Karibu: Rwanda - March 2013

12 April 2013

Rwanda - March 2013

Alta and I attended the celebration of the 20th anniversary of AFMIN, which was held in Rwanda. We referred to this meeting as the Rwanda Indaba, as we took the opportunity to doing some planning for the next 20 years. What a joy to gather with the co-ordinators from 19 Africa countries, international board members from the USA, Europe and South Africa, businessmen and sponsors. The Principle of SATS, Reuben van Rensburg, also attended. Altogether, there were 68 delegates and a wonderful time of fellowship and inter-action took place. As we were planning for the years ahead, the presence of God was so “heavy” at times and we knew God was there and od is in this which AFMIN is doing.

The streets and country-side are litter free.

Rwanda is a beautiful country, which is fondly known as “the country of 1000 hills”. There is no railway or trains because of the mountainous terrain. They are very strict about litter and no plastic is allowed in the country. Orphaned children are taken care of and do no roam around on the streets. There are no beggars. Their taxis consist of new small buses and are kept in good condition. Everywhere one looks, one sees the evidence of healthy leadership.

Delegates from of Afmin

The AFMIN delegates visited the Kigali Memorial, where the bodies of genocide victims are buried in mass graves. One is made aware of the terrible period of time that this country went through. Much effort has been put into the construction and upkeep of the memorial, which is set in beautiful gardens.

A fountain in the gardens

If at all possible, we would do everything in our ability to visit this beautiful country once more.

No comments:

ABOUT US

Johan was born in Bellville, Cape Town and spent most of his childhood in Pretoria, where he matriculated in 1968. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour in 1971 and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was here also that the Lord placed a calling on his life, which took him to the Apostolic Faith Mission’s Theological College.

Alta had accepted the Lord as Saviour at the tender age of 8 years old. From an early age, began to experience the Lord’s guidance in her life and she developed a love for prayer, especially praying directly from the Bible.

They were married in June 1975 and were blessed with three wonderful children, Jean-Pierre, Tanya and DeWett. Jean-Pierre is married to Genevieve. After a long battle with ill-health, Tanya went to be with the Lord in November 2006. The Lord’s faithfulness throughout her ordeal has increased Johan and Altas’ zeal to serve Him.

MINISTRY

Since completing Theological College, Johan have pastored various churches throughout South Africa. They were also involved in Christian education and Johan was Administrator of Psalmody Christian School from 2001 to 2003.

Johan met Tom Ingles of Psalmody International, in 1984 and began presenting this praise and worship course in various places. Teaching praise and worship as a lifestyle became the foundation on which their ministry was based. As a result, Johan and Alta foundered Praise Vision Africa, an organisation whose vision is to present praise and worship seminars to pastors and church leaders, throughout Africa.

In 1993, Karel Saunders invited Johan to minister on this subject in Zambia, Malawi and the DRC. Thus began their association with AFMIN. In 2006, the Lord clearly directed Johan to resign his associate-pastor position in the church in Cape Town, so as to concentrate fully on the ministry throughout Africa. Today Johan and Alta head the Tanzanian, Kenyan, Ugandan and Namibian projects on behalf of AFMIN.

Besides their work with Afmin, Johan and Alta lead a “household” ministry consisting of a group of spiritual sons whom they are fathering and raising through Biblical teaching and practical ministry, so as to prepare them to later father spiritual sons of their own. They also visit fellowships and other households within South Africa and Namibia, where they minister on subjects such as the Kingdom of God, Father/Son relationships, and the Orphan Spirit.