CFT AGM 2004

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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
My dear brethren Indeed our times are in God's
hands! I find it a special privilege that I'm
able to address yet another conference of CFT.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Thank you to all of you who have kept the vision
of CFT before you inspite of growing madness
around you.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
The 2004 Olympics ended on Sunday in Athens,
Greece. I'm no great fan of sports but I'm
interested enough to learn some valuable lessons
from sportsmen and women. I wouldn't be surprised
if most of them keep Sir Winston Churchill's
words on the walls of their offices, "NEVER GIVE
UP." Most of the champions' CVs have periods of
failure and disappointment but their perseverance
was crowned at the recent Olympics!
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
KWASIZABANTU I'd like Baba Rev Stegen and the
Mission leadership to know how thankful we are
for the privilege of operating from here.
KwaSizabantu is in rural KZN but the
infrastructure at this centre, especially in
communication, compares with the best in first
world countries. The spiritual atmosphere we
enjoy here can't be measured in financial terms.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
TRIBUTE Every time we meet and I see those with
whom we shared the vision and founding of CFT my
heart is warmed within me. I miss Mama Nsibande's
face this year, but I bow to God's eternal wisdom
which determines the length of our days.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
CFT INTERNATIONAL Seeing the faces of our dear
brethren from different countries does my heart
good. I'm reminded of the song, "Blest be the
tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love The
fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that
above" Brethren thank you very much for your
kind support and co-operation.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
THE ANCHOR This year's theme is "The Anchor - the
Christian's hope" Allow me to start on a personal
note. The past four years since I was diagnosed
with Motor Neuron Disease in 2000 have not been
easy for me. In this age of advanced medical
technology it's no small thing to be told frankly
that no cure has yet been found for your
disease. One thing that has kept me sane and
hopeful is the unwavering conviction that my Lord
is in full control of the situation. I know that
MND won't have the last word on my life. God will.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
A verse that I often refer to is 1 Corinthians
1558, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.
Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves
fully to the work of the Lord, because you know
that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Honourable members of CFT, you'll agree that
there are forces that are out to shake and move
us. Our personal faith in our Lord and Saviour
is constantly under attack. It is only as we look
to Him and draw our strength from Him that we
receive grace to overcome.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Young Christian men and women are a special
target of the enemy of our souls. The world mocks
them for being "out of step" with their peers. In
reality the "in thing" for young people is the
liberty to destroy themselves. Our prayer is that
as we read in Psalm 73 our young people will get
to see things from God's perspective. From then
on they'll see perversion for what it is.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Marriages and in particular Christian marriages
are besieged by diabolical forces. Satan aims to
send a message to the world that Christianity
makes no difference to the well-being and
stability of marriages. Of course that's a lie
marriages anchored on Christ enjoy overflowing
life.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
In Malachi we read of God's messenger turning the
hearts of fathers to their children and the
hearts of children to their fathers. The devil is
seeking the very opposite of that. It's our
prayer that God's model of a parent-child
relationship will prevail. Our churches are not
immune to the enemy's advances. He sows seeds of
division and conflict where Christ should be
glorified by sanctified lives and unity in
Him. Oh that we'd stand firm on the Rock of Ages!
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
CFT'S OPPORTUNITIES Most of you know the song
"They tried my Lord and Master." The chorus goes
thus, "I'll be a friend to Jesus my life for him
I'll spend I'll be a friend to Jesus Until my
years shall end."
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Each and every day of our lives we are presented
with opportunities to show those around us and
the world that we are friends of the Saviour.
From our very homes to school, work, church and
the wider society situations arise for us to step
forward and say, "This is what my Lord says "
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Little Jan Joosten will probably be too shy to
stand in front of such a big audience but let his
parents or grandparents tell you how this young
boy stood on his convictions in a public
school. Friends that's the essence of CFT! Just
think what an encouragement it is to you when you
see a good letter in a newspaper or hear someone
stand for Biblical values in a radio discussion.
