50 Years of Faithful Ministry - Rev Erlo Stegen
12 & 13 October 2002

(click here for PowerPoint slide shows & photos)

(Summary of Friedel & Erlo Stegen's brief talks)

The celebration of Rev Erlo Stegen's `50 Years of Faithful Ministry' was a great blessing to the thousands who attended. The full programme started on Saturday night at 6pm (till about 11pm) and continued on Sunday morning till lunch time. (see PDF files of Saturday and Sunday programmes)

The Saturday programme included 6 slide shows and a number of collegues who reminisced about the earlier years. Each one shared how Uncle Erlo's preaching is still as powerful as it was and they look forward to seeing how the Lord will use him in the future.

On Sunday the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Lionel Mtshali, said that: "It is through God's grace that Reverend Erlo Stegen has preached for so many years from Kwasizabantu. It is very rare that a person has a sustained faith especially in the materialistic times we live in. Reverend Stegen's preaching touched many souls throughout South Africa and the world. He is a shining example of what gospel preaching is all about. He has not led blind faith but has lived in every way by every conceivable example that which he preaches. By any standards, five decades is a long time. Today we commend the example of Reverend Stegen's preaching. We are witnesses to the fruits of his preaching in the men and women who have dedicated their lives to noble callings."

(audio of premier Mtshali) or

The Premier also read a speech from the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr M.G. Buthelezi. He said that, "Looking back on the past 50 years, there can be no doubt that Reverend Stegen has left his mark on the communities in South Africa. Through his diligent work at KwaSizabantu Mission, many lives have been changed." (to read his full speech click here)

(audio of Dr M.G. Buthelezi) or

In his speech, Rev Erlo Stegen said:

Today I stand among you as the least. Learn from me that God is able to keep a person. Let all the nations listen and hear that one must seek first the Kingdom of God.

If you seek the Lord with all your heart, then be encouraged by what I've experienced - He can do even greater things for you. We do not know what the Lord has in store for us, but while we remain faithful to Him, we know that we have only seen the least yet.

In Dt 33:25 we read, "... as thy days, so shall thy strength be". As we get older, the working and power of God increase. Let us work while it is still day and make use of the time God has given us. Let us stand together and pull together. Let us follow God wherever He leads us, forgetting our own interests, for God works far above what we can ask or expect or pray for.

God has given each of us a task to fulfill, and woe to us when He returns and we have not fulfilled it. Do not waste your time on things of no value, for there are more important things, of eternal value, to do.

Do not let yourself be held up by grudges, e.g. so and so did not respect or greet me as they ought, etc. Stretch forward and grab hold of that which God has set before us. Do not let the devil play around with you as a cat with a mouse. There is work to do and complete in God's Kingdom.

Forget the sins of others against you, and confess your own; sort out your own life with God. Have you made right your life with God, or have you started and never completed it? Did you put your hand to the plow and then looked back? Some are so busy with the sins of others, and the grudges they have against others that they cannot progress spiritually. If I was busy with the sins of others, where would I be today? Let the dead bury their own dead, but let us serve the Lord faithfully.

Click here to see photos of celebration