was not in vain, everything He went through contributed to Him reaching perfection. He would not be perfect if He never endured any of those struggles. What a lot of people do not realise is that when God looks at each and every one of us, He sees Jesus. The blood of Jesus redeems you and therefore you are more than enough!
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DEVOTED SUPPORTS TEAM CHRIS, YOU CAN TOO!!! CONTACTS: Chris Liebenberg - 083 396 0115 • Chris Batts - 072 026 7862 Facebook: TeamChris • Twitter:@TeamChris08
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The conversation
Corruption must The Conversation, initiated by Random Moments of Faith, is a collaboration between Devoted and this faith-based website and Facebook that aims to inspire people to express their views on things that matter. We print the views below because we want to allow people to share their views on matters and issues that affect us all. Please note that all views published here are of the writers themselves and are not necessary the same as any of the parties involved. The topic at hand is corruption and how it impacts us. The question that was asked: “Is South Africa currently experiencing a corruption challenge and how does it affect us?” Let’s take a look at some of the responses:
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fall! Nozi Kubekha, Author and Motivational Speaker – Let us not keep quiet
“As citizens we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the problem of corruption in our country. As parents we need to think about the future of our children, because corruption destroys everything that we and those who have gone before us worked so hard to build, our country we are all proud to belong to. There is a lot of unhappiness among ordinary citizens about what is going on, but the question is: what about those in leadership positions? Those who are not corrupt know who is corrupt… so why keep quiet? My view is that it is difficult for anyone who has benefitted from corruption to speak against it, because those who know how they got there will expose them. That is why values such as Ubuntu and integrity are so important in leadership. A leader who lacks these values cannot speak and act decisively against corruption, because they are compromised. My plea to ordinary citizens is, let us not keep quiet, let us fight this menace like we fought apartheid. Let us go on our knees and pray to God to heal our land by bringing leaders who are capable and want to build our communities. To the precious youth of this wonderful country, continue to speak with one voice against corruption in any form, because your very future hangs in the balance if you do not. As a parent, my heart bleeds… what will the future of this country look like after all the looting of taxpayer’s money and other resources of this country is carried out to the maximum? But, do not let my words depress you, but rather let it stir a holy anger inside of you to do something to destroy corruption. One thing we can and must all do is to pray and pray, because God will hear and fight on our behalf.”
Johan de Meyer, Leader of #unfenceSA – A white life lesson
“One thing I have learnt over the years is that the other side of the coin looks very different from what I imagined it would. Every story has another side to it. But it is human nature to pre-empt; to imagine what we think the other side of the story is or should be and then decide that, since we have an idea of what it is, there is no need to engage with it. So what is the other side of the anticorruption coin? I am learning that whites have a very particular view of what corruption entails. We tend to focus on financial issues and prefer to single out guilty individuals, not collectives or systems. So we walk into meetings with black friends or co-workers and completely do not get why they call us racists for saying #zumamustfall. For the record, I agree that we should hold the guilty accountable. But my friends challenged me to ask how I could justify focusing on the misdeeds of my black president, while ignoring the way my lifestyle and economic beliefs were contributing to poverty in our nation. Is it not also corrupt to worsen poverty, unemployment, racism, inequality and prejudice? This is backed up by research – most whites no longer believe that apartheid was an evil system and an even larger percentage (70%) believe that apartheid did not cause poverty. Was apartheid not the epitome of a corrupt system? Do we not live with its legacy every single day? Why is it so hard to grasp that the riches of a few – myself included – is built on the poverty of the many? It is indeed not helpful to focus on the guilt of an individual without facing and dismantling the other kinds of corruption in me and around me. The fight against corruption is, as Archbishop Thabo Makgoba rightly said, a
The conversation fight for the soul of our nation. Perhaps it is also a fight for the soul of the Gospel. Jesus called the Gospel the good news to the poor. Perhaps He meant that anything that is bad news for the poor is a corrupt, rotten version of what He died for. Perhaps this is the side of the coin I struggle to see.”
