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Our church leadership decided: it is not ‘us’ and ‘them’, but just US, the same congregation, just another service like the others but in English. We preach the same message in this English service as we do in the Afrikaans services.

“We preach the same message in this English service as we do in the Afrikaans services.”

To get this new English service started in our community we planned multiple actions and strategies. We started by printing flyers and giving them out everywhere – at schools and on the streets. We even asked our current members to take these flyers to their workplaces. We hosted a street braai in the main street of town and gave away 1,000 wors rolls for free! We told people about the new service, gave them flyers and prayed for them. I often went (and still go) to the main streets on a Saturday morning with my Bible. I talk to people, pray with them and invite them to church – through this I have led people to Christ, gained new members and baptised them! We do Church Campaigns (from Walk Thru the Bible) in our services – this grows the congregation through attendance and cell groups. You can go to their website: www.bible.org.za. We do projects that reach out to schools and businesses – with the intent to introduce them to the church.

With the help of a good friend, Pastor Elvis Mvulane we started the English service with 20 people. We now average 120 people per Sunday. It has now evolved to such an extent that we have a pastor (who lives in Alberton) that travels 180 km every Sunday to help with the preaching and house visitations. Four months after starting the English service we saw the need for an English Sunday School – and currently minister to 60 children on a Sunday. We now also employ someone who takes charge of our Sunday School. Our dream is to have 5,000 people in our English service! With 80 000 in the area we believe that this is a realistic target.”

If you are looking for the direct connections between the story and the One AFM Game Plan drivers, I trust that the GBM presentation will clearly show and demonstrate these links:

 One AFM Game Plan Presentation Past. MG Mahlobo GBM 2018

PASTORAL WELLNESS: THE WHOLE PICTURE

Dr. Vincent Atterbury  
(A follow-up article from the AFM Pastoral Letter 3^rd Quarter)

God calls and empowers people with the Holy Spirit, to be part of the extension and continuation of the ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth. As much as it is an honour to be called by God, it also implies a personal responsibility –  to maintain the zeal of the original calling without falling short thereof because of burnout. God’s calling is never at the expense of anything within the totality of any one’s human existence.

“God’s calling is never at the expense of anything within the totality of any one’s human existence.”

Although great progress has been made in attempts to understand the total existence of human beings, these efforts have only scratched the surface. Every person is created by Him in a unique way when He knitted them together for His glory and purpose (Psalm 139:13-14). In a sense, it is a challenge for human beings to understand exactly how wonderfully and complex God made them.

The wellness of a person is determined by not only one, but a combination of different areas and facets of life. Considering the wellness of pastors, at least 7 areas that are integrated and interwoven with one another is applicable and need to be focussed on in working towards pastoral wellness.

1. Spiritual: At the centre of any human’s wellness is their personal relationship with God. Living in a right relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and being led by His Spirit. From such a relationship one will experience a deep sense of purpose (calling) and meaning in life. The values, principles and behaviour of individuals are determined by their personal relationship with God. Growing stronger in your relationship with God is essential to any pastor’s wellness.
2. Emotional: Every human being has the inherent ability to experience a variety of emotions, e.g. happiness, sadness, joy, hope, stress, fear, anger, etc. Many feelings are attached to opposites causing variance in mood, effectiveness, productivity, perspectives, behaviour and coping with challenges. Growing in emotional intelligence (the ability to understand ourselves) and coping with life’s challenges, is vital to pastoral wellness.
3. Intellectual: Every person has been created with intellectual ability that needs to be developed through a lifelong process of acquiring knowledge and skills. This is a never-ending process as the world, knowledge and life itself change constantly. New ideas and problem solving abilities are required to stay relevant and live well. Pastors need to be life-long learners in order to contribute to their own wellness.
4. Physical: God gives a human being one body that serves as a vehicle through which He displays the masterpiece He has created in that person. The body is like any vehicle, the better it is looked after, the longer it will serve one with excellence. Pastoral wellness can be enhanced in growing, adopting and maintaining healthy habits (e.g. routine medical check-ups, a balanced diet, exercise, rest, etc.). Destructive lifestyle patterns must be avoided at all costs.
5. Social: God created every individual to be interdependent with other human beings. Relationships with spouses, children, other family, etc. is very crucial with regard to a pastor’s wellness. Growing in the creation and maintenance of positive relationships enhances pastoral wellness. This includes occupational and institutional relationships too, e.g. with colleagues, volunteers,  assembly members, the governing board, regional forum, national leadership and office.
6. Occupational: God created us for a specific purpose (calling). The wellness of pastors are influenced by the level of personal fulfilment they experience in what they are doing, what they are allowed to do and what they are empowered to do. Pastoral wellness can be enhanced by engagement in ministry according to the individual’s God-given talents and gifts, matched by a suitable working environment.
7. Financial: Our relationship to earthly possessions, money and the management of resources is a major topic addressed in the Bible. The Bible explains the effect thereof on the wellness of humans. Growing in the Biblical understanding of God’s provision, our relationship to it, as well as our responsibility towards managing God’s provision, will enhance pastoral wellness.

