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A Challenge
Professor Henry Thipa, the guest speaker at a
banquet held by St Augustine’s in the Walmer Town Hall on 2
April, challenged the church to change.
Prof Thipa, a member of St Augustine’s, and
Dean of Religious Studies at UPE, spoke on “The Role of the
Church in Nation Building”. He challenged the church to become
an agent of change, saying, “The church must be able to make a
difference in people's lives.” He spoke about the youth being
savaged by the scourge of HIV/AIDS and said, “HIV/AIDS plays
itself out mainly, but not exclusively, in the area of sexual
relations. When the Bible refers to one's body as God’s temple
it refers to the sanctity of that body. The youth, (and older people
as well, in fact) need to be reminded that the responsibility for
their physical well-being, in the final analysis, lies entirely in
their hands. With particular reference to the youth, I wish to
suggest that sex education is a subject which needs to be taken
seriously. The church, and here I refer to the institution and to the
people of God, needs to talk openly about sex, its practice and
consequences. I know that in African communities, especially
traditional ones, any talk about sex is taboo. That needs to change
because the harsh reality is that the nation is being battered by
HIV/AIDS. There are chilling figures of the projected mortality as a
result of HIV/AIDS.” He went on to say the church can use its
moral authority and that it needs to lead by example. Speaking
further on social development he said we are living in a world where
one’s worth tends to be measured in terms of the accumulation of
material wealth and possessions. He said, “The preoccupation
with material wealth and possessions in very large measure accounts
for the corruption and the general disregard for the other person ...
features of the nation which are becoming very common.
‘Ubuntu’, which I see as an integral part of what the Bible
calls love, is increasingly becoming an elusive attribute, and yet
that attribute is an important nation building block.” Earlier
he had spoken of the church as a resource or reference point in
helping to build the Nation. He said, “When one reads, hears
about, or even witnesses in some cases, incidents of child abuse, the
rape of children, including infants, by the very adults who should be
protecting them, then one begins to realise that here is a nation
that is in need of healing; here is a nation that is in need of being
built. This is an area where the church can intervene and serve as a
reference point by offering the necessary counselling both to the
victims and to the perpetrators of these and other crimes.” He
went on to speak about the divorce rate and family murders saying,
“Condemnation from the pulpit will not ease this situation.
Instead, marriage counselling and education about the meaning of
human relations in the light of Biblical teachings can be very
helpful.” The town hall was full and, as more people turned up
than were expected, extra tables and chairs had to be put in the side
room. However, somehow, the cooks managed to produce enough food for
all. Earlier in the evening a dance group had entertained the diners
and during the meal the DJ kept the music playing, unfortunately at
too high a volume, making it difficult to hear others speak at
one’s table.
A new work begins
At their AGM, the AWF Chaplain, Jean
Underwood, spoke on the new AIDS related work she is involved in in
Somerset East.
Speaking to thedelegates and observers at the
Anglican Women’s Fellowship AGM, Jean told them how the Lord had
led her to move to Somerset East. Having arrived there she was soon
very involved with People living with HIV. She said she is trying to
set up a support group in the township, “They have a very
dedicated care team who have got a few clients, but need help in
organising activities, counselling, and skills training. So I have
taken some paints, wool, needles etc, for them to do some fun things
to start with. The ones I have met seem very depressed and
demotivated, but quite healthy.” She went on to say, “I
have led a few services at St Ninian’s and, what is exciting, is
that the Xhosa ladies asked if I could run a Bible study class for
them, Xhosa not being a problem as they are well versed in English. I
have suggested to one of the All Saints’ home groups, that we go
to them for a session and they sounded quite willing. There is so
much potential for ministry, and people are thirsting for the Word of
God, but we are struggling for resources. There is 80% unemployment
in the area, as well as a very high HIV transmission rate. Only
Christian teaching will have a positive impact on AIDS as it is
basically a behavioural problem, as I see it.” She also said
that a local game farm had asked her to run an awareness/prevention
workshop for their workers, and probably one for management, and that
there are rumours that a local milking business is interested as
well. “It goes without saying that the local primary health care
clinic is interested, want my wellness management programme, but have
no money. I’ll try and get sponsorship to train carers.
Government organisations seem to want a lot these days for
‘nix’”, she said. Speaking to Iindaba after the
meeting she said, “The parish ministry is going well, Dudley has
done a tremendous amount of work in the time he has been here, and
parishioners are dead keen to do Bible study, TEE, and to learn more
about the contemplative life, etc. so I will be helping out in this
ministry as well. Praise God, for the present time I will remain a
marker for the Church's response to AIDS, for TEE. The young people
are now being recognised as the most vulnerable group as more and
more become orphans Carolyn, Dudley’s wife, is involved with
Kids Explosion, and is very successfully being able to minister to
the youth, in the townships.” If readers can help Jean with
items for her to use she can be contacted on: Tel: 042 243 2395 e-mail:
unitedse@lantic.net
Fruit from Egypt
Having just returned from their fourth visit
to the church in Egypt, Kirsten Roux and David Stansbury spoke to the
people of Holy Trinity, Central, about the fruit that has grown both
here and in Egypt.
David, the Rector of Holy Trinity, said that over
40 people from many of the parishes of this diocese had now been in
the mission field and that they had grown spiritually and were
producing the fruit of their visits. He went on to explain,
"Having been to Egypt, the group have literally been into the
strongholds of Islam and of Pharaoh worship (ancestor worship). They
have learnt how to intercede into every place and to break down
strongholds. They have had to be disciplined in having a quiet time
each day and to join in the group times, and have developed a caring
heart for the lost. They have also been able to manifest many of the
Gifts of the Spirit as they have been needed and so have grown
spiritually in that area." Kirsten Roux spoke of having brought
the praying presence of Jesus into every situation they encountered
in Egypt. He said, "The group has been able to compile
information on what is going on in the church in Egypt and has been
able to take medical supplies, books and some money to the Christians
there. They have also formed very strong links with many of the
clergy and people. This is very important as we become a physical
letter of love to the church which is struggling. We have also had
many prophecies that God is wanting to bless the whole of Africa,
from Cape to Cairo and we are able to pray for that blessing from
both places." Testimonies Just before the two leaders spoke,
many of the missionaries gave testimonies on what the outreach had
meant to them. They all spoke of the church in Egypt being a praying
church who expect God to answer their prayers. A church that has seen
abundant blessings from God although many cannot get jobs (because of
being Christians) and live a life of hardship. A church full of
people whose faces radiate the love of Jesus and courage could say to
the group, "The greatest present to us is your presence. Now we
know you care for us." Anyone interested in being part of the
2003 team please contact Kirsten at his office tel: 041 374 4245 or
cell: 083 657 0040 e-mail: kirsten@kangatrust.co.za
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