Youth Week Malelane - 24 - 30 March 2003

(Click here for more photos)

Latest update: (30 March) The final service, attended by +2000, was held this morning with the theme text being from Matt 6: 31-33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you." Rev Stegen preached about "God's secret for success" using the importance of putting God first in everything. The Lord is able to bless in every way, even economically, when He is honoured. He shared the story of William Colgate. The fear of the Lord brings true success.
The co-workers team at Malelane are so grateful to the Lord for the successful campaign.

(29 March) The local inkosi (chief) spoke to the audience about a young lion which desired to be like cattle. "I'd like to eat grass like the cows do", it thought to itself. One day it made the decision to eat grass and live with the herd. Eventually, the cows got used to the lion and began to believe that it was one of them. However, a day came when the lion spotted a lovely heifer which was irresistable for its appetite. All its lion characteristics returned as it killed the beast and the rest of the herd fled for their lives. So too, the chief said, we need a true change through Christ.
Rev Stegen added to this story by telling the story about the cat which trained to be a waiter. It became an expert in serving in a restaurant, that is until one day when a customer was suspicious about the cat's credentials. The customer released a rat just when the cat-waiter was holding trays aloft. The trays came crashing down as the cat chased the rat, following its true nature.
In the same way, a pig may be washed, powdered and perfumed but when it gets the chance it will head for the mud. Only the Lord can truly change the heart.
Rev W. Mabizela then preached for the rest of the morning service on the proverb: "pride comes before a fall."

The afternoon service was taken by Rev Stegen who gave his testimony how, 52 years ago, in that very area where they were (at Kampmuiden) he felt the call to preach. However, he lived in disobedience and misery for a year while he tried to convince God that he would support missionaries but not go himself. Finally, the Lord spoke to him through the Scriptures, revealing His love for him and asking the question of John 21 "Do you love me?" As Erlo Stegen read how the Lord asked this question the third time it was as if God Himself was in that very room asking him the same question. His mind was made up - the Lord had captured his heart. He went to his parents and said, "I'm off to preach the gospel." Since then, for 52 years, he has been preaching and now is in the very place where God originally made His calling known.

(28 March): Rev H Stegen gave a short sermon in the evening together with the film of Israel's redemption out of Egypt.

More and more young people continued to arrive during the morning. Rev Erlo preached in the afternoon from Dan 6, where Daniel was cast into the lion's den for his unwavering faithfulness to God. God saved Daniel, because he was innocent before God and the king. The devil's foothold in your life is only gained by unconfessed sin. Keep yourself innocent before God and man with a clean, pure, blood-washed life.

Rev Erlo Stegen preached in the morning from Col 2:9 & 10, "For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power". Jesus Christ is the stronger One we read of in Matthew 12:29, who broke the power of the strong man (Satan), with His substitutionary death on the cross.

(27 March): Rev Erlo Stegen conducted the 3pm service with the theme "The `Strong Man'" of Matthew 12:29 and Luke 11:21, and Christ's stronger victory over him. The `strong man' is the devil, Beelzebub, described in Isaiah 14:12 as the fallen angel, Lucifer. Although Lucifer promised light all he brought was darkness. Some of those people who had demons exorcised from them by Jesus were dumb or deaf as a result of possession by demons. So Satan is just a plague on earth.
The influence of TV is awful. If a dancing girl caused Herod to have the greatest man of God beheaded how much more so if you watch TV and have dancing girls before you every day - that which is of God in your life is beheaded.
Rev Stegen said that Jesus is the stronger and He has come to expel the `strong man'. Tomorrow will be a sermon on how Jesus accomplished this and how He can do it in individual lives.

26 March report - evening: The attendance is growing and extra (home-made) benches have been fetched. The Lord has been working powerfully in convicting and bring the lost to repentance.
A wonderful testimony (more details may be available later) is developing: The local police station-commander asked for assistance. 3 young boys had been forced by their uncles to housebreak for them. They were emaciated and underfed (apparently, to make it easier to slip into windows) and could not escape from the brutal treatment of their relatives who forced them to steal. The police recently arrested the boys and their uncles and requested a Kwasizabantu co-worker to help look after the 3 boys. Today they made a commitment to the Lord and expressed the wish to turn from their ways, asking for help from the counsellors at the meeting. Please pray for them that the Lord would show them grace.
Also, True Love Waits presented a play today and it was an inspiration to many. One minister who came from Swaziland with a brother of the prince said that this is the way forward, the way of purity.

26 March report - morning: Between 1500 and 2000 young people have been attending the youth conference. The response is increasingly positive towards the gospel. Preachers (J. Dube, S. Mbeje, A. Mdlalose, D. Stegen, J. Newlands, and others) have spoken on the Biblical plan for young people including the verse "come to me all you who are thirsty." The catering side has been going very well. About 10 pots from the mission have been added to by a dozen from the local area.

Massive logistics are involved in the week of Youth Services planned for 24 - 30 March 2003. Many preparations have been made, to cater for many people. About 50 co-workers will form the team that will assist in the meetings.

Rev Erlo Stegen will be the main speaker.

(more information is available by phoning:

Mr B. Zondi 083 432311

Dr J. Pienaar 082 5100554

(for more information about the Kwasizabantu Mission station at Malelane in Mpumalanga click here)