Many are waiting for you to do just that.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
ABORTION Don't yield to the temptation of
thinking that issues are old or the battle is
already lost. In the USA the infamous Roe vs Wade
case was in 1973 but views of presidential
candidates and other political appointees on
abortion weigh heavily on the public's
mind. Those of you who listen to Radio Khwezi
should be encouraged to hear how pro-life and
pro-family the people out there are. Politicians
who came to Radio Khwezi looking for votes during
the last election got that message loud and clear.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Just last Sunday a CFT member, Mrs Dudu Maphanga,
invited listeners of Radio Khwezi to comment on
the recently passed act which makes abortions
even more accessible to women. Thirty minutes
were not enough for all those who wanted to
express their views - without exception all
pro-life! Khwezi listeners have asked management
to invite representatives of different political
parties to explain their stance on this issue.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Those who get my e-mails will know that I have
great interest in what our Berlin brethren are
doing in their regional radio station. They get
two hours per week and they are making good use
of it, addressing the same topics as we do in
South Africa. CFT members do you realise how many
doors lie open before us?
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
HOMOSEXUALITY Another hot issue in the USA and
other countries right now is gay marriages. Of
course even if the whole world accepted
homosexuality as a respectable sexual lifestyle
that wouldn't change God's mind on the issue.
However we thank God for leaders and societies
who see homosexuality for what it is - revolting
and an abomination before the Lord. We have an
opportunity not just to show people the evils of
homosexuality (and they are many) but also to
bring them the Good News of salvation and freedom
in Christ our Lord and Saviour!
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
TRUE LOVE WAITS Doesn't excite you to see the
international exposure the abstinence message is
getting? Faced with problems like teenage
pregnancy rates and devastating sexual diseases
like Aids governments are forced to face the
reality that the best solution is abstinence
outside of marriage and faithfulness within
marriage. Somehow though they believe that in
today's society that's a difficult or even
impossible option. That's where we come in. Our
TLW young people will tell you how powerful the
message is when they openly declare that they are
virgins - and normal!
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
I have a challenge to present and past True Love
Waiters. Marriage is no exit permit from True
Love Waits. Don't allow TLW to become GAG (Grab
And Go) or VEL (Vat En Loop). Young couples who
waited and are faithful to their spouses are just
what we need in this morally bankrupt world.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
TNT Ask Gert de Vries and them to tell you about
the wonderful opportunities they have in schools,
prisons and army bases. What starts as general
information on drug abuse opens the way for
Christ the Ultimate Liberator. It gives me great
joy to see the wide prison ministry that's been
born out of TNT. It is with great interest that I
follow Christian Hlongwane's "Ngikhumbule"
(Remember me) radio programme which is dedicated
to this work.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Let me remind you that you don't have to an
ex-drug addict to join the TNT team. By God's
grace He saved me before I got swallowed up by
drinking and drugs but I have a story to tell.
Alcohol nearly destroyed my parents' marriage and
our family. Christ came at that critical moment
and rescued us.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
TABITHA ADULT CENTRE It does one good to see how
Jenny Christmas and her staff are adding precious
value to one of South Africa's greatest needs
(and opportunity) - basic adult education. At
Tabitha, students get excellent education by
dedicated teachers who also introduce them to the
Greatest Teacher and Savior of mankind. Linda
Magqabi, chairman of CFT-Mpumalanga will tell you
how he arranges special classes for Science and
Mathematics during winter school holidays. That
presents him with an opportunity to reach young
hearts with the life-giving message.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
KHANYA PRESS We rejoice to see good literature
printed by Khanya Press gracing shelves of
Christian bookshops and permeating the Africa
north of us. There's still much for further
expansion in Khanya's work.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
OUR PARTNERS It is encouraging to see how much
other pro-life and pro-family organisations are
prepared to join hands with us on different
actions. Some of them are here for the
conference, providing valuable resources for the
spiritual battle that we face.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
OUR STAFF Our staff are the most precious asset
we have in CFT. There's something beautiful about
working with people who are missionaries at heart.
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
THE WAY FORWARD Dear CFT members, there's a
Christian song that has been hijacked by
politicians. They love to sing, "Avulekil'
amasango" (The gates are open) For them it's
political and economic gates that are open. I'd
like to assure you that there are ample
opportunities for CFT to surge ahead with
Christ's Word of Life. "Avulekile amasango!"
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
Praise God for those whose hands are already
soiled in the work but there are many who must
face the question, "Why stand ye here all the
day idle?" (Matthew 206)
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure
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CFT AGM 2004 Presidents report
I urge CFT leaders at every level to keep the
vision and lead us on. Listen to the amazing
words of the song by Deborah and Barak, "When
the princes in Israel take the lead, when the
people willingly offer themselves-praise the
LORD!" (Judges 52) May God bless CFT! May God
bless you one and all!
CFT AGM 2004 - An Anchor - firm and secure