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AFM Newsflash Friday, 10 December 2021
RESOURCES
1. AFM of SA: National Calendar 2022
https://afm-ags.org/afm-calendar-2022/
2. Pastoral Letter: 4th Quarter (New!)
https://afm-ags.org/pastoral-letter-4th-quarter-2021/
3. NOB Inauguration Photo Album: Highlights (New!)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1586119138392238&type=3
Dear Colleague,
1. AFM OF SA NATIONAL OFFICE: OPENING AND CLOSING TIME
Please take note that the National Office will close on Friday, 10 December 2021 and open again, on Tuesday, 4 January 2022. The National Office staff had a busy year, especially in preparation and execution of the GBM (General Business Meeting) and I wish them all a good and safe period of rest with their families and loved ones over the holiday time.
If there is something that you urgently need to communicate with the National Office, you can contact the Office Manager:
Desmond Alie on 079 864 3009
Take note of the e-mail addresses of the newly elected National Office Bearers:
Dr Henri Weideman: henri@afm-ags.org
Past. Barend Petersen: barend@afm-ags.org
Past. Selby Khumalo: selby@afm-ags.org
Past. Rudi Coertzen: rudi@afm-ags.org
I recorded a few video messages that will be shared on the AFM of SA’s social media platforms as follow during the Holiday Season: A Christmas Message on 25 December 2021, A New Year’s Message on 1 January 2022 and a message regarding our January month of Prayer and Fasting on 4 January 2022.
The AFM Welfare Weekend took place during the last weekend in November and we would like to invite our Assemblies to tell us more about what their members achieved during this weekend. Please send us a short report and photos of your AFM Welfare Weekend activities:
ashleyt@afmwelfare.org OR chantalle@afm-ags.org
We are looking forward to sharing how the AFM reached out to older persons in their communities to make a difference. Thank you in advance for your participation in this request.
4. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
South Africa has just completed another 16 days dedicated to the fight against gender-based violence. It sometimes seems to me that too many people only pay lip service to this endeavour and that in the main, abuse and violence against women and children continues to be an unabated blight on our communities. As believers, all of us together, as a church, must (and can) make a difference to this situation. As Pastors and fathers, we must teach on this and make the Biblical position clear: A Husband should love and respect his wife (and other women) and treat her in a way that honours God.
Ephesians 5:25 (NIV): “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” To his instruction to love, Ephesians 5:33 adds “…each one must love his wife, as he loves himsélf.” 1 Peter 3:7 in the Worldwide English Translation, read as follows: “Husbands, also live with your wife the way you know is right. Respect her because she is a woman. She is not as strong as a man. Also respect her because God has given her, as well as you, the blessing of life. In this way, you will not stop God from doing what you ask him to do.”
When it comes to how parents should relate to their children the Bible teaches us that we must show compassion to our children, comfort them and bring them up in the discipline and instruction of God. The way we live must enable them to follow our example, just as we imitate God, our Father:
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 (ESV)
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…” Isaiah 66:13(NIV)
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, by the way you treat them. Rather bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)
May all of us be activists against Gender-Based Violence, by practically living a Godly example in our own homes and families, but also by speaking up on this in our circle of friends, in our communities, and at our places of work. We should not be silent or look away when we are aware of ongoing instances of abuse and violence against women and children, but act. Do not protect abusers, report them! Protect children from exposure to violence and harmful content on the internet and social media, including pornography and sexual solicitation. We should be sensitive to victims of abuse and violence and assist and support them in every way possible.
Violence against women and children is something that we need to talk and teach about, but it must be more than words: We need to be and make a difference practically as well.
Hereby a special word of thanks and appreciation to all our Pastors and Assembly Leaders, as well as their spouses and families – for being faithful to the One who called you during this challenging year of 2021. In many ways, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also because of other factors, this was a challenging year for many of our Pastors and their families. I thank you and salute you for continuing to do your best. May you have a refreshing time with family and friends during the Festive Season and school holidays.
Please take care, take preventative measures and come back safely if you do travel.
I pray that 2022 will be a year full of new opportunities, health and blessings for all of you!
Kind regards and love
Henri Weideman