Tommy Roux, Businessman - Stop corruption
“Corruption is dishonest action that destroys people’s lives. It is responsible for various negative impacts of our country, such as a lack of accountability, economic growth, human development, press freedom, global competitiveness etc. Institutions perceived to be most affected by corruption are the police, political parties, parliament and legislature. South Africa has a robust anti-corruption structure, but laws are inadequately enforced. The legislation is in place, but corruption cannot be defeated until
perpetrators face more substantial consequences. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index lists South Africa as 67th. In 2009, South Africa was 55th on the list and 34th in 2000. It seems that we are on our way to 50%! The late president, Nelson Mandela, was a man of integrity and understood the importance of the constitutional principles of accountability. He demonstrated the courage of his convictions by submitting himself before the courts when summoned to defend his decision to set up a commission to investigate alleged racism, corruption and nepotism in South African rugby. It is sad to see how far some in the ruling elite have strayed from the example set by this great man. There is evidence that the heart of the problem lies in the lack of accountability. Corruption Watch states that this problem starts with the president and while there are various efforts by the government to tackle corruption, ‘these actions were countered by the continuing impunity on the part of those who were politically and financially powerful’. It is not surprising that research supports the argument that corruption committed by politicians and government officials is driving negative public perceptions
of corruption in South Africa. As a result, citizens are less trusting of their national leaders. There are evidence that two forms of corruption that are particularly dominant in South Africa is “tenderpreneurism”, and BEE fronting. We can no longer afford to sit back and accept all the wrong doings from government, happening right in front of our eyes, on a daily basis. What can we do to stand against corruption? South Africans need to demonstrate that they will not participate in corruption. Small-scale corruption has a direct bearing on people’s livelihoods and their ability to access goods and services. NO form of corruption or bribery should be tolerated. South Africa needs to turn back to God and pray, pray, pray for our country. Nothing is impossible with God!” Note from the editor: Please join the conversation. I want to encourage our readers to share their views on the topic of corruption in South Africa. Our next topic is “racism”. You can also write about that. 200 words or more will be considered for publication. We reserve editorial discretion to decide what will be published. Write to: editor@ devotedmag.co.za
The conversation Collaboration between Random Moments of Faith and Devoted
There is a time for silence, and there is a time to speak or act. Now is the time to speak out and act - or as you would say in isiXhosa: “Sekunjalo”! We can no longer turn a blind eye to the social ills that has impacted so negatively on our country and its people. We invite you to join the conversation LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE – MindBodySpirit
Discover real life
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” - Martin Luther King Jr. -
Website: www.rmof.org.za Facebook: RANDOM MOMENTS OF FAITH Email: Jacques@rmof.org.za Website: www.devotedmag.co.za Facebook: Devotedmag Email: editor@devotedmag.co.za Follow The Conversation on the website: http://rmof.org.za Learn more about Devoted on: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCD0qUCw9M
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Outreach
When passion meets
a dream
Sharing might be caring, but it is only love that takes us to the sky. Devoted believes that you can use any platform to do God’s work and you can use any opportunity to share His love. The God-given talents and gifts we’ve received should be put to good work so that we can advance the kingdom and help develop communities for His glory. Mark and Sophia Hill are excellent examples of a couple that, together with their family, reach out to vulnerable children by taking them to the sky so they can enjoy unconditional love. This is their story told by Elizabeth Bekker 28
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hen passion meets a dream, something spectacular happens - a vision is born. That is the case with Just Love Mission, born out of one man’s love for aviation and the desire to change the world. Although it is a charity, it is solely based on the need of communities. It is a non-racial, a-political, a-religious and non-sexist outreach programme that is focused on vulnerable children. It isn’t an obligation that drives this charity, but the most powerful force - love. Commitment and responsibility can only take you so far, however, a true and basic love for something will take you all the way. The founder of Just Love Mission saw the need in the world, the desolate places afflicted by famine, drought, diseases, floods, pestilence, conflicts and accidents. He saw the need of the less fortunate and decided to do something about it. And with this in mind, Little Annie was introduced. The man behind this initiative is a seasoned pilot by the name of Mark Hill. With more than 35 years of experience, he certainly knows what he is doing. He was born with a passion for aviation and has been surrounded by aviation his entire life. His father was in The South African Air Force (SAAF) and flew professionally, as well as privately. Mark’s wife and children now support him so that he can live this passion of his.
