Opening of new Kwasizabantu centre, 22 May 2011 at Mthaleni

About 3500 people attended the official opening of the new centre at Mthaleni, near Pomeroy/Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal. Rev Erlo Stegen and Mr BJ Sibisi gave messages and officially opened the new hall which can seat about a thousand people (African style, on benches).

Various choirs sang, and the DSS brass band performed. Also, a pastor friend from Korea (Rev Choir) brought a greeting from his church and the group that had accompanied him.

Pastor Sipho Zondi, leader of the mission at Mthaleni was the programme director for the service which started at 11am and continued till about 1:30pm, after which the hall was officially opened with a plaque (stating "Jesus Saves", "uJesu uyasindisa"). The crowds were all fed with long food lines at various food distribution points (see photos to come).

Summary of message by Rev Stegen: "A place for all people who need help from Jesus"

Mat 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

People are burdened in different ways. Sin is the greatest burden. And together with sin come the problems that arise from our fallen state. Poverty, hunger, friction are all part of the condition of original sin in Adam (and our own wickedness). But the cure for all people (of whatever race or culture) is found in the Second Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why the primary goal of the new Kwasizbantu centre here at Mthaleni; to help people find Jesus and the "rest" from sin which He has promised to those who repent and come to Him. Should this Mthaleni centre ever depart from the truth and no longer preach the Gospel of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, then I pray that God Himself will intervene and destroy this work.

Our aim is not to take people out of their churches but out of their sin. It is the sin problem which causes people to go backward in every aspect of their lives, even their inability to feed themselves and their families. By God's grace, even though this area is dry, thorny and stony, in this area of Msinga, we plan to experiment with various agricultural crops to see what is suitable for this particular area. With God's blessing a people can be uplifted out of their misery of poverty and hunger.

An election has just taken place (on 18 May). Politicians make many promises before an election. Few of them make good on their promises. But, we aim, by God's grace, to bring true liberation through the Gospel together with the blessings of upliftment which the Lord gives as a bonus to His people.

You've been to the polls and made a cross for the party you support. (By the way, we ministers and we from Kwasizabantu, are above party politics and do not interfere with the way you vote. You will have to live with the consequences of your vote.) But much more more importantly, let today be the day where you make your choice between the two parties which are at war, Christ and satan. Which will it be for you? Do you choose Jesus Christ or do you you vote for the devil?

Pastor Choi bringing Korean greetings (interpreted for by Ms Ryu from CCE)

"This KSB centre at Mthaleni is for all people, whatever their culture and need", Erlo Stegen

prayer at opening of hall. Uncle Robert Maeder (with head bowed) has been the main force behind the roofing, not only of this new hall but most other buildings at other KSB South African missions and at Kwasizabantu Mission.

Pastor Sipho Zondi is the leader of the ministry at Mthaleni

Google Earth Satellite photo over Mthaleni

(GPS co-ordinates to the airstrip right next to the KSB Mthaleni mission: S 28 32.402; E 030 29.136)