A Word for the church in South Africa

4/4/25 4:07 PM
Brother Jem

Received 04/04/2025

To my beloved children in the South African Church. You have come through so much. It was largely due to the unity between black and white South African Christians that the stronghold of Aspartate was broken. My church preached that all people are made in God’s image and are worthy of dignity and respect. Hold onto this truth. For soon the flames of division and resentment will sweep your nation. The evil one wants to resurrect old racial attitudes and resentment over perceived “inequality”. As violence breaks out hearts will harden and old mental barriers will be raised.

Do not forget the lessons of the past. All are welcome in my church regardless of colour or socio-economic standing. You are all members of the same spiritual family. It is time for believers from different cultures, both rich and poor, to come together for prayer and fellowship. Live out the gospel. Open your hearts to one another. Support each other. Your love for one another will authenticate my good news of reconciliation. Together you will be my shining beacons of hope in troubled times.

Guard your hearts against the devil’s schemes. Be quick to forgive and do not allow envy to take root in your hearts. Strive to cultivate a grateful attitude.

I will bring something beautiful out of the coming chaos. Will you still be pure of heart when the time comes to rebuild?

Scripture references

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

(Gen 1:27)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

(Gal 3:28)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(Joh 13:34-35)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

(1Co 13:4-6)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

(1Ti 6:6-8)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

(Col 3:12-13)

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

(2Co 5:18-20)

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