LITTLE ANNIE
Little Annie is more than just a small aircraft; it is a persona, a character and a story that
influences thousands of lives worldwide. The project was officially launched on 10 May 2014. Little Annie is a small aircraft with the technical name of Antonov AN-2 and was donated to the mission. The idea was formed in 2002 and another aviation enthusiast Gary Price suggested the AN-2 as the perfect aircraft. However, it would be another nine years before a personal friend discussed the idea with his business associate that the dream finally became a reality in 2011. Nonetheless, there was a condition. Little Annie had to take part in the Ocean to Ocean theme and be flown from Siberia to Cape Town. This amazing venture took two and a half months to complete. Little Annie consumed 19 500 litres of fuel, 470 litres of oil and a total distance of 17 180km. Just Love Mission truly is a cut above many charities and organisations. It was born out of love… a love for people… a love for aviation… a love that wants to change the world. The passionate founder wants to bring hope to those without hope and be the example and living evidence that people are capable of overcoming their circumstances and rise above their tribulations. The mission provides relevant regions with humanitarian services and gives countless people and children an opportunity to fly in Little Annie. Most of these people hardly know about aviation and airplanes and this is the perfect opportunity to show them the big world out there. They are also given a certificate of the event, something they can treasure.
Outreach The Just Love Mission is purposedriven, with a clear outreach model which includes tangible aid; enrichment; and encouragement with the use of short presentations and role models who overcame similar backgrounds and obstacles. Within their strategy, their motto is to treat others as they would like to be treated to see a difference in the world. Their mission statement is to change people’s lives positively, through neighbourly love (Ubuntu). An Antonov AN-2 aircraft (Little Annie) was donated out of love and flown all the way from Russia (Siberia) to South Africa for this specific purpose. “We will use Little Annie as a lively and vibrant personality (based on the original comic strip and subsequent musical Annie) in the form of an aircraft, to rekindle hope in the hopeless and to spur a desire in others to give according to their gifts” says Mark. “The concept of a ‘living aircraft’ is uniquely attractive and has the potential to captivate the imagination through exciting adventures, as people meet Little Annie and see how she lives out her attitude of ‘care-2-share’
and ‘believe the impossible’. She provides much needed humanitarian aid and an opportunity to give flight to those who did not believe they would ever know the joy of flight. “It is indeed Little Annie’s mission, through media coverage and social media, to become a household name with a significant following. She will thus be instrumental in building productive relationships between sponsors and communities through the medium of aviation. Through hard work, infused with ample humour and using this tangible conduit, through which sustainable social and economic environments are created, we believe that Just Love Mission provides a winning recipe to see people uplifted, the environment protected and a positive attitude promoted among both volunteers and communities.” Little Annie might be a small aircraft, but she has a huge heart! The footprints – or sky prints – are some of the biggest out there with a legacy that has the potential to be legendary.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Devoted fully supports this exciting programme that is solely focused on making a difference by going back to basics: loving each other. We helped to secure an outreach in Stellenbosch over the festive season and the feedback was just tremendous. A few vulnerable children could forget about their hardships for a day, but they will forever talk about the experience! We want to humbly ask our readers and business partners to come on board with this wonderful initiative. We need your help and financial contributions to keep on making children happy in this way and to share the love with them. For more information on this exciting outreach programme, please visit their website, www.littleannie.co.za. Contact Mark or Sophia on 081 777 0444 or email: info@littleannie.co.za
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Standing Tall
TRANSFORMATIONAL
LEADERSHIP By Angelique du Toit
In a recent conversation between a television presenter and a wellknown politician on Checkpoint, the main discussion point was the high level of corruption in our country. The presenter asked: “And where is the leadership in all of this?” There is little doubt that things are not what they are supposed to be and that poor leadership is hurting our country and its people. The ongoing outcries from the communities against bad practices and corruption shows that people are starting to realise that things have to change, and transformational leadership is needed to change things. This article about transformational leadership is the first of two parts. The full article appears in the book STANDING TALL IN A FALLING WORLD by Angelique du Toit
