My Visit to Prague and The Christian Reformed Church in Hungary

Dear Friends From the 3-5th March the Rev Dr Setri Nyomi ( WCRC General Secretary) and I had the marvelous opportunity to attend the meeting of the WCRC European Region in Prague. We were deeply impressed by the attendance of THE Leaders from our member churches, the agenda, quality of conversations and fellowship and the spirit in which they were found. We had the opportunity to present our vision and mission direction and strategy for the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which is to be discussed in the Executive meeting in May. However, it was good to sound out our direction for WCRC and to get some valuable insights into what people think about where we are going. There was general consensus that we are heading in the right direction and concerns expressed that we should be really selective about our programmes. There was a good discussion on the future of Reformed Theology in Europe, financial business and elections of office bearers for the next 6 years. From the 5 – 8th March I had the incredible opportunity to visit with the Reformed Church in Hungary. What was marvelous time it was! I met with different groups ranging from congregants, pastors, bishops, church staff , the junior Secretary of State in Parliament and many others. I presented a lecture in the Reformed Theological College in Debrecen and met with Church leaders in the Ecumenical Council in Budapest. I was particularly moved by the ability of the Reformed Church in Hungary with the many impressive properties and facilities. I valued the opportunity to address the congregation in the Great Church and to share in the administration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I was fascinated by the church’s ability to preserve and maintain the Reformed identity. I think that they have many things to teach us in this department since for many of us across the world are struggling to preserve our Reformed heritage. I was deeply drawn to the country’s experience of communism and how it divided and separated the Hungarian people. This also seriously affected the church, for more than 15 years there was a total separation of these churches that were divided by the imposed borders. But thank God that there is a very warm relationship between the neigbouring Bishops, whom I met altogether over dinner. In 2009 as part of the Calvin Celebration all these churches came together in Debrecen and met in the Great Church for their first General Synod and the signing of a constitution fostering joint work. The stories of suffering and oppression are many and, for me, they reminded me of the imposition of apartheid which divided the people in South Africa into four race groups, dehumanizing and oppressing people of colour. I believe that this aspect of socio-political and economic separations have much to tell us about how we may need to develop communion and justice. We need to request more conversations as we connect people with similar experiences. I wish to thank the Reformed Church in Hungary for their invitation, warm reception, great hospitality and more, especially, for taking the opportunity to share their story with me. May God continue to bless them from strength to strength and may they continue to keep the light of Christ shinning in Hungary and even beyond. Thank you for the experience!

Zimbabwe Feb

Dear Friends Greetings! On 8th and 9th February I had the marvelous privilege to spend some time with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe. The day started with a Workshop with the ministers in which, among other things, we looked at the use of the consensus model that is used by the General Assembly. The Presbytery expressed a real desire to try and use the model in its meetings sensing a very definite need for the values it encourages. The situation in Zimbabwe is very volatile at the moment since Robert Mugabe stated that he wants to pursue with the country’s general elections with or without the approval of the constitution. He has made it clear that his Party is not prepared to continue with the government of national unity after the International agreement on the same expires, sometime soon. Our ministers there have expressed concern that violence as already erupted in many parts in the country between the Political parties. Please keep the people of Zimbabwe in your prayers. It must not return to the situation it faced two years ago now that the economy has started to stabilize again. I was encouraged to learn that the Zimbabwe Council of Churches is now more united and stable in its leadership. Let’s hope and pray that they will provide leadership and support to the people and offer a prophetic voice in its context. I spent some time with the newly appointed CWM Committee based in Zimbabwe acquainting them with their role and functions. I spent time with various ministers on a one-to-one basis addressing various issues and needs. Further time was assigned to the newly elected and inducted Moderator of the Presbytery (Rev Stanslous Chatikobo) and Presbytery Clerk (Mr Kwenje). Please remember them in your prayers as they assume leadership at a very difficult time in the life of the Presbytery and country. The Moderator and Clerk took me to visit with the United Theological College. It was good to meet with the newly elected Principal whom I met a few years ago at a Conference and other members of Staff. It was a special joy to meet our five students for the ministry who have just started or are about to complete their studies. Please keep them in your prayers. In the past two years we were able to support a number of Projects run by our Church in Zimbabwe through funding provided by the Council for World Mission. I had the opportunity to visit at least two of these. The first was a HIV and AIDS Project run by the Highfield Congregation. A group of women make peanut butter, bottle them and sell them to people in the community.

They also make and sell cobra polish and now have aspirations to start a poultry business. The money made from these projects is used to support HIV positive women and pay school fees for children who cannot afford to be at school. This is indeed very moving! The second project was the establishment of a new Clinic situated at the Presbyterian Secondary School in Mubaira. The Clinic cost $11, 000, 00 to build and it services about 100 people from the community per week and the pupils we have at the Secondary School. It provides basic services mainly attending to Diabetes and Blood Pressure control, all serious illness are referred to other medical centers run by the State. They are in dire need of medication and other medical supplies to support their work in caring for the sick and wish to connect with people from within our denomination who are in the medical profession. If you or anyone you know could help, please be in touch with me. Do you know that we have 9 Presbyterian Schools in Zimbabwe with over 3000 pupils ranging from primary to secondary levels? Our Church is playing a very vital role in the educational development of children in Zimbabwe. In fact, the school I visited earned first position in the District. It was a joy to address the 420 pupils at the Presbyterian Secondary School and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Principal and Staff who stopped their normal programme to appreciate the leadership of the Presbytery and denomination.

