8 O'Clock News - June

The Eight O’Clock

News June 2019 8 am Service, Christ Church Kenilworth 021-797-6332

Set Apart

how God wants us to serve Him. And while thinking and praying about how God might use us is good, we are often overwhelmed trying to figure out the specifics.

Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life) shared 5 requirements for being used by God: A checklist to make sure our hearts are in a place where we can willingly receive and embark on Born a laat-lammetjie fifteen years after my brother, my the ministries God has called us to. mother always told me, “you are not a mistake, you are not 1. Keep your life clean. Fleeing sin and repenting when we an afterthought”. She said that I was a blessing from God. do fail, keeps our consciences clean and our hearts focused A recent reading from ‘Alive to God’ resonated with me: on God’s grace.

Exodus 39.30 ‘Holy to the Lord’ (Dedicated to the Lord).

2. Keep your eyes open. “We think of vision as prediction, *Your life was designed to be dedicated to the Lord and but none of us can know the future the way God does. used by Him. Vision is seeing God at work in your present situation *Your very existence is by no means a mistake—it is part and moving with Him. It’s about getting in on what God of God’s plan. is doing in the world and being a part of it where He has *There is something sacred about your life, something that placed you.” is divine.

3. Keep your heart grateful. Most contented people are *Don’t be contaminated, but be ‘set apart’ for His use and those who are most grateful. An appreciative heart keeps His purposes. us focused on the positives.

My grandmother had a drawing room that was ‘set apart’, 4. Keep your purpose firm. “You were planned for God’s it was only used on special occasions; the other times it pleasure, formed for God’s family, created to become like was closed off from the house, unlived in and immaculate.

Christ, shaped for service, and made for a mission!” writes It also contained the special china and the crystal glasses.

Warren. Remembering our larger purpose keeps us hopeful I changed that—now every day is a special occasion and when our day-to-day purpose seems less sure.

I use the crystal glasses, the good china and the silver teapot. 5. Keep your mind on Jesus. Focusing less on ourselves and Erma Bombeck, the American humorist, said: “I would have more on our Saviour is undoubtedly essential to being used invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained by God. “Don’t give up when it gets tough,” writes Warren. and the sofa faded. I would have eaten popcorn in the “Go to Jesus. Keep your mind on Him!” "good" living room and worried less about the dirt when you Greg Laurie shares similar thoughts in his article, The Person lit the fireplace. I would have burnt the pink candle that was God Uses. Using the book of Joshua as a guideline, Laurie sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored”. focuses on 7 principles that apply to a person God uses.

Erma also said: “When I stand before God at the end of my They are: life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent *God uses people who realize they are weak. left and could say, “I used everything you gave me”. *God uses people who are faithful.

So bring out the good china and the crystal glasses, light *God uses people who study and live by His Word. the beautiful candles, use the special napkins and the *God uses the person who is patient and waits on His scented soaps because every day is a day that “I will bless timing.

You Lord and praise your name forever”. *God uses the person who cares about lost souls.

One important mark of a Christian is his or her desire to be *God uses the person who sets himself or herself apart. used by God. Often that desire is met with vague ideas of *God uses the person who knows how to work with others.

June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

2

Being used by God doesn’t start with figuring out what God wants you to do. If you want to be used by the Lord, the most important qualification is a spirit focused on loving and serving God and others.

Our enjoyment and glorification of God is not something to be pulled out for special occasions like the “good china”…It is for every day, all the time, forever and ever.

- Cheryl Anderson

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

1 Peter 2:9

A Letter from OZ Thank you for so faithfully emailing me the Eight O’ Clock News. I LOVE reading it and keeping in touch with the folk at CCK. After reading the May edition I thought I should send you an update on my life in OZ. Isn't it strange how a crosscontinent move can bring about such change in a person's life? This is what I am currently up to : (And Jean apologises in advance for all the personal pronouns—but she is talking about herself !!)

I have been asked by the Care Team in our Church to join them. This team really cares for our congregants through visits, welcoming groups, care groups, Sunday tea etc.

