The Sower

THE SOWER SOUTHERN AFRICA – INDIAN OCEAN DIVISION

Objectives

Publishing Ministries Newsletter Vol. 1

Issue 2

31 May 2016

1. Help Literature Evangelists understand markets and market processes.

2. Train Literature Evangelists in the use of product knowledge in Sales.

3. To help Literature Evangelists

master the art and skill of canvassing.

Southern Africa Union Sales Training Strategic Highlights The SAU Publishing Department conducted a Sales Training Seminar from 5 – 8 April 2016. The Seminar was held at the SAU headquarters in Bloemfontein. In attendance were 130 Literature Evangelists.

Marketing Strategies 1. Definition of Marketing 2. Understanding the market place and customer needs.

3. Designing a customer driven marketing strategy.

4. Market Segmentation.

5. Target Marketing

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6. Creation of customers and customer care

the selected books. The points selected were based on: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Product Knowledge Ten Books were selected.

1. 250 Recipes.

2. Highly Effective Marriage.

3. Smart Parent.

4. Discover the Bible.

5. Healthy Body.

6. Healthy Food.

7. Next Super Power.

8. To Have and to Hold 9. Young Man, Young Woman.

10. Heart to Heart.

Literature Evangelists were trained on how to canvass the books. Through workshops they developed canvass points on each of

Background Information Book Designs – Outside Inside Illustrations Practical Benefits Specific Quotations

“If there's one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public, thus leading them to search the scriptures.

Testimonies for the Church” Vol. 4, p, 340.

Gift Mweemba SAU Publishing Director

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P

rince Itai a new convert into the Seventh Day Adventist Church runs a mechanical

workshop in the east of the City of Tshwane (Pretoria) in South Africa. When a Literature Evangelist first visited him, life was not well with him. He was experiencing a number of overwhelming challenges. He had lived a life which was so far from God, such that it had affected both his business and family. The Literature evangelist prayed for God to intervene in his circumstances.

On the second visit the Literature Evangelist came along with another literature evangelist to strengthen his prayer efforts for Prince, his wife and business.

Prince had become so involved in drinking and smoking, such that only the power of God could rescue him. In his own words he said, he had done it all as far as sin is concerned. It soon became clear to him that God had answered the Literature Evangelist’s prayers.

His desire for alcohol suddenly subsided.

Prince began to buy many books from the Literature Evangelist. The wisdom in the books helped him learn how to relate to his wife. As he further read the books, he came across the Sabbath truth. When the Literature Evangelist came for another visit, Prince asked for more information about the Sabbath. After the understanding of the Sabbath truth, he decided to visit an Adventist Church. On the second Sabbath he took his family with him. Prince immediately joined the baptismal class.

After attending the baptismal class a few Sabbaths, Prince and his wife decided to be baptized to join God's remnant people. The couple were baptized on the 16th of April 2016, the World Publishing Day. Some of his friends heard about the change which had taken place in his life. They decided to come to witness his baptism. Some of them responded to a call for baptism and decided to join the Adventist church by baptism. Prince believes that the Lord has a great purpose for his life. Other friends heard, and whenever they come to inquire about his new faith, he continues to share his faith daily to his old friends and customers. More people are showing interest.

Prince is very excited about his new faith and looks forward to a time in future when he will be able to work as a full time soul winner.

Elijah Maanzo, Literature Evangelist Northern Conference Pretoria, South Africa

Reach Everyone I live for mission, like never before

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INVITATION TO HAVE A PART IN GOD’s MIRACLE‌

The team simply followed God's guidance, because the task before them was humanly speaking impossible. With strong prejudice from several other churches, and a very popular Sunday-church pastor, things did not look very promising. But somehow the literature evangelists believed that God was leading them in their work .... and He did.

The team started visiting people -- including the popular Sunday pastor -- and sold gospel books to them. They found the people very responsive as if the Lord prepared the way for them. During that week they had outstanding success in sales. Encouraged by the success during that first week, they followed up with another week a few months later. The interest was very encouraging.

In the town of Bloemhof, a small town in South Africa, lived a lonely elderly lady, more than seventy years old. She was a faithful member of the SDA Church, but she could not get to church every Sabbath, because her nearest SDA church was more than sixty kilometers away. Oh, she so much wanted to meet with God's people on Sabbaths, but it was just not possible for her.