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ll of life is essentially relationship driven. Leadership is relationship at its peak. Your life experiences have a greater potential to influence people than mere theory or academic knowledge. People love people who lead by example and not by directive only. A person in authority with positional power can demand that change take place in an individual. The subordinate can comply either cheerfully or maliciously, but the authoritative approach never guarantees internal change – only compliance. A leader who has influence and personal power can effect substantial change, because there is no demand made, but rather a powerful invitation to embrace the opportunity to walk together and make a joint positive contribution. People feel empowered when they are invited to exercise their freedom of choice. The individual’s levels of self-esteem, personal value and worth are elevated when they aren’t autocratically forced into making changes, but are partnered in the progression of making internal changes that give successful external outcomes. Companies spend untold fortunes trying to raise leaders when they would in fact reap greater results if they approached leadership as fundamentally relationship building. Internal transformation is the key to having external impact, as nothing really changes until an individual changes from the inside and only then can they effectively influence their external environment.
The challenge for leaders in any decade is that human beings are fallible and imperfect and they are impacted by life experiences and therefore exhibit the fall-out of these experiences in the workplace, often on a daily basis. As a leader you can have the best intentions, the most profound experiences, the greatest knowledge, Harvard graduate leadership skills and be a powerful communicator, but at the end of it all, the challenge is that you are dealing with people who will ultimately make their own decision whether or not they will follow you; and whether they will apply what has been imparted to them or expected from them. Every day you come across highly talented people with the potential to make a valuable contribution, but the level which that person attains will always be determined by themselves. You can have the utmost belief in a person’s ability, but unless they take ownership of it – your belief in them will only assist to a point. This situation becomes the catalyst for the process of transformational leadership to take place. The secret being that internal transformation is the key to having external impact. The leadership challenge is to grow people from the inside out with the result being an increase in productivity and pride in their work. Being a leader is not an act, but rather a lifestyle. The character of a leader is the beacon light that draws people to them and a truly successful leader is one who attracts followers rather than pursues them. Character is what a person is when
Standing Tall no one else is around. Leadership has integrity, trust, honesty, wisdom and good judgment as its foundation. Making wise choices cements the future of a leader, because you produce after your own kind. What you sow is what you reap. An essential quality for leadership is credibility, not perfection. Good leaders have the ability to bring out the very best in their people, inspiring them to do their tasks with excellence, but at the same time helping their people to fulfil their personal purpose. I believe an organisation can never over-invest in the personal development of its people, because people give meaning to the organisation. An effective product without effective people is futile. People who are being transformed at a personal level give impetus to productivity and boost the potential of any organisation. As a leader you can never take people beyond where you are. It is imperative that, in order to strengthen your leadership, your life must constantly display self-development disciplines and personal management as the norm. Marilyn Monroe said, “I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it!” She was right. Women are being given opportunities that were once only afforded to
men. Jealously guard your womanhood and do not be deceived by the lie that you need to become like men to get the job done. With this window of opportunity, make it your aim to work at becoming wiser, not only smarter. Women were never designed to stride in the footsteps of men. You may need to negotiate around the new situations that will arise from having two demanding careers in the household and children who have valid needs, but it is up to you to ensure that your career doesn’t tip the scales to the detriment of relationships. Women are at their most powerful, influential and successful when they are living out their most natural traits. Women run the risk of wearing the labels of “impossible boss”, “more aggressive than her male counterpart”, “totally unapproachable and tough” and “hard as nails!” It is true, though sad, that many women believe they must shed their behaviour and take on male characteristics that were never intended for them in the first place when they are given the opportunity to rise to a level of authority. Being female is a matter of birth, but being a woman is a matter of choice and the power that is invested in your womanhood can be maximised in your positions of leadership.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Do not miss out on the next Devoted for the second part of this article. Read the full article in STANDING TALL IN A FALLING WORLD Website: www.angeliquedutoit.co.za Website: www.devotedmag.co.za (Read Issue 16 & 18)
