Table of contents for May 2017 in JOY! Magazine

“AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” -ROMANS 8:28. What a challenging time for our country – but praise God that we, as Christians, can do something – pray. I know that this is sometimes difficult to accept as “all that we can do” but please, unless you have heard clearly from the Lord, don’t take matters into your own hands. We know where our help comes from. God has instructed us to pray in faith, asking anything according to His Will. We need to discipline ourselves to pray as often as we can in a day, constantly committing our country and government to God. Then we need to let God work,…

23 milion Bibles needed in SOUTH AFRICA 5,5% Christians in South Africa still do not have a Bible. The One million Bibles for one million children project kicked off in 2010 Since 1957 CLF has provided Christian literature to various language groups in South Africa and beyond our borders 21,7% of South Africans (about 12 million) live in extreme poverty Approximately 63% of children are raised in poverty Children of God Storybook Bible with stories told by Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu is part of the One million-project. The illustrations include work from internationally renowned artists from different cultures - a true rainbow book. 7 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES Books are available in Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, and Pedi. DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS Bibles were created for different age groups: • God’s…

A landmark new study by the Barna Group offers a revealing look into the lives of pastors around the world. Drawn from interviews with more than 14 000 Protestant pastors from 40 denominations spanning the theological and political spectrum, the state of Pastors is both hopeful and troubling, with unexpected bright spots and worrisome levels of struggle for some clergy. The bad news for the church is the greying of clergy: “As other careers woo millennials and older generations struggle to hand the baton to younger pastors, the median age of pastors has risen from 44 to 54 over the last 25 years.” Protestant churches face a massive leadership shortage in the coming decades, similar to that seen in the Catholic Church. The situation appears bleak: seven out of 10…

AChristian pastor in Sudan says the government has “declared war against Christians” because it’s fearful Muslims will be led to Jesus Christ, which is the reason why pastors are being imprisoned and churches are being demolished in the Islamic nation. Pastor Michael Yat said the Sudanese government doesn’t want Christians in the country, especially believers who can speak Arabic, “because they fear that they can easily reach out to the Muslims and win them to Christ.” He added, “They do not allow pastors to reach out to Muslims in Khartoum, Darfur and the Nuba mountains. These are strictly Muslim dominated areas.” The Khartoum government has also been ordering the demolition of dozens of churches, harassing church members and threatening foreign Christians with expulsion. Open Doors USA ranks Sudan as the…

Last month, a pro-abortion group attacked, vandalised, and stole from the stall of Students for Life at the University of Cape Town at Orientation Week. Wandile Mhlongo UCT Students for Life chairperson said: “Such intolerant acts need be exposed for what they are. We are in a period where our freedom of speech, opinion, and expression are being highly undermined by individuals and groups of differing opinions. Around 60 protesters approached the stall and began arguing and shouting, proceeding to some tearing up pro-life posters and dismantling the gazebo with force. During the attack, various items from the stall were taken, including personal items, clothing, pamphlets, etc. To support this society, visit www.studentsforlife.co.za.…

Canon Andrew White, better known as the “Vicar of Baghdad”, has praised Donald Trump for his actions in the Middle East and said that under the new U.S, president, there is finally “hope” for persecuted Christians. In a recent video message titled “Why I Like Donald Trump”, White, the founder of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, said that the world has “got to get to grips with the fact that there is a new president.There is very much hope for the persecuted Christians in the (Middle East) region,” he adds. The 53-year-old minister is widely respected for his peacemaking efforts between Christians and Muslims. White was ordered by Archbishop of Canterbury to leave his church, St. George’s Church, in Baghdad in December of 2014 as…

Justin Bieber took his Purpose Tour to Sydney and had a pretty great message for the audience: “Mark my words Jesus loves you.” At one point in the show, he even climbed in a large plexiglass box and wrote the words on its walls for the audience to see. The pop star has been vocal about his faith lately, and while in Australia, he posted a picture of himself playing basketball with Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz. He also recently posted an image on Instagram of a Hillsong service. Before the release of Purpose in late 2015, he explained to Complex that he was attempting to change his life, and embrace his faith. We encourage our readers to keep this young popstar in your prayers as he continues to infuence the…