Pastoral wellness is complex and there is not a ‘quick fix’, one key or secret, that will cause a pastor’s wellness. Every pastor must consciously be aware of the fact that he/she is multifaceted. All areas require attention and determine wellness.

The prayer of John for Gaius emphasises that pastors should not only be well spiritually, but also in every other area of their lives (3 John 1:2). In Proverbs 4:23 Solomon emphasises that we have to take care of all areas of our life, as the totality and quality of our lives and ministry, is affected by it. It is only then, and then alone that pastors will be able to fulfil God’s calling for their lives through sustainable fruitfulness, season after season.

“…pastors will be able to fulfil God’s calling for their lives through sustainable fruitfulness, season after season.”

LEADING FROM THE HEART: HELENA JACKSON
Past. M.G. Mahlobo – President of the AFM of SA

The AFM Welfare Department has been a shining example of the AFM’s Social Responsibility and Community Involvement since the unification of the AFM in 1996. Helena Jackson succeeded Past. Eben Muller as the Director of this Department. This is one of the Departments that requires prudence and a high degree of stewardship. Helena steered this Welfare ship until it hit the financial “ice berg”. She didn’t abandon the ship. She continued to do her best to keep it afloat. In the meantime, the National Leadership intervened with the aim of rescuing and turning the Department around. Helena remained optimistic that this ministry will continue. She has since resigned as the Director of the AFM Welfare Department. We will surely miss her passion and commitment to minister to the needy. I am, however, convinced that she will not sit back and fold her arms in the face of many social challenges that our country is facing. She will find a way of expressing her desire to care for people that are hurting.

On behalf of the AFM of SA, I would like to thank her for her valuable input in the Church’s Welfare Department. I pray that God will continue to shine His face upon her. Thank you very much Helena.

What prompted you to initially get involved with the work of the AFM Welfare Council?
I come from a Dutch Reformed Church background. Whilst studying my Social Work degree in Wellington in the Western Cape, I started attending services at the AFM Church – where I came to conversion in 1977, was baptized and baptized in the Holy Spirit. I met my husband during the same time and he was a member of the AFM Church. I graduated as a Registered Social Worker in 1978 and as all students applied for as many vacant posts as possible. Amongst other successful applications was the AFM Executive Welfare application – which I took as I knew my future with my husband would be in the AFM Church.

Looking back, what was the most exciting development you will never forget?
The decentralization of the Children’s Division since 1999, which was once again groundbreaking progress in Child Care.  It was this development which added the most value to the lives of our children, as well as to the standing of the AFM Executive Welfare Council in the Welfare Sector.

What will you miss about your role?
The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the beneficiaries which I had worked with for 39 years and 6 months, as well as the opportunity to empower the staff – over the whole spectrum of the work of the AFM Executive Welfare Council.

What do you believe is the critical success factors for the future of the AFM Welfare Council?
Two very important factors WERE the driving force over especially the last 20 years. The one was for sure the buy-in from the AFM Assemblies who took co-responsibility for projects since the decentralization process. As well as the  passion, faithfulness and hard work of the staff.

What is your final wish for the AFM Welfare Council?
That it would survive the current uncertainty in terms of its direction and fulfil its mission and vision as was intended from the beginning.

What do you plan to do after retirement?
I would like to remain involved in community projects and have already engaged in it.   I am a “people’s person” and want to be of value for those in need.  Other than that I want to travel, do gardening and spend as much time as possible with my family.

Any final advice to AFM assemblies regarding Community Involvement?
It is our responsibility as church to care of our communities as we are taught in the book of Acts. We have no choice and I would encourage assemblies to find the needs in your community and fill it, find the hurt and heal it. Become involved and serve those who cannot fend for themselves.

“…find the needs in your community and fill it, find the hurt and heal it. Become involved and serve those who cannot fend for themselves.”

CONCLUSION

We are nearing the end of 2018. It will be remembered as the year in which the AFM celebrated its 110^th Anniversary. We are grateful to God for His providence. We also had a watershed 2018 General Business Meeting which took important resolutions regarding succession planning for the Office Bearers at the National level. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all, for your ministry inputs this year. Your ministry has contributed to the growth of the church. May you all have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous 2019.

