Newsflash: Friday, 1 September 2023

AFM Newsflash_Friday 1 September_2023

RESOURCES
ABLAZE National Conference: Program
https://afm-ags.org/category/events/ 

Dear Colleague,

ABLAZE AFM NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023

The theme for this conference is “Ablaze.” It is anchored in our theme for the year, being “Keep the Fire Burning” as well as on Matthew 5: 14-16 (NKJV), which instructs us as follows: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The time we are living in calls us, in many ways like never before, to be a lamp on a lampstand. To not hide who we are and what we believe, but to be unashamed in our Pentecostal testimony and belief proclaiming and sharing our faith and taking up our Missional calling as people of the Holy Spirit.

Our light should not only shine to those in our communities and workplaces but must also give light to all who are in the house. It is of utmost importance that we pass our faith heritage and the DNA of Pentecost on to the next generation. Our children and young people need to understand where we come from, who we are and what we believe. Our house – being the AFM church, must be a place that is accessible to all people, especially to our youth and children.

In a time of ethical and moral decay on a worldwide basis, we must let our light shine before all people in such a way that they may see our good deeds and moral excellence and recognize, honour and glorify our Father in heaven. This speaks to the importance of a constantly lived, testimony. Not only on Sundays or at certain events, but every day and everywhere. It includes the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The children’s song “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” based on Matthew 5: 16 and originally written by Harry Dixon around 1920, reminds us to let our light shine everywhere we go.

Our light should never be focused on glorifying human leaders, personalities or earthly philosophies, but must always reflect Jesus. All our services and ministry activities must be spaces where the Holy Spirit is welcome and active. Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, Jesus will be glorified.

I trust that the 2023 National Conference will not just be another meeting, but a time of real upliftment, transformation, motivation and renewal. Let us enjoy each other’s presence (talk to someone you do not know) and make the most of worshipping God together as one AFM church.

PROGRAM:

THURSDAY – 7 SEPTEMBER
Evening Service: 19h00-21h00
Speaker: Pastor Rudi Coertzen
Topic: A Lamp on a Lampstand

FRIDAY – 8 SEPTEMBER
PCD Sessions:
10h00-12h00
14h00-16h00

Pastors Continuous Development (PCD) sessions will be presented free of charge at 10h00-12h00 and repeated at 14h00-16h00. A total of 6 PCD credits will be awarded for attending both presentations:

Proactively addressing Mental Health –
By the Themba Thandeka Leadership Institute

The Fake Prophets phenomenon – a Pentecostal response –
By Dr Daniel Andrew

Evening Service: 19h00-21h00
Speaker: Pastor Barend Petersen
Topic: Give Light to All

SATURDAY – 9 SEPTEMBER
Morning Service: 9h00-11h00
Speaker: Past. Selby Khumalo
Topic: Let Your Light Shine

Afternoon Service: 14h00-16h00
Speaker: Pastor Jeremy Josias
Topic: The Source, Cause & Force
of being the Light of the World

Evening Service: 18h00-20h00
Speaker: Dr Henri Weideman
Topic: Our Light Reflects Jesus

Kindly note that the above services and PCD sessions will be streamed live on the following AFM of SA national social media platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/AFMOFSA/
https://youtube.com/@theapostolicfaithmissionof621?si=iOskqOjjBG1PIjRg

The “Word of Welcome” and “Program” are available below:

ABLAZE AFM National Conference_Program_2023

We are looking forward to a powerful and impactful national conference!

Friendly Regards
Henri Weideman

Addressing Violence Against- and Abuse of Women and Children – The role of Pastors, other Church Leaders and Men (3 July 2020)

We hear of violent deaths of women and children almost daily and we all wonder what kind of person can do such evil and heinous acts. It is mostly men who are the perpetrators and to compound the problem, many of them are related to their victims. They were not born monsters as they are someone’s son, brother, husband, father, friend, employee, uncle or cousin.

Some of them went to Sunday School, Youth meetings and/or attended Church. Yet they turned out to become violators, abusers, murderers, and the question is not only what went wrong in their lives, it is also why we are allowing this to happen. Part of the answer lies in the fact that most of us look the other way and don’t want to take action as we hope the problem will go away and there are others that might not know what to do.

We do not like confronting or reporting abuse and violations when we see it happening in our families, our neighbourhood and even in our churches. Edmund Burke hit the nail on the head when he said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

We are not saying this because we are expecting Pastors and other church leaders to play the role of Police Officers, Teachers, Social Workers or Lawyers, but we are expecting them to know what to do; what is within their area of responsibility; which cases should be reported and to whom; and also knowing when and how to refer victims of abuse to the correct resources or authorities.

