The LHM—South Africa Blog

Speaking in Tongues

lhm-sa — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:54 +0000

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 English Standard Version (ESV)
27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

On 5th September I went to South African Revenue Services (SARS) to submit the Monthly Employer Declaration. As I was waiting for my number to be called I had a conversation with a lady next to me. She had a heavy German accent and she told me that she originally comes from Austria. She was such a witty lady and kept me in stitches with laughter as she relates her stories. As we were speaking I learnt that she is Catholic by birth but for some reasons known to her has not been to church. She told me that she likes reading especially spiritual books…”that’s interesting!” I thought to myself. She has a gift of speaking in tongues according to her and she quoted Paul that what benefit are tongues if there is no one to interpret. “That is interesting,” I thought to myself, “she got it right there.” In the event that she is speaking in tongues she was told that she speaks isiZulu, one of the South African indigenous languages, and she had never learnt the language she cannot even speak it except when she is in a ‘trance’. Hey, without judging her, whether she was telling the truth or not I don’t know, but what she was saying was next to the truth. In most cases people think that speaking in tongues is speaking languages that do not exist. At Pentecost the disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak languages that they did not learn. Suddenly people who came from different places to celebrate Pentecost were utterly amazed that they could hear them in their own language. They heard “them declaring the wonders of God in [their] own tongues.” [Acts 2:11]

This week a certain lady called the office after she listened to one of the LHM-SA sermons in the Radio Pulpit, looking for a place to worship. One of the questions she asked was “Are you the church that speaks in tongues?” “No,” I answered. “This is the church I am looking for,” she said. we thank the Lord that the Holy Spirit has worked faith in her after she listened to the Gospel. We gave her directions to the Lutheran Church next to our office. Looking forward to meeting her in person. Everytime someone reads a bible or Luther’s Small Catechism in his or her own language, it is Pentecost all over again. To God alone be the glory.

Lutheran Church Language Policy Discussion

lhm-sa — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:39 +0000

The Lutheran Missions stressed the importance of African languages and endeavoured to translate the Bible into vernacular and developed the vernacular forms of worship. Yes – this is an important factor. The Berlin Mission Society pioneered translations in Northern Sotho and Venda, while the Hermannsburg missionaries revised Robert Moffat’s 1857 translation into Tswana. The Berlin missionary J. Dohne helped the missionaries of the American Board in the translation of the Zulu New Testament in 1867. The Hermannsburg Mission Society published a Zulu Bible translation in 1883 at Moorleigh. Ngugi wa Thiong’o says, “Language carries culture, particularly through orature and literature, the entire body of values by which we come to perceive ourselves and our place in the world…” (Decolonizing the Mind, 1986 p.16) The movement of labour from rural to urban areas has necessitated the usage of English as medium of instruction. Mr Sentsho Modise opined in The Star newspaper dated 09 Feb 2009 that “the Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Portuguese, Spanish and others have learned through their mother tongue very successfully, with very little or no English at all – but they managed to produce engineers, scientists, accountants.” The most challenging thing is to make a decision whether we want to teach the Catechism in English and ensure that a great number of Catechumens fail to understand or produce the necessary number of confirmed Christians with appropriate English skills. Yeah, ministering to a diverse people pose a challenge to the minister of the Word.

Nelson Mandela International Day

lhm-sa — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:46:28 +0000

In response to the declaration in November 2009 by the United Nations that July, 18th as Nelson Mandela International Day. The day is marked with acts of good works in communities around the world. The Lutheran Hour Ministries distributed soup and bread to the homeless people in the neighbourhood. Our diaconal work was also in response to God’s Word that “whatever you did for one of these least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” [Matt. 25:40] We give thanks to the Lord for making it possible that we have two volunteers for the day, Mr and Mrs Thamsanqa abd Nomaswazi Malinga. The essence of diaconal work as captured in Acts 6:1-7 came to fruition as we waited at the tables without negleting the preaching of the Word of the Lord.

LHM-SA HIGHLIGHTS FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2011

lhm-sa — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:04:49 +0000

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

Devotions for radio

lhmsa10 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:44:32 +0000

We are recording 25 devotions for the biggest christian radio station in SA. All LHMSA-staff helped in getting the CD ready.

Georgia Tshepo

Lucas Rudolf

Radio Pulpit broadcasts in most of SA’s local languages and covers millions of listners. We made devotions in five languages. Our office can cater for seven languages.

Discussions with Bishop

lhmsa10 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:17:05 +0000

24 February 2010

LHMSA met with LCSA Bishop elect Dr. W. Weber in Pretoria to discuss LHMSA’s involvement in reviving the LCSA. The discussion was very positive and both agreed that co-operation amongst each other is of vital importance.

First meeting with pastors and bishop

lhmsa10 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:18:11 +0000

12 Feb. 2010: The Reverends Co workers meeting in Naledi went very well and all the Pastors who attended really listened to our presentation and thereafter we had discussions about how they can work together with “LHM” this year. We even met three of the students of the seminary in Tshwane who are from Sudan, Nigeria, Libya. Some of the Pastors spoke to us about School Ministry.

ETS is fun

lhmsa10 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:07:20 +0000

Toekomsrus ETS workshop (6 Feb.):

Desipte most primitive and poor circumstances, participents are fully committed to share.

Bikers welcome

lhmsa10 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:59:40 +0000

We were invited to come and celebrate a neighbouring church’s two years anniversary. The church was pact. This church started by motorbikers and grew. They are helping the informal settlements communities with food. t was a wonderful praise and worship service and everybody was on fire. We spoke more about the Lutheran Hour and did a Drama “Songs of Solomon 2:2-16” which brought love and happiness to all.

Advertising ETS to congregations

lhmsa10 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:24:31 +0000

We conducted a Ministry Presentation at the ELCSA Eastern Circuit Meeting, in Reiger Park, on Saturday (January 23). Many, who attended, did not even know about LHMSA.

We will strive to make this an ongoing goal to promote LHMSA.