Nr 12/11
December 2011

Dear Member/Guest

Content of Edition

1. Monthly devotional - Follow God's leading even if it seems as a demotion
2. Kehrhahnministries 2011 in review
3. Summary report until the end of November 2011

1. MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL - FOLLOW GOD'S LEADING EVEN IF IT SEEMS AS A DEMOTION

Devotional text: Acts 8:26-31 (NIV)

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go and stay near it.”Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.” Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. “How can I, “he said, “Unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Dear Friends

Isaiah 55:8 teaches us that God’s thoughts and his way isn’t necessary our thoughts, however just by reading it, it doesn’t seem to make sense since our lives speaks of a total different reality. In reading an event like this one it becomes clear to us what Isaiah meant by these words. A young man named Philip is on his way to Jerusalem, the center of religious thoughts and ways and since he was a man who was on fire for Christ, according to his understanding this was the place to be if he wanted to make an impact and contribute to contemporary religious discussions. However while being on his way, God’s Spirit send him back into the direction that he was coming from with a new order. His order to remain with a chariot and to keep close to it. During this time of staying close to the chariot, Philip heard familiar words as the eunuch reads from the book of Isaiah aloud.

As the eunuch realize that Philip is following the chariot, the eunuch stops his chariot and it is during this encounter that Philip asks him whether he understands what he is reading. The eunuch replied that he doesn’t just as some of us might be reading something that we wish someone would explain to us. Even though Philip wanted to change people’s perspective on religious issues, he now had the chance to do that in a very special way, on the street on a one to one basis although the purpose of this change in direction was still unknown to him. After explaining what passage from Isaiah 53:7, 8 meant, the eunuch requested from Philip that he is to be baptised, which Philip did. Philip’s explanation of this text, through God’s Spirit developed this need of the eunuch to enter into a closer relationship with God and for him this could be achieved through the sacrament of baptism.

Philip might have felt as if this request from the Holy Spirit was a demotion, since he couldn’t be among the great religious thinkers like Peter and Paul, but for this man he became the these two prominent people, since he led this eunuch into a relationship with God, one of the highest calls if not the highest call that can be fulfilled in every person’s life. Without noticing it perhaps at that moment, his wishes and dreams of leading people to God became a reality, different than he could ever imagine and yet that was so fulfilling to him.

Although Philip knew that what he must do over against what he wanted to do, he knew that it would require of him to step out in faith trusting the leading hand of the Spirit to fulfil his desire, while not seeing it as a demotion rather to realize that God wants to promote him. In order for this to happen, he needed to become sensitive to the workings of the Holy Spirit in his life. Our ways and thoughts isn’t the same than God’s ways and thoughts and we should thank Him for that, since through His guidance and leadership we soon will see the doors that He is opening for us. Doors that will ultimately lead to fulfilment and satisfaction way beyond our wildest dreams. Something’s might thus seem to us as a setback, however God already knows why we had to experience that set back, because in reality the things that we experience isn’t setbacks, but opportunities that shows itself as being a form of a setback.

Because Philip even though in difficult circumstances obeyed God, Philip could experience the fruit of being willing to step out in faith, going against his own desires as well as his own plans, which for many of us is extremely difficult since it means going into a uncertain area of our lives, one that we haven’t got any control over and which requires patience and faith, sometimes the faith of others to help us in finding the way forward. The eunuch never thought that in his hour of need that God would provide for him a person who actually understands the things that he couldn’t although he was a high official in the treasury of a queen, while Philip couldn’t imagine that he would be able to influence not only the thought but also the heart of a prominent political figure of his time. A person who is willing to receive his message (his opinion) through the interpretation of a text, which he himself wasn’t able to solve.