I have been asked to head up the intercessory prayer group. This entails working with the three ladies who currently each receive different prayer requests and ensuring that they go out to the willing pray-ers.

Currently there is no email prayer shield—just the good old-fashioned ’phone chain where I ’phone you and you ’phone the next person all along the chain. We all know that this breaks down when one person can't be contacted.

My role is to streamline and increase our prayer chain.

I am so excited that God has chosen to involve me in this Ministry.

I love assisting with one of our Mums and Tots groups on a Friday. We have a wonderful group of Mums who come along and meet together while the children play together.

Our group has mostly mums who do not belong to any church. I help with the setting up, chatting to the mums and playing with the babs, and cleaning up afterwards.

I have just been asked by the current leader if I will take over the oversight of this group. Luckily I already have a Blue Card which clears me for working with children and I have done the two-level Safe Ministry with Children course.

I love working with this group!

I have joined the morning tea groups as well as the group that prepares the communion table (that is different from June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

those who serve communion).

I offered to help out at the Annual Autumn Fair and ended up being asked to run the second-hand toy stall. That was great fun. I had to clean and price all the toys and set up the stall and take it down at the end of the day. Our Church is small and there were not many volunteers to work on all the stalls. Luckily, I had a lovely gentleman who looked after the money so I could keep the tables tidy and offer help when needed. We brought in a nice sum of $935!!!

This is all my Church involvement. God is so good to me.

I have always wanted to be more involved in the Church, and now I am!!!

When I left SA I transferred form The Bergvliet Lions International Club to the Brisbane Bardon Lions International Club. We recently held elections for the upcoming Lions year and I was nominated for President.

Having been the President once before in SA, I accepted the position. This is going to be a great challenge for me as things work slightly differently here in Oz. They seem a lot more relaxed with not much formality. I am really excited by this.

I started a Book Club last year and we have so much fun together. There are so many Australian authors and I am enjoying being introduced to their books.

I also love completing jigsaw puzzles and I noticed on our local FB Grapevine page that there are always a number of puzzles up for sale. So I put it out there that I was interested in starting a jigsaw puzzle club where we could meet and share a cuppa and a puzzle. I am surprised by the huge uptake on this and we will be meeting together for the first time in about a week.** Besides all these exciting things, I am still having so much fun caring for Tom in the afternoons after I collect him from school. He is at a Montessori school where they start at age three. He loves it. I also get him ready for school in the mornings and often help with breakfast. Angie and Andres both leave for work early in the morning, so Tom and I have some lovely alone time together. I feel so privileged to have this time with him. It has always been such a sadness to me that I had to work fulldays and could not spend that much time with my children. God is being so gracious to me and giving me this time with my Grandson. Isn't it just wonderful?!

I am also babysitting for some of Angie's friends who are so happy to have a "Granny" on tap, and I occasionally house/ pet sit for friends when they go away. My current house sit has no pets, but there are three foreign students staying with my friend who need dinner every night. Very interesting indeed.

So as you can see—although this move was quite hard for me, God had a most amazing plan all set out for me!

Currently, I will have to leave Oz for six months from the middle of December, but a new Visa has just come out which should allow me to stay here for a solid three years.

Hopefully my Parent Visa will be through by then. All these Visas are very expensive, but what is money when you can be with your Grandbaby?

-Jean Knaggs

Georgina Sutter 20 November 1940—8 April 2019 The reason I was asked to pay tribute to Georgina at her funeral service requires an explanation. At the Concerted Prayer evening at CCK on Wednesday 15 May, one of many options was to

receive prayer for healing.

I had been experiencing a painful hip for some weeks and also a problem with my right eye, so it seemed right to ask for prayer. Ali Bourne

3

and Bob Tate prayed for my healing and thanks be to God I am largely free of hip pain now.

I mentioned after this time of prayer that Georgina had prayed for the healing of my eye some 30 years ago, and that I had been healed. Ali then asked me to share this story at her funeral service, which I agreed to do.

