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AFM Newsflash Friday 18 NOV_2022
NOVEMBER
RESOURCES
Pastoral Letter: 4th Quarter 2022 – New!
To be released on Friday, 2 December 2022
AFM of SA National Calendar 2023 – Including the Latest Updates!
https://afm-ags.org/afm-of-sa-national-calendar-2023/
NOB Empowerment Visits 2023: Dates & Venues – You are Invited!
https://afm-ags.org/nob-empowerment-visits-2023-dates-venues/
1. A WORD OF THANKS & APPRECIATION
2022 was an interesting and busy year in many ways. For most of us, it marked the return to “normality” after a time of restrictions and loss. Many of our assemblies, members and leaders are still on an uphill journey to recover and regain what was lost in membership, ministry and in income. For some of us, it was difficult to remain positive and hopeful amidst the challenges brought about by the pandemic and its consequences.
Please receive my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your faithfulness and hard work throughout 2022. I am aware of the perseverance and personal cost some of our Pastors and Assembly Leaders had to endure in leading their assemblies through the most difficult of times. God promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb.13:5). I trust that you will experience His guidance, presence and peace in your life as we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. May He also guide you as we approach yearend preparing ourselves for the opportunities and challenges that 2023 will bring.
Thank you very much.
2. AFM OF SA NATIONAL OFFICE: NOTIFICATION
After a full and busy year, the National Office will be closing on Friday, 9 December 2022 and open again on Monday, 9 January 2023. In case of an emergency, you can contact the General Secretary, Pastor Selby Khumalo at 063 095 0404.
3. AFM WELFARE WEEKEND
(25 to 27 November 2022)
Making a Difference in the Lives of People
The AFM Welfare Weekend is a standing item on the AFM of SA’s Calendar and is always celebrated during the last weekend of November. This year it will be celebrated in local AFM Assemblies from Friday, 25 November to Sunday, 27 November. The church’s involvement in our local communities is of great importance and flows from our vision statement:
“We see a church accessible to all people, celebrating our unity and God-given diversity, empowering our members for caring and transforming our communities to the glory of God.”
Our greatest motivation to be a blessing to our communities is the love of God. God sent His Son not for the church as such, but for the world and He uses His church to be His instrument to touch the world – our communities. Our impact on our communities can be measured by the well-known saying: “Will your community miss you if your assembly closes down?”
The church has a vital role to play in making a difference in the lives of people. The church comes to the aid of people through caring, empowering and sharing. Although the church reaches out to the community continuously, the AFM Welfare Weekend presents an opportunity to exclusively focus on this important driver of our missional strategy namely Community Involvement.
The AFM Welfare Weekend presents local assemblies with the opportunity to:
- Preach a Sunday sermon that speaks on the biblical mandate of making a difference in the lives of people (Isaiah 58:6-8; Math. 10:8; Math. 25:35; Luke 4:18; Luke 14:13+14; James 1:27).
- Collect a Sunday offering for AFM Welfare – the church’s Welfare Department.
- Facilitate a workshop/training session with members exploring new opportunities for the Assembly to get involved and make a difference in the local community.
- Organise an outreach initiative that all your members can participate in (e.g. asking members to bring non-perishable food for people in need or stationery for the new school year and in so doing, bless the surrounding community).
Success Stories
Do you have a success story to share? Send us the details of your Community Involvement project/action and the impact that was achieved:
ashleyt@afmwelfare.org.za (Acting CEO) OR
chantalle@afm-ags.org (AFM Communication)
Blessings!
Ashley Theron
(Acting CEO of AFM Welfare)
4. NOB EMPOWERMENT VISITS 2023
Keep The Fire Burning
As we are focusing on finishing 2022 well, we are also looking forward to, praying for and planning for 2023 – full of expectations! We are looking forward to visiting and spending some time in ministry and impartation with Regional Pastors, Assembly Leaders and Members during the Regional Empowerment Visits. The Theme for 2023 is: KEEP THE FIRE BURNING.
The National Office Bearers (NOB) felt led to focus on the Spiritual Foundation of Missionality and to spend time on who we are and how we live as Holy Spirit-filled people and church. We will focus on (i) Our Calling as Believers and Pastors; (ii) Daily time with the Word and in Prayer; (iii) The Character, Values and Norms of Holy Spirit filled People; and (iv) our Family life and Future planning.
Below we share the dates and venues for the NOB Empowerment Visits of 2023:
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
5. AFM OF SA CALENDAR 2023
Remember to schedule January 2023 as a month of prayer. We will give more information in the last Pastoral Letter of 2022 on the planned WEEK OF PRAYER AND FASTING that will be from Monday, 16 to Friday, 20 January 2023.
To download the 2023 AFM of SA Calendar, kindly visit the AFM of SA website:
https://afm-ags.org/afm-of-sa-national-calendar-2023/
Warm Regards!
Henri Weideman