Thus Philip experienced God’s calling in a different way and thus if he could experienced it in such a way why it wouldn’t happen to us as well. This becomes apparent especially at times where he brings people on our paths to help us to understand the situation that life brings us in contact with when we ourselves do not know where we are heading, people that minister to us which we need and therefore even we receive counsel from people which is on a long term basis while there may be times when they leave us as soon as we understand the role and the mission which God wants us to embark upon. May you be blessed through the ministry of others who shed light in your moments where you do not understand the ways and the thoughts of God. May His spirit reveal it to your heart through the times when you encounter Him through the sharing of someone else.

Amen

Georg Kehrhahn
CEO: Kehrhahnministries

2. KEHRHAHNMINISTRIES 2011 IN REVIEW

As another year comes to an end, we are once again called upon a time for reflection both on the things that we have experienced as well as the events which unfolded during the last year. It is time where we look back upon all our achievements with an eye on how we can become more effective in the new year in the things and aspects of our lives which we carry into the new year and to do that keeping in mind that everything both good and bad happened with a God who stood right besides us in every moment.

2011 was a year that would be remembered for a number of reasons. With revolutions happening within the Arab community, dictators being overthrown by their own citizens striving for political freedom, while earthquakes shaking and disrupting the lives of people. Mine disasters, which was changed into miracles as survivors were saved and brought up again, reconciling families and deepening the love within those family circles. Economic meltdowns in countries like Greece, where people search for a way out of it and people’s plea through protest, that bankers would put the people first above their own personal agendas of gaining wealth.

But for many, this year will be remembered as a year of life, through all the new born babies, relationships being mended and formed, a year where people achieved their goals and aspirations. A year where someone gave an individual a special word or smile that gave them hope again and which enables them to press forward in the hardships they endured. A year where people realized that God has intended them to be more than they themselves has ever imagined. Yes, 2011 will be remembered for different reasons, while knowing that we have all completed yet another leg on many legs of our journey.

Kehrhahnministries executive looks back with great thankfulness on a very well organized and successful campaign “Get Real”, which impacted the lives of many and reached into communities and countries that wouldn’t be known as traditional “Christian” countries. We have grown on nearly each continent, while we met friends in countries we never knew we would meet. We had the privilege as a ministry to have had a quiet celebration of our 3 year of existence in October with the best ever growth rate since our operation started in October 2008. (See report summary). 2011 will be remembered as a year of risk taking as we look at ways how we can expand our vision and mission to all the corners of the world. Its been a time to minister and be ministered too by the people who contacted us through e-mails or twitter. It was a year where people made our vision their own and thanks to that it was a risk well taken. As a ministry we’ve heard of new churches being formed and established churches, which showed a decline started to improve on attendance, enabling these churches to show a positive growth rate as people start to return to the places where real rest is not just an idea, but a reality. It was a year which had a lot of defining moments for each member of the executives we realized in a renewed and powerful way that God is indeed busy to attend to the plea of the people. This past year, I had the opportunity to be part of different kinds of musical festivals as well as youth initiated initiatives which showed that music events as well as youth uniting events, does indeed make changes possible even though it is sometimes small and seems insignificant. During this year, Kehrhahnministries executive members after broad consultations have outlined our program for an effective youth, student & young adult’s ministry. An overview article of this initiative can be read on our website entitled: Youth workers in an ever changing Society. Since there is a need for places of worship and safety, the executive & its legal commission are investigating the possibilities of such places and we expect an addition to our constitution in the early months of 2012. Please keep in mind that the implementation of such places is subjected to the laws of the countries. Once this and another amendment has been finalised, it will be circulated via our Twitter facility.

To quote the words from the movie “Evan Almighty”, one act of random kindness can indeed change the world and starts with a change of heart and attitude within each individual, who seeks in empowering the people they meet on a daily basis.

With this final thought, Kehrhahnministries wants to wish all our co-workers and friends, our ministry partners and Social outreach partners a blessed Festive Season while reminding you at the same time that the biggest gift ever given to us was found in a crib in Bethlehem. Let’s face the new year 2012 with boldness as well as eagerness to serve and although there will be set backs at times as we have experienced during this year, with the strength of God we can overwhelm the overwhelmer !!