Past. M.G. Mahlobo

Ons kerk se leierskap het besluit:  Dit is nie “ons” en “hulle” nie, maar net ONS, dieselfde gemeente, net ‘n ander diens presies soos die res maar in Engels.  Ons preek dieselfde boodskap in hierdie Engelse diens as wat in die Afrikaanse dienste gepreek word.

Om hierdie Engelse diens in ons gemeenskap te begin was dit nodig om veelvuldige aksies en strategieë te beplan. Ons het begin deur pamflette te druk en dit oral moontlik uit te deel – by skole en op straat. Ons het selfs ons huidge gemeentelede gevra om hierdie pamflette na hulle werksplekke te neem. Ons het ‘n straat-braai in die hoofstraat van ons dorp gehou en het 1,000 worsrolletjies gratis weggegee! Ons het mense vertel van ons nuwe diens, hulle die pamlfette gegee en vir hulle gebid. Ek het baie keer gegaan (en ek doen dit steeds) na die hoofstrate op ‘n Saterdagmôre met my Bybel in my hand. Ek het met mense gepraat, saam met hulle gebid en hulle uitgenooi na ons kerk – so het ek mense na Jesus gelei, nuwe lidmate bekom en hulle gedoop! Ons doen kerk veldtogte (vanuit Walk Thru the Bible) gedurende ons dienste – dit veroorsaak dat die gemeente groei deur bywoning en selgroepe. Jy kan hulle webtuiste besoek by:  www.bible.org.za.  Ons doen projekte wat uitreik na skole en besighede – met die intensie om hulle bekend te stel aan die kerk.

Indien jy belang stel in die direkte verband tussen hierdie verhaal en die “One AFM Game Plan” drywers vertrou ek dat die GBM aanbieding dit duidelik sal wys en demonstreer:

 One AFM Game Plan Presentation Past. MG Mahlobo GBM 2018

PASTORALE WELSTAND: DIE VOLLE PRENTJIE

Dr. Vincent Atterbury   (‘n Opvolg artikel vanuit die Pastorale Brief 3^de Kwartaal)

God roep en bemagtig mense met die Heilige Gees om deel te wees van die uitbreiding en voortsetting van die bediening van Sy Seun, Jesus Christus se bediening op aarde.  Alhoewel dit ‘n eer is om geroep te wees deur God sluit dit ook ‘n persoonlike verantwoordelikheid in – om die ywer van die oorspronklike roeping in stand te hou sonder om te kort te skiet as gevolg van uitbranding.  God se roeping is nooit ten koste van enigeiets binne die totaliteit van enige een se menslike bestaan nie.

“God se roeping is nooit ten koste van enigeiets binne die totaliteit van enige een se menslike bestaan nie.”

Aloewel groot vordering gemaak is in die pogings om die totale bestaan van mense te verstaan het hierdie pogings slegs die oppervlak gedek.  Elke persoon is geskep deur Hom op ‘n unieke wyse wanneer Hy hulle aanmekaar weef vir Sy glorie en doel (Psalm 139:13-14).  Op ‘n manier is dit vir mense ‘n uitdaging om presies te verstaan hoe wonderlik en kompleks God hulle gemaak het.

Die welstand van ‘n persoon word vasgestel nie net deur een area of faset nie, maar wel deur ‘n kombinasie van verskillende areas en fasette van die lewe. By die oorweging van die welstand van pastore word ten minste 7 areas, wat geintegreer en verweef met mekaar is, toegepas en moet daarop gefokus word wanneer gestreef word na pastorale welstand.