I realise there is a need for a toolkit for Pastors and other church leaders to provide them with information (including the policy and legal framework) on violence against- and abuse of women and children and also practical guidelines that will spell out what to do when they are confronted with this major challenge in their congregations and communities they serve.

However, I want to share, using my own experience and drawing on research and experience from other NPOs and agencies, a few things that we as leaders in our church can do or undertake to tackle the scourge of violence against women and children.

1. Self-reflection and education

 Confront yourself/your ideas.
 Educate yourself on the roots of violence.
 Confront stereotyping men’s and women’s roles.
 Become aware of resources for girls and women.
 Be media literate and critical and learn to use social media effectively.
 Remember violence is a choice.

2. Become aware of harmful cultures and practices

 Raise awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions.
 Challenge and stop rape culture.
 Recognise the role of gender in violence.
 Confront, interrupt sexist/homophobic and transphobic language.

2. Involving, consulting and engaging others

 Engage and share vital information with the assembly and community.
 Engage respected community elders and leaders in the fight against violence.
 Have a discussion with others about ending violence and to become a mentor.
 Engage boys and young men to become agents of change.
 Help boys and young men understand consent.
 Call gender violence what it is – it is not bullying or part of a cultural thing.

3. Developing and implementing an action plan

 Create a conducive atmosphere.
 Create safe spaces to discuss gender violence.
 Be supportive.
 Stop victim blaming – girls and women often blame themselves.
 Listen to girls’ experiences of violence – and their solutions.

4. Taking action

 Confront and Stop abuse.
 Stop street harassment.
 Tackle violence of girls in schools.
 Report abuse and photos that exploit girls and young women.

Ashley Theron (Acting CEO of AFM Welfare)

ashley@afmwelfare.org.za

Sources:
Battered Women’s Support Services
Plan International

Addressing Violence Against- and Abuse of Women and Children – The role of Pastors, other Church Leaders and Men (3 July 2020)

We hear of violent deaths of women and children almost daily and we all wonder what kind of person can do such evil and heinous acts. It is mostly men who are the perpetrators and to compound the problem, many of them are related to their victims. They were not born monsters as they are someone’s son, brother, husband, father, friend, employee, uncle or cousin.

Some of them went to Sunday School, Youth meetings and/or attended Church. Yet they turned out to become violators, abusers, murderers, and the question is not only what went wrong in their lives, it is also why we are allowing this to happen. Part of the answer lies in the fact that most of us look the other way and don’t want to take action as we hope the problem will go away and there are others that might not know what to do.

We do not like confronting or reporting abuse and violations when we see it happening in our families, our neighbourhood and even in our churches. Edmund Burke hit the nail on the head when he said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

We are not saying this because we are expecting Pastors and other church leaders to play the role of Police Officers, Teachers, Social Workers or Lawyers, but we are expecting them to know what to do; what is within their area of responsibility; which cases should be reported and to whom; and also knowing when and how to refer victims of abuse to the correct resources or authorities.

I realise there is a need for a toolkit for Pastors and other church leaders to provide them with information (including the policy and legal framework) on violence against- and abuse of women and children and also practical guidelines that will spell out what to do when they are confronted with this major challenge in their congregations and communities they serve.

However, I want to share, using my own experience and drawing on research and experience from other NPOs and agencies, a few things that we as leaders in our church can do or undertake to tackle the scourge of violence against women and children.

1. Self-reflection and education

 Confront yourself/your ideas.
 Educate yourself on the roots of violence.
 Confront stereotyping men’s and women’s roles.
 Become aware of resources for girls and women.
 Be media literate and critical and learn to use social media effectively.
 Remember violence is a choice.

2. Become aware of harmful cultures and practices

 Raise awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions.
 Challenge and stop rape culture.
 Recognise the role of gender in violence.
 Confront, interrupt sexist/homophobic and transphobic language.

2. Involving, consulting and engaging others

 Engage and share vital information with the assembly and community.
 Engage respected community elders and leaders in the fight against violence.
 Have a discussion with others about ending violence and to become a mentor.
 Engage boys and young men to become agents of change.
 Help boys and young men understand consent.
 Call gender violence what it is – it is not bullying or part of a cultural thing.

3. Developing and implementing an action plan

 Create a conducive atmosphere.
 Create safe spaces to discuss gender violence.
 Be supportive.
 Stop victim blaming – girls and women often blame themselves.
 Listen to girls’ experiences of violence – and their solutions.

4. Taking action

Confront and Stop abuse
Stop street harassment
Tackle violence of girls in schools
Report abuse and photos that exploit girls and young women

Sources:
Battered Women’s Support Services
Plan International

Addressing Violence Against- and Abuse of Women and Children – The role of Pastors, other Church Leaders and Men (3 July 2020)

We hear of violent deaths of women and children almost daily and we all wonder what kind of person can do such evil and heinous acts. It is mostly men who are the perpetrators and to compound the problem, many of them are related to their victims. They were not born monsters as they are someone’s son, brother, husband, father, friend, employee, uncle or cousin.

