| January 2012 |
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Nr 01/12 Content of Edition
PASTOR: Dr Arnau van Wyngaard Swaziland Newsletter – November 2011 Dear Friends, As 2011 rushes to its end, we look back upon this past year with gratitude towards the Lord for what He has done. Not only were we blessed in our AIDS program, but in the Shiselweni congregation we were also blessed. One of the highlights over the past few weeks was when 48 people decided to join our church. We had a wonderful church service at Matsanjeni where these new members from Masanjeni, Qomintaba and Hlushwana were welcomed. It is our prayer that God will not only bless these people, but that He will make them a blessing for many others. In SHBC things are also happening at a breathtaking pace. After recently completing my studies in the Advanced Health Management Program, I had to start putting my knowledge to practical use. And this means writing proposals. At this stage SHC has four focus points: a) Home-based care-giving; b) Orphan Feeding Scheme; c) Preschool; and d) Wheelchair Distribution. Each of these focus points have specific challenges. Although the home-based caregivers are all volunteers, we try to give each of them a food parcel and medication which they can use when they visit their clients. To reach this goal, we need R250 ($40) per caregiver per month. A sustainable way to do this is through our Adopt-A-Caregiver initiative where a sponsor “adopts” one of the caregivers through a monthly contribution. We are extremely thankful for each one of you who already support us in this way. The Orphan Feeding Scheme had been running well in the past through generous food donations received from various humanitarian organizations. But it now seems that our source of food has stopped and we now have to purchase our own food if we want to continue with this work. One of the proposals which I recently submitted to a Taiwanese Christian organization aims to enable us to continue and expand this ministry. Please pray that the funds will be approved as at least 80 children are dependent on the food which they get from us on a daily basis. I was recently honoured when I was invited to be the key-note speaker at PMR Africa’s “Leaders and Achievers” function in Swaziland. Addressing the top business people from various sectors in Swaziland, I had the opportunity to tell them the story of SHBC and to challenge them to take hands with NGOs in order to make a difference in Swaziland. Corporate main goal is to make money. However, most of the successful corporate realize that they also need to contribute towards the social upliftment of society. How to do this in a sustainable and workable fashion is not always that easy. Successful NGOs on the other hand, have the expertise to make huge impacts with little money. When corporate and NGOs partner, it becomes a win-win situation for all - for the corporate, the NGOs as well as those who are the main beneficiaries of the help. During June/July this year, through a six-way partnership between three Rotary clubs, in Fresno (USA), Brits (South Africa) and Matsapha (Swaziland) as well as Project Glory, the Wheelchair Foundation and SHBC, we were able to distribute 60 wheelchairs to people who had no means to move around any longer. We are now working on a new partnership between Free Wheelchair Mission, Project Glory, The Luke Commission and SHBC to bring 550 wheelchairs into Swaziland in 2012! This has the potential to develop into a huge program which can positively influence the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people in Swaziland. SAfAIDS, one of our existing partners, also approached SHBC for assistance with a new project. Some of the objectives which they have in mind are the following: To ensure that at least 90% of those in need of ARV treatment are on treatment by the end of 2014 To ensure long-term access to ARV treatment and care for HIV positive patients To reduce the number of new HIV infections in Swaziland by half by 2020. All our caregivers will be part of this project which will run from January 2012 until April 2014 and also shows the confidence which large organizations such as SAfAIDS have in SHBC. As I mentioned above, I recently completed my studies in the Advanced Health Management Program, co-certified by the Foundation for Professional Development and Yale School of Public Health. Wilma and I attended the graduation ceremony on 25 November. However, we weren’t prepared for the surprise awaiting us that evening when I was appointed as the top student in the country for the course. This was not only a great reward for extremely hard work but also a great encouragement as I endeavour to grow in my role as CEO of SHBC. On 7 December the coordinators of SHBC came together for the last time this year. This was a joyous event as the caregivers shared Christmas gifts with each other, amidst singing and dancing. I cannot thank God enough for the privilege to be part of this group of volunteers. It is not easy for them to do this work. They often have to face serious challenges in their own lives. One of our caregivers recently committed suicide due to personal problems. Nevertheless, they still continue, giving their time and energy selflessly in order to serve their friends and neighbours. What a blessing they are! Thank you once again for your support in many ways. May God bless you abundantly in these days as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Please visit our website if you need more information about our work: www.shbcare.org/ Until next year, Arnau & Wilma.
