Table of contents for September 2019 in JOY! Magazine

Father we come before you in the mighty Name of Jesus and pray for your healing of our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). We lift our government before you and pray that you will open their eyes to Your Word and Your works. We pray for a mighty restoration and reformation in South Africa, which is only possible if we repent and turn from our sin, and dedicate our lives wholly to you. We thank you for the wonderful opportunities that you have blessed us with in this nation, where we can openly and freely worship You. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen…

The induction ceremony of Werner, Jean-Pierre, and Rode Groenewald onto the Martyrs Memorial in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was streamed online as part of the inaugural Day of the Christian Martyr. Werner, Hannelie, and their two children, Jean-Pierre and Rode, left their comfortable lives in South Africa to serve as missionaries in Afghanistan after 9/11. They served the Afghan people for more than 10 years, Hannelie as a doctor and Werner in leadership development and humanitarian aid. In November 2014, the Taliban attacked their home, killing Werner, Jean-Pierre and Rode. Hannelie was not home at the time. “The Groenewald family answered God’s call in spite of the risks,” said VOM’s Todd Nettleton. “They knew the danger in Afghanistan, but they were more concerned for people who didn’t know Christ than for their…

Boris Johnson is Britain’s new Prime Minister after he convincingly won a ballot vote of Conservative Party members against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. He replaced outgoing PM Theresa May after she announced her resignation amid failure to lead the nation out of the European Union. Johnson, former Mayor of London, is a fan of President Donald Trump, who was one of the first world leaders to congratulate him on his victory. Johnson has also vowed to make Brexit happen in three months. In a recent interview, Johnson said he is a “passionate Zionist” and that “wild horses wouldn’t keep me away” from visiting the Jewish State as British premier. Johnson has also pledged to always prioritise protecting religious freedoms, a promise which Open Doors UK has called on him to…

The Cape Flats – a widespread lower-income area in the Cape Town municipality, quite far removed from tourist hotspots – is home to residents who are mostly mixed-race and who have long been struggling with violence, most of which is gang-related. The last two months, however, have seen a sudden rise in violence in the Cape Flats and some township areas, for reasons unknown to officials. Reports indicate that there have been approximately 900 murders across the Cape Flats this year to date, and more than 1800 across the Western Cape province in the same time period. During the weekend after it was announced that the army would be deployed, 43 people were murdered in Cape Town.…

Errol Naidoo is one of the most effective Christians that I have ever encountered. He is passionate about God’s call on his life, he is driven to inform Christians of the issues that are facing us, and he is bringing the truth of God’s word out in South Africa. Errol is fighting on the frontlines for our faith, often finding himself in parliament amidst leaders who are making critical decisions that affect us. Errol is a man to be inspired by, as he humbly leads and runs the Family Policy Institute. Q What led to you founding Family Policy Institute (FPI)? In 2006, Parliament passed the Civil Union Bill, despite overwhelming public opposition. Christian citizens were mostly unaware of the push for legalised same-sex “marriage” in South Africa. I served…

According to a recent state of dating report from ChristianMingle.com, the largest Christian online dating site, only 13 percent of respondents said that they would not have sex before marriage. And, only 13 percent said that they would move in together only after marriage. All of the rest would have sex or move in together for various reasons (various excuses) before they were married. Relevant Magazine reported that 80 percent of unmarried Christian young adults have already had sex. Internet porn is a significant problem among Christians. 68 percent of Christian men and boys watch porn regularly, and among 18 to 30-year-old Christian men, 36 percent view pornography daily. According to surveys by Proven Men, 35% of married Christian men had sex with someone else while married (31% for born-again…

The Holy Spirit is continuously active in our lives when we choose to yield to Him. Operating in His gifts becomes a part of our nature when we learn how to work with Him in perfect harmony. We can reach the place where we have allowed His Spirit to influence us that we see as He sees, speak as He speaks, and act in love and power as He does! That’s what operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit is all about. Paul could do it, so can we! Besides Jesus, when He walked on earth, Paul is an excellent example of this beautiful partnership that we can enjoy with the Holy Spirit. Did you notice how the disciples and apostles learnt from Jesus, as they personally knew Him…

I earn a lot more than my husband, and this is causing stress and arguments over money. I do not want to give up my job. We need the money! A. The Word teaches that a man leaves his parents and cleaves to his wife and the two “become one” – Gen 2:24. This unit, therefore, jointly owns whatever each partner brings into the union. It is a blessing if one or both partners are endowed with gifts that bring in necessary finance. On a practical level, why not consider re-writing your budget? Each partner could, for example, put in an agreed percentage of their income into a ‘household account’ for day-to-day living. Or you could combine both incomes and allocate it to the various needs (including personal). Either way,…

