The Christian Lifestyle 7 by WeServe Media

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| JUNE – SEPTEMBER 2020 | ISSUE 7 |

TESTIMONY: Pregnant with twins and breast cancer. Women: Queen: Wake Up! Stand Up! Step Up!

YOUTH DAY: “At 33, I was appointed the youngest female magistrate in the Western Cape.”

DR. PIETER ERENS BARKHUIZEN

MINISTER, AUTHOR & SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY PROFESSOR

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

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Fathers Matter

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CONTENTS

JUNE – SEPTEMBER 2020

ON THE COVER President of Good Hope Institute — an American, federally registered non-profit organization. With a programme on Kruiskyk TV on ‘The Shocking Truth About God’, Dr Barkhuizen is this issue’s cover story. Pages 14 – 16.

COVER STORIES 14 Dr. Pieter Erens Barkhuizen 30 Women: Queen: Wake Up! Stand Up! Step Up! 34 Finding Christ Again 60 Youth Day

REGULARS

SPECIAL FEATURES

4 Contributors

18 Entrepreneurship: Is anything

GROWTH

13 3rd Saturday Prayer 28 Necessity of Vision 29 Word of Encouragement to Parents, Teachers and Learners 56 Reset-our neologism for this season 58 Encouragement: All is Well

too hard for God?

Publisher’s Note

Editor’s Note

20 Celebrating Heritage Day

Have Your Say

23 Lockdown Budget Meals

Salvation

24 Drafting a Will 26 Most important part of Wedding

19 Finance 21

What’s Trending?

Planning

Fashion & Beauty

30 Women’s Day

40 Marriage

35 Displaying His Glory

Pastoral Interview

36 Travel Chats

Parenting

44 Education

Celebrating Singles

48 Easy like Sunday Morning

60 Youth

50 COVID-19: On the Frontline

66 Afrikaans

62 Addiction Testimony

68 Movies 70 Books 72

International News

Local News SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER & RECEIVE A VIRTUAL COPY OF THE MAGAZINE. EMAIL: SUBSCRIBE@TCLMAG.CO.ZA. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & INSTAGRAM FOR NEWS & COMPETITIONS! THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

CONTRIBUTORS

PUBLISHER WeServe Media (Pty) Ltd DIRECTOR AND SALES Juanita Zwavel MANAGING EDITOR Claudene Sebolai MANAGING DESIGNER Fiona Milligan SALES EXECUTIVE Leo Nurse CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Jennifer Emedi (Destined for Greatness)

CONTACT DETAILS GENERAL info@tclmag.org.za SUBSCRIBE subscribe@tclmag.org.za SALES Juanita@tclmag.org.za TEL: 081 514 5992 WEBSITE: www.tclmag.org.za

WRITE TO US The Christian Lifestyle Magazine welcomes manuscripts for articles, but only after the author has first consulted with the editor via email with a short description and article brief. We will contact you if we are interested in the article. We Serve Media Group retains the right to publish articles as per our selection process. Writer’s guidelines are available upon request. The views expressed in articles and letters are the responsibility of the respective authors and not necessarily the views of We Serve Media and The Christian Lifestyle.

Meet some of our magazine’s amazing volunteer contributors! Want to write for us? Email info@tclmag.org.za and we will send you our writer’s guidelines. Claudene Sebolai, Vivian Rix, Curt Van Heerden, Elroy Cook, Chevãn Van Rooi, Sherna Abrahams, Joshua January, Cilino Swartz, Elizabeth Petersen, Cecilia Pestana, Rev. Dr. Nicku Mordi, Gert Jackson, Tammy Lendore, Bianca Gilbert, Nigel Koopman, Ian Brink, Chrishando & Judy Smith, Frank & Rieta Booysen, Caroline Jordaan, Marchelle Le Roux, Ronnie & Shirley Naidoo, Joanna Dalene, Juanita Zwavel, Crystal Hendricks, Yolanda Petersen, Robin Twaddle

VIVIAN RIX Vivian Charles Rix is a trained librarian and an ordained pastor. He obtained a Diploma in Theology through Living Stream Seminary in Anaheim, California. He is a coffee shop connoisseur who loves reading theology and the classics. He has a penchant for current affairs. “Don’t sacrifice your ultimate on the altar of the immediate”.

CECILIA PESTANA Cecilia Jacqueline Pestana, known as Caline by her peers, grew up on a farm in the Northern Cape. She has a twin sister and together we used to attend boarding school in the small town of Prieska where we matriculated together in 1994. I grew up in a loving Christian home with very dedicated parents that served in the Dutch Reform church. I had a very carefree life as a child and teenager growing up with a love for horses and the outdoors. I excelled in athletics, swimming and netball. “You can’t always have a good day, but you can always face a bad day with a good attitude”.

CHEVÃN VAN ROOI Chevãn grew up and lives in a small area called The Conifers, in Blue Downs, Western Cape. He is a Gospel fanatic and often preaches at local churches across Cape Town. He also does motivational speaking at various schools and events. He is currently doing his Master’s degree in Linguistics at the University of the Western Cape. He is the first of his family to have completed high school and attend higher education. One of his ultimate mandates is to occupy various spaces for God’s glory to share His light, love, forgiveness and justice. He loves baking, road trips and spontaneous moments that create unforgettable memories. “We are born not just to survive, but to thrive”.

CILINO SWARTZ My name is Cilino Swartz,I reside in Cape Town, South Africa. I am a follower of Christ, Public Relations graduate, Aspiring Life-Coach and an agile enthusiast. I believe that communications is my gift. I currently work in the Software development industry. I love seeing people and things evolve. I love singing, meditating and journaling. I dream of having my own album of timeless music. “My heart is in a constant state of thanksgiving”. Abdul Baha 4

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

JUANITA AND HER SON, TOPAZ Lockdown! Covid-19! Coronavirus! Isolation! Quarantine! Tests! Vaccines! Positive! Negative! Recoveries! Deaths! Mask! These were the ever-present, regular words which echoed across our nation and throughout the entire world. It has been a beautiful yet compelling, frustrating, confusing and challenging journey of the unknown for many during these past months. Family unions became more intimate or unfortunately not, time spent with God developed into different experiences. The fruits of the spirit became evident as humanity unified through their generous giving abilities of whichever sort. We were locked in God’s undying love over this period (and we still are), to exercise the ability of connectivity. You and I know that there was some form of connection which occurred. Be it to our Father, to oneself, to family, to ideas, to learning, to maintaining, to planning, to investing, to questioning, to watching, to listening, to teaching, to designing, to cooking or baking. There was an integration of newness. May this newness excite and excel you in God’s perfect will as you embrace your new found connection. Isaiah 43 verse 19, “Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” May our content carry you through a new journey. God bless Juanita Zwavel

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EDITOR’S NOTE

WE’VE GOT THE

Who would’ve thought that 2020 would take such a drastic turn on us? The joyful noise of abundant hope, as we did the count down into a new decade, still rings in my ear. Until a tiny, unseeable blob dotted with suction pads made its appearance and locked humans down in their countries, their cities and their homes. No one was really prepared for what was coming, and the hope we had in overflow in the beginning of the year slowly but surely started to leave us with the announcement of the “breaking news” every day. This issue was put together by ordinary people, who were faced with extraordinary challenges, within this very context, but persevered nonetheless. Someone once said, “Hope is seeing light in spite of being surrounded by darkness.” This issue is testament therefore that within us is the power to be productive, in the face of pressure, pain and pandemonium. This is exactly what you will encounter in this publication as you page through its pages. The power of God transforming a staunch Hindu and lead him into full time ministry proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through

that same power a pastoral couple is now able to celebrate 21 years of wedded bliss. Not to mention turning a heroine addicted woman into a nursing sister fighting on the frontline of this pandemic. When doctors advised Jade Wyngaardt to abort her twins in order to continue her cancer treatment she refused, stopped the treatment and gave birth to two beautiful twins. In and out of consciousness, Covid-19 survivor Leandre shares her story of how she encountered the power of God even in the midst of negative reports. In this issue you will read of how this power is available to reset your life, re-adjust your vision and restore your finances. Through this issue, may your faith be lifted, your hope renewed, your prayers be answered and your gaze be drawn to the all-powerful, all-knowing and allpresent God. Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that works in us, to Him be the glory…(Ephesians 3:20). Blessings, Claudene Sebolai

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

LETTERS

KATHY NOLAND

I’ve made deeper connections with my friends online than offline, and learned to be compassionate.

WE’VE LOVED ENGAGING WITH YOU THROUGH EMAIL AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND TESTIMONIES WITH US...

I see God’s hand in the affairs of men, as the rivers of water, directing them whichever way He wills. (Proverbs 21:1)

PENNY JANE

GET CONNECTED... Keep an eye on our social platforms for more great giveaways, news and updates! @christianlifestylemagazine The Christian Lifestyle Magazine @tclifestylemag

Covid-19 has taught me that life is more important than making a living #essentialworker #nolockdownforme

Investing is the way to go. Without our investments this lockdown would have been a nightmare. Our priorities have definitely changed, we’ve realized some things one can live without and be just fine. Our level of appreciation for each other as a family has definitely sky-rocketed. Our faith in God has kept us going in these challenging times

PORTIA MANUEL

TARNA FORTUNE Overnight the world has changed, and things we thought we couldn't live without have now become irrelevant. Christ has always been the only constant.

JANICE BARLOW

Missed spending time with the Lord in nature. The confinement of walls due to lockdown has taught me to appreciate His presence.

I was never really on lockdown. I worked 5 days a week while others were at home.

KEITH JACOBS

The kingdoms of this world are being shaken, but we have a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Hebrews 12:28 Be still. God is in control. Draw near to Him and prepare yourself for revival

CAROLINE JORDAAN

ANUSHA NAIDOO

I learnt not to take anything for granted, appreciate simple things, to survive on a little and be happy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality over quantity.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

THE PRAYER OF

The prayer of salvation/ sinner’s prayer is not a magic formula. Its meaning is deeper than reciting mere words. The Bible teaches us in Rom 10:9-10 that “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the death, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved”. In other words it is an open confession of our belief in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover this confession is the activity of the heart spilling over through the mouth. This is what the Apostle Paul means when he said “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” Romans 1:16. Jesus Himself says in Revelation 3:20 “Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.” Maybe you are paging through this magazine because someone invited you to check it out or you

just stumbled upon it as you surfed the internet. I do believe it is not a co-incidence. If something in this publication resonates with your spirit and inspires you do not hesitate to invite Jesus into your world as he knocks on the door of your heart. There is nothing more amazing than to fellowship with the King of kings. Below is an example of a prayer to except Jesus’ invitation to a relationship with God. You can also pray by yourself using your own words. There is no special formula as long as you pray from your heart. Prayer: Dear Lord I believe that you died on the cross for me to save me. You did for me what I could not do for myself. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you. Thank you for not giving up on me when I gave up on myself. Thank you that You know the plans You have for me, to prosper me and not to harm me. Instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go. Counsel me and watch over me. In Jesus Name Amen

PRAYER

COLLECTIVE BREAKTHROUGH THROUGH COLLECTIVE PRAYER IN THE CONTEXT OF COLLECTIVE TRAUMA: AN OPEN INVITATION TO A GLOBAL PRAYER MEETING Rev Nicku Kyungu Mordi “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one…” Covid-19 shook human philosophy and left the world at a crossroad. Globally, people are in pain, confused, anxious, without hope and fearful. As Christians we are the light and salt to bring healing to the hurting world. This is an open invitation to Christians globally to unite with us for prayers of thanksgiving and to declare God’s faithfulness among the nations. Since 1993 God gave us a prayer strategy to follow. Once every Third Saturday of the month, Christians around the world unite to give God praise and honor with thanksgiving prayers. We encourage you to try – call every province in your nation and her political leaders. Lift up the flag that represent your nation and the Christian Unity Flag (Africa the Mother of humanity). It is God’s time to restore His people (Joel 2:18 –19, 21–26). As you speak His Word upon situations, He will use you in your sphere of influence for His glory (Romans 12:17-21) Are you ready? Due to this pandemic, the human race is suffering a collective trauma. God is therefore inviting His “many membered body” to stand in the gap collectively. Men and women from all over are invited to pray with us on every 3rd Saturday of the month, lifting our hearts and voices toward heaven and giving God the glory. God has given us a prayer strategy for Africa and He gave very specific dates on which we should pray. We have been following this strategy since 1993. The call to participate in the 3rd Day Unity in prayer; clearly demonstrates the church’ ability to function as a body regardless of the geographical distance (Ephesians 4:16). We have received countless testimonies across nations of the transforming power of uniting in prayer.

