2010 - Year of Reaping and Celebration
“Evangelism Explosion!” “Reach Up, Reach Out, Reach Across – Tell the World!” “Lift Up Christ – Save the Family!” These slogans and many more are some of the buzz-words among SDAs today. But why all this excitement about soul winning among God’s people?
The year 2010 has been designated the ‘Year of Reaping and Celebration’ by the SID Church Leadership. There are at least two major reasons why our leaders are calling on the entire membership to engage aggressively in running reaping campaigns in 2010 and beyond.
Firstly because the Lord has given the Church a specific command. God has committed to His people a world message – a message that has to reach to “every nation, kindred, tongue and people.” The instruction is very clear, “Go ye into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 15:15. “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.” John 20:21.
EG White comments – “In a special sense, Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. On them is shining a wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import – the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.”
Secondly the times in which we live demand that every believer in the truth become personally involved in reaching out to sin-sick souls. The signs of the times indicate that we are now living in the last hour of earth’s history. Jesus is about to come. For that reason we cannot continue with ‘business as usual’. The trumpet has to give a certain sound. Our job is to prepare a people ready to meet Christ when He returns.
Jesus Himself is our example in demonstrating seriousness and commitment in soul-saving work. While on earth his motto was – “I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is still day! The night comes when no man can work.” John 9:4. We also read of the early Christian Church that “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they never stopped teaching and preaching that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5v42
Christ has given the Church its marching orders. Our work is to sow the gospel seed. This we can do by distributing DVDs and literature, giving personal and neighbourhood Bible Studies, engaging in outreach seminars such as family health, family finance, prayer seminars, parenting with love, leadership seminars and many more. To climax our efforts the church is called to conduct reaping campaigns in targeted areas. Some of these efforts may run for a week, two weeks, three weeks or a month.
And the Lord has promised to bless the labours of His people. The results may not be immediate, but they will come.
The question to ask – will you and your family and your local church act your part in working to save the lost in 2010 ? The Master is calling - “Go work today in my vineyard.!”
Leonard M Mbaza
President, Cape Conference. |
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Due to the rapid growth of the SDA Church membership and the mushrooming of new groups of believers, there is an urgent need to provide worship houses to the new congregations. EG White has aptly defined the work of the Church.
"When an interest is aroused in any town or city, that interest should be followed up. The place should be thoroughly worked, until a humble house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God's Sabbath, and a light amid the moral darkness. These memorials are to stand in many places as witnesses to the truth." Testimonies volume 6 page 100.
During the time of Moses God called on His people to make Him a sanctuary (Exodus 25:8). Their response was very positive. They continued bringing in more offerings for the construction of the sanctuary until the leaders advised them to bring no more (Exodus 36:1-7). EG White comments - "The plan of Moses in the wilderness to raise means was highly successful. There was no compulsion necessary. Clod commanded Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring the offerings. Moses was to accept gifts of every man that gave willingly from his heart. These freewill offerings came in so great abundance that Moses proclaimed it was enough. They must cease their presents; for they had given abundantly, more than they could use." Counsels on Stewardship page 203.
In view of this great challenge of assisting congregations to construct houses of worship, the CC leadership has decided that we establish a Conference-wide Church Building Development Fund. The contributions will be used specifically for church buildings, The plan is to help first those congregations which are about to finish their structures.
The date suggested for the launch of this special Fund among all CC Churches is Sabbath August 11, 2007. The Fund will be known as the Haggai Venture Fund.
Individuals or families are encouraged to prayerfully plan their giving (R10, R20, R50, R100, R200, R500, R1000, R2000 and more) every month. This will be in addition to their regular support of the Lord's work through tithes and offerings. The best approach will be to use the available tithe and offering envelope for this purpose. However, the donor will need to clearly indicate his/her offering as "Haggai Venture Fund" on the envelope.
For 2007 the following congregations will benefit from the Haggai Venture Fund: Paballclo (N. Cape), Concordia (N. Cape), Atlantis (W. Cape), Harare (W. Cape), Bonteheuwel (W. Cape), Emacwerheni (E. Cape), Hopedale (E. Cape), Dimbaza (E. Cape), Enkululekweni, (E. Cape), Dulcies Nek (E. Cape), and Salt Pan (E. Cape).
As we plan our generous gifts of Love to "build memorials to the Lord," let us bear in mind that our Lord was the first one to give. The Scripture declares: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believe in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Thank you for your sacrifice to advance the Lord's cause. 
Leonard M. Mbaza (CC President)
Cliff R. Glass (CC Treas
Haggai Venture Fund
A special Unfinished Church Buildings Fund (the Haggai Venture Fund), one of the Cape Conference Five Initiatives, was launched last year .
Due to the rapid growth of the SDA Church membership and the mushrooming of new groups of believers, there is an urgent need to provide worship houses to the new congregations. EG White has aptly defined the work of the Church.
"When an interest is aroused in any town or city, that interest should be followed up. The place should be thoroughly worked, until a humble house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God's Sabbath, and a light amid the moral darkness. These memorials are to stand in many places as witnesses to the truth." Testimonies volume 6 page 100.
During the time of Moses God called on His people to make Him a sanctuary (Exodus 25:8). Their response was very positive. They continued bringing in more offerings for the construction of the sanctuary until the leaders advised them to bring no more (Exodus 36:1-7). EG White comments - "The plan of Moses in the wilderness to raise means was highly successful. There was no compulsion necessary. Clod commanded Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring the offerings. Moses was to accept gifts of every man that gave willingly from his heart. These freewill offerings came in so great abundance that Moses proclaimed it was enough. They must cease their presents; for they had given abundantly, more than they could use." Counsels on Stewardship page 203.
In view of this great challenge of assisting congregations to construct houses of worship, the CC leadership has decided that we establish a Conference-wide Church Building Development Fund. The contributions will be used specifically for church buildings, The plan is to help first those congregations which are about to finish their structures.
The date suggested for the launch of this special Fund among all CC Churches is Sabbath August 11, 2007. The Fund will be known as the Haggai Venture Fund.
Individuals or families are encouraged to prayerfully plan their giving (R10, R20, R50, R100, R200, R500, R1000, R2000 and more) every month. This will be in addition to their regular support of the Lord's work through tithes and offerings. The best approach will be to use the available tithe and offering envelope for this purpose. However, the donor will need to clearly indicate his/her offering as "Haggai Venture Fund" on the envelope.
For 2007 the following congregations will benefit from the Haggai Venture Fund: Paballclo (N. Cape), Concordia (N. Cape), Atlantis (W. Cape), Harare (W. Cape), Bonteheuwel (W. Cape), Emacwerheni (E. Cape), Hopedale (E. Cape), Dimbaza (E. Cape), Enkululekweni, (E. Cape), Dulcies Nek (E. Cape), and Salt Pan (E. Cape).
As we plan our generous gifts of Love to "build memorials to the Lord," let us bear in mind that our Lord was the first one to give. The Scripture declares: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believe in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Thank you for your sacrifice to advance the Lord's cause.
Leonard M. Mbaza (CC President)
Cliff R. Glass (CC Treasurer)
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