Following the erudite tribute from Sheila Camerer, I spoke about that healing as a tribute to Georgina.

I shared that I had been diagnosed with an eye condition called erosion of the cornea and the ophthalmic surgeon indicated that this could not be easily rectified. An opportunity at CCK to go forward for healing prayer occurred soon after this, and it was Georgina who prayed for me. My condition was miraculously healed and has never recurred, for which I was profoundly thankful to the Lord.

I then rather lost contact with Georgina and many years later when we met again at CCK she enthusiastically reminded me of that healing prayer. She was clearly delighted that God had used her prayer to bring healing.

It was an honour to pray tribute to this frequently misunderstood lady.

- Peter Tomalin

Who Will Forget ?

This is the Bible given to the President of the RSA at his inauguration by the Chief Justice.

Who will forget the video (which went viral) of South Africa’s Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng opening the country’s 6th democratic Parliament with prayer—on his knees.

He then urged the 400 members assembled to pray or meditate for three minutes about solutions to the many challenges our country faces.

Most of the lawmakers stood, some were uncomfortable. Some obviously prayed—as did the kneeling Chief Justice himself whose prayer was inadvertently picked up by the television microphone. It was a beautiful three minutes of earnest silence shared with our nation.

Out of the Mouths…

A Grandfather was walking through his garden when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like prayer.

He asked her what she was doing. The little girl explained: “I’m praying, but can’t think of exactly the right words, so I’m just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me because He knows what I’m thinking.”

June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

- Source unknown

4

Joan Evans

certainly update you all in the News as to her progress settling into the friendly city again.

Many may already know that Joan Evans will be Last Sunday Joan had lunch with a group of friends relocating to Port Elizabeth to live with her daughter who have been meeting for decades in each other’s and family. Although a wrench for Joan from CCK and homes for lunch. Wendy Gunn, Eleanor Watson, her Cape Town family and friends, I said to Joan that it Joan, Ascencia Tebbutt and Christine Milligan were is a no-brainer. Her daughter and son-in-law are there. Unfortunately, Elizabeth van Lingen was away.

welcoming her into their large home where it is certain that she will put her gardening skills into action. Having lived in PE for 15 years when her late husband Bruce was Bishop of Port Elizabeth, she still has many friends there and can walk to church at St John’s Walmer.

We will all miss Joan but I have promised to visit her in PE when I am there on my business trips and will

A Challenge to Alison Last Sunday many of us met Alison Claassen, the newly appointed leader of Children’s Church. Joan regaled Alison with stories of her early days at CCK, nearly 60 years ago when there were over 300 children in the Sunday School.

Times have changed a lot since then but Joan’s earnest desire is to see more children back in church.

Alison has a huge challenge ahead of her to engage with families and bring the children back. Joan will be praying for her in this important calling and urges all of us at CCK to do likewise.

- Cheryl Anderson June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

Gabrielle Nye who is now with our Lord was one of the original founding members (when they were called Gabrielle’s Gorgeous Girls). What a wonderful example of a sustained fellowship of love and care for one another!

- Cheryl Anderson

L>R : Wendy Gunn, Eleanor Watson, Joan, Ascencia Tebbutt & Christine Milligan

The Temple

5

As this year of 2019 dawned, and for those of you who might know of him, I chose to embark on following D.A. Carson’s comments on one of the lectionaries that takes one through the Bible in one year.

So it was that early in February, I recorded a ‘light bulb’ moment about the ‘Temple’ as commented on by Carson and concerning the verse Mark 15:29: “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save Yourself and come down from the cross”.