OUR PRAYER FLAG

A flag symbolizes the following: National Identity, culture, government, ideology, etc. When in a strange land and you see your flag you automatically connect with your nation and your people. The Praying for Africa Christian Flag is for the End Time Kingdom-minded People, who are passionate to see God’s Kingdom established in communities and nations. This flag symbolizes: • People who want to see their nation under God’s control (Psalm 24:1). • Want to co-labor with God to establish His Kingdom in every community (Matthew 6:10). • Want to strive for end time harvest (John 17:21-23). • Believe in the power of unity (Genesis 11:6). • Yield to God’s wisdom to accomplish His purpose (Joshua 6:1-5). • Stand in solidarity with the marginalized and the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19).

We call on believers globally to unite in prayers of thanksgiving with us on these 3 rd Saturday dates: 2020: 1/18; 2/15; 3/21; 4/18; 5/16; 6/20; 7/18; 8/15; 9/19; 10/17; 11/21; 12/19 Jesus prayed that all those who believe in Him may be brought to complete unity (John17:20-23). That too is the prayer of our hearts. For more information on the 3rd Saturday prayer movement please go to www.igoafricaforjesus.org THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

MEET SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGIAN,

President of Good Hope Institute — an American, federally registered non-profit organization. With a programme on Kruiskyk TV on ‘The Shocking Truth About God’, Dr Barkhuizen is this issue’s cover story. 14

COVER STORY DR . PIETER ERENS BARKHUIZEN, WE ARE HONOURED THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US AT TCL MAGAZINE. YOU ARE AN ORDAINED MINISTER, AN AUTHOR AND VISITING PROFESSOR OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY. PLEASE SHARE WITH US A LITTLE ABOUT WHEN THE LORD SAVED YOU AND HOW THE CALLING ON YOUR LIFE UNFOLDED. When the Lord saved you: Some people can recall the day and month they were “saved”. For me, it was a gradual process since my childhood, as my Christian parents raised me in the traditional way. This included my baptism as a baby, etc. However, later, as an adult, I began to make an independent study of the Bible for myself. During this process, I was drawn closer to God and the Plan of Salvation began to unfold. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord, and was then baptized by immersion.

addressing young people: The only way a desire or “hunger” for more information about God can take place, is when God Himself creates that need within our psyche. God is the One Who “draws” us, and young people will know when that moment occurs. The best advice would be that they position themselves in an environment that will offer such an opportunity. Join Christian Youth Groups, etc.

PLEASE EXPLAIN TO US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT JUST WHAT SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY IS?

This is a sub-discipline of the Christian faith that organizes the Bible into categorical systems from Genesis to Revelation. Some of these classifications include Theology Proper, which is the study about God the Father; Christology is the study about Jesus, the Son of the Father; Pneumatology is the study of the Holy Spirit; Soteriology is the study of salvation; Angelology is a study of angels; Thanatology is the study of what happens at the moment of death; etc. (the problem is, of course, with many “schools of interpretation”, where some Christians may view

ONCE I DISCOVERED THE BIBLICAL ANSWERS FOR MY MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE, I SIMPLY WANTED TO KNOW MORE AND MORE. I WANTED TO DRINK OF THE WATER OF LIFE, UNTIL “I THIRST NO MORE.”

YOU HAVE SO MANY INCREDIBLE ACCOLADES AND DECREES, YOU OBVIOUSLY LOVE KNOWLEDGE AND HAVE SUCH WISDOM. HOW DID THAT PASSION FOR “MORE” BECOME SO GREAT WITHIN YOUR SOUL. I GUESS WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS, HOW DO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY BECOME BLESSED TO RECEIVE THE HUNGER FOR MORE KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWER IT HAS FOR US TO SUCCEED? Firstly, passion for “more” knowledge: Once I discovered the Biblical Answers for my many questions about life, I simply wanted to know more and more. I wanted to drink of the Water of Life, until “I thirst no more.” The more the Truth set me free, the more I desired to keep on gaining Biblical knowledge. You can never have “enough”! Then, THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

topics from a different perspective or tradition) Close family-members of Systematic Theology includes dogmatics, apologetics, Christian ethics, etc.

YOU ARE REGARDED AS ONE OF THE LEADING VOICES IN THE CURRENT THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSIONS OF THE NONTRINITARIAN REVOLUTION. PLEASE SHARE MORE ON THIS SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING MOVEMENT IN MOST COUNTRIES OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, AND HAS ALSO BECAME A HOT TOPIC AMONG CHRISTIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA. The doctrine of the Trinity is not only the central or main doctrine of the Roman Catholic church, but it is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups. However, there are millions of Christians all around the world, who are non-Trinitarians. This had been the case since Old Testament times as well as the time of Jesus, the disciples, and the Early Christians. Most of those people were monotheists, believing in only one Yahweh Elohim. During the past decade, millions of Christians began to re-evaluate their view of just Who God is, and how many God is. Millions are meeting in Home Churches, and many Protestant ministers are joining the ranks of those who believe in what Jesus taught in John 17:3 and John 20:17. Please ask for your own FREE e-book, the Shocking Truth About God and discover the Biblical details yourself. (request from radiogoodhope@aol.com)

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT GOD FROM RADIOGOODHOPE@AOL. COM. CAN YOU SHARE A SNEAK PEAK? 16

This is a book about the theological concept and better understanding of Who God Is – a humble effort in straight forward language, for the casual reader. We will not only research The Shocking Truth About God Himself, but also a few other topics, such as The Truth About God’s Good News Gospel, God’s Judgment, The Truth about the Dead (and ask the question: can our deceased loved ones watch us from heaven?) We will also look at the Truth about God’s Day of Rest (Friday, Saturday or Sunday), and why so many ministers believe in a Wednesday Crucifixion. Our journey will explore the question if Jesus is God the Son, or if He is the Son of God. Then we will see if the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is also a “person”. We will look at the claim of some theologians that there are no humans in heaven right now, and there will never be any in heaven in the future! Another Shocking Truth about God, is the way He wants to make sure every person ever born in our world, will have an equal opportunity to hear the gospel... even those billions now alive and in their dusty graves who never had or will have a first opportunity to hear the message of Salvation. And then we will research the question

of Baptism: Sprinkling, Pouring, Immersion, or no longer required? Another controversial topic under current Bible-scrutiny, is the question of Speaking in Tongues: sense or non-sense? You will enjoy our time together as we look at the Truth about God’s attitude toward Israel in the chapter on End Time events in OUR TIME!

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The joy of being part of an addictâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s process of rehabilitation is indescribable.â&#x20AC;? I am the CEO and founder of the Institution of Grace Recovery and Restoration Centre. I am also the founding and Senior Pastor of Transformational Church alongside my beautiful wife Bronwyn Van Heerden. Both organizations are situated in the West of Johannesburg, Roodepoort Florida. From a very young age God called me into full time ministry. Not that I had nothing else to do, I excelled at cricket, playing well enough to regularly earn my provincial colors and getting to know and play alongside many famous cricketers long before their illustrious careers began. One of the most interesting and intriguing truths I however learned in my short time while on earth was that when God calls, you will listen. I loved cricket dearly, but God had another plan for my life and I could not resist but followed wholeheartedly. It happened while playing for Wits Cricket Club, right on the edge of my breakthrough to play professional and provincial cricket that I decided to heed to the call of God; be obedient and step into full-time ministry. To date it is still one of the toughest and most difficult decisions I ever had to make, but one I never get to regret because of the fulfilment that I find in living out my calling. My experience with drugs came 18

By Curt Van Heerden from witnessing its destructive effects on individuals, families and ultimately communities. I had this burning desire to bring about change to those ensnared in its devilish trap and share the message of hope and transformation that only a relationship with Jesus can bring. The best way to get this message across was to reach them while they were still young and because of my passion for young people, it resulted in a very effective youth ministry. My journey as a youth pastor played a major role in shaping me to one day be the CEO of a Rehabilitation Centre. The Institution of Grace was birthed in 2015 and officially opened its

doors on the 14th May the same year. The name is inspired by the fact that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that only through Gods unending love and grace can the addict find the required tools to implement the necessary changes and essential healing techniques to combat their inward brokenness. It is through the Institution of Grace that I learned about my subsequent love for producing leaders, world class leaders with the greatest stories and testimonies to share because of their previous addiction. God has been faithful to me and every soul that walked through the doors of our rehab centre. I have been blessed to see hundreds, if not thousands of addicts find change, purpose and a voice in society. I have been fortunate to see countless families restored through the beautiful work of the Holy Spirit. I have the amazing honor and privileged of raising world class leaders, in some instance the added blessing of ordaining them as credible and effective pastors. I get to officiate weddings of addicts who never saw an end to their addiction, men who saw themselves as useless become loving husbands, heads and priests of their own households. I get to see the hand of God at work daily; privileges that not many people get to experience and be a part of. I can confidently say nothing, absolutely nothing is too hard for God.

FINANCE

WISE FINANCIAL STEWARDS “May you prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2) By Gert Jackson The 2020 health pandemic has caught the world by surprise. No one could have predicted the widespread extent of the outbreak; although science would argue otherwise. While everyone initially was talking about the health crisis; few people could anticipate the substratum that would accompany the pandemic; that is the financial crisis. The sad and undesirable reality is that many people will be without work in the next three, six to nine months. We will not have a full recovery in the financial markets and economies of the world until around the year 2023. This means most companies will not eagerly recruiting new talent; as a matter of fact the corridor conversations in most enterprises will revolve around cost cutting. I am not trying to cast negativity or hopelessness on you financially. I am trying to create a sense of urgency and bring to your attention that this pandemic is in fact a portal. In other words, a new world of possibilities is waiting at the other side of this situation. A world in which you are making, managing, and multiplying your own wealth. In my book ‘Rich Young Ruler’ I categorize the content into three categories: Making Money, Managing Money and Multiplying Money. First you need to ask yourself, how am I going to make money going forward? I argue in the first chapter of the book that many people do not take responsibility because we tend to play the blame game. We do this by asking the wrong questions; we asking why instead of how. In the industrial age the differentiator was information because skill was common. In the information age which we are currently a part of, information is common and skills are rare. You have to develop and utilize your skills to make money in this era.

My suggestion to you is to make a list of all your skills. Once you have the list highlight the skills that could possibly make you money. If you do not have money making skills make another list of skills you could develop in order to make money. Secondly, once you have made the money you have to carefully manage the money you have made. This is where you need to make the hard decisions. Do not acquire more debt. Debt has become cheap because of the interest rate cuts due the pandemic but it will stay cheap. If you get trapped in debt now you will regret it in the future. The most used word of late is the word ‘essential’. You will need to look at your spending and ask yourself; is this essential before you spend. A top of the range vehicle is not essential. R1500 shoes are not essential. I suggest you make a list of your spending; than highlight that which is essential, the rest must be eliminated. I also want to recommend an entry and advanced model for your spending: Entry level • 10% - Must be given toward the work of God • 10% - Must be saved (What should be done with this money is explained in my book) • 80% - Must cover all your expenses Advanced level • 10% - Must be given toward the work of God • 20% - Must be saved (What should be done with this money is explained in my book) • 70% - Must cover all your expenses.

Lastly, you need to have a long term view of how you could multiply your money. This is unique to every individual and can be developed with a mentor. The scope of this article does not allow me to elaborate on this however; I do cover this topic extensively in my book. My prayer is always for financial wisdom, because financial freedom can only be wellmanaged and maintained by applying financial wisdom. Remember, the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Let us therefore be wise financial stewards of His riches and build a secure financial future. God bless! THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

HERITAGE DAY

UMUNTU NGUMUNTU NGABANTU By Claudene Sebolai

“I am, because you are” As Africans our heritage is deeply rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu. The title of this article is a Zulu phrase which means a person is a person through other people. One of the main proponents of Ubuntu is Archbishop Desmond Tutu who describes a person with Ubuntu as someone who is “open and available to others, affirming of others ... has a proper self-assurance.” This idea of Ubuntu reminds me of our Christian heritage which is rooted and grounded in love. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, His response was;

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” These two are totally inseparable. Someone cannot say “I love God” but dislike one’s neighbour nor have anything to do with one’s neighbour. Since God is love, and so we will love as Christ loves us. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 13. Love does not lend itself to rivalry but to peace, not to pride but to

humility. Love binds where there has been division, heals where there has been hate, and believes the best of others instead of the worst. Love enables the ministry of others rather than selfish interests. Without love there can be no unity. Love does not harm others by its inappropriate actions. Love does not satisfy its own needs while ignoring that of others. Love does not easily take offence. As we prepare our outfits and meat for heritage day celebrations, let us also reflect on our words and actions. Let us strive always to love our neighbour as ourselves. Happy Heritage Day! Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu!