1. Geestelik: Die kern van enige mens se welstand is hulle persoonlike verhouding met God.  Om binne ‘n regte verhouding met God te leef deur middel van sy Seun, Jesus Christus, en gelei te word deur Sy Gees.  Vanaf so ‘n verhouding sal ‘n persoon ‘n diepe besef van doel (roeping) en betekenis van die lewe beleef.  Die waardes, beginsels en gedrag van individue word vasgestel deur hulle persoonlike verhouding met God.  Om sterker te groei in jou verhouding met God is van allerbelang vir enige pastoor se welstand.
2. Emosioneel: Elke mens het die inherente vermoë om ‘n verskeidenheid emosies te ervaar, bv. geluk, hartseer, vreugde, hoop, spanning, vrees, woede ens.  Menige gevoelens is gekoppel aan teenoorgesteldes wat skommelinge in buie, effektiwiteit, produktiwiteit, perspektiewe, gedrag en hantering van uitdagings veroorsaak.  Om te groei in emosionele intelligensie (die vermoë om onsself te verstaan) en die hantering van die lewe se uitdagings is noodsaaklik vir pastorale welstand.
3. Intellektueel: Elke persoon is geskep met ‘n intellektuele vermoë wat ontwikkel moet word deur ‘n lewenslange proses van die bekoming van kennis en vaardighede. Dit is ‘n onophoudende proses soos wat die wêreld, kennis en die lewe self konstant verander. Nuwe idees en probleemoplossingsvermoëns word benodig om relevant te bly en suksesvol te leef. Pastore moet lewenslange leerders wees om ten einde by te dra tot hulle eie welstand.
4. Fisies: God gee vir die mens een liggaam wat dien as a voertuig waardeur Hy die meesterstuk ten toon stel wat Hy geskep het in daardie persoon.  Die liggaam is soos ‘n voertuig, hoe beter daarna gekyk word, hoe langer dien dit die persoon met uitnemendheid.  Pastorale welstand kan bevorder word deur gesonde gewoontes te kweek, aan te neem en in stand te hou (bv. gereelde mediese ondersoeke, ‘n gebalanseerde dieët, oefening, rus, ens).  Vernietigende leefstylpatrone moet vermy word ten alle koste.
5. Sosiaal: God skep elke individu om interafhanklik te wees van ander mense. Verhoudings met gades, kinders, ander familie, ens is baie belangrik vir die pastoor se welstand. Groei in die skep en instandhouding van positiewe verhoudings bevorder pastorale welstand. Dit sluit ook in beroeps- en institusionele verhoudings, bv. met kollegas, vrywilligers, gemeentelede, die beheerliggaam, streeksforum, nasionale leierskap en kantoor.
6. Beroepsgesondheid: God het ons geskep vir ‘n spesifieke doel (roeping). Die welstand van pastore word beìnvloed deur die vlak van persoonlike vervulling wat hulle ondervind in dit wat hulle doen, wat hulle toegelaat word om te doen en wat hulle bemagtig word om te doen.  Pastorale welstand kan bevorder word deur betrokkenheid in bediening te bepaal volgens die individu se God-gegewe talente en gawes, dus in ooreenstemming met ‘n geskikte werksomgewing.
7. Finansieël: Ons verhouding met aardse besittings, geld en die bestuur van hulpbronne is ‘n belangrike onderwerp in die Bybel.  Die Bybel verduidelik die effek daarvan op die welstand van die mens.  Groei in Bybelse begrip van God se voorsiening, ons verhouding daarmee asook ons verantwoordelikheid om God se voorsiening te bestuur, sal pastorale welstand bevorder.

Pastorale welstand is kompleks en daar is geen kitsoplossing, enkele sleutel of geheim wat pastorale welstand sal verseker nie.  Elke pastoor moet pertinent bewus wees van die feit dat hy/sy veelsydig is.  Alle areas vereis aandag en bepaal welstand.

Die gebed van Johannes vir Gaius benadruk dat pastore nie net slegs geestelik wel moet wees nie, maar ook in ander areas van hulle lewens (3 Joh 1:2).  In Spreuke 4:23 benadruk Salomo dat ons na alle areas in ons lewens moet kyk omdat die totaliteit en kwaliteit van ons lewens en bediening daardeur geaffekteer word.  Dit is dan, en slegs dan dat pastore in staat sal wees om God se roeping vir hulle lewens te vervul deur volhoubare vrugbaarheid, seisoen na seisoen.

“Dit is dan, en slegs dan dat pastore in staat sal wees om God se roeping vir hulle lewens te vervul deur volhoubare vrugbaarheid, seisoen na seisoen.”

LEIERSKAP VANUIT DIE HART: HELENA JACKSON
Past. M.G. Mahlobo – President van die AGS van SA

Die AGS se Welsyn Departement is ‘n uitstekende voorbeeld van die AGS se sosiale verantwoordelikheid sedert die eenwording van die AGS in 1996. Helena Jackson het Past. Eben Muller opgevolg as die Direkteur van hierdie Departement. Dit is een van die Departemente wat wysheid en ‘n hoë vlak van rentmeesterskap vereis. Helena het hierdie Welsynsskip gestuur totdat dit ‘n finansiële ysberg geslaan het. Sy het nie die skip verlaat nie. Sy het voortgegaan om haar beste te doen om die skip op die water te hou. In die tussentyd het die Nasionale Leierskap ingegryp met die doel om te red en die Departement om te keer. Helena het optimisties gebly dat hierdie bediening sal bly voortbestaan. Sy het sedertdien bedank as die Direkteur van die AGS Welsyn Departement. Ons sal verseker haar passie en toewyding om die behoeftiges te bedien, mis.  Nieteenstaande is ek oortuig daarvan dat sy nie net terug sal sit en haar arms sal vou in die aangesig van die vele sosiale uitdagings wat ons land in die gesig staar nie. Sy sal ‘n weg vind om haar begeerte om om te sien na mense wat seer het, uit te druk.