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take some time right now to pray through these four verses: God, I feel like no one understands all my worries. Show me You understand. “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope.” – Psalm 34:18 Lord, I feel like I can’t handle it all. Help me remember You’re the one in control. “Do not be afraid – I am with you! I am your God, let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.” – Isaiah 41:10 God, I know you love me. Remind me that You are my biggest ally. “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and…

EDWARD ACKERMAN Founder of Lightlife Evangelistic Ministries. Winning of souls through Gospel Crusades in areas where gang violence, drug abuse, and crime rates are very high. 021 705 4556 4lightlife2@gmail.com LIVING HEALTHILY finances | lifestyle | body | spirit —by Robbie Cairncross More than 27 years ago the Lord said to me,‘Robbie take My healing everywhere and I will manifest My tangible presence.’This has been so true and we have seen unusual miracles in our ministry – locally, nationally, and internationally. A further step in that direction is the launch of our Be Set Free, The Answer Symposium. It will consist of 4 sessions in 1 day ( 9am – 9pm) resulting in healing and healthier people. The 4 sessions will cover the 4 most fundamental areas in one’s life,…

Of the nine unreached people groups in Mozambique, Far East Broadcasting Association (FEBA) Radio South Africa reaches five of these groups through its stations: The Yao, Mwani, Makwe, Makonde, and Makhuwa. FEBA’s stations also broadcast in three additional languages: Ngoni, Portuguese, and Chichewa. Programmes that feed the mind as well as the soul FEBA owns and operates three stations in northern Mozambique: Radio FOT (Fountain of Truth) in Lichinga; Radio Chiuanjota (Quenching theThirst) in Chiconono – currently serving as a relay station for Radio FOT – and Radio Nuru (Light of Dawn) in Macomia. All three of these stations broadcast Gospel-based programmes. Much of the programme content involves studying the Bible, providing sermons, and the like – but these stations also broadcast educational and humanitarian programmes. Popular listening clubs with…

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself; I need your forgiveness and salvation. I believe that Jesus died on the Cross, and on the third day He rose to be with You. I confess Jesus as the Lord of my life. I invite Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Saviour and I surrender my life to Him. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace that has saved me from my sins. Please, Lord Jesus, transform my life so that I may bring glory and honour to You alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for the gift of eternal life.…

It is very clear that our nation is in great need of spiritual and physical upliftment. All South Africans need to constantly speak words of faith and life over our nation if we are going to see change. Positive confessions about our land lead to positive outcomes, and we will see the fruit if we prevail and resist all negativity. The prayers of the righteous saints of God avail much and, by praying Holy Spirit inspired prayers, we can believe that the Lord will bring constructive change to pass. We are God’s hands and feet Words are seeds that we sow into the lives of our families and our nation. Join us in sowing seeds of prosperity and success for all South Africans. We can powerfully impact the forces of…

The government needs help with solving problems that are holding back the nation — and there are many people in the Body of Christ throughout South Africa who can help solve those problems. This is the view of a number of South Africans in different spheres who share a “covenant Kingdom nation vision to make South Africa a better place through helping in whatever way we can in whatever capacity”, said Kingdom strategist Jacques Malan, who, together with Kingdom governance specialist Mkhangeli Matomela, are currently road tripping South Africa to “awaken the Church to bring forth specific solutions to help government”. For more information about the initiative, contact at jacques@fathersvoice.co.za…

“Western civilisation is built upon Christianity, and its foundations are the Bible”, collector Pere Roquet says. From June 27 until September 1, CaixaForum, one of the biggest cultural centres of Madrid, has been hosting a free exhibition of Bibles called “The Bible, A Journey Through The Languages Of The World”, with 1600 copies from more than 170 different countries. Beyond its religious significance, the collection shows the world’s linguistic diversity and the importance of the Bible for the conservation of these languages. Some copies are the only text written in that language, and there are even dead languages which also have their Bible. The Andorran collector Pere Roquet started his great collection in 1995.…

Discussions have been taking place in some churches in Cape Town in the wake of the army deployment, with some Christian leaders asking how the Church can be more involved in these areas where there is such need. Getting involved would unquestionably involve some risk, as the areas that have the most need are probably the least ‘safe’, but some pastors are stepping up and saying that this is where the Lord would want His people. Analysts seem to be in agreement that the army will not come close to addressing the underlying ‘heart’ issues – marginalisation, youth vulnerability and disengagement, community fear and disillusionment, and poorer levels of education – and these are all areas where the Church can play a role. With much prayer for wisdom and guidance,…