ARUNDHATI ROY, INDIA

#FAITHOVERFEAR

During this time of collective trauma, the enormity of this pandemic and the global shutdown over it weighs heavy on us all. Our sense of normality has been turned upside down and there is a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety of what the near future holds. God is a Promise Keeper! He cannot leave or forsake us; He sealed that promise when He send the Holy Spirit. We can therefore stand on and hold fast to that promise. Here are a few inspiring nuggets to encourage us as we try to navigate through this challenging time.

Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different; it is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through it lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world.

@JoyceMeyer The Word of God is the most powerful thing in the universe! The Word is packed with life-changing power. When the Word is preached miracles are available to change lives, to save, to heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We serve a mighty, powerful, miracle-working God! @StevenFurtick The goal is not to just get through this. The goal is for God to show you something in it that makes you better on the other side. @ChristineCaine If there is one thing that this season has shown us, our sense of control isn’t as real as it seems. What we do know is that we have a God who is in complete control. He is sovereign, He is good, and He is faithful! He gives us faith that says “even if” I don’t understand, you are in control, God, and I trust You. @PaulaMichelleWhite God has you…spiritually, emotionally, relationally and financially. TRUST HIM!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

by Marchelle Le Roux

THE THREADS

It’s boots, coats, layers and knits. Keeping warm this winter is pretty easy with great deals all over and the best buys for this season are at times, found in your local thrift store. So, what’s needed for looking gorgeous this winter? A good coat is a must have, be it a Trench, Fur or even a Golden Oldie Knit that’s been handed down from your Gran. Layers are also a good option to have. Boots! Choose yours - long, short, military, high or flat. Wear them with a pretty dress or even denims and a crisp shirt. The choices are endless. A warm scarf is always a win to complete your look. They come in a range colours such as jade green, deep red oxtail or even a pretty blush pink to match your favourite lip colour. So with icy tips and cold air MOISTURIZE! approaching…layer up, be colourful and keep warm. MOISTURIZE!

MOISTURIZE!

HER CROWN

Don’t we all just love our hair when it’s clean and styled the way we want?But with cold air it might be difficult to sport our tresses. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. Like your skin that needs to stay hydrated, so does your hair. Keep it looking luxurious by applying your fav moisturiser, hair butter, oils or home made spritzer daily. And for all the natural queens protective styling is your best friend! Again… water for the win. Drink lots of it.

Ah! It’s cold…Our skin is prone to going dry and ashy. Now is not the time to stop moisturising. It’s needed now more than in summer. Butter, oils, rich and creamy. Your skin will thank you later. With lots of brands on the market, you might find the best ingredients in your own pantry. Honey, oats, sugar, coffee and even spices. Keep skin hydrated as much as possible. Keep showers to medium heat as hot water dries the skin.

BUDGET MEALS

By Joanna Dalene

Lockdown has been quite an emotional experience for me, because I love being outdoors and creating new experiences. It also had an impact on my finances which meant I had to cut down on my grocery list. I was faced with the challenge to make a little go a long way. Budget cooking has always been a part of me, however during the lockdown I was forced to go even beyond that. A lady close to me always told me “before you cook, pray over your pot”. And that is the secret ingredient in my kitchen. I hope that these two simple meals bless you and your family as much as it did mine. I challenge you to add your favourite lockdown recipe to my list and send it to family and friends.

BEAN CURRY

(6 HAPPY TUMMIES)

Ingredients • 2 tins Koo Sugar beans in brine • 1 Onion • 1 Tomato, grated • 1/2 Tsp ginger and garlic • Breyani mix (2 bay leaves, 1 cinnamon stick, pinch of jeera seeds) • 4 Tsp chilli powder • 1/2 Tsp Jeera powder or garaam masala • 3 Potatoes • Cut coriander Method Heat oil in a pot; add onion, ginger and garlic. Fry until onion is translucent. Add

in breyani mix whole spices. Add Jeera or Garam Masala and fry for 1 minute. Add grated tomato. Allow to fry for 1 minute. Add chilli powder. (I have catered for a mild to medium curry flavour, you can add more to taste.) Add a little water to form a paste. Allow to cook for a minute. Add washed canned beans (no brine should be used), salt to taste and a little boiling water. Add potatoes and coriander and boiling water to cover potatoes so that the beans and potatoes cook through. Cook until potatoes are soft. Serve with naan bread or rice as you prefer.

We all love something sweet for tea after supper. And let’s be honest, dessert is very expensive these days. I love peppermint tart and needed to find a way to make it using budget items

Peppermint FRIDGE TART

Ingredients • 1 Packet of tennis biscuits (any brand as you prefer) • Custard (I use a box of Ultra Mel) • 1 Slab of peppermint chocolate Method Break tennis biscuits into fine pieces into a casserole dish. Add custard. Crush chocolate and sprinkle over. Allow tart to settle for at least 12 hours so biscuit gets soft. And bon appetite! (Goes best with a cup of tea.)

I pray that these recipes will bless you and your family as you create the aroma of love in your kitchen and many more memories are made over a meal. Eat. Pray. Love!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

USEFUL ADVICE TO CONSIDER WHEN DRAFTING A WILL Having a will is undoubtedly one of the most important things you and your family can do for themselves. Not only can a will protect your spouse, kids and assets legally; it can also specify exactly how you want things to be handled after you’ve passed on. Ian Brink, Managing Director of Crest Trust Holdings Inc., gives us advice... WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO HAVE A WILL DRAFTED CONSIDERING THE CURRENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES? The current socio-economic circumstances and prevailing legislation have forced us to pursue other avenues to do succession planning and the subsequent drafting of a Will. Videocalling and consulting ensures personal inter-action whilst adhering to the call for social distancing. Although most Wills are drafted without first consulting an expert Wills drafter, this can often lead to the incorrect interpretation of a testator’s true intentions, which may result in financial losses for heirs. Make sure to consult with an expert Wills drafter to assist with the drafting of a legally executable Will.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE AN EXECUTOR FOR YOUR ESTATE? It is always a good idea to appoint and expert fiduciary practitioner as the executor of your deceased estate. Such a person will administer the estate based on his/her expertise and knowledge of deceased estates within the time allowed by the Master of the High Court to wind up an estate. If a testator wants to nominate an individual, such as a friend or family member, to be appointed as executor of his/her estate, the Master of the High Court will insist that the nominated executor appoints an agent (trust company, attorney, Fiduciary Practitioner (FPSA)) to assist with the administration of the estate. This is 24

done by way of a power of attorney, which means that the executor will instruct a professional institution to attend to the administration of the estate on his behalf. All the responsibilities and accountabilities, however, still lies with the appointed executor.

WHAT DOCUMENTS DO YOU NEED TO DRAFT A WILL? The expert Wills drafted needs to observe the ID of the testator, and in the event that a joint Will needs to be drafted, also that of the testatrix. Should the testator and/or testatrix be married, it is important to also observe the marriage certificate and ante nuptial agreement. This may play a vital role in the way assets are bequeathed to heirs and surviving spouses.

WHAT IS A USUFRUCT? A usufruct is the “use of the fruit” by a third party, of a specific asset that is bequeathed to someone else. If, for example, an orange tree is bequeathed to A, subject to the usufruct of B until she dies, it will mean that all the oranges that the tree produces in a year, will be for the exclusive use of B until she dies. The use of the fruit is a limited right, which means that the ownership that A inherits over the orange tree, is limited by the usufruct which B enjoys over that orange tree.

IF YOUR POTENTIAL BENEFICIARY IS MARRIED IN COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY, HOW DO YOU BEST SAFEGUARD

THE INHERITANCE FROM THE MARITAL PROPERTY REGIME? In South African law, there are two marital regimes: in community of property and out of community of property with or without accrual. If one is married in community of property and any one of the parties inherits assets, those assets are deemed to form part of the joint estate of the parties, unless the Will stipulates that such inheritance is excluded from the communal estate. Should an heir be married out of community of property, any inheritance received by him/her will be for the sole use and ownership of that heir and will, in terms of the Marital Property Act, also be excluded from any accrual between the parties.

IN WHICH WAY CAN THE INHERITANCE OF A MINOR CHILD BE SAFEGUARDED? The safest way to protect the inheritance of minor children would be to provide for a testamentary trust in the Will into which the Executor has to transfer the inheritance of minors. The trustees of the trust should also be expert professionals who will administer the trust for the benefit of the minors and to transfer the inheritance of such minors to them when they attain the age of majority, which currently is 18 years of age. Failing to set up a testamentary trust will result in the inheritance being paid over to the Guardians Fund which is administered by the Master of the High Court. Access to the Guardians Fund is very difficult and onerous.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

THE LEAST ROMANTIC BUT MOST IMPORTANT PART OF

When wedding bells ring, it’s easy to get lost in the details of the big day. Planning the wedding becomes so exciting that couples tend to forget what happens afterwards: their marriage. As unromantic as it sounds, money matters in a marriage and this is governed by matrimonial property systems under South African law. Unless a couple signs an antenuptial contract (called a prenup overseas), their marriage is automatically in community of property. This means that a joint estate, made up of the assets and debts that each of the newlyweds had before the wedding, is created. Each partner owns half of this new estate, regardless of what they bought into it. When things go well and you accumulate new assets, either separately or together, these go into your shared estate. There’s only one exception, and that’s if an asset is bequeathed or donated by someone else, who’s stipulated that it should not be included in the joint estate. When times get tough, any debt incurred by either spouse is also part of the joint estate. Because the estate is shared, spouses must manage it together. When buying or applying for a bond on property, each spouse must 26

consent. The same goes for credit agreements. If one partner’s gone into debt after a bad investment, the other may struggle to secure a loan. If the couple divorces, each is entitled to half of the total estate, regardless of who contributed to what during the marriage. If one spouse passes away, the other will keep half of the total joint estate, with the remaining half distributed according to the deceased spouse’s will. No matter how much you love your spouse, it can become stifling to not be financially independent. Many couples choose to marry out of community of property, which means that they sign an antenuptial contract before their wedding. They keep ownership of their assets from before the marriage, as well as any assets that they acquire during the marriage. They can decide to share in some of these assets and their benefits, but they’re free to manage their financial affairs and estates independently. Each spouse is responsible for their own debts, and these don’t have financial implications for the other. So if you’ve married to an entrepreneur getting a business off the ground, and your salary alone cannot support you, you can apply

for a loan to get you through. If the couple chooses to divorce, each spouse keeps the assets they brought into the marriage. Couples can include the accrual system in their antenuptial contract, which shares the capital gain that occurs during the marriage. Because couples pool their resources to buy things like houses, cars and furniture, it may be unfair to one spouse if most of these are registered in the other’s name. That’s why it’s important to speak to your attorney about how to structure your antenuptial contract. If one spouse passes away, their estate is distributed according to the will; but if the surviving spouse is not included in the will, they will have a claim under the accrual system that must be settled before the beneficiaries under the will inherit. Because antenuptial contracts are designed to set out systems for the marriage itself, it’s a great time to speak to your future spouse about the financial future you want, and work together with a trusted attorney to write a document to help you build your life together. To to chat to us about which option is best for you and your partner, contact us on 011 347 0300 or info@lawmen.co.za.

