LHM-SA HIGHLIGHTS FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2011

 

HIGHLIGHTS FOR JANUARY 2011

 

      ALL HANDS ON DECK…

2011 kicked off with a clearly defined sense of direction for LHM-SA, as Siza Lugojolo, LHM-SA Director, and the LHM-SA staff put all hands on deck. Siza replaces Ms. Christel Scharlach (now Mrs. Robinson),

who resigned in December 2009. 

Mr. Lugojolo joined the LHM-SA in October 2010.  Before joining the LHM-SA, he worked in the banking, insurance and mining industries.  He studied theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane, Pretoria and is married to Linda and has a daughter.

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      WE MEET TO PART…

On Sunday, 09 January, LHM-SA was invited to Pastor Josef Henning’s farewell celebration at the English Lutheran Fellowship (ELF), in Randburg. He has moved to the United States, where he will be serving a Congregation in New York.

LHM-SA is particularly appreciative of Pastor Josef for the role he played as Advisor & Board Member, as well as the manner in which he selflessly gave of his time to the ministry – praying for and encouraging us. We will sadly miss his sense of humour.

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      BEYOND THE PULPIT…

On Wednesday, 19 January,  Siza and Lucas met with Rev. Kornelia Schauf, from the St. Johannes Lutheran Church ( Kelvin, Johannesburg), regarding  an Outreach Event that will be held in partnership with LHM-SA & her Congregation, on April 17, 2011. 

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      A LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS…

At 6am, on Saturday, 29 January, all the wardens, at the Krudgersdorp Correctional Services, gathered for a time of devotion and praise; this was followed by a time of prayer. Lucas, then, shared with them from the Meditations Devotional Booklet.

At 10am he visited the sentenced inmates who have been sentenced for serious criminal offences (ranging from robbery, to rape, to murder); however, when these inmates came to faith in Jesus Christ, in their hearts they change. They have to follow strict daily routines that train them to be spiritually disciplined. 22 wardens attended the parade; and 12 inmates came to faith and asked for Bibles.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FEBRUARY

      NEW PARTNERSHIPS BEING SOUGHT…

On Thursday, 03 February, Lucas met with Linda Mkhwanazi, from the Lutheran Community Outreach Foundation. This Foundation is situated in the middle of the hustle & bustle of the inner-city of Johannesburg, Hillbrow. It is a non-profit organization that helps promote self-supportive activities for the disadvantaged locals – this is, originally, an initiative of the Friedenskirche (Church of Peace).

Rev. Kees Appelo, the Chairperson of the Foundation, is determined to improve the lives of those living in the area. Despite the shadow of crime & poverty in Hillbrow, Linda Mkhwanazi, a Project Facilitator, believes that the Foundation is making a sustainable difference in the lives of some of the inner-city’s disadvantaged people. “As you know, Hillbrow is a down-trodden inner-city flatland suburb of Johannesburg, where drug-dealing, poverty, crime & prostitution are rife”, he added. He also mentioned that the Foundation is dependant on the support of the community.

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      LHM-SA VOLUNTEER BRINGS HOPE…

Mr. E. Thejoane, an LHM-SA Prison Ministry Volunteer at the Sasolburg Correctional Centre, brings hope to inmates at Juvenile Section of the facility. One of the inmates shared with LHM-SA how Mr. Thejaone is now like a father to them, adding that they would be devastated if he were to discontinue ministering to them.

The Prison Chaplain, Chaplain Matikane, commended Mr. Thejoane for his dedication to this ministry, especially because he even visits some of the inmates’ parents in the community to also to offer support 7 encouragement to them.

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      TOUCHING LIVES THROUGH DRAMA…

LHM-SA was invited by the Leeukop Correctional Services to conduct a Drama Workshop, as well as create a production based on the Sex Offender Program

The following guidelines were suggested:

   There should be continuity for the treatment and rehabilitation from the prison service to probation service.

   All men sentenced for sexual offences shall be assessed for a risk and need profile and offered to participate in the sexual offender treatment

   All staff members shall have a special basic training in sexual offender treatment, attitudes, offender psychology, victim psychology and knowledge of the program

   Every probation office should have at least two probation officers specially trained in the sexual treatment program

      THE GOSPEL THROUGH CHRISTIAN MOVIES…

LHM-SA, along with the Rabie Ridge Lutheran Youth, held a Film Day Outreach on Saturday, 26 February. Most of the young people had never watched the biography of Martin Luther. This was their biggest moment to see this movie “LUTHER – Rebel, Genius, Liberator” (Starring Peter Ustinov, Joseph Fiennes, inter. alia; Directed by Eric Till).

All 21 of them sat in the hall, listening and watching Luther, who led the Christian Reformation, opening up new possibilities in the exploration of faith. There was a discussion after the movie. Thereafter, they watched Nicky Cruz’s dramatic Conversion “The Cross and the Switchblade”.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

     Kelvin Outreach Event @ the St. Johannes Lutheran Church, 17April 2011.

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…should you wish to contribute financially to this ministry, our banking details are as follows:

 

Account Name: - ILLL

Bank: - Standard Bank — Randburg

Branch Code: - 01 80 05 90

Current Account Number: - 021 642 745

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