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My parents are getting a
divorce, whatBy Kevin now? Cousins
Alive, but dead inside? Living, but dying? I stepped on a landmine, at home. Imagine every negative emotion you can think of: Rage, anger, confusion, doubt, disbelief, jealousy, hatred, grief, despair, resentment, shame, guilt, envy and fear. In that moment, they mixed together to form a cocktail of negativity
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was 15 and my sister was 12 when a time-bomb started ticking in our house. It finally exploded three years later when my parents announced they were getting a divorce. I hit rock bottom on so many levels. The worst part was realising that nothing and no one could fill that void or heal that pain. “This sucks!!!!!!!!” The understatement of the year. “What now?! Why me?” Sometimes we trip ourselves up by not applying wisdom. Sometimes the devil brings opposition. Sometimes life happens. Divorce is one of those tragedies that cannot be explained or understood. When I accepted Jesus Christ into my life, my outlook on life changed radically. Jesus died for us. He gave His everything for us. Jesus gave me a huge revelation in terms of my parents’ divorce… I didn’t have to choose, mom and dad were never meant to be separated. Divorce is not God’s plan, but what happened between your parents doesn’t define YOU as a person. Before your parents brought you into this world, God had a plan for you. Jesus is the healer of the broken-hearted and He came so that you could have life! Whatever happens, we cannot allow life to steal our joy. You might wonder where you can go if your home is not a safe place anymore. I would suggest finding a church you can call home… for me that church was CRC.
Under the extraordinary leadership of Pastor At and Nyretta and the incredible pastoral and ministry teams I received support, love and encouragement at CRC. I was held accountable and given hope. I was challenged to dream again. I became a part of a local and global vision. Until we become actively involved in the local church our progress will likely be slow and difficult. Things in my personal life became easier as my focus changed towards others through the church. Take your unique place as a part of the family of God. You may want to block everyone out now, but there are people who can and want to help.
Family is one of the foundations we all need and desire. Become part of a vision bigger than yourself. There are so many people I am so grateful for – pastors, leaders, friends and family. Without my spiritual family I would have never overcome the divorce of my parents in a healthy and positive way.
Teen Talk Another important factor to heal is forgiveness. When we act in anger we will initiate conflict, but when we love, we forgive and we cover one another’s weaknesses.
Forgiveness is a journey, but also a decision. That decision may be like killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day. Intimidating and definitely not convenient. But freedom is on the other side of forgiveness. None of us are perfect and we will do well to walk in forgiveness rather than seeing forgiveness as a one-time act. We don’t have to choose between our parents, doesn’t matter who might have been wrong. Your parents may not be husband and wife anymore, but they’ll always be your mom and dad. The Bible teaches us to honour our
parents. The reality of divorce may leave us scarred, however, we need to be mature to look further and recognise and give honour to our parents for what they have done right… The good memories. The sacrifice, the love, the time, the provision and values they instilled in us. Raising us to seek God. When we appreciate our parents for doing the best they could with what they had, Jesus can bring supernatural healing to entire families. God has the power to heal and restore every relationship in our lives. When we forgive, the impossible becomes possible, and mountains can be cast into the sea. In life we often find ourselves at a crossroads. We have the power to influence and impact the course of future generations through our actions. What kind of family do you see one day? What is possible? You can dream again! You can’t change the past, but you can have a great future! God’s word has final authority, if we will believe and apply it! I honour Ps. At and Nyretta for not just
teaching us, but telling us the truth, in love (even when it hurts) and showing us what is possible in family, marriage and life. I’m thankful that they don’t settle for comfort, for their sacrifice, for their world-shaking leadership and Christ-like example. They are my role models and being part of CRC has changed the trajectory of my life forever. To all the young people out there, God is with you! I made the decision that the divorce in my family ends with me! I encourage you to continue this journey, starting with a decision before God. You can tell God “I don’t know why or how this happened, but I know that you can work something good out of this chaos and confusion. I know you hold my future. Complete the good work you started in me.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 “Neither has eye seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered in the heart of man, the things he has planned for those who love him. But he has revealed them by his Spirit.”