WE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

Property transfers and other registrations Estate planning, drafting wills and registering trusts Winding up deceased estates Antenuptial contracts Representation in court Drafting and checking contracts and providing all legal services a business may require Consumer and credit law, from the perspective of either consumers or suppliers Conflict management and mediation in marital and other family relationships, within organisations such as churches and businesses and in disputes as an alternative to litigation. +27 11 347 0300 | 0861 Lawman (0861 529 626) +27 82 852 1453 | robin@lawmen.co.za www.robintwaddle.co.za

PROTECTING AND UPHOLDING OUR CLIENTS' INTERESTS AND RIGHTS THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

THE NECESSITY OF

NAVIGATING THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS By Elroy Cook “A compelling vision is the key to unlock your best and most blessed life” I grew up in a small backroom that was supposed to be a single garage but was too small to even house a car and was raised by a single mom who would work extremely hard to ensure we had our daily needs met. I had to navigate an already difficult life and had to deal with the burden of being unemployed. Dreaming of a better life, free from the daily struggles, free from the misfortunes, the labels and the effects of childhood trauma became my quest. This journey has taken me to blissful highs and disappointing lows of total financial collapse, losing close friends who abandoned me when I was at my lowest, dismally failing numerous times and wrestling with suicidal thoughts that hang over my life like a dark cloud. Against all odds, I have succeeded and learned how life’s most painful struggles often lead to our greatest triumphs. After years of questioning what really separates those who achieve their ultimate dreams and those who do not, I have finally discovered the primary key. A compelling vision is the key that will unlock abundant wealth and the best quality of life you most desire. I explore the power of vision in my book, “The 7 Components of Vision: The Proven Formula To Extraordinary Success.” This book is the culmination of a decade researching the lives of highly successful people and applying their principles to reap similar results. Without a strong vision people will find themselves pursuing their dreams without a plan which increases their chances of failure because there are very few things of prestige, if any at all, that are achieved without a plan. A dream no matter how amazing it may be remains a wishful fantasy unless it’s backed by a strong vision. Throughout the bible the power of vision is articulated. For example Joseph, the Hebrew slave, went from being a prisoner to becoming the prime minister of Egypt. 28

Joseph was not just a big dreamer but a great visionary. He was summoned from the prison to the palace to interpret the Egyptian Pharaoh’s dream and the dream detailed how the Egyptian Nation would go through seven years of abundance followed by seven years of harsh famine. To prepare for the seven years of famine and ensure they had enough food available Joseph did more than just interpret Pharaoh’s dream. He deployed a vision so effective that they became a source of provision for the entire then known world during the time of the famine. There are a lot of people who are good at articulating the problems that exist in society, but it’s only visionary leaders like Joseph who tailors the solution. Vision will exploit the gift and produce extraordinary results. The New Year’s Eve sermon in many churches this year was the importance of 2020 vision. Little did we know; we would face the crisis we do today. It would be easy to give in to hopelessness given the current context. I am reminded of the Jewish boys Shadrach, Mesach and Abednigo who were thrown in the fire for choosing to serve God. Their vision of the fourth man in the fire gave them the ability to navigate through the excruciation challenge they faced at the time. Likewise, vision will help to steer us through the difficulties we are facing right now. The promise of God for us today is powerfully captured in Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARENTS, TEACHERS AND LEARNERS By Nigel Koopman Fear has gripped hearts both locally and globally. Covid-19 has swept across the globe and claimed the lives of thousands. On the 1st of June SA’s phased in school program will commence. There are mixed feelings and strong debates regarding this move. Parents, teachers and learners are all faced with their own fears and anxieties. During such times one can only turn to the Word of God for strength, comfort and courage. Along with Psalm 91; here are some scriptures of encouragement to pray and confess daily. Deuteronomy 31v8: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Psalm 4v8: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Proverbs 12v25: Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Isaiah 41v10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Jeremiah 29v11-13: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Matthew 11v28: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Romans 8v38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1v10: He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

By: Claudene Sebolai Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you. For in fact, darkness will cover the earth. And deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you [Jerusalem]. And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you. Isaiah 60:1-2 (Amplified) The verb “step up” implies action. The dictionary definition for “step up” means to increase something, to come forward, to improve one’s performance or to take on more responsibility. In other words, one cannot “step up” whilst remaining inactive or unproductive. In Isaiah 60, God is presenting Israel with a challenge to step up. The prophecy opens up with a very powerful word “arise”. In my own words, this one word is a call to wake up, stand up and step up! Waking up in this context refers to the realization that your present situation; be it physically, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, financially etc., is no longer satisfactory. In other words, you cannot accept that where you are now is all there is to life. Waking up creates a hunger for standing up. You cannot step up unless you stand up from an unacceptable present.

WOMEN

ARISE [FROM SPIRITUAL DEPRESSION TO A NEW LIFE], SHINE [BE RADIANT WITH THE GLORY AND BRILLIANCE OF THE LORD]; FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME, AND THE GLORY AND BRILLIANCE OF THE LORD HAS RISEN UPON YOU.

When God calls us to “arise” it is always to a better version of ourselves, to a place that is larger than what we used to, to a dimension that is deeper than our mind can comprehend. It is a call to wake up to our true existence; our God given potential. Even when you feel that your situation is hopeless, dead and dry. He is the same God that commissioned Ezekiel the prophet to prophesy to a valley of dry bones and speak life to what was once dead and dry (Ezekiel 37). When Ezekiel prophesied in obedience to God’s word, the very dry bones became a vast army. If dry bones could respond to God’s call to step up, how much more should we? Arise! I too, at one point in my life felt like all hope was gone. I could not imagine a life better than the one I was living. I was living in

extreme poverty; unemployed, and eventually resorted to alcohol and drug abuse. Before the age of 21 I felt like life was literally sucked out of me. BUT GOD CALLED ME TO ARISE! Encountering Jesus woke me up to new possibilities. He called me to arise out of my situation, and it required me to stand up from where I was. I had to stand up from a victim mentality, and step up to what God had created me to be. When I decided to step up everything about me stepped up with me. My vocabulary stepped up, my mentality stepped up, my vision for the future stepped up, my finances stepped up, my creativity and productivity stepped up. My territory was enlarged, my sphere of influence increased and my quality of association expanded. Arise! Would you answer the call of God to “arise?” Arise from the ashes of

disappointment; arise from the pain of the past; arise from the fear of rejection; arise from the prisons of oppression; arise from depression and suicide ideation; arise from inactivity and unproductivity; arise from dry and lonely places! Life will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it! Life may defeat you, burn you, insult you, injure you, abandon you, reject you, disappoint you and betray you… but it shall not and cannot destroy you! Why? Because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in you! Tap into that power and step up; rise again as Jesus rose again! Determine in your mind to wake up to who you truly are; stand up from where you currently are and step up to where God is calling you to. You are strong and fierce and full of fire. ARISE! Happy women’s day Queens.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

WOMEN

RUNNING RAMPANT DURING LOCKDOWN â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is crucial for pastors and governments to intensify their efforts as they call into account the perpetrators of gender based violenceâ&#x20AC;?. By Elizabeth Petersen A recent newspaper article revealed a dramatic increase of between 500 -1000 gender based violence calls per day to the crisis line during the Covid19 Lockdown in SA. What we are seeing during this particular time of crisis is the tip of the iceberg as most women who find themselves in abusive intimate relationships are usually confined and closely monitored by their abusive partners. For women of Faith it is even more difficult because of certain teachings in the church that prohibits her from seeking help outside of her faith community. This exacerbates her confinement. It is important to note that while Covid19 Lockdown is necessary to curb the spread of the pandemic, it intensifies the personal crisis for women and their families who are living with their abusers. Going to

church and participating in church activities often serve as a very important coping mechanism for women of faith in abusive relationships. During Covid19 Lockdown this option is not available to her. While offering assistance to women who are victimized during this time, it is absolutely crucial for pastors and governments to intensify their efforts as they call men to account for the violence and oppressive behaviour that they exert on women and their families. We must be careful about blaming menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s violence and oppression of women on Covid19 Lockdown. Faith leaders must use this time to reach out to individuals and families who are vulnerable to and afflicted by GBV. Check in with the perpetrator and hold him accountable. This is a great time for men who struggle with abusive behaviour

and oppressive tendencies to reach out to GBV counselling services. We must recognize that these men are very capable of implementing any strategy that they put their minds and hearts to. Too often the church has been making excuses for the men and the church neglected to be salt and light to abusive men. Too often the church has offered quick forgiveness in the hope that the problem will disappear. Unfortunately the problem of intimate partner abuse does not just disappear. It travels with the abuser from one relationship to another until such time that it is confronted and dealt with. It does not matter how much the woman submit or respect her abusive husband, he will find something to justify why he punishes her. In many instances there is no physical violence but intense emotional, sexual, financial

and spiritual trauma that women of faith experience in their intimate relationships. The Bible is clear in John 10:10 where Jesus said that “the thief came to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Pastors are encouraged to strengthen their pastoral care capabilities by acquainting themselves and their ministry team leaders with the much needed knowledge about interventions with men who abuse their intimate partners. It is important for pastors and counsellors to understand that there is a fundamental difference between a marital problem and intimate partner abuse. It can be extremely dangerous to apply couple counselling without understanding this this fundamental difference. SAFFI (South African Faith and Family Institute) offers various opportunities for training and technical support to faith leaders and churches to make their places of worship true sanctuaries of

hope and healing to individuals and families who are confronted with intimate partner abuse. We assist pastors / faith leaders and churches to critically reflect on their existing intervention policies, procedures and approaches to intimate partner abuse situations; and we help them develop denomination specific resources to assist the people in their respective congregations. We also assist by reviewing how churches address clergy sexual misconduct and we assist by ensuring that proper procedures are followed to get help for the clergy person and everyone that is affected by the situation. For more information on SAFFI you can reach us on our Facebook page or website, www.saffi.org.za

“THE BIBLE IS CLEAR IN JOHN 10:10 WHERE JESUS SAID THAT “THE THIEF CAME TO STEAL, AND TO KILL AND TO DESTROY. I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

WOMEN

FINDING CHRIST AGAIN! Jade Wyngaardt’s story, written by Chevãn Van Rooi In June of 2016, I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer in my left breast. I was 27 years old at the time and had two children. The diagnosis came at the time I had started a business, and was doing well. However, I was far from God, I had turned away from Jesus Christ.

SUPPORT SYSTEM As with any difficult time that that we may go through in our lives, having a good support system is important. Since my diagnosis until this very day, my husband, George, has been my greatest support. And even though I had turned my back on God, my brothers and sisters in Christ at Faith Mission of Prophecy in Mitchells Plain didn’t turn their backs on me. I was energised by their unwavering faith and support extended to me. I knew I was not alone.

THE TEST The Friday before I was admitted to hospital for my mastectomy I wasn’t feeling well. I decided to take a pregnancy test. The result turned out to be positive. Now I was pregnant and had breast cancer, a hormone-sensitive cancer. I had to disclose this information to my doctors. They informed me that the pregnancy had serious implications on my then-current-treatment plan. So I signed a termination of pregnancy, without my husband or church’s input or knowledge. George was devastated when he had found out what I had decided upon. He wasn’t happy with losing a family member, but I made the 34

decision based on the doctors’ reports and the fact that we already had two children, young children who needed me to live.

THE PLAN With the input of my doctors, I had a very militant plan of action to tackle my plight: doctors were to remove the left cancerous breast, then an elective right breast removal, as well as the termination of the pregnancy, followed by the reconstruction process. On the day of my surgery there was a delay. There was another cancer patient who needed more urgent surgery. As a result, my militant strategy was deemed incompatible with God’s plan. It turned out that I could have only my left breast removed, along with the cancer that had spread to the left armpit – no elective right breast removal, no abortion, not then at least. I was to go to Groote Schuur’s abortion clinic the Tuesday following my operation. At the abortion clinic, I was sitting in the corridor, waiting. At the same time I was battling with God. I even hoped that there would be no heartbeat. A large part of me didn’t want to go through with the abortion, I began to feel what my husband was feeling all along. When I got into the doctor’s room, she did the dating scan, standard procedure.

Unlike in usually termination situations, the doctor asked me if I wanted to know anything about my pregnancy. I said yes. Despite the cancer treatment, there were healthy heartbeats, and no deformities. Yes, I was pregnant with twins. Immediately, I decided against the abortion. I left the clinic and went home to give my husband the good news. He jumped up out of bed, out of his mourning state. He was overjoyed and shouted “I knew it!” – he had a dream that he hadn’t disclosed to me. Because of a list of speculated risks, the doctors weren’t happy with my decision to not terminate. However, I chose to fight for my babies. A new oncologist joined the team of experts and reported then-new findings, that it was possible to be pregnant and undergo chemotherapy without bringing harm to the babies. Today I can boast in the Lord Jesus Christ, closer to Him than before, I am cancer free and delivered two healthy twin babies, our miracle twins. I’m a mother of four beautiful children. Indeed God’s gift of infinite and relentless love, and grace carried us through. He is our Keeper.

ART

DISPLAYING

HIS GLORY

By Caroline Jordaan

Having an artist as a mother, I grew up with a paintbrush in my hand and used my legs and the walls as a canvas. I started oil painting in high school and immediately developed a love for it. I would spend hours developing my technique by sitting in the forest in Helderberg sketching nature around me, which deepened my love for both painting and creation. God speaks to me through nature, and as we look at creation around us, we see Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand everywhere we look. His constant care and provision for His birds, His gentle refreshing showers of rain on His fragrant, beautifully arrayed flowers, the striking colours with which he clothes the field (how much more shall He clothe and provide for you, His precious child?) His glory as the rays of the sun reflects on the surface of water and makes it sparkle. The bleak and naked winter tree patiently waiting for the coldest winter to fulfil its work that it might bring forth abundant life as spring appears. The delicate seed globe of the dandelion lifting its little head, ready to sacrificially give and give

and give, holding nothing back, so that a new harvest may come. There are vast arrays of lessons in nature about Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care for us, His character and His power. It is my prayer that God may speak to and touch people through my art, and be drawn closer to Him. That each artwork will bring a sense of awe, joy, peace and beauty into your home. Out of all creation, what is most valuable to God? People are. And they too are my favourite subject to paint! With every portrait I carefully and prayerfully capture the character

of each person on canvas. Sometimes I also paint prophetically and a bit more spontaneously as the Holy Spirit leads. My artistic talent is a gift from God and should be used for His glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom. I live in Cape Town with my husband Matthew and serve Jesus as part of the leadership of a local Christian church. I do commissioned artworks of any size. To place an order or contact for a quote contact +27827062134 Or to view more of my work visit: www.carolinejordaanart.wordpress.com THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

TRAVEL

It is said that there are huge benefits in travelling. We chat with Chrishando and Judy Smith as they take us down memory lane on their travelling experiences. WHAT IS YOUR BEST TRAVEL MEMORY? For Judy, Turkey was memorable. It was incredible because of being able to go to the locations of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation. We stopped at every church, had communion and prayed and worshiped. It is also rich in culture and we found it very welcoming to tourists. For Chris, it was packing only one change of clothing and taking our two empty suitcases for our first trip to Thailand in 2013.