Some of them went to Sunday School, Youth meetings and/or attended Church. Yet they turned out to become violators, abusers, murderers, and the question is not only what went wrong in their lives, it is also why we are allowing this to happen. Part of the answer lies in the fact that most of us look the other way and don’t want to take action as we hope the problem will go away and there are others that might not know what to do.

We do not like confronting or reporting abuse and violations when we see it happening in our families, our neighbourhood and even in our churches. Edmund Burke hit the nail on the head when he said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

We are not saying this because we are expecting Pastors and other church leaders to play the role of Police Officers, Teachers, Social Workers or Lawyers, but we are expecting them to know what to do; what is within their area of responsibility; which cases should be reported and to whom; and also knowing when and how to refer victims of abuse to the correct resources or authorities.

I realise there is a need for a toolkit for Pastors and other church leaders to provide them with information (including the policy and legal framework) on violence against- and abuse of women and children and also practical guidelines that will spell out what to do when they are confronted with this major challenge in their congregations and communities they serve.

However, I want to share, using my own experience and drawing on research and experience from other NPOs and agencies, a few things that we as leaders in our church can do or undertake to tackle the scourge of violence against women and children.

1. Self-reflection and education

 Confront yourself/your ideas.
 Educate yourself on the roots of violence.
 Confront stereotyping men’s and women’s roles.
 Become aware of resources for girls and women.
 Be media literate and critical and learn to use social media effectively.
 Remember violence is a choice.

2. Become aware of harmful cultures and practices

 Raise awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions.
 Challenge and stop rape culture.
 Recognise the role of gender in violence.
 Confront, interrupt sexist/homophobic and transphobic language.

2. Involving, consulting and engaging others

 Engage and share vital information with the assembly and community.
 Engage respected community elders and leaders in the fight against violence.
 Have a discussion with others about ending violence and to become a mentor.
 Engage boys and young men to become agents of change.
 Help boys and young men understand consent.
 Call gender violence what it is – it is not bullying or part of a cultural thing.

3. Developing and implementing an action plan

 Create a conducive atmosphere.
 Create safe spaces to discuss gender violence.
 Be supportive.
 Stop victim blaming – girls and women often blame themselves.
 Listen to girls’ experiences of violence – and their solutions.

4. Taking action

Confront and Stop abuse
Stop street harassment
Tackle violence of girls in schools
Report abuse and photos that exploit girls and young women

Sources:
Battered Women’s Support Services
Plan International

AFM Newsflash: Friday, 26 January 2018

Dear Colleagues,

Accept my best wishes for the New Year. I pray that God will give you the wisdom, capacity and anointing for your ministry in 2018 and beyond. I would like to remind you that January is dedicated to Prayer & Fasting in the AFM. I am thankful to all of you who have already commenced with prayer & fasting.

It’s not necessary to mention that South Africa is experiencing difficulties on many terrains. The main responsibility of Christians is to pray earnestly and faithfully to God. On the 24th of February a nationwide prayer initiative is taking place. My request is that pastors and community leaders prayerfully consider volunteering and co-ordinating a prayer point in their local community. Every community leader that volunteers receives a resource pack and will be empowered to coordinate the prayer point.

Please read the information and be part of what I believe, is a God-inspired initiative:

 Up4SA Information AFM 2018


You can also connect directly with Up4SA via their online platforms:

Website: www.up4sa.co.za

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Up4SA/

1. REGIONAL EMPOWERMENT VISITS 2018

We are excited to commence with our annual NOB empowerment visits. The NOB is looking forward to connect with regional, network and departmental committee members as well as all our Pastors, their Governing Bodies and other leaders in the church. The aim of these visits is to bring key issues to the leadership of the AFM and includes training, discussions, reflection and feedback sessions.

The key issues for 2018 include a focus on: ● Succession Planning ● Traditional mission paradigm vs. missionality paradigm ● Leadership Development ● Game Plan feedback ● Coaching relationships in regions, networks & departments ● “Practical” cohesion. Kindly find the dates and venues below:

2. AFM WEBSITE

The National Office is excited to announce that the current website (which served us well for the last 4 years) is in the process of being updated and revamped. Apart from receiving a fresh “look and feel” the website will provide useful and updated information to AFM pastors, leaders, members and the wider Christian community.

The new website will be live on Friday, 24 February 2018. We are looking forward to engage with our church through this useful online platform.

Blessings and favour for 2018!

M.G. Mahlobo