Then one day a man came to visit her. He introduced himself as a literature evangelist, and he told her that he was in Bloemhof for a week -- together with a team of four more men -- who have a strong burden to start a church in her town. She was so excited, but wondered how these men are going to do this.

Her faith was strong though, and she started making offering bags for the new church.

Within four months there was a small group meeting in a very nice facility every Sabbath.

This group was active, not waiting for things to happen, but making things happen. Plans were made for a Revelation Seminar and people of the town were invited to attend. By now just about all the people in town knew something about the SDA Church.

The Lord blessed abundantly. The pastor of a popular church offered to sell to the SDA group one of their church buildings in the middle of town at a very reasonable price.

After just four years there are now sometimes more than thirty souls attending church on a Sabbath, in a well-represented church building in the middle of the town .... one of them, the elderly lady who did not have a church to go to on Sabbaths four years ago. We rejoice in God's miracles --Braam Oberholster Retired Literature Evangelist

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Zimbabwe Union Conference Publishing Ministries Advisory

It was apparent that the Union needs to print books locally to sustain the Literature Evangelist Program and of course the entire Publishing Plan.

Plans were put in place to facilitate the printing under the prevailing economic challenge.

Following the SID Advisory, Zimbabwe Union Conference conducted a two and a half days advisory at the union headquarters in Bulawayo, during April 27-29, 2016, led

by Caston Shoko the Union Publishing Director.

In his Closing remarks, the union President, Micah Choga reiterated that the publishing ministry will never ever be obsolete despite the technological advancement of the e- books, and yet kindly, one still needs a hard copy. The delegates did confess that they benefited from the presentations and that the direction is now clear as to what is expected of them as they strategize the way forward. SM Moesi - SID Publishing Director

A considerable amount of time was spent on the SID Four Focus Areas for the quinquennium. In attendance were the six Conference Publishing Directors and the Union Officers.

SID FOUR FOCUS AREAS 1 2 3 4

FULL TIME LITERATURE EVANGELIST PROGRAM STUDENT LITERATURE EVANGELIST PORGRAM TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT STRENGTHENING PUBLISHING HOUSES & ABC/HHES

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The publishing Ministries of the Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division Conducted its quinquennial advisory at Birchwood hotel in Boksburg South Africa, during April 17-21,2016, under the theme, “Reach Everyone, I live For Mission, Like Never Before”. The delegates were Union Publishing Directors, ABC/HHES Managers, Publishing House Managers and the Business Managers. The facilitators were the General Conference Publishing Director Almir Marroni and the Associate Director Wilmer Hirle. They were accompanied by the GLOW international coordinator who also serves as the Michigan Conference Publishing Director Kamil Metz. Super Moesi the Division Publishing director facilitated the smooth running of the meeting assisted by the departmental secretary Evodia Khumalo. In the spirit of collaboration, a number of SID Departmental Directors presented on the areas of support.

The strategy to reach everyone hinged on Four Focus Areas, namely Regular Literature Evangelist Program, Student Literature evangelist, Total Member Involvement and Strengthening of ABC/HHES & Publishing Houses. The General Conference Leaders, SID Officers and SID Publishing Director brought their

expertise during these three and a half days. It was a boon to have intercourse with superior minds.

Elders Almir Marroni and Wilmer Hirle among other topics covered the areas of constant recruiting and selecting, training and good books for reasonable prices. The Division President Paul Ratsara highlighted the Ten Qualities of a Successful Leader. Elder Goodwell Nthani, the Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Good-son Shumba from Treasury presented on the importance of finance control as the backbone of the success of the Lord’s business in Publishing Ministry.

The retirement office represented by Savie Maphosa graced the Advisory to underline the importance of proper records for Literature Evangelists, for their comfortable retirement. Kamil Metz focused mainly on the use of GLOW tracts to fulfil total member involvement in addition to the missionary book of to year. To wrap up, the Division Director presented a synopsis of the quinquennial strategic plan that highlighted the action plans addressing the focus areas. One beneficial activity was group dynamics where leaders divided into groups to discuss how they will contribute to the vision of reaching everyone.

-Super Moesi, SID Publishing Director-

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SID PUBLISHING ADVISORY

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