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Turkey, Netherlands and Thailand - and all for various reasons. Turkey is full of visible history and you can be on two continents at the same time. In Netherlands we experienced a life of simplicity, no high walls and wellmanicured parks. Thailand is built for tourism and every day is a beach day. Shopping in Thailand is amazing!

WHAT WAS THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY TRIP THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON? Definitely Zanzibar! We booked full board and lodging and it is close to South Africa. With a full travelling package you are never hungry or thirsty and most packages include a day tour into the famous Stone Town. You could do a day trip to Stone Town and visit the Prision Island and Palace Museum. The Spice tour is also a must see when in Zanzibar. Be prepared as the airport is incredibly basic - they literally throw your bag through a hole in the wall but it is a very interesting experience if you prepare yourself for it. The resorts are well catered for and most of them have private beaches that are crystal clear and the water recedes so far that you can take long walks on the coast during low tide. Zanzibar is the perfect getaway for those wanting to rest and recuperate.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL MODE? Trains in Europe. They have free fast Wi-Fi and it is safe and always on time! 36

SPIRITUAL ENGLAND 7 DAYS | 1 COUNTRY | 3 CITIES England's iconic cathedrals and the ancient site of Stonehenge feature on this spiritual encounter with a land whose religious heritage gave rise to such denominations as Methodism and Anglicanism.

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TRAVEL WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST INSPIRING TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY? Turkey for the reasons mentioned earlier but also for the incredible spiritual encounters we had there.

IF ANY, WHAT ARE YOUR 3 REMAINING BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS? Israel, Canada and Croatia.

ANY WORD OF ADVICED FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER TRAVELLED BUT HAS A DESIRE TO DO SO? Once you have travelled across the shores for the first time, it becomes a bug that bites and you just do not want to stop. The greatest perk in traveling has to be the way it opens your heart to different cultures, cuisines and creativity.

A FEW HELPFUL TIPS: Research a place before you make a booking. • Have printed copies of your travel documents but also save them on Cloud or Google drive where it is easily accessible. Always have a pen with you. •

Your bank will offer you free basic travel insurance. Check with your bank as most countries in Europe will require travel insurance before they issue your VISA.

•

Trip advisor is very good for reviews and we have found it to be very helpful but be careful that one grumpy traveller does not skew your perspective of an otherwise decent hotel.

•

Money exchange: For us it was better to work in the actual currency of the country we were planning to visit. Most countries love taking Dollars and Euros, but that works out more expensive for South Africans. So rather use their local currency. Find out beforehand about the culture of trade. Some countries love and welcome bargaining and some don’t. You need to know this or else you can get ripped off. Before exchanging currency, consult with your bank about their fees. Do the homework as it could save you some extra spending cash - especially with the South African Rand at most times being the weaker currency.

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THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

MARRIAGE

“HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS NOT JUST FOR FAIRY TALES” Frank and Rieta Booysen share their story of love and marital bliss as they celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary. HOW DID YOU MEET? In our early twenties, we were introduced by a friend in Eden Park, Johannesburg. This was way back in the 90’s. We had no idea that we would end up dating. We were polar opposites and because of this, we had lengthy debates which developed into a good friendship. From acquaintanceship, we became best friends. We had a courtship of five years before we got married.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN COMMON? At the beginning we did not have much in common, we both had to learn to adapt, we had to compromise on a lot of things to cultivate the love that was busy blooming between us. We love touring the country and adventure. We would take unplanned road trips and enjoy the beauty of nature together. We love cooking and our favourite cuisine is Indian food. We also enjoy laid back moments sitting in our garden and chat about our day to day experiences. Because we work with people, we share a lot, and 40

it keeps us communicating all the time. We thrive on deep conversation and share the same beliefs and interests. This has shaped our worldview as a family and contributed to a healthy marriage relationship. After 21 years we still enjoy one another’s company very much.

THE BOND OF LOVE IS SO EVIDENT AND TANGIBLE, HOW DO YOU KEEP THE FLAME ALIVE? Sometimes it’s the small things you do constantly in life that wins the heart of your spouse over and over again. A merry heart is like good medicine. In the fast pace of life, marriages are under severe pressure and we must pause and make time to keep the flame of love alive. Intimacy is not only about sex and the fire in marriage is not kept alive by expensive gifts, but rather the special intimate moments we as couples share with one another that builds and sustains a good lasting marriage. We love taking time off from our busy lives to focus on our ourselves. It’s not always about having money to

take breaks, we don’t build our happiness on money or material things. We are comfortable talking about intimacy, the Lord has made us one and therefore we do not have to hide anything from one another

ANY MARRIAGE MYTHS YOU WANT TO BUST. Love is from God, and anyone that loves, is born of God. Successful marriages need to be built and be sustained on something. Christ is the only solid rock on which we stand; all other grounds are sinking sand. The only security we have for marriage is God, not material things. Some cultures believe that when you marry, you marry the whole family, this means family can interfere in your affairs. This is a myth; marriage is about two people with God as the third person. Other myths are when the women are a lesser person in the relationship and seen as subjects. Another myth is when young people are encouraged to marry for security and not for love, this is conventional wisdom that is not build on facts for example getting married with a person that you share the same interests with. Another is not accepting council and advice from other reliable sources. Male dominancy in marriage does not solve important issues. Neither does nagging spouses solve issues; it only aggravates the relationship.

EVANGELISTIC AND PROPHETIC MINISTRY Of Wessel van der Merwe

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR NEWLYWEDS? Never build your marriage on other people’s models, build your own legacy and take time to know one another. When you build a house, build a good foundation because it will have to support the walls and the roof of the house for a lifetime. Many marriages fail because of a bad foundation. Receive pre and post marital counselling, find a couple with a good track record to mentor you for the first few years of your marriage. Read good books on marriage, attend marriage seminars on a regular basis. Put a compulsory break away at least twice a year just the two of you. Avoid negative and competitive friends, hang out with couples who will elevate and benefit you’re young marriage. Do not always want to prove to be right, avoid unnecessary arguments, be trustworthy, be transparent especially around finances. Be honest; honesty is the best policy, it holds practical and moral reasons. Marriage is a process that requires a lot of patience. It is not about the happiness of one individual, it’s always about both partners. Be best friends, partners in Christ and always be ready to forgive. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says, ‘Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up! A cord of three strands is not quickly broken’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).

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SERVING TONGAAT THROUGH AFM CHURCH

Apostle Ronnie Naidoo and his wife Shirley Naidoo are the senior pastors of the AFM church in Tongaat, Kwazulu Natal. They have three children; Ronelle, Rene and Reynold. PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR UPBRINGING AND WHEN YOU REALISED THAT YOU WANTED TO GO INTO MINISTRY I grew up in Tugela, a rural area on the North coast of KZN. I was raised in a staunch Hindu household. My mom fell ill in 1971 and was hospitalized until January 1972. The doctors could not do anything for her and advised us to take her home where she can die in peace. During this time some of my Christian relatives visited our house and wanted to pray for her but as Hindus we blatantly refused. They persisted and we gave in to their request and as they prayed the power of God touched my mom right there and then and she was healed 42

immediately. To date, she is still alive and well and has celebrated her 90th birthday. I was amazed at what had happened and wondered who this God was. Whose God is this? As Hindus we served so many gods and none of them ever answered our prayers. It was then that I realized who Jesus was and why He came. I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour when I was 16 years old and I desired immediately to be involved in God’s work. I entered into full time ministry, 46 years ago, after matriculating.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE “HAVEN OF REST” Our church mission is to elevate God, edify the body and evangelize the world. Elevating God is more than a Sunday program; it is a way

of life. We believe in a communal church, edifying the body of Christ and developing our members for effective ministry. As a communal church we strive to follow the “Each 1 Reach 1” principle. Where there are people, there must be a church. This is mainly achieved through evangelizing. We have a missionary in Malawi and also opened an orphanage there. We support 32 works in Pakistan and even in India. So we believe that the whole church has to take the whole Gospel to the whole world. Haven of Rest is an initiative that was birthed out of Matthew 25. Under the banner of Haven of Rest we run a children’s home, an old age home, a hospice, a frail care, a rehab centre and a hope centre for abused

PASTORAL INTERVIEW

AS A COMMUNAL CHURCH WE STRIVE TO FOLLOW THE “EACH 1 REACH 1” PRINCIPLE. WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE, THERE MUST BE A CHURCH.

women. We take care of 120 people and we do 360 meals per day. This is the heart of AFM Tongaat. Church for us is reaching out to the vulnerable and needy of society.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CORONA VIRUS ON YOUR MINISTRY PLANS AND INITIATIVES FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? I believe that the church is far stronger now than it ever was. We live stream through Facebook and our pastors are staying in touch with our members always checking up on their wellbeing and whether the have anything to eat. The corona virus is a diabolical attack globally. We do adhere to lockdown regulations and our Haven of Rest is running smoothly (all glory to God). Covid-19 is having a negative impact financially. I suppose everyone in the country will feel that if this lockdown continues. We continue to encourage our people to live by faith and not give in to fear.

HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE THE BODY OF CHRIST AS WE GO THROUGH THIS CRISIS COLLECTIVELY? “Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed” (Rom. 8:19). Creation is waiting; for you to encourage, to move in the supernatural, to believe God for the supernatural and to be a healing balm to the rest of the world. If God is the Creator and the Preserver of this world, then God’s children have a far more important role to play. We have the blood covering us, and the Word of God guiding us. This battle is the Lord’s, the victory is ours. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus that give us the victory. Jesus is in total control! God knows exactly what is happening and He has never left us, nor forsaken us! Be strong! The weapons may be formed against us but it will never ever prosper!

EDUCATION

A PRODUCT OF ANSWERED PRAYERS By Chevãn Van Rooi “Can you tell us a bit about how you achieved cum laude?” That was a question I was asked by Dr Peck, a lecturer in the Linguistics Department at The University of the Western Cape, in an interview she hosted with me and other top achievers in our department. In responding to the question I was asked, I noted two Ps that played a vital role in my undergraduate journey (they are still of great importance to me today in various, if not all spheres of my life): Passion and Prayer. In pursuit of an education, we need to find something that we are passionate about. Unfortunately, I grew up in a culture that trained me for materialism; you need to study law / engineering / medicine, et cetera to make it in life, to earn the good money, they said. I think that’s one of the most detrimental things to building a healthy society. Such training suppresses passion. You need to find that something that wakes you up in the morning and keeps you from sleeping at night, that something that makes you excited and gives you great joy. Find that, or something close to it in education and pursue it. Fortunately 44

for me, I rejected their training. I chose what I’m passionate about – language and language related issues. I’ve obtained two degrees (cum laude) in linguistics, and I’m busy with my third, a Master’s degree – all to the glory of God. Prayer. This is indeed the most important P that we have access to, yet it is overlooked or simply deemed insignificant by many, for many reasons. I believe strongly, and this I don’t say lightly, that without prayer, fervent prayer of the righteous, I would not have made it, I would not have excelled. Whatever I do – be it in the education domain, or any other domain, I make it a point for me to gather believers to pray, to call on the name of the Lord. The results are clearly evident. There are times when I was unable to pray, when I was weak, when the prayers

of others carried me through. So, a tip: surround yourself with believers who will carry you in prayer. I am a product of answered prayers. Do not underestimate the life changing power of prayer. It is the tool that God has given us, ambassadors of His Kingdom, on earth (in the education domain), to bring His Kingdom down, as Jesus prayed in Matthew 6. A big part of me believes that we cannot be called Christians if we do not pray. So, my advice to you is to pray (accompanied by hard-work and dedication) your educational success into existence. Apart from the two Ps I highlighted in the interview, I would like to bring another into this conversation: purpose. My friend, you need to understand that education needs to align with your purpose. Purpose goes hand-in-hand with passion,

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passion is a driving force behind purpose. Prayer helps us to define our purpose, it grounds us in the will of God. Esther had a purpose, Naomi had a purpose, Joseph, Daniel, David, Jonas, Sarah, Jesus, all of them had a purpose to fulfil. The point that I’m making is that education should help you to fulfil your godly purpose. And it cannot do that if we do not know what our purpose is. In the Christian community that I was exposed to, for many years there was a tendency to not have Christian children go to university – it was seen as a forbidden place, unholy and corrupting. To an extent that can be regarded as true – university barely has room for Christian views. Then again, more and more of society is becoming less ‘Christian-friendly’. However, it is up to

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us to change that. If we avoid occupying such spaces, we will have very little impact. Humanities, the sciences, technology, law, they are necessary career paths that we should pursue, as long as we allow our Christian values and morals to persist with love and grace. And in this difficult time that we find ourselves, a time of the unknown and a time that challenges us to step out of our comfort zones, note that we are versatile. Know that the Holy Spirit that lives in us, has been through various eras, each bringing about its own challenges. He has overcome, He has come out unharmed, victorious. He lives in us. Therefore, we can say with great confidence, that we are more than conquerors. We will overcome. We will not just survive, but thrive. God bless you.