Simon Cowell, the American Idol alum, pledged the money at a gala for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces in Beverly Hills, which was hosted by billionaire, Haim Saban. The organisation writes on their website, “The Israeli government is responsible for training IDF soldiers and providing them with the necessary tools for their service. FIDF is committed to providing these soldiers with love, support, and care in an effort to ease the burden they carry on behalf of the Jewish community worldwide.” The Mirror writes, “Cowell, 54, is also planning a secret trip to Israel soon as he embraces the Jewish faith of girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 36, who is expecting his baby. And although he was raised as a Roman Catholic, his father Eric was Jewish – believed to…

The obedience of women and mothers on the front lines help to advance God’s Kingdom. Have you ever considered that Moses might not have survived the Pharos’ decree without his mother’s obedience and resourcefulness… In the same way, despite lacking resources and appearing fragile, the obedience of women and mothers on the front lines of our faith help them to advance God’s Kingdom in their families and communities. Accusation of blasphemy Alia* (53) and her husband, Rudy*, went everywhere together. But when Rudy was sent to jail, Alia had to walk on alone, without her husband. Rudy, a former Muslim scholar and the son of a famous Muslim leader in West Java, Indonesia, actively started evangelising, at every opportunity, after his conversion. Local Muslims accused him of blasphemy and demanded…

BUDGETING IS AS IMPORTANT AS LOOKING AFTER YOUR HEALTH A few years ago a friend tried to convince a group of us to invest R1000 per month over five years, to fund a trip to watch and experience the Rio Olympics. However, not many people went for the idea. A few did. As a result, some of us were able to experience an incredible event that we will remember for ever. The difference between those that did and did not go to the Olympics was simply those that decided to put the money away for that purpose – and not be overwhelmed by apathy. Every one of us could afford the R1000 per month, and most of us wasted it in one way or another. The power of a budget…

A PERSPECTIVE ON DIVINE SONSHIP –Johan Lombard Our position as sons is a message that has been laboured in the apostolic season for many years. Our ultimate goal is in the words of John – That the Word will become flesh in its fullness. This means every atom of our being takes on the form of the image and grace of the ascended son, Christ. There are particular characteristics that this ‘Corporate Son’ (made out of many members) carries and Exodus 25:20-27 gives us a Heavenly perspective of these. While Cherubim are traditionally seen as angels (which is true), we will focus on their four faces – that of an Ox, Eagle, Lion, and Man, symbolising the different dimensions of the Sons of God: • The eagle speaks of our ability…

Open, honest communication should be part of every healthy relationship – but communicating is not always easy for most relationships. If your partner does something that makes you angry, you need to tell them about it. But you don’t have to do so right away. Hold your emotions, your anger, and your frustration for 48 hours. At first, this tip may feel unnatural or awkward, but this rule will allow you to communicate clearly, be an active listener, and you will for sure be less angry. If you still need to address the issue after the 48 hour “pause” period, here are some Biblical principles to apply: • Speak with kindness and gentleness. “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.” – Proverbs…

Music is an inherent part of every society. and it is not surprising that the Bible says much about it; in fact, the longest book in the Bible is its song book - Psalms. Psalms accounts for over 7% of the Old Testament. In addition to the Psalms are other song- and poetry-focused books such as Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and others. In the New Testament, we have song lyrics recorded in Revelation 5, 7, and 15; the mention of Jesus and the Disciples singing in Matthew 26:30; and the example of the Apostles’ singing in Acts 16:25. The Church is commanded to communicate with each other “with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Examples of music…

Looking at the state of the Church today, I often ask myself, “with what can I compare it? What words can we use to describe its present condition?”I always come to the same conclusion: The words that describe much of the church today are found in Revelation 3:14-18, “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’— and do…

