Een van die sentrale vrae is: hoe gaan die lidmate begelei word en verseker word dat hulle bly groei in terme van kennis en vaardighede in hul bedieningstake. Op watter manier gaan die probleme wat opduik, hanteer word en die vrae beantwoord word?

Eerstens geskied hierdie bediening natuurlik onder die toesig van kerkrade. Dit sal verstandig van kerkrade wees om hierdie lidmate van harte te ondersteun. Voorbidding, bemoediging en voortgesette blootstelling aan opleiding sal noodsaaklik wees.

‘n Verdere sleutelfaset is die mentorskap van ringe. Ringe word versoek om minstens een mentor aan te wys om die begeleiding en geestelike versorging van hierdie lidmate waar te neem. So ‘n mentor sal ‘n leraar(s) in die ring wees wat spesiaal verantwoordelikheid hiervoor neem. Dit sal ook moontlik wees om die gemeenteleraar, waar moontlik, vir hierdie doel aan te wys.

Die leraars wat verantwoordelikheid vir die opleiding neem, word georganiseer in die Netwerk vir die Bedieningstoerusting van Lidmate. Hierdie netwerk sal die mentors oriënteer in terme van die kursusinhoud en die begeleiding van lidmate. Prakties beteken dit dat ‘n goeie strategie vir die mentor-leraars sal wees om die kursusse in hetsy pastoraat of prediking self te deurloop.

‘n Skrywe word eersdaags aan gemeentes / kerkrade gerig met volledige inligting oor die opleiding.

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Lyding skep hoop

Walter Brueggemann het ‘n briljante artikel onder die opskrif Suffering produces Hope geskryf wat op ons sinode se webblad gepubliseer is. In hierdie dae waar mense maar oes voel, onseker oor die toekoms en wonder of ons land dalk in dui gaan stort, kan julle gerus hierdie artikel van hierdie besondere Ou Testamentikus lees. Mens kan enigiets van Brueggemann lees, selfs al heet dit How to plant bananas!

Dankie aan Rethie van Niekerk wat die artikel onder my aandag gebring het.

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Heartlines : Uitgenooi om van die positiewe, konstruktiewe te vertel

As children of God we are eternally – literally – grateful that we are able to give account of the hope that is within us. Without this, the daily dose of bad news that is invariably served up by the media could send us into a downward spiral of despair. Praise God that we are not engulfed to the point helplessness. At HEARTLINES our plans for the future centre specifically on publicising the good that seldom reaches our eyes and ears.

Good News Stories on SABC TV and Radio

From next week, radio – and later television - will carry short, high quality “values adverts” that will challenge the nation to have the courage to LIVE the values we profess. We also intend to flood the media with uplifting articles about the many positive initiatives that are happening in the country.

Good News Minutes on the airwaves

In addition, designed to inspire and encourage the nation, “good news minutes” in the form of mini documentaries that tell the stories of individuals who are making a difference in their communities, will also appear in the electronic and print media. In time, we hope to broadcast these adverts and the mini documentaries several times daily on all three SABC TV channels and all fifteen SABC radio stations.

The Role of the Church in helping HEARTLINES identify individuals

As a crucial part of mission, the Church is involved in a myriad of initiatives that often enlist individuals who – because of the values they live – are seeking to make a positive imprint on their community. These may be key or ordinary initiatives but HEARTLINES needs to document what these heroes – often unsung - are doing, in order to draw up a database of good people doing good things.

We appeal to you as a HEARTLINES champion to assist us in this vital task by letting us have the names and contact details of people involved in projects and initiatives about whom we can write good news stories. Some of the areas of involvement could include HIV/AIDS, crime, family, environment; schools and education; poverty and unemployment. Please send the information to Brian Helsby at brian@heartlines.org.za or fax it to 011 771 2550.

HEARTLINES cannot guarantee that every story will be used in the electronic or print media but we are convinced that the flood of good news that is aired will considerably lift the spirits of all South Africans who long to see change in the nation – for good.

We look forward to your response.

Your co-workers in Christ

The HEARTLINES Team

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Navorsing oor Vroue: Slaan Oktober 2007 se Kruisgewys ‘n slag weer oop

Ek het verlede week vertel van die navorsing oor vroue waarvan elke kerkraad en gemeente kennis moet neem. Dit is op die web beskikbaar.