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WORSHIP

â&#x20AC;&#x153;To a heart of worship, God is always the object of affection and devotion. By Joshua January

I am a church boy. I grew up in the church and was socialized to believe that worship is something that we do on a Sunday morning. The three fast songs and three slow songs that heighten the emotions to the point where we sometimes burst out crying yet to some extend still leaves us with a feeling of emptiness. Surely there must be more to worshipping the Creator of the heavens and the earth. My desire for more of God has lead me on a path of constantly seeking and digging deeper wells of worship. In my search for the meaning of true worship I was led to the story 48

of Abraham where God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Chasing after God and seeking Him requires denying oneself and dying to the flesh daily. Just like Abraham, even when it hurts to follow Christ, our call to worship is greater than just singing and dancing. Living a life of worship requires one to place oneself on the altar as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God (Rom 12:2). The problem these days with living sacrifices are that the flesh crawls off the alter before the fire of God can transform us. I have to admit even when I presented my body as a living sacrifice it was always about my

needs first. I soon learned that the altar of sacrifice is a place of purging and not blessings. Worship should not stop when the Sunday service is over and the worship team is done and the church building is locked. Worship is a way of life! A heart of worship requires three basic acts which is obedience, separation and sacrifice. Obedience is never popular and should not be partial. Abraham, although it pained him to obey Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s command, fully obeyed God. Abraham had no detailed map, no itinerary, no satellite or pin location yet he followed God wholeheartedly.

His obedience to God called him out of his comfort zone and today he is still referred to as the father of faith. His act of obedience led him to a place of separation. Someone once said that separation is the key to elevation. Instead of sacrificing his son, God provided him with a sacrificial lamb. I cannot begin to imagine the relieve Abraham must have felt. Come back to the heart of worship where it is all about Jesus, the centre of it all. During these days of crisis and collective trauma, let us truly worship God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ever ask or think. No encounter with God is ever wasted; we experience His transformative power every time we choose to worship Him. Let our lives become a living testimony; a beacon of hope and light as we willingly obey God; separating ourselves from any form of distraction and becoming a living sacrifice unto Him. May He always be the object of our affection and devotion and may we worship as a response and not for a response. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

ON THE OF ONE OF THE FIERCEST BATTLES By Cecilia Pestana “Do not fear, for I am with you, I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

PASSION After finishing matric I moved to Cape Town, from the Northern Cape, to pursue my studies in photography. However, in the first year of studying photography I decided I wanted to do something more meaningful and the following year I started studying nursing at Tygerberg hospital. During my second year of studying I was invited to a Charismatic church by a friend and encountered Jesus Christ in a radical manner. It was like falling in love for the first time for me because I realized that I could actually have a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and not just live according to the Christian rules.

my four year course which qualified me as a Registered Nursing Sister (Community, Paediatric, General and Midwifery). I furthered my studies and obtained a higher diploma in Theatre technique and in 2004 was a

AS A CHILD OF GOD I CAME FACE TO FACE WITH AN UNKNOWN ENEMY, BUT INSIDE MY HEART I KNEW THAT GOD HAS PREPARED ME THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE CAREER TO BE STRONG, COURAGEOUS,

PROFESSION

TO WALK IN BOLDNESS

Nursing proved harder than I could imagine. As a young, carefree young lady I was suddenly confronted with life and death situations, sickness and the side of life that people normally shy away from. During this time my faith in God kept me strong as I was suddenly removed from the carefree life I was accustomed to. I worked, studied and had very little free time. I was determined to finish what I started and in December 1999 I completed

IN THE MIDST OF FEAR! specialist in my field of theatre nurse. I’ve been working in this field for 20 years and am currently working for a private healthcare group called Advanced Health Day clinic. Here I was promoted to second in charge of the facility and together with the facility manager we continue to work in our field of expertise to provide excellent health care to our patients

before, during and after surgery.

PURPOSE When news came of the pandemic starting in China and moving over the globe, we as healthcare professionals experienced an anticipation of an unknown, a sudden invisible enemy that would soon breach our shores. There was relatively very little knowledge concerning the Covid-19 virus and I was set out to gain as much information as possible regarding the spread of the virus in preparation for what was coming. When the lockdown started we were plunged into the reality of the pandemic and had to do extensive training with our staff on preventative measures and on wearing PPE and do what we were trained to do so well. Not only did we have to deal with the virus but we have to constantly confront our own fears. Daily we are faced with the danger of contracting the virus and transmitting it to our families. We are forced to tend to our own anxieties. As a child of God I came face to face with an unknown enemy, but inside my heart I knew that God has prepared me throughout my whole career to be

strong, courageous, to walk in boldness in the midst of fear! I can confidently declare with the Psalmist David “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil…” God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of boldness and a sound mind! Fatigue is the order of the day and as mother and wife it becomes difficult to come home from a stressful day at work and having some energy left for my family. Throughout this time God taught me to continue to pray, to spend time worshipping Him anywhere and anytime and to confess that it is well with my soul! The scripture that comes to mind is Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you, I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Your support in prayer and encouraging messages during this time is much appreciated as we daily fight for the ones that cannot fight for themselves. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

PARENTING

ON BLENDED

KNEES “A Blended Family that Prays Together Stays Together” By Sherna Abrahams

My husband and I have celebrated 15 wonderful years of marriage this year. We have 3 children ages 12, 18 and 19. When we met my son was 3 years old and his daughter 4 and to our surprise they share the same birthday. And so our journey of a blended family started. Even though the blended family is very common these days in the modern family setting, it’s not often spoken about. There are many struggles and misunderstandings between newly married couples about the kids. Who disciplines? Whose complaints do you entertain? Whose side do you choose? Husband or wife, or the kids? It was very hard for us. It took us about 7 years to find our flow in the blended family. One of the challenges was when the kids visited with the other parent. My husband’s daughter visited with us every second weekend. We coordinated my son’s visits with his dad so that they would have

weekends together. When my son would return home from his weekend visit with his dad, it would take a while for him to feel at home us again. He would be very quiet and not really mix with us. I decided to just leave him and allow him to work through his feelings. It was the same with my husband’s daughter. It was as though the kids, as little as they were, felt obligated to choose sides. It was hard and emotionally draining for them. Seeing this, we decided that we would never discuss the other parents in the children’s presence. We also had a rule never to question them about their mom and dad or what they did during their time with them. We made them understand that their other parents were not our enemies. We constantly had to rebuild in certain areas and it was hard but it paid off after a few years. During the early years, my husband’s daughter always felt that she

needed to spend time alone with her dad when it was her weekend with us. We agreed to make the kids understand that we were a unit. We also never referred to either of them as step children. When people asked how many kids we have we always said three. We had our baby together in the second year of our marriage. For me, one of the most important stigmas to move away from is the wicked step mother or stepfather. The picture we paint to our kids relating to this is very important and will determine how they relate to the parent. It’s important to instill confidence establish their place as children and their importance in the family unit. As little kids, it was normal for them to feel that they want both their own parents to be together. We explained to them in the best way possible that things did not work out and that we are happy together and building a family. We told them they were

“IT’S IMPORTANT TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE; ESTABLISH THEIR PLACE AS CHILDREN AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE FAMILY UNIT.”

privileged to have two mommies, two daddies and more siblings. We did all this while they were little. My eldest son complained to me the other day about our youngest son. He said my husband is spoiling him. I asked him this question: “do you feel it has to do with the fact that you are the “step” son?” he looked at me with the utmost confidence and said: “no, not at all” This one answer made me understand that we have indeed achieved great victory over the “blended family” struggle!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

CELEBRATING SINGLES

SINGLE ON PURPOSE “Falling in love with myself first would enable me to love others” By Celino Swartz

I read something profound while I was scrolling through Pinterest one afternoon. It stated “Psychology says: If you are not happy single, you will not be happy taken. Happiness comes from within, not from people”. Yes! Finally; something that resonated with me, articulating my core beliefs as a purposefully single person. I used to think that there was something wrong with me. How can someone, with a personality that is larger than life, still be single? Well, I learned that my upbringing might have had a lot to do with my fear of commitment. I did not love myself and could not trust others

with my heart as a result. I grew up in Elsies River and I lived with my parents, my two sisters and my niece. I grew up in a very abusive household and it had two very shocking effects on me which are contradictory in comparison to each other. The one effect that my upbringing had on me was to help others to not feel isolated and disconnected from people or the environment around them. I use to feel alone most of the time whilst growing up. Dr Brene Brown stated: “In the absence of love and belonging there is always great suffering”. Suffering and lack of nurturing made me want to nurture everything and everyone around me even if it was to my detriment. The second effect that my upbringing had on me is that I am not able to see myself being intimate with another person. I had the inherent fear that I wasn’t good enough or worthy of love because the people that I was supposed to

get my identity from couldn’t care less about my emotional, physical or mental well-being. I would always be interested in people who are unavailable in some way because if they were unavailable it would mean that morally I would be able to use this unavailability as an excuse to not commit. The excessive need to nurture and the paralyzing fear of intimacy and commitment made my single life journey dreadful. I knew I was in no position to give or receive love and was ready for the Lord to deal with this aspect of my life and heal me completely. To date, I have learnt such a lot about myself and my journey of singleness went from gloomy to great. Falling in love with me first is the utmost importance and I know that when I eventually enter the dating world, I will have a whole Cilino to offer my partner. Affirming and loving oneself is hard work that needs to be reinforced daily. Healing is not just a mind-set but a heartset and it takes constant work.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

VISION

RESET-OUR NEOLOGISM FOR THIS SEASON

By Vivian Charles Rix “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

RESET IS NEOLOGISM FOR THIS SEASON. Neologism is a compound word, neo (new) and logism(word). The word Reset encapsulates the idea of the birthing of something new. “Behold a new thing will I do” the prophetic voice of Isaiah, sounding the sophar, echoing the reverberation of the new season. Gramsci speaks of this RESET as an INTERREGNUM: “The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” (Antonio GRAMSCI) Almost like a thief in the night the Covid2019 pandemic landed in our midst and reordering our lives in an unheard-of way. Panic, anxiety, and fear grips the heart and minds almost in an apocalyptic way. The big question that pervades on a global scale, what is the meaning of this? People are trying to make sense of this pandemic. The conspiracy theories had a field day as people tried to make sense of it. The sovereignty God and His infinite ways were often missed in the pandemonium.

ADVANCEMENT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL There is a passage of scripture I’ve pondered on for a while. Jonah in the belly of the fish: a complete lockdown for three days and three nights. In quarantine, as painful as it was, God reset Jonah to recalibrate him and re-initiate a move almost unimaginable, so that when he was delivered a whole city was saved. The lesser for the greater. Hallelujah! Here in the experience of Paul, prison served him as a reset to something greater and beyond imagination. Philippians 1:12 - “But I want you to know, brethren that the things which happened to me, have actually turned out for the furtherance/advancement of the gospel.” The imprisonment came to serve the greater purpose of God, the advancement of the Glorious Gospel. 56

RENAISSANCE The Black Death, which hit Europe in 1347, claimed an astonishing 200 million lives in just four years. The Black Death, Bubonic Plague marked an end of an era in Italy, its impact was profound, and it resulted in wide-ranging social, economic, cultural and religious changes. These changes, directly and indirectly, led to the emergence of the Renaissance, one of the greatest epochs for art, architecture, and literature in human history.