Recommendations needed I have not missed a copy of your mag in many years now. I can’t wait to buy each copy! The November 2016 issue was particularly full of helpful articles – Thank you!!! In ‘Letters to the editor’ I was grateful to see that I am not alone in being a divorced, single man trying to ‘fit in’ to a church. Without long winded detail, I have struggled to find a place in a church in the last 13 years. I am presently considering resigning from the present one. I have two questions for you, if you have the time. In the light of my preceding comments, can you recommend a reputable Christian friendship, ultimately dating, website that I could join. There are quite a few on the…

An Islamic leader in Khulna, Bangladesh has promised to protect Christians and Hindus from persecution, urging people to inform him if such incidents occur so that he can immediately go to the site and intervene. Alhaj Nazrul Islam Molla, the Chairman of the Ulama League Dakop, subdistrict of Khulna, spoke to 65 representatives from the Catholic, Hindu, and Muslims sects about building peace and harmony in the society. “I invite everyone to consult me at all times,” Molla told the religious representatives. “If they hear news of persecution against Christians and Hindus. I will go on the site and will stop it.” “Political leaders are working only for their own benefit, and not to build peace. If the religious leaders work together, they could achieve peace in the easiest way…

Following in the steps of Jesus was more exciting than walking on the moon. These are the words attributed to Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon’s surface, during a visit to Israel. Neil went to the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount, where Jesus walked, and bent down and kissed the ground, saying that this was an even more exciting moment for him than walking on the moon. And fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who accompanied him for the Apollo 11 lunar landing, was similarly taken up with a heavenly perspective. Shortly after touching down where no man had been before, he took communion with bread and wine he had carried from earth in special plastic packages, and ensured that among the first words ever spoken…

Chance The Rapper, a grammywinning Christian performer, has announced that he is donating one million Dollars to the public schooling system in Chicago, USA. The 23-year-old rapper, who grew up in the city, raised the funds through ticket sales for his upcoming tour in order to help give children a “quality learning experience”, and said the money came as a “call to action” for other companies operating in Chicago who he urged to follow in his footsteps.…

MultiChoice has expanded its variety of faith-based programming with the launch of global network, GOD TV. The new channel will is available on DStv channel 344 providing a unique blend of contemporary Christian content with a British edge and African flavour. GOD TV, which started in the UK in 1995, broadcasts worldwide from Israel and has been established in Africa for 15 years with offices in Cape Town. The channel will now be available to approximately 10 million DStv viewers in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, and Mozambique. GOD TV Africa is led by Marcél Olivier and a dynamic team in Cape Town who are passionate about the people of Africa, Africa’s immense potential and vast resources. “We want to invite viewers to experience God in…

A Sierra Leone pastor who supplements his income by working in the mines found one of the largest diamonds ever pulled from the earth, then gave it away. Pastor Emmanuel Momoh found the gargantuan 706-carat stone in the Kono region. Experts said the stone could be worth as much as $62 million. It was the largest diamond discovery since 1972. Pastor Momoh presented the diamond to the president of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, with instructions that the gem be used for the betterment of the poor in Sierra Leone.…

Sarah Kuteh, who has 15 years’ nursing experience, was sacked for gross misconduct in August 2016.Her dismissal from the job she had held since 2007 at Darent Valley hospital in Dartford came about after she was accused of breaching hospital guidelines about religious discussion. She says during her regular task of questioning patients before operations she would“from time to time”engage in a conversation about faith. After a number of verbal complaints and one official complaint, employers began disciplinary proceedings against her. In a statement, the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said: “‘We have a duty to our patients that when they are at their most vulnerable they are not exposed to unsolicited beliefs and/or views, religious or otherwise. We feel we have acted appropriately in this case.” Kuteh is now…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 There is a dissimilarity between the old and new covenants. Often Christians attempt to return to the old covenant, failing to recognise that in Christ, something better has come. The Apostle Paul was not a “lone wolf” or maverick minister who only did things his way and by himself. He consistently had ministry companions who laboured by his side for the sake of the Gospel. 2 Corinthians names Timothy in the opening greeting (similar to Sosthenes in 1 Corinthians). Paul mentions Titus (e.g., 2:13; 7:6, 13) numerous times, calling him a “partner and fellow worker” – 8:23. Let’s get personal 2 Corinthians contains more…