Some scriptures to help you through your parents’ divorce [John 17:3] [John 3:16] [John 10:10] [Jeremiah 1:5] [Jeremiah 29:11] [Nehemiah 8:10] [Mark 10:9] [Revelation 12:11] [Ephesians 4:11] [Joel 2:25] [Psalm 133:1] [Psalm 92:13] [Jeremiah 17:7-8] [Mark 11:23-25] [1 Chronicles 11:22] [Psalm 147:3] [Malachi 3:3] [Deuteronomy 31:7] [Proverbs 10:12] [Romans 13:7] [Exodus 20:12] [Matthew 7:3] [Genesis 50:19] [Judges 14:8] [Psalm 127:2] [Isaiah 30:21] [1 Corinthians 9:25] [2 Timothy 4:7] [Proverbs 10:22] [James 1:6-7] [Isaiah 55:10-11] [Ephesians 6:1-2] [Proverbs 29:18] [Ephesians 2:10] [Ephesians 3:20] [Habakkuk 1:5] [Romans 8:28] [Isaiah 61:3] [Philippians 1:6] [Psalm 138:8] [Joshua 24:15]
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Wellness
BOUNDARIES CREATING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS By Dr. Hanlie Meyer
The concept of boundaries has been around since the creation. In the beginning God placed the seas, day and night and people within boundaries … (Genesis1:26 to Genesis2:3;16–17) God meant boundaries for man’s freedom, delineating his authority and for his protection. Man interpreted it as spiteful and inhibiting. God intended for man to have intimacy with Him through complete obedience to the boundaries He set. However, man interpreted it as preventing him to become like God - and he rebelled 34
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his is the first incidence of boundary violation. In the words of Shane Willard, man exchanged the opportunity of intimacy with God for the possibility of finding his way between wrong and right. When man transgressed God’s boundaries in the beginning, he lost his spiritual authority as a result of his disobedience and lost his spiritual discernment. Is it surprising that we try to enforce man-made boundaries without success to this day? Losing our spiritual authority through judging God and disobeying Him left us powerless and without the foundation that causes others to respect the boundaries. Without obedience to God, intimacy is lost and spiritual authority is lost. All efforts to set boundaries fall apart and we have to resort to coercing, manipulating, setting rules, violence, abuse, crying… symptoms of the actual root cause: rebellion against God’s authority. In his 1972 publication, Spiritual Authority, Watchman Nee said “The acts of God issue from His throne, and His throne is established on His authority.
All things are created through God’s authority and all physical laws of the universe are maintained by His authority. Hence the Bible expresses it as ‘upholding all things by the word of His power’ which means upholding all things by the word of the power of His authority. For God’s authority represents God Himself whereas His power stands only for His act. Sin against power is more easily forgiven than sin against authority, because the latter is a sin against God Himself. God alone is authority in all things; all the authorities of the earth are instituted by God. Authority is a tremendous thing in the universe – nothing overshadows it. It is therefore imperative for us who desire to serve God to know the authority of God.” The archangel committed this sin against the authority of God and he became Satan as he was thrown out (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:13–17). Rebellion against God was the cause of Satan’s fall – and he took mankind with him. Man’s tendency to judge God comes directly against His authority. Man battles to bend the knee before God.
The more hurt and disillusionment there has been, the more the person judges God’s wisdom, love, caring and positive attitude towards man. The more doubt there is, the more man feels that he has to protect himself and look after himself. Fear of rejection and fear of failure took over as a result of the rebellion against God. Fear prevented man to turn back to his Protector even when the latter came looking for him in the garden! Even though man had sinned against God’s authority, things would have turned out completely different if he had not hidden but instead confessed his sin at the feet of the Creator. If he had turned to God, intimacy would have been restored. Now the question is – will there be any redemption?
