South Africa Update

At the end of the Great Commission Camp, sponsored by Frontline Fellowship ITMI’s Timothy Keller (from Arizona) was commissioned as a Field Director. Congratulations Tim! ITMI’s associate missionary Charl van Wyk, author of Shooting Back, The Right and Duty of Self-Defense, joined with many others in observing the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attack on St. James Church in Cape Town.

Tim Keller (Right) with his home pastor, Rev. Jeff Niell

Charl gives the living Word to an ex-terrorist involved in the St. James massacre.

The massacre at St. James killed 11 people and seriously wounded 53 others. From mid-July Charl had many opportunities to witness and share the Gospel, including national and local TV news slots, one national TV show, plus many radio and newspaper interviews. “My favorite” Charl remembers, “was witnessing ‘live’ on Radio Islam to the transforming power of the Gospel. I don’t think I’ll be invited back again!” Please join in prayer for the many seeds planted in the hearts of Muslim listeners.

Charl is Deputy Director of Frontline Fellowship (FF). Much of his outreach ministry is in Khayelitsha Township, 15 miles from Cape Town. He frequently works there with the youth in a Church he helped to plant. He reports, “One of the youth, Luleka who works with FF, was held at gun and knifepoint last week and had her cell phone stolen. A 14-year-old girl of the youth group was raped by a 27-year-old man who had visited her parents at their home. Crime is totally out of control in South Africa.”

According to Interpol, the murder rate in South Africa is ten times that of the USA and second only to Columbia. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the only real answer.

NOTE: Charl will be visiting the US in April 2004. If you or your church are interested in having Charl for a meeting, please contact Kristi Messick at 480.968.4100 or via email at Kristi.Messick@intouchmission.org

Africa Christian Action, (ACA) incorporating over 20 evangelical and reform missions across southern Africa, held a daring drama outside Parliament in Cape Town, to mark “National Women’s Day.” The play highlighted the plight of women raped in South Africa and the failure of the Criminal Justice System to provide an adequate deterrent. [The problem is acute because of a myth among Black men that intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDS.]

Props for the play included a gallows complete with rope and noose. Scripture banners declared, “The wages of sin is death.” The drama included a “defendant, witness and judge.” The defendant was found “guilty” and promptly hanged.

Despite a light rain, the dramatic presentation was carried by a heavy media contingent recording the proceedings for national coverage. A statement released by the ACA affirmed: “Women in South Africa don’t need pious platitudes from politicians and meaningless public holidays. Women need respect and protection - practical action: abolish abortion, eliminate pornography and execute rapists.” This message was widely broadcast on national radio, TV and newspapers - leading to tremendous ministry opportunities.

Small wonder Bill and Harriett Bathman are glad to have finished their summer work in Arizona and return this week to their home in Cape Town. Pray for God’s power as Bill preaches the Word.

Bill and Harriett take time to encourage Graham and Jenny Des Fountain, [from South Africa] and their friend, Lois Filipski