Carson comments that ‘Jesus was that same temple that would be razed (at His crucifixion) and raised (at His resurrection). As such He, Jesus, became, and is the ultimate ‘meeting place’ between people and God. From here I moved on to thinking about the whole notion of ‘meeting places’… I think the earliest description of a physical ‘meeting place’ for the people of God is described in detail in Exodus 33:7-11 during the time of the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert and under the leadership of Moses. Moses called it the ‘The Tent of Meeting’ (33:7)… a place outside The Tabernacle (also a Meeting Place) but where the people could bring their requests to Moses to take to God. Then of course, there was the very elaborate Temple A Swan is built by Solomon to God’s exact specifications in 957 Born BC; this was mostly razed at the time of the Babylonian exile in the 6th Century BC but rebuilt in the Mila Liyani time of Ezra and Nehemiah when the exiles returned to (Miracle/ Showers Jerusalem some fifty years later. This temple lasted of Blessing) until 70AD when it was completely razed in the time of Was born to Roman occupation in Jerusalem.

Makeeda & So much for a potted history of physical temples in Stuart Swan on Hebrew Scripture—designed really to be ‘meeting places’ between people and God. 19/5/2019.

When I looked at the New Testament I also found Grandparents, many references to ‘meeting places’. Jesus did most of Jean & Patrick His teaching (and a lot of His healing) in ‘synagogues/ are brimming Jewish meeting places’ (Matt 4:23, Mark 1:21, Mk 3:1, with happiness. Luke 4:15). Paul, after Jesus, and on his missionary journeys, also almost always went to the synagogues as a first springboard for the Good News of Jesus Christ Jesus’ Invitation to You (Acts 13-19).

But this notion of ‘Temple’/Meeting Place is yet more Matthew 11:28-30 profound… of course Jesus is our ultimate Temple.

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I John in his Revelation of the New Jerusalem says in Rev will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… and you will find 21: 22: “ I saw no temple in the city , for the Lord God rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is Almighty and the Lamb are its temple’’ (own light’ (NIV and The Message below) emphasis).

‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come BUT—we/our bodies—are also Temples (1 Cor 6:19); to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I will we are Temples of the Holy Spirit and as such I believe show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work we are called to be ‘meeting places’… places where with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of others can meet the Jesus who is in us. grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep - Jessica McCarter company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly’.

Scripture References: New Living Testament; June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

D.A. Carson: For The Love of God

6

My Father’s Ministry I have been asked by a number of people if I am related to the

Irish Brother, Mr Sam Moore, who is mentioned as “the bald headed white man ministering from the front of the church at the wedding of Abraham and Sarah Jansen, the parents of the celebrated author and academic Jonathan Jansen. It appears on page 46 of his book “Song for Sarah; lessons from my mother”.

Yes, he was my father Samuel Henry Moore. I sometimes jokingly refer to myself as “Second Samuel” but in fact I think that I am the fifth or sixth as far as we can trace our ancestry.

My Mother, Nora Jane, also came from the border regions of Northern Ireland hailing from a little town called Markethill near the city of Armagh where my grandmother, by all accounts a formidable character, ran the local courthouse and was community midwife. My mother probably deserves a sainthood for having supported my father’s ministry, as she brought up four children and ran the house during my father’s frequent prolonged absences. I am the youngest of four siblings.

My wife, Ann, was once told by a lady working in the Protestant Bookroom that my mother is remembered for her grace and ability to treat everyone as equals. My sister Lilian is well known through the Friendship Bible coffee groups and Medway chapel, my brother John led worship for many years at St James down the road and my sister Eileen now resides in Betty’s Bay after many years in Johannesburg.

I think that it was Jeanette Harris (wife of the Reverend Jim) who first mentioned the book reference to my father, causing me to read the book. When the editor of the Eight O’ Clock News approached me and asked if I would write something about him, I started to think again about the man and his ministry.

His Northern Irish roots were plain for all to see, from his broad Northern Irish accent to his three-piece suit with waistcoat, worn even on the beach! Coming to South Africa as a missionary in 1936, he thought that it was a temporary appointment as he had thoughts of following a call to Australia. At least South Africa was halfway there!

