1 THE METHODIST CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA NATAL COASTAL DISTRICT DISTRICT COMMUNIQUE JULY 2014 NO: TWO SANIBONANI, MOLWENI, DUMELANG; GOOD DAY OUT THERE: CONGRATULATIONS TO NATAL COASTAL DISTRICT YOUNG WOMEN S MANYANO AS THEY CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF AUTONOMY 1994 TO 2004. CLERPINE CIRCUIT, 17 TO 20 JULY 2014 MCSA Mission Unit JUSTICE AND SERVICE DESK held a CONSULTATION ON ABUSE, 15 July 2015, MCO, Johannesburg, We are encouraged to intensify APPROPRIATE ACTION in relation to: GENDER JUSTICE: Rev Bafana Khumalo speaking on Gender Justice: Violence kills and disables as many women between 15-44 as cancer and that 1 in 5 women have experienced abuse in one form or the other. In our small working group of five two of the women one in her 70 s and the other in her 40 s both said that they had been abused. When last have you preached or heard a sermon based on 2 Samuel 13: 1 to 22? CHILD ABUSE: What more can be said than you know already?? HUMAN TRAFFICKING: - We heard a very graphic testimony of a very brave young woman who was trafficked and the horrors she endured before she was rescued. She was continuously raped for several weeks before she managed to escape and was rescued by a project working with trafficked women.
2 We also heard from an Eldorado Park Methodist project who have been rescuing trafficked young girls from Lolly Lounges which are drug dens where girls as young as 11 are compelled to walk around naked and service older well-to-do men basically they are being raped. SUBSTANCE ABUSE: It is all to pervasive and ruining lives on a daily basis Our church as a whole is intensifying our Methodists/ Ministry Against Substance Abuse (MASA) programme throughout the Connexion. A Connexional meeting with all Bishops and District coordinators will be held on 6 August to take this further. ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY: We need to pay more attention to various forms of abuse that our elderly experience. DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS: Is not providing access to blind; deaf and other differently abled persons into our church buildings or services a form of abuse through exclusion? Pray that all abuse be eradicated from our Connexion. Together as a transforming Discipleship movement, let justice, compassion, healing and peace are left in the wake of the waves we make. DEDICATION CEREMONY OF THE METHODIST CONNEXIONAL OFFICE, Bruma, JHB 16/07/2014. People of God, I invite you now to join me in dedicating this building, the Methodist Connexional Office, to work of mission and administration in our Connexion. The Scriptures encourage all God s people to use the gifts they been given for the building up of the Body Christ Let us pray that the work that is done here will enrich every facet of our Church s life and that many people will know the influence and inspiration of God s Spirit because of what is done here. MAY IT ALSO BE A SPACE WHERE THE IMAGINING, REFLECTION AND DREAMING OF ANOTHER WORLD THAT IS POSSIBLE AS PART OF GOD S ETERNAL PROJECT May administration not strangle dreams and innovation??
3 The new Methodist Connexional Office 33 Ernest Oppenheimer Ave Bruma Office Park Bruma 2026 0116151616 (O) PRELIMINARY STATIONING AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS MEETING with PB; Gensec/s; Bishops; EMMU and HR. 16 to 18 July 2014, (New) Methodist Connexional Office, Bruma, Johannesburg. I have managed to fill all our stations in our District. I need to consult with a few Circuits before I release what the proposed changes will be to present to CE in September (where as you know things can change again.) SOME RANDOM QUOTES FROM THE MCSA FACE BOOK from Presiding Bishop (PB); Brigalia Bam and the General Secretary (GenSec) I long for a church that has prophetic action rather than just prophetic words; a church where the people live humbly and justly... #PBJJ&S Justice flows easily from our lips and injustice is hidden in our private rooms and churches #PBjusticeandservice No government of any country can reach every poor person hence the role of churches and projects...the church cannot sit and just pray for people... there needs to be civil education and action... #Brigaliabam There is a tendency growing in the church that we love the church so much and the organisations we belong to and forget the head of the church; it s easy to love the uniform and the club but not care about Jesus #gensec We are fans of Christ but not committed to Christ #gensec We are living in a world with many competing voices- people are so tickled by the voices they hear daily that they just applaud they don t change... the word of God has to change us...#gensec Reflection: DO YOU THINK GOING TO CHURCH IS IMPORTANT? DO YOU THINK PREPARING SERMONS IS IMPORTANT? WHY? A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. I ve gone for 30 years now, he wrote, and in that time I HAVE HEARD
4 SOMETHING LIKE 3000 SERMONS. But for the life of me, I CAN T REMEMBER A SINGLE ONE OF THEM. So, I THINK I M WASTING MY TIME and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all Responses were aplenty until the clincher response came from someone who wrote: I ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32000 meals. But, for the life of me I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not me these meals, I would be physically dead today. LIKEWISE, IF I HAD NOT GONE TO CHURCH FOR NOURISHMENT, I WOULD BE SPIRITUALLY DEAD TODAY! Which attitude do you identify with: Going to church is a waste of time? Preparing sermons is a waste of time Or Going to Church nourishes me spiritually and sermon prep even without responses is nourishing someone? (Reference: Challenge Magazine) DATES TO NOTE July and August: District Ecumenical Affairs committee meeting 22 July, 2pm District Office Conference Planning, 23 July, 5pm District Office District Justice & Service meeting, 10am 29 July District Office District School of Evangelisation & Discipleship committee meeting, 29 July 2014 District Office District Music Association workshop and Induction 23 and 24 July 2014 (venue and times TBA). District Trust Properties, 31 July 4.30pm District Office Nzondelelo Outreach, Umngeni Circuit, Ogwini Section, 1 to 3 August 2014. YMG Executive meeting with Bishop, 5 August 5pm District Office Annual Diakonia Lecture 11 August, 5.30pm, Diakonia Centre. Phone 0313103500 for more details) District Ministers/Deacons retreat: 1pm Monday 25 to 1pm Wednesday 27 August 2014, Vuleka Centre (Koinonia) (MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW WITHIN THE WEEK) CAN YOU FEEL IT? IT IS COMING.61 DAYS to go!!!! To MCSA CE & Conference15 to 21 September 2014 Let us continue to soak the planning, fundraising and preparation in constant prayer. Have a blessed Day. Shalom Bishop Mike 20/07/2014)
5