Laying down your life is something that ordinary people can’t do, because this would mean total surrender to the Will of something greater than you. It means that when you do it you need to be committed to it as well as know what you are laying your life down for. In our song this month the writers of this song, gives us a clear indication that there is a deep desire to lay their life down for the greater purpose. Laying their life down and surrendering to the Will of God, because ultimately that according to them that is enough and all that they need. They realized that in turning to Jesus in a time of need, will bring solutions, which doesn’t always means they will get answers immediately, but where else can they turn? People depart from them when they are in need and therefore they realized that Jesus will never depart from them in their hour of need. It is during troubled times that they realized that whom they are seeking is not the understanding of human beings rather they are seeking God’s understanding focussing on Him, realizing their need and knowing that Jesus is the only way in which they can find peace and understanding. Putting Jesus first, means that you seek God’s guidance first, not with a demanding heart rather a humble heart. Humble meaning knowing that without Christ their lives would be meaningless, since it is He who knows in which direction their lives should be heading. Making Jesus part of your daily life doesn’t mean that it will always be easy, but it sure will give your heart the purpose to get up and give life another go even though all odds seems to be against you. They continue to sing that the only way in dealing with the harshness of life is to live your life with Jesus on a daily basis, since living in a close relationship with Jesus our lives becomes clearer as times goes by, since we find the strength through Him to pick up our cross and follow Him and therefore not running away from what He has put on our hearts to do. People run because they struggle with the idea of not coping with the pressures of life and all the writers is saying is that in living in the close presence of God, running wouldn’t be possible, since God will always lead you back to where He wants you due to the close relationship you have with Him confessing that ultimately he is the only One that they will ever need. It is through this way which Jesus created for us that helps us through the obstacles of life knowing that he came into this world to prepare for us the way that leads to Salvation. The second verse is a way in which the writers of this song shares their conviction, knowing that God is everywhere in any way possible. They share with their hearers that God grace is rooted so deep within them that it affects every part of their lives and wishes that their hearers would experience something like that. For them it does mean that it doesn’t matter where they are in this world, they are experiencing God’s presence in every place among any type of individual. Life changes all the time and it is during these times that one seeks someone or something that remains the same, someone or something that will never change. We seek something that will be familiar to us to which we can fall back upon when we are treading unfamiliar grounds. God remains the same and His Word never changes, it only becomes fulfilled. Two concepts of this song is direct quotations from the bible, one being “You are the Way, the truth and the Life” (John 14:6) and in the second verse a quotation from Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Chris, yesterday, today and in all eternity.” This indicates that the desire of the writers is to in-corporate biblical truths within their music and by doing this spreads to Word by way of their music. Reminding us of these biblical truths helps us to grow in our faith since music is something that affects every aspect of our lives, while driving or just relaxing. The writers of this song through their music ministers into the hearts of people in a musical way, because the message is more clearer to those who hears it because it is portraying Christianity as a religion, which is more than just the traditional way of sitting within a service and hearing the sermon. One Way by Hillsong is Kehrhahnministries song of the month and thank you for reminding us where we can turn to in our moments when anxiety and fear overtakes our lives as well as reminding us that although things around may turn at times for the worse, what Jesus did for us on the cross will remain for all eternal. Thank you for all the enthusiasm and passion for God, which you portray in this song as millions of people sings and listens to this song and for seeing the passion for this Loving God flowing through the hearts of the people. Georg Kehrhahn