Chris van Wyk herinner ons : Daar was ‘n hele Kruisgewys in Oktober verlede jaar aan die Vroueverslag gewy wat lesers van Enuus ook kan gaan lees:

Ek sluit vir julle die inhoudsopgawe van hierdie Kruisgewys in met die skakels waar lesers dit direk kan aflaai:

Inhoudsopgawe	Skrywer	Uitgawe	Grootte
Inhibeer of inspireer die kerk vroueleiers? - Volledige Kruisgewys	Redakteurs	7.3	1.84 MB
As vroulike leier tussen mans	Elsje Büchner	7.3	196 KB
"Dit sal nie van haar weggeneem word nie"	Rethie van Niekerk	7.3	126 KB
"Hoe dink julle as vroue hieroor?"	Frederick Marais	7.3	111 KB
Inhibeer of inspireer kerklike strukture vrouelidmate?	Rinel Hugo	7.3	126 KB
Inhoudsopgawe en voorwoord van artikelredakteur	Chris van Wyk	7.3	114 KB
Ish, Isha ... Eisj - voorwoord van die redakteurs	Johann Symington, Pieter Fourie	7.3	221 KB
"Laat staan haar!"	Elna Mouton en Marieke Brand	7.3	112 KB
Om doelbewus na vroue te luister	Madelein Gerber	7.3	141 KB
Skielik vang my oog die bank waar sy gaan sit ...	Waldemar Stumpfe	7.3	120 KB
Verslag oor vrouelidmate (ADGO) van die Algemene Sinode 2007	ADGO		222 KB

Die moeite werd om te lees en te deurdink.

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Gawes, belangstellings en spesialisasie van leraars

Rondom Sinode 2007 het meer as 70 leraars ‘n vraelysie voltooi rondom hul belangstellings, gawes en voortgesette bedieningsontwikkeling. Julle kan die samevatting hiervan hier op die web lees. Dit is baie interessant om te sien wat leraars doen om hulself op datum te hou en wat hulle lees.

Predikante wat nog graag die vraelys wil voltooi en vir my stuur sodat jul besonderhede bygevoeg kan word, of opgedateer kan word, kan die vorm van die web aflaai by www.ngkok.co.za/predikante.

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Gemeenteskribas het hul eie afdeling op ons webblad

Ons het pas begin om spesifiek data vir gemeenteskribas te ontwikkel. Julle kan ons webblad besoek by www.ngkok.co.za/admin vir die mees resente omsendbriewe van die Direkteur Administrasie. Vorm A en Vorm B is ook hier beskikbaar sodat julle dit kan aflaai en gebruik.

Onthou, jy het Adobe Acrobat nodig om hierdie dokumente oop te maak. Dit is gratis op die web beskikbaar by http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Daar is ‘n baie sterk moontlikheid dat hierdie program reeds op jou rekenaar geïnstalleer is - baie ander programme installeer dit outomaties.

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Alan Hirsch besoek Suid-Afrika

Alan Hirsch, outeur van The Forgotten Ways (sekerlik een van die heel briljantste boeke oor ontluikende, missionêre kerke) besoek Suid-Afrika in Mei 2008. Hy is ook mede-outeur van die ewe goeie The shaping of things to come. Die program is as volg:

* 19 Mei 2008 te Stellenbosch, 1-dag konferensie met Communitas - kontak Frederick Marais jfm@sun.ac.za

* 20 Mei 2008 in Pretoria, ‘n aand met Alan Hirsch - kontak Marius Nel marius-nel@lantic.net

* 22 en 23 Mei 2008 te Krügersdorp - 2-dag retraite en werkswinkel (maksimum 60 mense) - kontak Nelus Niemandt nelus@pixie.co.za

Meer besonderhede volg sodra dit beskikbaar is.

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Global Day of Prayer

Die Wêreldwye Dag van Gebed vind vanjaar op Sondag, 11 Mei, plaas. Besoek gerus http://www.transformationafrica.com/ vir meer inligting.

In die verlede het heelwat plattelandse NG Gemeentes by hierdie ekumeniese gebedsgeleentheid ingeskakel. In die Oos-Kaapse stede was daar nie veel belangstelling nie.

Ek wil julle regtig aanmoedig om hande te vat met die ander Christene in julle gemeenskappe en deel te neem aan hierdie gebedsgeleentheid. Dit is aan die begin bietjie vreemd om saam te werk met die hele spektrum - van die stoerste Rooms-Katolieke tot die swinging-from-the-chandelier-charismate, maar die geleentheid is baie verrykend. Vanjaar val dit saam met Pinkstersondag en moedersdag, ‘n vol dag vir baie gemeentes, maar die gebedsbyeenkomste begin merendeels eers teen 15:00, sodat almal kan inskakel.

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Bless the Nations Missions School

Saturday, 15 March, 11:00-17:00

NMMU Missionvale Sport Centre

1^st Years – Persecuted Church

* Come and listen to people who have had firsthand experience in some closed countries

Experience ShockWave with Open Doors

Watch the movie “Behind the Sun”

2^nd Years – Apologetics (“What do other faiths ask about our faith?”, and “What are the answers?”)

Visitors and new students always welcome

Navra: Kontak prof Jean Greyling - Jean.Greyling@nmmu.ac.za

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Die huidige Zimbabwe

Ds. Mattie Beukes skryf uit Zimbabwe:

Ons dorp se sentrale het 'n elektriese brand gehad en sodoende was die telefoonlyne, wat normaal swak is, vir 'n geruime tyd buite werking. Maar hier is ons nou met meer nuus.

Ons was baie geseënd in Zimbabwe met goeie reëns. Desember en Januarie was uitsonderlike goeie maande vir reën. Maar Februarie het die reën opgedroog. Die oeste wat wel ingesit is, is besig om te verdor. Ons bid dat daar binnekort weer reën sal val.