RESET, A PROPHETIC IMPERATIVE. We have become so desensitized to the normal and initial state of things, that wrong has become right, evil has become good and lies are accepted as truth. With mental conditioning and the normalcy of evil, the moral and ethical values have degenerated in the compass of many. True North as a compass has been replaced by post-modernism’s relativity. Never has the need of a RESET become an urgent imperative as we navigate and negotiate the march to the precipice of declension, deterioration, and damnation. Sometimes the thing that came to afflict us God uses to RESET us. Remember Paul’s thorn in the flesh? We do not stay around too long, because we want it to be over in a jiffy. We miss the purpose of the thing and do not understand its end and it becomes a lesson wasted. We bind, declare, and pray away what we do not UNDERSTAND. Naomi, after her ten years in Moab understood the death of her husband and sons. God was about TO RESET her trajectory. Bethlehem was her reset from the pangs of Moab. We do not ask for understanding of the thing. Our discomfort informs our reactions and responses The sons of Issachar SOUGHT UNDERSTANDING first, then only they knew what to do. Maybe this whole thing is a little bit of a world reset. Resetting our priorities! Resetting our families. Resetting our society. Resetting our focus. Resetting our faith. Resetting our distorted view of God. Certainly not a bad thing on all accounts!

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I have always been intrigued by the story of the Shunamite woman. I deeply admire her radical empathy, strength, wisdom, humility, hospitality, kindness and unwavering faith. I would reflect on her words: “All is well”. Despite her great distress, with everything inside her and at the height of her agony she managed to answer: “All is well”. This scripture reading led me a little farther along to 2 Kings 8:V5-6. “My lord king’, said Gehazi, ‘this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life’. The king questioned the woman, and she told him about it. Then he entrusted her case to an official, ordering him to 58

restore all her property to her, together with all the revenues from her land from the time she left till that day”. It was then that I realized the immense privilege we enjoy as Christians; we are encouraged to turn our prayers toward the King of Kings! Before God Himself we state our case! And all that we think we have lost in our season of dryness, our season of wilderness, our God will restore! Our God will restore everything from the time we went in until the time He brings us out! Yes, surely: “All is well”! Like the Shunamite woman, I too experienced seasons of loss and pain. To the world, it may have appeared as

though I was winning! Surely, this must be her SEASON! Launching campaigns and building brands, impacting lives and empowering women. But on the inside, oh, on the inside I was dying, crippled by the heat of the scorching desert as I wandered aimlessly in a wilderness that seem to know NO end! Yes, this was indeed a season. A season of dry “BY HIS GRACE I BELIEVE bones, a season of doubt, a season I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED; of complete BROUGHT TO A POINT alienation and IN MY LIFE WHERE I HAD isolation; a season SURRENDERED THE THINGS of sheer silence, a season of tears, a OF MY PAST AND RESOLVED season of pain so TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF deep that my soul THE PROMISES OF CHRIST” cried out in great sorrow without a whimper, without a sound, no tear left to weep, a season of deep personal grief, a season of utter distress, a season of plentiful questions.

Day in and day out, I would cry out in earnest: “Lord, when will this all end?” None of this made any sense! By his grace I believe I have been redeemed; brought to a point in my life where I had surrendered the things of my past and resolved to live a life worthy of the promises of Christ by his glory and for his glory. I loved God and it was beautiful. Why would God “dust me off, clean me up, have me taste the beauty of his majesty for a short while, then thrust me into a vast waste, so ghastly, and literally leave me there without trying to move me out of it? The questions kept coming and my disdain kept amounting, desperate to attain some sort of feedback and affirmation from God. It took me a while to figure that I was asking all the incorrect questions, praying toward ineffective prayer points. My baby-faith could not fathom the thought of a wonderful God, who wanted me to trust in him only. Who wanted to show me without any reasonable doubt that He alone was my provider, He alone was my rock and salvation. In Him alone was my hope. Our God is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that He should repent. Will He say a thing and not do it? Will He make a promise and not keep it? Even in times of hardship, we can confidently declare with the Shunamite, “all is well”.

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THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

YOUTH

BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF ‘CHANGEMAKERS’

BY BIANCA GILBERT

“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God,” Hebrews 13:16. We often forget the impact and power an act of change holds. We are often informed about individuals who sacrifice and work tirelessly to make a positive difference in the lives of many. They take many shapes and forms, young or old, and aren’t restricted by their creed, culture or need. Regardless of how big or small the act performed, they should teach us one thing: having the intention to do something isn’t enough, action enables and inspires change. Have you been wondering how to serve God in your youth? Or have you asked yourself what you can do for God? As a young person, you should be inspired by acts of change. These individuals are and remain motivated to act - despite the enormity of the obstacles that they face. Reflect for

a moment on your professional and personal interests. What expertise and skills do you possess? Are you a change-maker? You may think you aren’t experienced or talented enough to be a change-maker, but the Bible has many examples of ordinary individuals who were selected to carry out acts of change for the better of others. Moses didn’t think he was a leader or speaker, but God selected Moses to bring the Israelites out of slavery. David was the youngest of all his brothers and seen as feeble, but God selected David to defeat a giant and eventually made him a king. Every person is of equal value regardless of race, gender, age, and social standing, and each person are unique and significant to God - use your individuality to bring about change. “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving,” (Acts 20:35). While others may regard small acts of change as insufficient or inconsequential, minor

adjustments in mind-set, behaviour and outlook oftentimes result in a greater outcome in the lives of others. These acts of kindness ultimately contribute to establishing a revolutionary network of change-makers. A collective effort to act for change is what is needed to contribute to meaningful development and improve the lives of those who need it most. This is especially needed in the current context of collective trauma; due to Covid-19. The sheer extent of need that exists within our communities might be great and appear to be daunting to address, but it is certainly possible. The good news is that we can all be change-makers, whether it be a random good deed, using our skills to help those in need, or pursuing a largescale community development project. We have all been blessed with the ability and skills to make a difference, but it is up to us to unlock this powerful capability.

BY MAGISTRATE T C LENDORE “In finding my purpose and making an impact, I started by thanking God first every day for the gift of life and for opportunity.” The Soweto uprising was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black schoolchildren that began on the morning of 16 June 1976. The uprising spread throughout South Africa and changed the country’s socio-political landscape. The revolt was against apartheid policies that made mandatory the education of the Afrikaans language, which was the language of the oppressive apartheid regime. It prevented children of colour from reaching their full potential. A black education department compiled a curriculum and the aim thereof was to prevent children of colour receiving an education that would lead them to aspire to positions they were not be allowed to hold in an apartheid society. The day changed the course of South African history. 16 June 1976 was the catalyst for the revolt against apartheid and was taken up by the school children of Soweto. The youth uprising ended the political acquiescence of the former decade. It was a day that ended in the bloodshed of schoolchildren at the hands of police brutality. It exposed to the world the injustice of the oppressive regime through the media in the iconic photograph of a lifeless Hector Pieterson. Life lost and blood shed for the right to be treated as human beings. The energy and the defiance of oppression by South African young people did not die with Hector

Pieterson and so many others who lost their lives that fateful day. We are humbled by the men and women who went before us so that we can today be free men and women. This is evidenced by a new youth uprising in the form of the 2015 “Fees must fall” student protests in a free South Africa. On 19 September 2016, the minister of higher education, Blade Nzimande, announced that the country’s tertiary education institutions were facing financial challenges and that South Africans were having trouble affording tuition. He proposed an increase of no more than 8%. The next day protests erupted. Police fired stun grenades, tear gas, rubber bullets and students retaliated. The discontent that had been brewing for years exploded and students were no longer accepting the burden of being saddled with student loan repayments in an already high unemployment economy. While 1976 focussed primarily on the racial injustices, the protests of 2015 took on an economic hue. An economic hue which is a product of the racial injustices of the past in that people of colour were and still are being denied access to education, land, economic liberation and still suffering marginalization in a post-apartheid democratic dispensation . It is clear that these two youth events shook the foundations of this country and fundamentally impacted the course of history. Robert Kennedy said that, “This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality

of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.” Today, 26 years into democracy, South Africa is still facing great challenges that cannot be whitewashed or ignored. Too many people today still endure tremendous hardships and great injustice. A new, more prosperous and more confident South Africa must emerge because of this generation taking its place on the world stage. Here we learn that history is in our hands. I believe that as youth I am writing to an audience of aspiring doctors, lawyers, engineers, business people, politicians, educators, scientists and other innovators. I believe that this is a courageous youth, not afraid to fail, with a Can Do attitude. I know that this is a youth which fights for their families and cares for their communities who want to lift themselves to reach their dreams. In facing my challenges, in endeavouring to become more than I could imagine, in finding my purpose and making an impact, I started by thanking God first every day for the gift of life and for opportunity. Everything that I have accomplished and attained in life is by His grace and because I acknowledge him as my source. At the age of 33 I was appointed as the youngest female magistrate in the Western Cape coming from a past that never could have predicted my present because in my life I acknowledged the gift of His grace. Blessings in Christ THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

ADDICTION

“I AM NOT A DOG!” OVERCOMING DRUG ADDICTION The story of Crystal Hendricks written by Claudene Sebolai

“FROM A HEROINE ADDICT TO A REGISTERED NURSE FIGHTING ON THE FRONTLINE OF CORONAVIRUS” WRONG TURN I grew up in a decent Christian home. I cannot say that my childhood was traumatic. I grew up Anglican, I was confirmed and everything but lacked a real relationship with Jesus Christ. After my divorce from a really bad abusive marriage, I started hanging out with the wrong crowd. I was in my twenties and already had my firstborn son. I started experimenting with drugs. I had no idea what I was getting myself into; I thought it was only for the fun. I started popping E’s then Tik and ended up with Heroine. I was in it, hook, line and sinker even ended up in Pollsmoor. I then fell pregnant with my second

son and stopped doing drugs. I was clean for eight years. During this time I started studying registered nursing. I ended up in a toxic relationship and started smoking because my partner was smoking. It was one of those relationships that broke me down spiritually and mentally. I was already working at the time at a private hospital. However the relationship I was in had such a negative impact on me that I relapsed. I reconnected with the crowd I used to hang with while doing heroine. That feeling of guilt and disappointing my parents led me to just give up. I lost my job, my children and my friends couldn’t even help me at the time. I ended up

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with a ganster in one of the most notorious areas in Mitchells Plain. For two years, while being with this guy, I did almost anything to support my addiction including breaking in to people’s homes. Things went from bad to worse; I tried my best to stop but with no success. I ended up on the streets with little hope that my life could change.

U-TURN One morning, desperately hungry, I turned to my parent’s house for food begging. I bumped into my eldest son and the conversation pulled me to my senses. I will never forget the tone in his voice, the look of disgust on his face when he asked me if I expect him to raise his little brother as his son. What he told me made me realise that I chose to live like a dog when I had a loving family whom I caused much pain because of my decisions. I literally had a “prodigal son” moment. I met up with an old friend who gave me shelter and invited me to a cottage meeting. There I was prayed for and encouraged by ladies who were angels send by God. After the prayer meeting I went back to my mother’s house and like the prodigal

son’s father, she welcomed me in. I cannot begin to describe that moment; thinking about it still brings me to tears. I went into the recovery home at Victory Outreach in Mitchell’s Plain armed with cigarettes, tik lolly and the like. Little did I know God would deliver me there and then from drug addiction. I am eternally grateful that God did not give up on me. He took me from a life of addiction, delivered and transformed me and put me in a profession where I am at the frontline of the world’s most dangerous virus. It is no secret what God can do, what He has done for others (me) He can surely do for you!

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AFRIKAANS

Leandre Madeleine Cupido het die stryd teen Covid-19 oorwin. Geskryf deur Claudene Sebolai “Al gaan ek deur n dal van dood skaduwee, ek sal geen onheil vrees nie, want U is met my, U stok en U staf vertroos my… ” Hierdie stryd kon ek nie sonder die Here oorwin nie. Ek is n lewende getuie dat die genesende krag van Jesus Christus to volle werking kom as ons liggaamlike kragte ingee. Toe die lockdown ingestel was toe was ek reeds by die huis. My man wat nog steeds gewerk het, het toe siek geword. Dit het so erg geword dat ek hom moes bad en na hom moes omsien. Dis toe ek ook siek geword het, maar soos vrouens is, het ek ongeag die feit dat ek siek was steeds getrou na my man omgesien. Wat vir my so wonderlik was, is dat ons kinders; 7, 5, en 2 jaar oud, piekfyn en gesond gebly het die hele tyd deur. Coronavirus kon hulle nie aan raak nie. Op die 2de Mei, terwyl ek skoonmaak, het ek n hewige hoofpyn gehad. My bors was so

styf en my koors was buitengewoon hoog. Ek het uitgeroep na my man om vir my te bid want dit het gevoel of ek die stryd teen Covid-19 verloor. Ek kan nou nog sien hoe my sewejarige seun vir my prober moed in praat en die sweet korrels

“EK WAS AMPER NIE MEER NIE, MAAR GOD!” van my voorkop afvee. Ek het so siek geword dat ek gehospitaliseer was. Toe ek by die hospitaal aankom kon ek nie eers praat nie. Ek was onmiddelik na die trauma eenheid gevat en het bewussyn nou en dan verloor. Al wat ek nou en dan kon hoor was my man wat na my uitgeroep het. Ek het ook gehoor hoe die suster aan diens se dat ek net 30% oxygen in my liggaam gehad het. Hulle moes my ook skok

behandeling gegee het om my te laat by kom. Ek was amper nie meer nie, MAAR GOD! Terwyl ek veg vir my lewe in ICU, onthou ek die woorde van Dawid se Psalm (18v29). Met my God spring ek oor n hoë muur en met my God loop ek n bende storm plat. Ek sien nou nog met my geestes oog hoe ek met my God bors teen boors staan met Covid-19. Terwyl ek in ICU is ontvang ek nog slegte nuus. Die dokter laat weet vir my dat my longe permanent beskadig is, dat my imuunstelsel net 10% werk en dat ek die virus vir die tweede keer in ICU op gedoen het. Vir die tweede keer kom die Here vir my deur, en genees Hy my wonderbaarlik. Ek weet dat daar duisende gevalle is wat herstel het maar ek het die Here belowe dat ek vir Hom n getuie sal wees as Hy my genees. Daar is hoop in Christus Jesus. Deur Sy wonde het daar vir ons genesing gekom. God seën Afrika!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

MOVIES

FAITH-BASED FILMS TO INSPIRE

Here are a few Christian movies to return to that will encourage your faith.