It gives the executive of Kehrhahnministries a great pleasure to announce that the following additions to our constitution has be finalized and added to our constitution. We hope that these additions will contribute to a sharing of information as well as creating an opportunity for different cultures to meet under the banner of Christ as we seek to build relations across every sphere of humanity as we tackle the everyday challenges together knowing that Christ has a better life intended for us than the one, which many people are experiencing. We also hope that more ministries and NGO’s would come aboard with us through the possibility of exchanging volunteers and program of action with one another. The following additions thus have been added to our constitution: 15. International Visitation & Exchange program 15.1 Exchange & international visitation into any country is permissible under the following criteria: 15.1.1 Exchange visitation may only occur within partner ministries of Kehrhahnministries. 15.1.2 All exchange programs need to be confirmed before departure to allow enough preparation time for the visit. 15.1.3 All exchange programs is subjected to financial availability and the budget should be accepted by the financial committee of Kehrhahnministries. This visitation budget needs to be submitted to this committee by the mission committee at least two months prior to planned visitation. 15.2 All expenditures need to be carried by the inviting branch, which includes accommodation, transport and travel expenses during the staying period. 15.3 Kehrhahnministries can be approached in exceptional cases, when hosts suffer as a result of financial difficulties in that respective country, which is not in their control. The executive may then decide whether to finance the trip and whether they will take responsibility for the raising of the necessary funds. 15.4 Under no circumstances will money be paid for any projects or travelling in advance to any branch member or supported project, rather the allocated representative of the visiting branch will conduct all financial aspects while being on the visit abroad. 15.5 All individuals must be selected by a panel of the people allocated by the executive. 15.6 This panel consists of the following people: 15.6.1 Chief Executive Officer of KM or his/her deputy 15.6.2 Mission committee Chairperson or his/her deputy 15.6.3 Financial committee Chairperson or his/her deputy 15.6.4 Three additional members selected by CEO or Deputy. 15.7 All document requirements of the applicant must be met fully for interview consideration. Incomplete documentation will not be considered. The requirements may change from country to country depending on the executive of that particular branch. These requirements must be written out in full detail. 15.8 Successful applicant needs to be informed about the decision immediately after the interview, thus applications must be short listed. 16. Establishment of centres of Worship 16.1 Organized and registered Kehrhahnministries structures may established centres of worship within their own countries, and the following criterion however must be met: 16.1.1 Leaders should have a proper theological education and prove of education etc. diploma, degree in theology should be forwarded to their national representative who is accredited with the main organization. 16.1.2 A proper business plan which also includes programs which will be running as well as continual assessment reports from trustees in the name of the worship center will have to be submitted to your national representative for consideration. 16.1.3 A constitution for the ministry needs to be drafted and submitted to your national legal committee of Kehrhahnministries in accordance with subsection 7.9.3c in regards to the legal committee to fulfil their constitutional mandate. 16.2 A limit of worship centres in a particular town will be enforce depending upon the size of the area in which it will operate in order to avoid conflict in interest projects and programs. 16.3 All centres of worship will have to comply with our accountability code and should be transparent in every area, since Kehrhahnministries executive adopted the “accountable governance” code. 16.4 All centres must subject themselves to visitations at all times by members of the national executives or government institutions. 16.5 Kehrhahnministries executive reserves the right to distance or even close down any center of worship that doesn’t comply to section 16.3 of this constitution, as well as turning any application for accreditation down in accordance with section 16.1, subsections 16.1.1 and 2 of this constitution. This also includes centres of safety etc. Orphanages, Old Age Homes and other establishments who obtained accreditation from its national executives. 16.6 In an area where Kehrhahnministries ministry partners are operating, a center of worship is prohibited and our website should be consulted for such ministries in your local area, however an exception may be made after consultation the our ministry partner in that area to avoid a conflict of interest. 16.7 Annual meetings should be held and a report needs to be submitted to national executive. 16.8 All elections of office bearers must be in compliance of section 12 of this constitution and must be held every two years. The terms of office will be six years and a candidate is legible to stand for office for 2 terms. 16.9 These centres of worship/safety should be viewed as a halfway house for people who became disgruntled by their own churches and therefore members of such places needs to be encouraged to return to their perspective churches or a church were they feeling at home and which caters for their individual needs. These additions forms part of our program of action for 2012. The executive has also set a new visitation target for 2012 in regards to our website visitation and it has been estimated that our goal for 2012 is 25000. We believe that this target is reachable and therefore we will keep you informed quarterly on this target as the year progresses. We hope that these additions will be an encouragement as we strive to reach all corners of the world with the life changing gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Moving forward!!! Georg Kehrhahn |