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” – Psalm 32:8. “Growth sucks cash” Many business leaders focus more of their attention on revenue and profit growth, looking closely at these numbers and ignoring the cash flow. The effect of not having enough cash is likened to an organism not having enough oxygen, forcing the organism to slow down and, in extreme cases, causing death. When the effects are felt it is often too late. The secret to avoiding this situation is to know your cash flow story. Every company has a cash flow story. What story is your cash flow telling you? How does the story unfold each month? Would you know if the story was…

I love the account of where Jesus went out onto the Sea of Galilee and stood up on a boat to preach, there were hundreds listening to Him on the shore. Jesus had a purpose and a method in everything He did. He went out into the middle to speak, because He knew that when He stood there, the water would carry the sound of His words all the way to what is called ‘The Bay of Parables’. We need also be creative in this way when we’re using media as a ministry tool. God-inspired technology In ‘55 Steve Jobs was born with a purpose to transform the world we live in with revolutionary mobile technology. Mark Zuckerberg was born in ‘85 with the purpose to create a social network…

There it is, staring at us from our open diary or Google Calendar, the frightening black void of the future week, month, years before us. We might get by with pithy mantras like life being like a ‘box of chocolates’, but we need something deeper than that, as our fear is much more profound than that. It is a crippling fear of failure. Fearing failure prevents us from being our best Fearing failure prevents us from being our best.The disappointments of yesterday drain us of energy for today and tomorrow and make us doubt our own abilities and judgements. So, I hope to inspire you to face your future with confidence and be full of purpose in your work. To the group of people on a mountainside, Jesus said, “don’t…

TAMRYN KLINTWORTH But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” – John 15:26-17. Herein, Jesus first spoke of the Helper, the Holy Spirit. “He will testify of Me,” Jesus said. The Spirit is the Chief Witness sent from Heaven, He who testifies that Jesus saves, heals, and delivers. Our Lord however did not stop there. He turned to His disciples and said, “You also will bear witness”. Here, an exquisite partnership between the believer and Holy Spirit is introduced. While the Spirit is eager to testify about Jesus, He needs us – His co-witnesses –…

Cynthia’s story is one of childhood sexual abuse, rape and addiction. Finding God’s point of view in the Word saved Cynthia’s life in a prison cell in Italy where an abusive and deceptive first marriage turned into the grace that saved her and gave her, her son, Christian. Her personal story as told in her book, Prodigal Daughter: A journey home to identity, is one of childhood sexual abuse, rape and addiction. It’s a powerful and riveting story of God’s love and power to overcome any obstacle life throws at you. Today, educating women and men around the world as to how to find and ‘Live their faith in Jesus rather than preach it’ is her life goal. Here is what Cynthia has to say: Q. You fulfil so many…

When Zack C l e m e nt s was 17, he collapsed while running during gym class and went into cardiac arrest. For 20 minutes, Zack had no pulse and was “legally” dead. But then something happened that many people still cannot medically or scientifically explain. Zack’s pulse suddenly returned to normal and he was revived. Three days later, he awoke at Children’s Medical Centre in Fort Worth, TX, with no lasting effects from his terrifying ordeal. Zack recalls that he woke up with the only memory of seeing a bearded man, surrounded by an air of peace, with angels singing in the background, holding his shoulder, saying that he would be alright, and that he should not worry.…

As Coptic Christians continue to flee for their lives from the threat of ISIS in Egypt, the head of the Coptic Church in the UK has called out the ‘horrific attacks’ that have claimed 40 Christians in the last three months. His Grace Bishop Angaelos, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church released a statement addressing the ongoing crisis.‘In the past three months alone forty Coptic Christians have been murdered in targeted attacks in Egypt. From the terrorist bombing that claimed the lives of twenty nine women and children, to the murders of individuals across the country since, the one common denominator is that these innocent children, women, and men have had their lives brutally and tragically ended for no other reason except that they are Christians. We pray for those…