One of the reasons why God told the Israelites to wipe out the Canaanites in the Promised Land was because he knew that they would mislead his chosen people if they were left in the land (Judges 2:1-3). Indeed, much of Old Testament history records the idolatry that the Israelites practiced because of Canaanite influences. Canaanite gods such as Baal, Molech, and Asherah were a consistent temptation for Israel. Yahweh’s condemnation of these gods and their worship was because of the immorality that came with them, including temple prostitution, drunken orgies, self-laceration, and child sacrifice. Because of this immorality, God commanded the Israelites to drive the Canaanites from the land (Lev 20:23).…

This year is a very momentous celebration for Pastor Theo and Bev Wolmarans, who have been faithfully guiding Christians for 40 years to faith in Jesus, both locally and abroad. When we look at the history of spirit-filled churches in this nation, Pastor Theo shines out as one of the forerunners, starting their first church in Eastgate in 1979. This movement has grown to a congregation of 30 000 here in South Africa, and more than 200 000 internationally. Supported by Beverley, Theo’s intelligent, driven, and passionate wife, the two make a powercouple, leading others Biblically. I had the opportunity to interview this godly couple, and learn more about their heart and vision for this nation. Q The theme of your 40-year conference is, “For The Kingdom’s Cause”. What inspired…

Everything about God is spiritual: His love, power, goodness, grace, and faith are all spiritual. They manifest and are expressed in the natural, and they affect the emotional and the physical world, but their origin is spiritual. Spiritual things The Spirit and the Word of God created all natural things. That tells us that the spiritual is the parent of the natural world, and is subject to the Word of God. Spiritual things cannot be measured by natural means, nor can they be understood with the natural mind. However, those who are spiritual can judge all natural things. “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” – 1 Corinthians 2:15 Don’t trust logic and reason People who use logic and reason to…

God is a God of times and seasons – there is nothing that happens without His knowledge, which the Word tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Sometimes when we go through the tests and trials of life, we always ask, ‘God why me?’ And sometimes God allows us to go through these situations in order to mature us for a higher level or promotion. For you to graduate from grade 1 to grade 2, you must pass the necessary tests and the exams in grade 1. Retain Jesus in your life No matter what you are going through today, I bring you the Word of God in book of Isaiah 60:1-5. “Arise and shine for your light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” The book…

“We’ve all got our excuses – very few of us are saints! While very nearly all of us are full of our complaints. So let’s not be too morbid about failure in the past. Let’s think about the future, and what hope we can forecast!” The Past We Christians haven’t really got a clue –We know quite well what we’re supposed to do.But when it comes to practice, it’s a shame,And we’ve really only got ourselves to blame. We love to read our Bibles and we know that this is right.We love to pray out loud, although to shout is impolite.We love to go to church where we can hear the Word of God,But if we do what Jesus said, they’ll think us very odd! We love to sing the…

Gentle giants gambol at the watering hole, a herd of zebras gallop along, and red and orange strokes adorn the sky as the sun disappears behind the Zuurberg Mountains – yes, you’re in the Addo Elephant National Park! This world-renowned park is a mere 30-minute drive from Port Elizabeth and an outstanding camping destination for families and couples. Just pack your camping gear and head to Addo to discover all of its gems via these self-driving routes! The Matyholweni Gate Enter the park’s main game-viewing area via the Matyholweni Gate and check in at SANParks Addo Matyholweni Rest Camp near the entrance gate. Continue to the Ndlovu Viewpoint to marvel at the valley below. The Peasland Watering Hole regularly visited by ellies and the Algoa Bay Viewpoint are next. Follow…

JOY! Magazine is wonderful Thank you for your wonderfully illustrated Biblical series of articles that you regularly publish. I find that I can’t concentrate like I used to, and love the short, precise, and factual articles. I have learnt so much from reading them. I was fascinated to read why Jesus entrusted his mother to the Apostle John instead of his natural brothers. It’s so interesting. I also enjoy your Biblical characters. JOY! Magazine is a gift to the body of Christ. May you grow from strength to strength. J. Capstone Revival in South Africa! My neighbour blesses me with the JOY! Magazine every month – what an encouragement. I was especially filled with great excitement at Pearl Kupe’s article on South Africa, and say Amen to her prayer for…

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His Name.”– Psalm 100:4 JOY! has an intercessory network of over 300 readers around South Africa. They receive prayer requests each month for our ministry, our partners, and requests that have been sent to us. Contact us today to join our intercessory network, and to take hands and pray together for this nation. You are welcome to submit prayer requests too. email us on prayer@joymag.co.za…