Meer en meer mense trek uit die land omrede hulle dit nie meer kan bekostig nie. Produkte is nie meer beskikbaar nie. Indien dit wel nog beskikbaar is, is dit baie duur. Baie winkels het al hulle deure toegemaak. Die wat nog oop is het skaars iets op die rakke. Van die rakke is al uitgehaal om die winkels nie so kaal te laat vertoon nie. Een van die kettingwinkels op die dorp het 'n kennisgewing in die venster - Hulle sal enige produkte van mense koop, sodat hulle iets op die rakke kan hê.

Die vulstasies op Chipinge het vir die afgelope twee jaar nie 'n druppel brandstof verkoop nie - daar is net nie. Op die swart mark is dit wel beskikbaar, maar teen 'n geweldige prys. Diewe het 'n paar aande gelede 400 liter van die bedryf gesteel. Brandstof word in Harare gekoop en 500km aangery, om dan weer gebruik te word.

Die kragtoevoer is op die oomblik beter, ek wil nie te gou praat nie, so ons is baie dankbaar daarvoor. Ten tye van kragonderbrekings is daar ook nie water nie. Ek het verneem dat dit waar is dat dames waterverkoel is. Kyk hoe reageer hulle indien daar geen water in die huishouding is nie!!! Opgaar tenks is opgerig en water word aangery sodat ongerief vermy kan word.

Die politieke situasie in die land is baie gespanne. Almal word verdag gemaak. Die raad is dat almal 'n lae profiel moet handhaaf. Die mense is moeg om te sukkel. 'n Mens kan dit aan mense se liggaamshouding sien. Baie oë weerspieël ook 'n veraf uitdrukking. Die verhouding tussen bevolkingsgroepe is baie goed, ten spyte van politikuste se pogings om dit te laat ontspoor.

Die teerpaaie is in 'n gehawende toestand. Onderhoud word lankal nie meer gedoen nie. Voertuie word goed getoets deur die toestand van die paaie en bande kry swaar. Toe dit nog gereën het, het ek bobbejane gesien wat water uit die teerpad gedrink het.

Die kerk funksioneer nog te midde van die omstandighede in die land. Die geestelike werk het nie minder geraak nie. Die behoefte om te hoor wat die Here se wil is vir ons mense is sterker as ooit. Eredienste word goed bygewoon en koinonia vind plaas. Ons vind dat mense wat na kerk tee/koffie drink, sukkel om huis toe te gaan. Die kuier is te kosbaar en die geselskap te opbouend. Dit verdryf ook die eensaamheid van die week. Met brandstof so skaars moet die beste gebruik gemaak word van 'n saamkoms.

Ek vertrou die nuus gee 'n ietsie weer van die omstandighede in die land. Ek weet net nie of dit te negatief is nie. Baie dankie vir al die gebede en ander hulp wat ons van julle in KZN ontvang. Mag julle daarvoor geseën word.

Vriendelike groete

Mattie Beukes

(Met dank aan ePosduif, KwaZulu Natalse Sinode)

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STR - Stroke identification

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally . He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simp le questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE o f these tasks, call help immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

(Dankie Isa Goosen)

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Where God seeks me…

I’m an online bible professor at Azusa Pacific University in SoCal (despite living in the wonderful state of Idaho)…one of my classes this Spring is a Nursing Extension full of students who have a wide-variety of religious backgrounds. Many of them would not be seen by strong Evangelical types as those that fill up the ranks of the “saved” but are, nonetheless, in the midst of fascinating spiritual journeys. One of those students, a woman who has grown up Buddist, wrote the following…this is definitely worth the read: “After watching the video (the week’s assignment), I remembered a Vietnamese spiritual article that I liked. This article gave me idea to write the journal entry this week.”

I seek God in beautiful wealthy countries; God seeks me in unattractive poor countries.
I seek God in noisy downtown cities; God seeks me in quiet old forests.
I seek God in big famous cathedrals; God seeks me in small unknown churches.
I seek God in rich families; God seeks me in penniless families.
I seek God in genius persons; God seeks me in humble persons.
I seek God in attractive young persons; God seeks me in neglected old adults.
I seek God in potentate adult; God seeks me in powerless babies.
Days after days; months after months; years after years;
Seeking God all my life, I am getting extremely tired without meeting Him.
God and I have kept seeking each other for ever if I kept seeking Him as I did.
Wait a minute … If I seek Him where He seeks me, I will meet Him soon.
Where???
In poor countries, penniless families, humble persons, neglected old adults, powerless babies, etc.
O God! I must live sacrifice to be with them.
Jesus said, “Whatsoever U do to the least of my people, you do it to me.

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Children's Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.
Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti.
Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed upon the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say yes.)

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Any way's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

~Bron: Monday Fodder (via BybelMedia)

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Groete tot ons weer gesels,

Danie Mouton

Sinodale Kommunikasie

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