Namens die AGS van SA wil ek haar bedank vir haar waardevolle insette in die Kerk se Welsyn Departement. Ek bid dat God voort sal gaan om Sy glorie op haar te laat skyn. Baie dankie Helena.

Wat het jou aanvanklik aangespoor om betrokke te raak by die werk van die AGS Welsynsraad?
Ek kom vanuit ‘n Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk agtergrond. Tydens my studies vir my Maatskaplikewerk graad in Wellington in die Wes-Kaap het ek begin om dienste van die AGS kerk by te woon – waar ek tot bekering gekom het in 1977, gedoop is en gedoop is met die Heilige Gees.  Ek het my man ontmoet gedurende dieselfde tyd en hy was ‘n lidmaat van die AGS kerk.  Ek het gegradueer as ‘n geregistreerde Maatskaplike werker in 1978 en soos alle studente aansoek gedoen vir soveel vakante poste as moontlik.  Onder ander suksesvolle aansoeke was die AGS uitvoerende welsynsposisie – wat ek aanvaar het omdat ek geweet het my toekoms saam met my man sal in die AGS kerk wees.

Wat is die mees opwindende ontwikkeling wat  jy nooit sal vergeet nie?
Die desentralisasie van die Kinderafdeling sedert 1999, wat weereens baanbrekerswerk in kindersorg was.  Dit was hierdie ontwikkeling wat die meeste waarde tot die lewens van ons kinders toegevoeg het asook tot die stand van die AGS Uitvoerende Welsynsraad in die welsynsektor.

Wat van jou rol sal jy mis?
Die geleentheid om ‘n verskil te maak in die lewens van die begunstigdes waarmee ek gewerk het vir 39 jaar en 6 maande, asook die geleentheid om die personeel te bemagtig – oor die hele spektrum van die werk van die AGS Uitvoerende Welsynsraad.

Wat glo jy is die kritiese sukses faktore vir die toekoms van die AGS Welsynsraad?
Twee baie belangrike faktore WAS die dryfkrag van veral die laaste 20 jaar.  Die een was vir seker die inkoop van die AGS gemeentes wat mede-verantwoordelikheid geneem het vir projekte sedert die desentralisasie proses.  Asook die passie, getrouheid en harde werk van die personeel.

Wat is jou finale wens vir die AGS Welsynsraad?
Dat dit die huidige onsekerheid in terme van rigting sal oorleef en die missie en visie sal vervul wat van die begin af vasgestel is.

Wat beplan jy om na aftrede te doen?
Ek sal daarvan hou om aan te hou om betrokke te wees in gemeenskapsprojekte en het reeds begin deelneem.  Ek is ‘n mense-mens en wil van nut wees vir diegene wat in nood verkeer.  Buiten dit wil ek graag reis, tuin maak en soveel tyd moontlik met my familie spandeer.

Enige finale advies aan die AGS gemeentes in verband met Gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid? 
Dit is ons verantwoordelikheid as kerk om om te gee vir ons gemeenskappe soos wat ons geleer word in die boek van Handelinge. Ons het geen keuse nie en ek wil graag gemeentes aanmoedig om die behoeftes in hulle gemeenskappe te bepaal en te vervul, vind die seer en genees dit.  Word betrokke en dien diegene wat nie vir hulle self kan sorg nie.

“…vind die seer en genees dit.  Word betrokke en dien diegene wat nie vir hulle self kan sorg nie.”

SLOT

Ons nader die einde van 2018. Dit sal onthou word as die jaar waarin die AGS se 110^de herdenking gevier is. Ons is dankbaar teenoor God vir Sy voorsiening. Ons het ook ‘n waterskeiding Algemene Besigheidsvergadering in 2018 gehad waar belangrike besluite aangaande die opvolgingsplan vir die Nasionale Ampsdraers deurgevoer is.

Ek wil graag van hierdie geleentheid gebruik maak om jou te bedank vir jou bediening insette gedurende die jaar.  Jou bediening het bygedra tot die groei van die kerk. Ek wens jou ‘n geseënde Kersfees en ‘n voorspoedige 2019 toe.

Past. M.G. Mahlobo