After a short stint in Johannesburg, he soon identified a real spiritual need in the Cape Flats. Grassy Park was the end of the road and Prince George Drive a dangerous track where trees were often felled over the road in order to rob and sometimes murder passers-by. He began a ministry in Grassy Park and the nearby Parkwood estate, known to be a rough area with places like “Moordenaarsfontein” being not far away. Hiking in the summer heat over those dunes was a labour of love as he brought the Gospel to this needy area. It wasn’t very safe but he trusted the Lord and the Lord blessed the work! His message was the plain simple gospel of John 3:16. No flashy campaigns for Dad, he preached the gospel, the need for Salvation and taught discipleship as those who came to faith were nurtured into fellowships. He was one of only two marriage officers appointed for the Brethren communities, which is probably why he officiated at the Jansen wedding. He also married Stan and Barbara Fish among many others! He learnt to speak Afrikaans and preached in it “but with an Irish accent” as my mother put it.

The story is told that one rainy winter night on Prince George Drive, whilst struggling to get the headlights of his ancient Studebaker working again, he was suddenly aware that he was surrounded by three characters that we today would call gangsters. Being asked for a lift to Wynberg and despite realizing that they were up to no good, he agreed. However, as soon as they got into the car, he launched into a “hot” Gospel June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

Three Sams !

message pointing out their need to repent and find the Saviour.

Not surprisingly, a few hundred metres later they asked to get out of the vehicle. Things were pretty uncomfortable for them in the car!

On my stoep is a beautifully reconstructed bench which bears a brass plaque “Tent meetings 1940-1970 Sam Moore and Herman Vos (his co-worker), the record is on High (Heaven)”.

Reassembled and lovingly spruced up by my brother John, it commemorates the ministry in tent meetings in mostly small communities in many parts of the country. In our house we also have a carved wooden plaque “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. I copied this from the original my father carved.

My father’s technique would be to identify an area in need of a Christian witness where there was at least one Christian family living. If he felt that the Lord was directing him to an area, he would take his caravan, set up his large tent on nearby vacant land and start visiting homes in the area. His approach was always personal and he had this ability to just knock on the door and introduce himself, inviting people to the gospel meetings he would be conducting in their area. He would then preach and conduct services every night. The numbers didn’t matter and he would continue every night for weeks if necessary until he saw fruit or the Lord told him to move on.

He would continue to return to the area maintaining contact with the people there. New believers were gathered together in a small house church and linked to a nearby Christian fellowship of local believers. Elders from that fellowship would visit and nurture and the local church would grow. In his 50 years of ministry it is said that he planted over 50 churches. He was well known as a [continues on page 8]

Staff / Pastorate Breakast

7

The Pastorate is delighted that the Staff move to the Annex went so well. In order to thank all the CCK staff, fulltime and part-time for embracing the move with enthusiasm; Colleen Sturrock was the instigator in organizing a breakfast for the staff on Tuesday 28 May.

Gonna be a Bear In this life I’m a woman. In my next

In addition the Pastorate wanted to bless and thank the staff for all that they do for CCK, in so many ways seen and unseen. It was emphasized that we are all part of the body working together in Christ for good.

Breakfast was prepared and tables set and cleared by pastorate members. Personalized ‘thank you cards’ were handed to the staff members and special prayers were said. The morning ended with the Staff and Pastorate sharing communion.

- - Cheryl Anderson June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

life, I’d like to come back as a bear.

When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could do with that.

Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that.

When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (the size of walnuts while you’re sleeping and wake to partly grown cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you’re mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling.

He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fats.

Yup, gonna be a bear !

- Source unknown

8

spiritual man, a wise counsellor and a peacemaker. He avoided the limelight and spoke of his work or results by saying “the record is on high”. God knew!

His visits thus often stretched to months away from home and places like George, Pacaltsdorp, Kimberly, Langebaan and Churchhaven, which were frequently on his list as were a number of Overberg towns. Through missionary contacts (a further story), he was later able to touch Northern Zambia, Angola and the southern DRC. After the tent meetings stopped in 1970, he continued to preach and nurture the various fellowships. Draughty halls on rainy winter nights became the norm.

