30 October 2010

We are very thankful to the Lord for a wonderful spirit of love and unity at Antipas. For most of the year we focused on the topic of change through the gospel with regard to your sinful behaviour and negative emotions.  This topic was further explored and discussed in our various small groups.  In the evening services we did a Biblical Theological overview of the Bible, and were reminded of the importance of the one true Story of the world and finding our place in it.

The Lord laid on the hearts of many of us the burden to be more mission orientated.  We recently had a weekend with the focus especially on the church as being sent into the world to be an agent of the Kingdom, like Jesus was sent into the world (John 20:21).
During this event we Neville and Betsie Nel our missionaries to Malawi were with us.  Henri & Wimpie Marais gave us feedback on Mia Marais’s work in Germany. Denis and Rietie Woest, who worked in the Langkloof also attent this weekend and we were encouraged by the progress of the gospel amongst the local people.
Tobie Meyer and Johan Verster, two young pastors from Ligpunt, challenge us to be missional in Pretoria.

We also thank the Lord for the opportunity that Jacobus has to lecture at the Lynnwood Ridge Bible College.  From next year he will also be involved in the Afrikaanse Baptiste Kerk seminary in Kemptonpark, doing a Bible overview.

We lost a few brothers and sisters through death this year.  However we can testify that God was glorified in their deaths!  We are thankful that the Lord also added about 15 new members in the last few months.

One of our members was recently brutally attacked and shot in his house.  He survived with no bitterness, but even more zeal to bring the gospel to people in prison!  What a witness to the changing power of the gospel!

Please continue to pray for Antipas to be a faithful witness (Rev. 2:13) in Pretoria.  Pray also for Nico and Soniah van der Walt moving to Mosselbay.  Pray for the full recovery of Nico.

Jacobus de Koning