Presbyterian Secondary School

I was deeply encouraged by the involvement of the Church in the community and with the situation in Zimbabwe, the Church has no choice in the matter. However, this is what the church is suppose to do: make a difference in the lives of people in the name of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ! Let us continue to keep our Church and the people of Zimbabwe in our prayers. Blessings!

Gensec Blogger

Dear Colleagues

Greetings and blessings to you in Christ our Lord! Please note that there has been a change in the venue for the Ministers and Spouses Conference due to a misquotation from the Hotel and a splitting up of the accommodation. We will now meet at the Kopanong Hotel in Benoni from the 7-11^th September 2011. (The dates remain unchanged). The venue is excellent value for money which by the way will remain the same at R2000 per person and R4000 per couple. The Steering Committee has already met in January and will meet periodically before September. Please remember to furnish the committee with your thoughts and suggestions for the programme, speakers, etc. by the 28^th February 2011. A special thanks to those who have already done so, your suggestions are being considered.

I am pleased to observe the excitement that is generating out there about this Conference. Let us keep it in our prayers, send in our registration and deposits when the forms are sent out, and encourage our fellow colleagues to be a part of this big movement – God's movement amongst us! Watch this space for further developments.

Blessings!

Jerry

Keeping in Touch - 5

Dear Friends,

Greetings, love and peace to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! I trust that you are well in God's grace and strength.

The marvelous message of Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ into the world which speaks of the incarnation of the Divine, taking on the form of flesh and blood. The birth narrative capture the scenes of the Shepherds, Wise men and others gathering at the presence of the Christ- child. The "gathering" leads to profound knowledge, revelation and celebration as they discover that the prophecy has come true – Messiah has come! They leave the stable to go out and share the good news: "Emanuel, God is with us". The cradle is of course directly related to the cross in scripture. Jesus came with the intention to redeem and reconcile lost humankind once again to a loving and forgiving God. Jesus comes to us as the Prince of Peace. Our world today is riddled with violence, greed, economic injustices, political factions, religious wars, the destruction of the earth, and so the list goes on. In the midst of all these we hear afresh the good news of the birth narrative: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."(Isaiah 9:6). In this is found the assurance of life and hope flourishing in joy and celebration!

Christmas is a time for goodwill, peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and love: A time to "gather" at the manager of Christ. It is a time to remember that God calls us into communion with him and with others. It is a time of sending as we go out to work for justice, peace and reconciliation. Such a call is an invitation into unity and peace and it is a sending out of those who have come to Christ to work toward the transformation of the world in the love and presence of a God who, "so loved the world that he gave up his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

Christmas is a time to believe that Jesus is the answer to the world's struggles and sins but it is also a time to proclaim salvation, love, peace, joy and reconciliation in Jesus Christ. My prayer and hope is that we will stop to hear the voice of God speak to us in the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas. My prayer is also for the church; that it may continue to hear the voice of God in the midst of the voices that tend to crowd it out, that we may be called into communion and unity as we proclaim: "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!" And may it be that in and through our life, work and witness Jesus may be born into the hearts of those who do not yet believe.

We give thanks to God for the many things that have shaped our life, work and witness as the UPCSA this past year. There were many decisions that emerged from the September General Assembly that will continue to impact on our denomination, the Proceedings of these would be placed on the website and sent out to congregations before the end of this year. I am particularly looking forward to work with Presbyteries to implement the Empowerment Plan that was adopted at the Assembly. My hope and prayer is that the intention of building vital Presbyteries would also impact on congregations, so that the mission and ministry offered through our local churches would significantly shape and influence local communities in which they are found.

I wish to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation to all our ministers, Elders and their families for their commitment and love for Jesus and the UPCSA. I wish to thank all our members in each and every place they are found throughout South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe for your faithfulness in keeping the light burning for Jesus and for your service and contributions in local congregations and the denomination at large in a great variety of ways.

Thank you for your financial contributions which enables us to train students for the ministry, place probationers, appoint ministers to congregations who cannot afford one, enables the Central Office to support the work of the denomination, engage mission, and care for people in the ministry. All of these are to the Glory of God! We look forward to another great year in ministry in 2011!

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved a blessed Christ-mass and a happy and wonderful New Year!

In the love of Christ!

Jerry Pillay

NEWS

Dear Friends

 

Greetings! I had a really fantastic time last weekend running a Workshop with the Thukela Presbytery. I was deeply impressed with the attendance, the warmth hospitality and the good discussions we had. The Workshop focused on  Leadership, the Life and work of the Presbytery addressing its strengths and challenges, discussions on the Consenus Model, and other various questions raised by the Presbytery. It was really inspiring to see that people are wrestling with the challenges facing congregations and leaders are trying their best. We give thanks to God for this Presbytery and pray that as we have identified key areas to work on that the Presbytery Executive will continue to address them. Our thanks to the out going leadership and the incoming Moderator and Clerk who will be inducted in the New Year.

Blessings!

Jerry