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, Founder of Christ for all Nations (CfaN) will return to Nigeria for his final African Gospel Crusade in November 2017. While certainly not CfaN’s final African crusade, Evangelist Bonnke’s return could inspire another historic global attendance as that of the Lagos, Nigeria Millennium Crusade in 2000, CfaN’s largest crusade to-date. During the Lagos Millennium Crusade in 2000, over the course of 5 nights, 6 million attended and 3.4 million decisions for Christ were made. In November 2017, CfaN anticipates many decisions for Christ in response to Reinhard Bonnke’s farewell message. One of the highlights of this amazing crusade will be during the day sessions, to have a PASSING THE BURNING TORCH Conference for leaders and all kind of church-workers. Evangelist Bonnke is believing for many thousands of…

Christianity is making a comeback in Europe – and it’s mostly thanks to Muslims, say experts in Islam and faith leaders. A soaring number of Muslims, many of them refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, are converting to Christianity, breathing new life into Europe’s once floundering Christian churches. The Muslims are flocking to various Christian denominations, experts said, including becoming Protestants, evangelical or Catholic. As many parts of Europe are becoming more secular and houses of worship are seeing congregants leave in droves, it is Muslim converts who are reviving struggling Christian churches. “European churches have struggled for decades to share the gospel with modern secular Europeans,” Matthew Kaemingk, a professor at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Seattle, said. “They have found Muslim immigrants to be much more open to…

The ACDP is deeply concerned that the High Court of the Western Cape has ruled that Dagga may be grown and smoked in private homes. The court ruling has far reaching detrimental consequences for South Africans especially adolescents. In a recently published study by Dr. Wayne Hall, a the director of the Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research at the University of Queensland, he examined the effect of marijuana over a 20-year period (1993-2013). • Hall’s review notes that between 1980 and 2006, the amount of THC found in marijuana increased more than fourfold to 8.5% from less than 2%. • Smoking marijuana nearly doubles your risk of an accident. • Per Dr. Hall’s review, cannabis addiction does exist, and it’s more prevalent in adolescents than adults. One in 10…

Getting to know each other’s stories is the first step towards breaking prejudices. Gosiame and Derek are two colleagues at an NGO in Johannesburg. One is 30-something, black, and lives in a densely populated section of Soweto; the other is over 60, white, and lives in a well-resourced suburb in Jozi’s northern suburbs. Apart from their shared passion for Orlando Pirates, at first glance it appears they have very little in common. But through an informal teambuilding exercise of sharing their stories with colleagues in the office, they realised they had an unusual moment of intersection in both their histories. As a young, white male living under apartheid in the early 80’s, Derek was conscripted to the army and had to patrol and guard the highly contested region of Soweto.…

JULITA KOK Christians have a problem when it comes to money. It is as if we think that God wants us to be poor. Sometimes we feel guilty, even when God blesses us. Then there is also of course the ingrained attitude that everything we do for the Lord, should be free. This is a poverty mentality and does not suit a child of God. God wants to bless us to be a blessing to the nations, as He promised Abraham. We must bless the nations; not the other way around, but we feel too guilty. Yet, if we look at the Old Testament, we see that God’s people were the most prosperous and richest. Where did we lose the plot? It is precisely this question that led Julita Kok,…

FIONA DES FONTAINE “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” – Philippians 4:8. SAVING GRACE I want to speak to you about the love of God. It is His kindness and goodness that leads men to repentance. If I could preach only one more sermon in my life I would focus on the indescribable love, grace, mercy, and generosity of God. We really need to think about these things in order to walk in freedom. Before becoming a Christian in 1978 I had studied many religions, cults, and philosophies, all of which were false. I…

Ingredients Olive oil 500 ml finely chopped white onion (or shallots, if you can find) 5 large Nulaid eggs 200 ml cream 200 ml full cream milk 15 ml dried tarragon or 45 ml fresh (for a different flavour, you can also use dill tops) 125 ml finely sliced chives or spring onion tops 200 ml grated Gruyère cheese Large pinch ground nutmeg Salt and milled black pepper to taste A 26-cm baked Short Crust Pastry shell. Method Heat a little olive oil in a large pan and sauté the onions until golden. Lower the heat and sauté the onions until very soft and tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer from the pan to a mixing bowl and set aside. Whisk the eggs with the rest of the ingredients and add…