Earlier this year, Nkosikho Mbele went viral on social media after a well-intentioned good deed. Monet van Deventer had pulled up at the Shell Ultra City at Macassar, where Mbele worked. After putting petrol in her car, Monet realised that she had left her bank card at home. This petrol attendant became a national hero after paying for Monet’s petrol. Following the incident, he received hundreds of thousands of rands in online donations from the public. Of all the donations however – there’s one gift that Nkosikho is especially grateful for: a Bible in his mother tongue. In July the Bible Society of South Africa invited him to their office in Cape Town. Dirk Gevers, who heads the organisation, presented him with an isiXhosa Bible. “It was a huge gift,”…

A young South African is challenging perceptions with his story about how he spent five years living on the streets, and eventually, how he was able to get off of them again. Francesco Rizzuto landed up on the street as a young child after both of his parents passed away – he has no siblings and had no support system at the time. “Standing begging at the robots I used to see many people from my past who I knew, and it felt like I was standing outside of a glass house where everyone inside was living a normal life, and I just couldn’t ever get in. I wanted to touch that normal life, but no one would give me a hand. Standing at the roadside was one of the…

There are Christian leaders who want to get involved and be part of what God wants to do in gang-ravaged areas. African Enterprise (AE), in collaboration with the Luis Palau Association and more than 600 churches and ministries, have already joined hands to reach Cape Town with the hope of the Gospel. The Love Cape Town City Fest (LCTCF) will run from November 2-16, with specific programmes and strategies for Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, and Cape Town, and will also focus specifically on gang-ridden areas. AE will begin with evangelism outreaches in October. LCTCF has swapped the “Crusade” model for a festival model that attracts the public with action sport entertainment, programmes for children, as well as music acts. This is followed by an evangelistic outreach in the evening. For churches…

Matthew 24:12 “And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity.” Amplified “There will be so much more evil in the world that the love of most believers will grow cold.” Easy-to-Read Version “And because of the prevalent disregard of God’s law the love of the great majority will grow cold.” Weymouth New Testament The Greek word translated “iniquity”, “evil”, or “disregard of God’s law” is “anomia, meaning the condition of being without law, i.e., LAWLESSNESS. In the last days, lawlessness shall “plethuno, i.e., “shall abound” or “shall be multiplied until it takes over society”. To “wax cold or “grow cold” comes from “psucho”, meaning to breathe, to blow, or to gradually cool by blowing. The Apostle Paul describes how…

Pacifism is opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes. Pacifists refuse, on moral or religious grounds, to bear arms or engage in any type of physical resistance. They believe that all disputes can and should be settled in peaceful, non-violent ways. Pacifists are usually conscientious objectors in times of war. Some religious groups, such as the Amish, make pacifism an integral part of their doctrine. Christian pacifists Some Christians claim that the Bible commands pacifism. They believe that the sum total of Jesus’ teachings requires His followers to lay down their arms and promote peace. They cite passages such as the Sermon on the Mount as evidence that the New Covenant has rendered any Old Testament examples of righteous war irrelevant. Christian pacifists believe that following…

How many members are in your congregation? There are about 30 000 people who call CFC Johannesburg their home church. There are approximately 200 000 members who call CFC churches worldwide their home. We have more than 1100 churches worldwide. We have more than 70 Bible Schools worldwide with more than 3000 students studying at each one time. When and where did you plant your first church? We planted our first church in Eastgate Shopping Centre Community Hall, September 1979 How many years have you been married? Dr. Bev and I got married in 1978, one year before we started the ministry. How many children do you have? Dr. Bev and I have 2 daughters with a total of 6 grandchildren. I have one daughter and two grandchildren from my…

I have the wonderful privilege of taking a three-month sabbatical with my family, as we attend our church conference and visit family and friends in North America. My first column in this series is inspired by a woman who assisted me in the customer service department of a Macy’s department store in Atlanta. Aware of her privilege Here, in this unlikely venue, she became visibly excited after hearing that I was from South Africa and pastoring a church that reaches students. In turn, she remarked that she and her husband had been supporting Voice of the Martyrs in their efforts to help the persecuted church around the world. Furthermore, after knowing what happens to persecuted Christians across the world, she brought the conversation back to her native city and remarked,…

Debbie Reddy BATTLE BEFORE THE BREAKTHROUGH “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.”– 1 Samuel 17:36 Many people become despondent and give up when faced with tough times. People usually quit at the brink of their miracle. Your perception of the obstacles you face will determine how you react to such situations. In the above Scripture, David cultivated a positive attitude by declaring victory even before he engaged in the battle. His confidence came from his understanding of the God that he served. This God that gave him victory over the lion and the bear would give him victory over the uncircumcised Philistine. David’s life was riddled with…