WAR ROOM

Local is lekker! In this powerful story of unwavering faith in the midst of adversity, farmer-turned-evangelist Angus Buchan demonstrates the challenges and benefits of a life of faith in Christ Jesus. Based on his own testimony, Buchan encourages Christians to persevere in prayer and to trust God even when the odds are stacked against them. This is exactly the kind of stubborn faith one needs to be reminded of in the current context.

FAITH LIKE POTATOES

From the Kendrick brothers comes the story of a family who finds happiness through prayer. Elizabeth is a hard-working real estate agent aware that her marriage is almost at its breaking point. Her no-nonsense new client Miss Clara wants to talk less about selling her house and more about Elizabeth’s relationship with Jesus. When Elizabeth confesses that she is unhappy, and only attends church when it fits her schedule, Miss Clara explains how she found happiness. Elizabeth employs the tools that Miss Clara gives her and turns her walk-in closet into a war room/ a prayer room. The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous indeed avails much. Not only does her prayer life change her but Elizabeth saw how her entire household is being transformed because she chose to fight her battles on her knees.

OVERCOMER High school basketball coach John Harrison and his team face an uncertain future when their town’s largest manufacturing plant shuts down unexpectedly. As hundreds of people move away, John reluctantly agrees to coach cross-country, a sport he doesn’t even like. His outlook soon changes when he meets Hannah Scott, an unlikely runner who pushes herself to the limit.

ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING This Biblical epic follows a young girl who rises from peasant to princess by going against the culture and seeking the King’s heart rather than the riches of the kingdom. By ‘chance’ she is born with exceeding beauty to a people who have been carried away as slaves to the most powerful kingdom in the world. By ‘chance’ the Queen is executed by the unknowing King, spurned on by the ruthless plotting of palace princes hungry for power. By ‘chance’ Esther is carted off to the palace to become part of the King’s harem at the same time a vengeful young prime minister with the King’s ear is rising to prominence with a plan for orchestrating the genocide of her people. So begins the story of Esther, One Night with the King; a story that reveals that all of life is under God’s command. Power, position and prominence are one thing, but when Esther must choose between all she’s ever dreamed of and the fate of her people, will she be able to find the courage to step forward and embrace her destiny?

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

BOOKS

BOOK REVIEWS STUFF WE WISH WE KNEW BEFORE GETTING MARRIED By Mo & Phindi God created marriage primarily for the purposes of restoring the totality of the His image in the human race, as well as reflecting His relationship with His bride, the church. Mo & Phindi share the 13 things they wished they knew before they got married: Marriage has a spiritual purpose; God’s original design and purpose for marriage does not change; Oneness in marriage is 100% possible; Moving from being “in love” to love; When the worst happens; Conflict in marriage; Breaking unbroken soul ties; Forgiveness; Creating your own happiness; Cultivating great sex; Not losing yourself in marriage; You are also marrying your in-laws and family and How to handle finances.

THE PRAYER OF PROTECTION By Joseph Prince In these days of danger, trouble, and evil, New York Times bestselling author Joseph Prince reveals how God’s children can have round-the-clock protection through the power of prayer. This timely paperback unveils the Bible’s ultimate Psalm of Protection, Psalm 91, to help you understand more about how God guards His children. Make God’s protection your priority today with practical advice from Joseph Prince who also shares key principles to living fearlessly in these dangerous times and finding peace in the secret place with the Father. Move from fear to boldness as you learn to stand on the biblical promises of God and guard your heart against every fear.

AN UNHURRIED LEADER: THE LASTING FRUIT OF DAILY INFLUENCE By Alan Fadling What does grace-paced leadership look like? Spiritual mentor. Pastor. Executive director. Parent. Professor. Spouse. We have many roles and relationships. And in the midst of all we do, we’re tempted to frantically take control of situations in hopes of making good things happen. Alan Fadling, author of An Unhurried Life, writes: “That kind of unholy hurry may make me look busy, but too often it keeps me from actually being fruitful in the ways Jesus wants me to be. Jesus modelled grace-paced leadership. To learn that we begin not with leading, but with following.” In these pages Alan Fadling unfolds what it means for leaders to let Jesus set the pace. Through biblical illustrations, personal examples, and on-theground leadership wisdom, this book will guide you into a new view of kingdom leadership. Along the way you just might find that the whole of your life has been transformed into a more liveable and more fruitful pace.

HEALING THE SCARS OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE By Dr Gregory Jantz The deep pain of childhood abuse--whether physical or emotional, whether a child was neglected or wished nothing more than to be left alone--doesn’t just go away. There’s simply no just getting over it. Even if no physical scars remain as evidence of the victim’s suffering, the deep wounds on their minds, hearts, and souls are still there. But it is possible to become whole and happy. Author of the successful Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse, Dr. Gregory Jantz now helps readers understand the effects of childhood abuse on their emotional, intellectual, physical, relational, and spiritual health. He then outlines the steps to lasting healing, including grieving what was lost, learning to balance emotions with intentionality, regaining a positive relationship with one’s own body and mind, and coming to an understanding of God not as a frightening authority figure like the abuser or an accusing judge, but as a loving creator, redeemer, and friend. THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

REMEMBERING RAVI ZACHARIAS

Renowned international author, speaker, evangelist and apologist Ravi Zacharias passed departed this life at the age of 74 and was laid to rest on 2 May 2020 in a private ceremony in Georgia. Sam Allbery, who presided over the service, reminded all that it was not the end of Ravi’s story. He reminded all of the words that saved Ravi’s life 57 years ago: “Because I live, you will also live”. Zacharias’ daughter, Sarah Davis, announced her father’s passing in a post titled “Ravi Zacharias, Now with Jesus”, on the Ravi Zacharias page. “It was his Savior, Jesus Christ that my dad always wanted most to talk about. Even in his final days, until he lacked the energy and breath to speak he turned every conversation to Jesus and what the Lord had done,” she wrote. He dedicated his life to showing the world that the same belief that saved a young 17 year old from the miry pit of self-loath and despair can withstand the toughest philosophical attacks. Ravi’s ministry has impacted countless numbers of people and filled them with a sense of confidence and deep awe for God’s work in Christ. Surely Zacharia’s legacy will remain steady and alive as the faith vowed to defend.

JUSTIN BIEBER INVITES 137 MILLION INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS TO CHURCH Justin Bieber has been sharing post after post about his Christian faith with his 137 million Instagram followers. The pop superstar recently invited his millions of followers on the social media platform to download the app of Churchome, the multisite megachurch pastored by his best friend Judah Smith. The free app provides access to the church’s services and events, as well as daily guided prayers. He followed his post with another one in which he thanked Jesus for setting him free from shame and condemnation. “Everything around us points us to a Maker, a Creator, an Architect, and a Designer!” he said. “I am so grateful that the One who made it all loves me. Loves me so much that He came down to earth fully human, yet fully God making all things new by laying down His life on the Cross! I am now forgiven!”

CHRISTIANS SEEK TO BE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST IN CORONAVIRUS-RAVAGED ITALY Italy is one of the hardest hit countries dealing with the pandemic. Operation Mobilization Italy (OMI) is hoping to see the country remade to the glory of Christ. Operation Mobilization (OM) is a global community of Jesus followers, united to share God’s love with those who don’t know it. According to Davide Bogliolo the virus negatively affected the ministry. While staying home, Bogliolo says OMI was not able to carry on many of their ministries. “We have antitrafficking ministries that at the moment are suspended because we cannot be on the street during the day. Youth meetings in the churches, we

cannot do that anymore. Mobilizing the church [and] trying to encourage mission or [sharing] the Gospel. We cannot do that at the moment.” As the country cautiously emerges from lockdown Bogliolo asks believers to pray that Italy will be renewed and that the coronavirus would be completely destroyed by the Holy Spirit. Follow OM on Facebook for more news on missionary work around the globe. http://www.facebook.com/ operationmobilisation

DRIVE-IN CHURCH SERVICES If there is one thing that the pandemic has reminded us of, is that we have an endless reservoir of creativity within us. Many churches in the USA have employed creative ways to keep the fellowship of believers amidst strict lockdown rules and social and physical distance. Imagine driving in and listening to the service in the comfort of your own car. “People enjoy seeing each other from their little bubbles, fellowshipping a bit” says Pastor John Hanson who leads a Midwestern Lutheran church. Physical presence embodies the strength that communities of worshippers draw from one another. This is why Hanson and other religious leaders are devising creative (albeit law-abiding) ways to make socially distanced worship possible. This is done in addition to offering online services via various social media streaming tools. THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

HEARTLANDS BABY SANCTUARY South Africans have opened their hearts and purses to help a struggling home for abused and abandoned babies in Somerset West near Cape Town. It is a place of safety for children aged between zero and 6-years-old. They include abandoned and abused babies and those who are seriously ill or dying. Here, they receive medical care, love and support from staff and volunteers. When the SABC visited the facility in April, the situation was not good as it relies on various projects for its income, which were closed because of the lockdown. The

coffee shop, bookshop and second hand clothing store were affected. The centre has been losing over R100 000 per month in much needed income. This coupled with the pressure to assist more needy children. The money from government is not enough to keep operations going. The centre says the situation has changed since their plight was first broadcast. As lockdown regulations remain in place, many non-profit organizations such as this one are struggling. Donations from the public are crucial to prevent them from closing their doors.

LEADERS BACK CALL TO CHANGE SA ATMOSPHERE BY JOINING PRAYER-WALKING MOVEMENT

Prominent prayer leaders, church leaders, activists and marketplace Christian leaders appear in a video, calling on South African Christians to get behind a grassroots movement of prayer walking during lockdown exercise time. The street prayer movement began in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town and spread rapidly to other areas of the Western and Northern Cape and beyond, to areas 74

such as Heidedal in Bloemfontein. “I am encouraging you, as you put on your exercise clothes go out into communities, pray during that time, and let’s see this period as a time of reformation,” says ONE SA Movement leader Mmusi Maimane in the video which was created by SA Back to God. When you go out there and you pray, and you walk, and you pray the Word of God over your

neighbourhood, you are a presencebearer – you are the fragrance of God,” says Dr Suzette Hattingh of Voice in the City International. So the call is clear – whether you walk, run or cycle in your exercise time – release the presence of God in your neighbourhood and know that God uses prayer to extend His Kingdom on Earth.

DAY OF PENTECOST CELEBRATIONS DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Pentecost is a Christian holy day that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Sunday is a liturgical day celebrated or commemorated in many churches in both Western and Eastern tradition regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit to the church as narrated in the book of Acts. Even though the church buildings were closed on this important holy day, the church as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Body of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; should always remain open. It is important that we reflect, looking through the lens of the celebration of Pentecost, more on what it means to be a church that is open. How have been open in assisting our communities and church members, if at all. How do we as the church represent Christ in these challenging times within the parameters of the regulations? President Ramaphosa has announced that places of worship may reopen as of 1 June 2020 with a limit of 50 people or less with strict sanitization protocols as contained in the Government Gazette, Notice no. 609 as published on 28 May 2020, when the country moves to Alert Level 3. There is still much that we do not know about Covid-19, but what we do know is that increased gatherings of people, increases the potential for the virus to spread and negligence in respect of sanitization could prove to put the lives of entire congregations in danger. Our goal must be to spare placing any further strain on our ailing health system and protect life.

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The Christian Lifestyle 7

Articles inside

neologism for this season Encouragement: All is Well

Reset-our

COVID-19: On the Frontline

Displaying His Glory

Lockdown Budget Meals

3rd Saturday Prayer

Easy like Sunday Morning

Women’s Day

Drafting a Will

Celebrating Heritage Day

Word of