We will look into that in the next edition.
Order the full boundaries CD series now for only R500 Book Dr.Hanlie for your women’s conference or camps as guest speaker.
Other series available: Intimacy with God Depression Emotional Wounding
Boundaries
International Flair
warrior White ribbon
By Janny Djan
Have you ever met someone and immediately felt connected to them? As if you have known one another forever? So much so that you spontaneously speak to her in your own native language (Afrikaans) numerous times, even though you know she doesn’t understand a word? And she replies every time with laughter: “You did it again!”
Inter
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ional Flai nat
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saw this tall, vivacious and beautiful woman for the first time at Abu Dhabi Airport and instantly knew she was on her way to the Mrs. Universe International Pageant in Minsk. Not only did we share the last leg of the journey, we shared a room during the pageant week and she truly became my sister from Australia! Together we survived one of the most challenging weeks of my life… A week that I refer to as boot camp in high heels and fake lashes, with little sleep, missed meals and foreign customs, I got to know the real person behind the Mrs. Australia crown: • A lady with grace, beauty and a sunshine personality; • A lady whose life is a far cry from a fairytale; • A warrior who stood up against domestic violence with the Lord as her guidance and strength. Joelle is no stereotypical beauty queen… She just finished her qualification to teach high school science, specialising in physics and biology and she also works part-time as a radiation therapist at a country hospital where she has to face the suffering of cancer patients. It is a challenging job, but she approaches it with the attitude that she cannot change their fate, but she can do everything possible to change the outcome of their disease and their experience of the treatments. She has a lovely two-year old little boy, but her fairy-tale marriage scattered into pieces when she became a victim of domestic
violence in May 2015. It was a serious incident, which resulted in her being hospitalised. She didn’t immediately leave her husband as she had trouble coming to terms with what had happened and that it actually happened to her. However, it was soon clear to her that she could not live in fear for the rest of her life and that she deserved better. The forum of the Mrs. Universe International Pageant was Domestic Violence and the Reflection on Children and I experienced how strong Joelle really is when she delivered her three minute presentation. She described it as an incredibly confronting experience for her and during the creation of the video she came to the realisation that her son was now part of the statistics.
Domestic violence affects children whether they witness it directly or not and exposing a child to domestic violence is now classified as child abuse in Australia. She will never regret her decision to leave her husband and as heart breaking as it is that her marriage has ended, she knows that it was the right decision and it is the beginning of a new and empowering chapter of her life. She has joined White Ribbon’s Breaking the Silence programme that fights domestic violence through early intervention and support strategies in schools. She labelled her campaign White Ribbon Warriors and asked students to paint white warrior stripes on their
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International Flair
faces to proclaim their stand against domestic violence. This is coupled with in-school education sessions and support services and also includes an extended social media campaign that is beginning to see world-wide support. She is currently focusing on local schools in her area, but hopes to spread the campaign to as many schools as possible during her reign as Mrs. Australia. Her guidance and strength definitely comes from her faith, which she only found after she left school, but she says she always felt God’s presence in her life. When she met her husband it seemed as if it was an answer to one of her most heartfelt prayers and despite the recent occurrences, she still believes that it was. Meeting him gave her their beautiful son and has taught her valuable lessons in life. She always believed that marriage was forever, so having to make the choice to leave was unbelievably difficult for her. She questioned whether she had misinterpreted the signs God gave her in committing to spend her life with this man who nearly killed her. However, when she looks back, she believes that she followed the path laid out for her and that these circumstances have given her the tools to make changes in our world and to help others. Joelle is indeed one of God’s warriors and we pray God’s guidance, protection and wisdom over her.