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012 and those who will be on the roads, please keep your tyres on the road during this festive season.

With Seasonal Greetings

Georg Kehrhahn
CEO: Kehrhahnministries

3. SUMMARY REPORT UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER 2011

Kehrhahnministries indeed had a good year, concerning our work and publicity. We established contact with people from Kenya & India, with whom we developed partnerships. Had a new local NGO joining us as well as shown tremendous growth. As an executive we are looking forward to our visit with abroad to India where we will learn the about the challenges and struggles of a church in a country which is predominantly Hindu. There we believe we will be touched by their stories of what it means to be a Christian in a poor and struggling nation. During this year 77 countries visited us. More countries from Africa have joined and we also experienced an increase in the Middle East region. We realised that our material is distributed among people who do not have access to the internet and that house groups all around the world is forming. Our aim with our website and newsletters is to reach people in the safety of their own homes, where intimidation can’t be an aspect which withhold people in getting to know a God who loves them and accepts them unconditionally through His Grace which he showed us on the cross. Our standings thus for the last 11 months are as follows:

We start with this index in order for you to see how we did on a yearly basis, since we started in 2008. Already this indicates to you that all the previous visits has returned as well as new people who visited our website for the first time this year.

2008: 828 visits
2009: 4992 visits
2010: 3640 visits
2011: 15920 visits

The next chart indicates our growth on a monthly basis in comparison with the same month last year:

January 2010 321 visits against the 568 of January 2011
February 2010 334 visits against the 472 of February 2011
March 2010 216 visits against the 466 of March 2011
April 2010 181 visits against the 612 of April 2011
May 2010 232 visits against the 1031 of May 2011
June 2010 214 visits against the 2515 of June 2011
July 2010 222 visits against the 3062 of July 2011
August 2010 293 visits against the 3018 of August 2011
September 2010 394 visits against the 2429 of September 2011
October 2010 401 visits against the 732 October 2011
November 2010 439 visits against the 1015 November 2011

The next chart indicates the growth or decline that took place during these months and a decline in numbers if any will be indicated with a minus in front of the number.

247 for January
138 for February
250 for March
431 for April
799 for May
2301 for June
2840 for July
2725 for August
2035 for September
331 for October
576 for November

These number can be independently verified through the AW Stats system which has been placed on our website for the executive to monitor and control the activities on the site, therefore as executive we have no reason to doubt this facility in anyway and thus it is a true reflection of our growth. The tremendous increases which you see between the months of May-September is due to the introduction of our Twitter facility which was developed during the month of May and has been operated by our executive members on a regular basis during these months.

Our visitation target has been changed a numerous of times during the course of this year, which enabled the executive to enhance our performance in our goal to reach new people with different cultures and religious backgrounds. The current target for the end of December is 17500 which leave us with a deficit of 1580 for the remaining month. Newsletter subscriptions currently stand on 3717 and we expect this number to increase during the month of December, bring our total estimation for visits since October 2008 to 25380. Taking our visitation figure of 25380 adding it to our newsletter subscriptions 3700, we get to the total of people who are making use of our facility to 29097.

The following chart will also indicate the top 10 countries that made most use of our facility during 2011. They are:

Even though there is still one month to spare we see no changes to come in regards to new countries making it into the top 10 however the positions might be changing in the month to come.

On a personal note I would like to thank my co-visionists Roland Rieseberg, Amber Riebe & Paul Snyman for all their encouragement, love & support over the past 3 years. For embarking with me on this journey and for sharing this vision and helping me in making this a reality. A word of thanks also goes to each and every individual for being our foot soldiers in this world in Spreading the Gospel. Even though we do not know who you are, we know and acknowledge the role that you are fulfilling and we are looking forward to 2012 for an even greater year.

With sincere Gratitude!!!

Georg Kehrhahn
CEO: Kehrhahnministries