Rev Hendrik du Plessis
It was probably one of the most enriching Easter weekends we have had in a long time. Because we had no money to buy food, the church council decided not to ask for meat donations from the neighboring farms as in the past. The problem with food, although our members appreciate it over the Easter weekend, is that it can easily become the wrong attraction. People who don’t usually come to church show up in their hordes.
We had decided a while ago to take communion this Easter Sunday. The elders were therefore busy with home visits. Each elder had his attendance register with him to encourage and admonish members regarding their church attendance. Some members were cut off due to poor church attendance and repeated admonitions. We explained to them that it was they who cut themselves off from the community of the believers. The onus is now therefore on them to seek out the community of the believers again. Since we discussed it with them, people who seldom came to church for years now come to church regularly. It is as if it has now come as a shock to them that they are no longer part of the community of believers.
On Friday evening we had a worship service that focused on the crucifixion and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. The church was quite amazingly full and we were grateful for that, especially for the many young people who were present.
Saturday evening we showed the film “Walking with Jesus”. Many have not yet seen the film, on whom it made a tremendous impression. The advantage of the film as I have mentioned in the past is that it provokes discussion. Even a day or so later, you will hear them still talking among themselves about the film.
On Sunday morning, during the holy communion, we commemorated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The appearance of the Lord Jesus to the Emmaus pilgrims was treated in the sermon. What was important was that their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him, because they first had to be taught on the way to Emmaus who Jesus was and what He came for. After the Lord Jesus had explained to them all the writings from the Old Testament that related to Him, their eyes were eventually opened and they could see Him in Emmaus. Their sadness and discouragement at that time all revolved around the wrong Jesus they had in mind. Their Jesus was at best an earthly savior who should have brought an earthly kingdom for the Jews. They remind one of the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:19 where he says: “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Even before the ascension, during their conversation with the Lord Jesus in Acts 1, the disciples still clung to the same ideal and dreamed about the kingdom of Israel being established again. You can therefore as easily as many churches here in Africa serve an earthly Jesus who must stand up for your earthly ideals and dreams.
Something else happened that we were very grateful for. During the service just before the service of the holy communion, two of our members came forward and confirmed in front of the congregation that they have buried their emnity of years. It was Hendricka Mothibi and Aron Johannes. For years they and their families could not stand each other. It was about their differences regarding Kuru Development Trust. It is an organization that was founded long ago by the late Rev. Braam le Roux and the church council of that time. Recently, during the home visits before the holy communion, Aron went to visit Hendricka. Aron’s problem was, he could not boldly take communion if he lived in enmity with a fellow believer. By the Lord’s grace they could discuss the matter and were reconciled. Then they decided to openly confess their reconciliation in front of the whole congregation. Why in front of the congregation? Because it was an open split between families that everyone knew about, and they felt that it had to be openly rectified. After that, we could boldly take communion and experience the great atonement of our sins in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To conclude, we were especially grateful for the attendance of the youth. Rev. Gaobolelwe is always someone whom you can count on during such events. After the sermon I ask him to give a brief summery of the sermon.
We still ask for your intercession for our work here. At our best, we can only sow, but it is God who causes growth.
Your brother in Christ,
Hendrik du Plessis.