For more information about the White Ribbon Warrior Campaign, contact Joelle at joelle.gabriel@live.com.au. 38
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Business
3 Key Areas of Finance Entrepreneurs must Manage By Fergus Ferguson
Many entrepreneurs lack an understanding of finance, so they ignore it or they go on a gut feel. If, however, they spent a bit of time getting to grips with the basics instead of winging it, the benefits to their businesses would be enormous
BUDGETING
If you budget in January every year, you’ve already lost a month. You should be budgeting in September of the previous year so that you can implement any changes by the time it comes to performance reviews in November, and then you can hit the ground running the following year. What many business owners do is decide on a revenue target and simply divide that amount by 12 to get their monthly goals. They don’t, however, measure their progress at the end of every month and tweak their strategy according to their results. If, for example, you set your goal as R10 million a month, but you only bring in R8 million, that R2 million shortfall needs to be accounted for elsewhere in order to reach your annual target. Think of it like a 12-hole golf game: if you want to end the year on par, but you’re two over par on the first hole, you need to be two under the next hole. Unfortunately, what tends to happen is that you get six months into the year and realise you’re not going to make your target, so you lower it. Don’t change your goal! Change your plan to achieve the goal. This takes discipline. It means tracking your progress every month and tweaking what you’re doing along the way. You need to keep your income statement and balance sheet in your sight, but not the one your accountant did two years back. Within a week of month-end, you need to look at the management accounts to be able to get an accurate picture of where your business stands.
CASH-FLOW
You might be keeping to your budget according to your books, but cash-flow is still a problem. You need to build your cash-flow into your budgeting process, which means you need to understand it. For example, we had a client in Cape Town who thought his clothing business’ biggest problem was that a large retail group was pushing his 90-day account into 120 days. In actual fact, the issue was that he was buying stock three months in advance to take import times into account, so his cash-flow gap was actually six to seven months, which was difficult to sustain. Once he understood this, he was able to re-strategise and renegotiate contracts and payment times where necessary.
DEBTORS’ ACCOUNTS
It astounds me how few businesses make managing debtors’ accounts part of their financial process. In fact, many don’t manage debtors because they don’t see them until their accounts are at 120 days (which goes back to the point of checking your financials every month). We had a client – an accounting firm, would you believe it – that was ready to write off R800 000 of bad debt. Within four weeks, however, we managed to bring that amount down to R200 000 by just following up with debtors. The best way to lower your bad debt is to document a process of how you handle debt – what happens when, from the first polite reminder to a final letter of demand – and stick to it.
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 12 460 9769 • Mobile: +27 82 650 0867 • Email: fergusferguson@actioncoach.com
Website: www.actioncoach.com/fergus-ferguson
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Fair Flair
The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace As a tree grows and matures, it bears fruit. Just like that, we as Christians should also bear more and more fruits of the Spirit as we grow and mature. Our lifestyle should be as God desires it to be... not what the world wants it to be. So, why do we sometimes feel that we have to act and look like the rest of the world? The world should want to look and behave like us Christians do. Over the next few issues, we will look at the different fruit of the Spirit and how we can apply them in our lives to bring glory to God through how we live. After all, the fruit of the Spirit is the characteristics of the Holy Spirit in a believer. The next characteristic we will discuss is peace...
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n John 14:27, Jesus said the following: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” In a world that is in constant turmoil, people are seeking peace and Jesus is the only one who offers it... He is the Prince of Peace after all! As Christians, people should also experience peace when they are around us… not anxiety or turmoil. We should be secure in the peace Jesus gives us. And we should lead people to experiencing the same peace in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:7 says: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” What an amazing promise! To me, this means that whatever decision you need to make, whether it is an emotional decision (heart) or a logical decision (mind), God’s peace will guide us to make the right decision. I have experienced God’s faithfulness in this area first-hand with all the major decisions I have needed to make. So many people, including Christians, are confused… They are confused about their marriages, children, destinies, careers and
Peace
their faith. God is not a God of confusion or disorder, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). Therefore, His children should also be people of peace, not confusion. You can trust God to give you His peace and to take any confusion or disorder that you might have, out of your life. In the midst of a storm, He will make you calm. So, like the Bible says in Colossians 3:15: “… let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” Let us rise and be a generation of believers who are peacemakers and peace-givers. Let us be a generation of believers who will not be swayed or moved by circumstances, but only by the peace of God guiding us. I pray that we will be guided by the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding in the new year and that we will be people of peace.
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
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