History of Annual Meetings:
2004 – Initial meeting in Heidelberg, South Africa with the view to constitute SOLA 5
2005 – Antipas Reformed Baptist Church, Pretoria, South Africa. Sola 5 constituted.
2006 – Eastside Baptist Church, Windhoek, Namibia
2007 – Lusaka Baptist Church, Lusaka, Zambia
2008 – Goodwood Baptist Church, Cape Town, South Africa

Sola 5 is an association or fellowship of God-centred churches in Southern Africa, joining hands to bring glory to God on our subcontinent.

And so it was this year! Our fellowship as a group of SOLA 5 is brought to a climax, when as representatives of our churches we meet once a year, and in various parts of our subcontinent for a few days. Our main activities center around preaching, the giving of testimonies & reports, singing and prayer. There is also a ‘business component’ in which matters of common concern (theological education, finances, office bearers) are discussed. Our administrator, Hein Strauss was sorely missed at this gathering. Please pray for Hein as he recovers from back surgery.

The Goodwood Baptist Church offered hospitality this year. I can only speak for my Namibian countrymen. Theirs was a glowing testimony of praise for the wonderful hospitality extended to them by their hosts. The notorious Cape weather behaved itself, despite the gloomy forecasts of a wet and miserable weekend!

The focus of this year’s meetings was the 5 SOLA’s formulated during the Reformation of the 16th Century. This was a timely exposition of the ground on which we claim to stand: Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria.

Brian Stone (Emmanuel Baptist Church, Johannesburg SA) set the tone and backdrop as he presented a memorable historical overview of the 5 SOLA’s.
Errol Wagner (George Baptist Church, eastern Cape SA) powerfully expounded the SOLA SCRIPTURA principle and left us in no doubt concerning the importance of this reformational principle, pointing out that neglect of this causes theological downgrades (backsliding) in the church.
Conrad Mbewe (Kabwata Baptist Church, Lusaka Zambia) expertly handled SOLUS CHRISTUS in his characteristic expository style, portraying the uniqueness of Christ from 1 Corinthians 1-3.
Roland Eskinazi (Goodwood Baptist Church) passionately presented SOLA GRATIA from the perspective of God’s grace extended to Timothy (1 Tim 1:12-17).
Otto Makalima (Wallacedene Baptist Fellowship, Cape Town) made his debut at this conference as he spoke on SOLA FIDE from Romans 3 21, 22.
Roland Kalifungwa (Lusaka Baptist Church) sounded the final trumpet, SOLI DEO GLORIA, from Isaiah 42. The text of Isaiah 42:8 resounded in our ears: “I am the Lord; that is my Name; my glory I give to no other.”

New Churches:
At our Annual Business Meeting 4 new churches were accepted into our fellowship:
(i) “Comunaho dos Crentes em Cristo” from Nampula province in Mocambique – the first church from Mozambique to apply for membership in SOLA 5.
(ii) Fairview Reformed Baptist Church in Mufulira (Zambia)
(iii) Mount Makulu Baptist Church in Chilanga, Zambia
(iv) Mbombela Reformed Baptist Church (Nelspruit, South Africa)

We thank God for the addition of these sister churches. I would encourage each of our member churches to pray regularly for each other. In our church, the Eastside Baptist Church in Windhoek, Namibia, we pray regularly for the churches that constitute SOLA 5. A practical suggestion is for each member church to include one of the SOLA 5 churches in their weekly bulletin, thus not only raising an awareness for these churches, but also helping our local church members to pray for the other churches.

Sovereign Grace Theological Seminary:
The Seminary which was established by common consent in 2006 (Windhoek) is clearly a blessing from God. Our vision is to provide quality theological education for Africa. Some of the course material which has been developed (both at secondary and tertiary level) is of excellent standard and will prove to be a great asset for the development of our churches and members in the future. The “blended mode approach of education” (i.e. distance learning & contact sessions) particularly favours the goals of SOLA 5.
At Eastside we are strongly considering becoming a satellite campus of SGTS in order that we may provide sound theological training for our people (i.e. for laity & pastoral training) in Namibia.
Some of the greater realities in terms of sustaining such an institution have become apparent this year. A seminary of this nature has men that need to be cared for, spiritually, emotionally and financially. One of the solutions is to bring SGTS directly under the authority of one of our local churches. Such a church would facilitate the seminary on behalf of all our churches. That means that we cannot expect that local church to carry all the costs. All of us have to help.
Will you please pray for the development of SGTS? A nd will you ask your church to contribute financially to this important ministry? Will you pray that, in addition to Bruce Button, who carries the load for tertiary education almost single-handedly, we would find some more lecturers?
At this annual meeting of our SOLA 5 churches, I believe that we have expressed a renewed commitment towards this seminary. We believe that SGTS has a unique role to play in the strengthening of the church on the African continent.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!