When at high school in Pinelands, the Rev Brian Hill, who was there with my sisters, set up a prayer effort for missionaries featuring my father . A picture of his caravan displaying key gospel verses was put on the school notice board with an invitation to pray for his evangelical outreach. Brian later told me that he was inspired by his commitment.

He lived by the principle set by George Muller of Bristol of relying on faith for our support and never received a stipend or salary.

There was never much money in the house but God was faithful and there was enough. Dad also set up one of the first Christian book stores in our home, probably to bring in some much needed income and to supply a perceived need. A second aim, I think, was to keep contact with people, particularly those from the Coloured community who could then visit freely without attracting attention from the authorities. In this way he was able to spend time with a number who frequented our home. I remember the Flanders, the Moores (another unrelated family), the Volminck and Jardine families from Athlone and Dudleys from Wynberg as well as people like Reggie Bines as regular visitors.

My parents realized that the War had cut them off from friends and family and so at the end of 1947, when it became possible to travel once again, they returned to Ireland on furlough. I was born in this period in the town of Newry in County Down. On our return to South Africa, they found that all available accommodation and building materials were restricted for the use of the returning servicemen. In his own way, Dad found a way to solve the problem. Obtaining a plot of land from a fellow Christian worker, he proceeded to build a home in Rondebosch East. How he obtained the material remains unknown but I am sure that his Christian contacts played a major role and Dad did much of the building himself whilst preaching at night. A number of the believers had skills but because of the apartheid laws were not officially licenced. Nevertheless Dad welcomed their help. A lovely man called Reggie Bines once described to me how they hid in the roof when the Building Inspector came to inspect the building.

Who can tell of the spiritual fruit that came from his commitment?

For years, our summer holidays were spent at Langebaan, living among the fisher folk. We could enjoy the sun and the sea while Dad had nightly gospel meetings in the tent. It was a hard community but Dad went faithfully nearly every year to Langebaan and to nearby Churchhaven despite the overall lack of response to the gospel. Many years later when I heard of a revival in Churchhaven, I wondered about the impact of those early years of faithfully sowing seeds. We will only know in Heaven!

There are many testimonies of people whose lives were changed by the power of the Gospel through his faithfulness. They lasted and became strong pillars of their local Christian community.

A night 30 years later commemorating a spiritual revival in Parkwood estate and Grassy Park, where more than 30-40 new converts had been baptised was attended by virtually all of them except a few having died. They had stood in their faith as strong June 2019 Eight O’Clock News

foundations of their Christian community ever since.

There are probably many stories that could be told of the impact of his ministry on people. One of the most memorable testimonies came from a family from the Coloured community in the Strand, who faithfully visited him even when he was bedridden and could not communicate much. When asked why they continued to come when others had fallen away, they said,”Our lives were in a mess, we were drinking and in the gutter. Your father came and preached the Gospel and our lives were changed. When later our son wanted to become an electrician, but was prevented by the apartheid laws, your father used his Christian contacts and found him a place in a firm of Christian electricians. When the laws changed he was able to complete his training and now has a successful business. That is why we come!”

For all that he did and the lives he touched, my brother tells me that towards the end of his life, when he contemplated meeting his Lord, he wondered if he had done enough to get the greeting, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord”! He died in 1990 aged 83 and I am sure that he entered into the joy of his Lord!

- Sam Moore (10am service)

HAPPY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY Elizabeth Swift [93 on 12/6/19] Beryl Greig [94 on 14/6/19] Elizabeth lives in Sherwood, Beryl in Murambi House.

Beth Mackrill takes communion to both once a month.

‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’

Jesus, John 10:10 As You Go...

John Newton said, ‘We can easily manage if we will only take,

each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.’

Each day, you can commit to God your fears, worries and anxieties. It makes all the difference. He daily bears your ‘burdens’.

Psalm 68:19: Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens.

Editorial Team Tel/e-mail Ev Els

021 696 0336 emichael@iafrica.com

Cheryl Anderson

083 272 1530 canderson@beckman.com