Ministers Conference 2023

The 2023 Ministers’ Conference has come and gone. The response to the invitation from Reverend Stegen was overwhelming. God graciously brought together around a thousand ministers, preachers of the gospel and servants in His vineyard from all corners of the world, including Russia, Romania, Paraguay, Malawi, Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, eSwatini and many more countries.

We praise the Lord for the wonderful opportunity we had where we could assess the quality of our service in the light of God’s word. The theme for the conference, taken from John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you,” was used by the speakers to remind us of the urgency and earnestness of our calling and commission. In the words of the hymn by Fanny Crosby we were urged to:

Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

We were also reminded that before we preach, we should ‘live’. It is hypocritical to preach to a congregation, but at home a servant of God cannot even live at peace with his wife and children! We dare not be unclean vessels in the Master’s hand.

God used His servants to rouse us up from negligence and self-seeking in the work of Christ.

In addition to these inspiring messages, ministers from all denominations were able to spend many blessed hours of fellowship at tea breaks, around the table and at their accommodation.

One of the highlights of the conference was a video production of the life of Reverend Stegen, the director and founder of the KwaSizabantu Mission, as related by his children. This is the story of a man who has forsaken all in humility and obedience to God’s calling and who has poured out his life for others until this day. His children testified to a life utterly consecrated to doing Christ’s will.

David Livingstone famously said, “Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me.” Whole-hearted service to Christ is needed for the fire of God to burn wherever we find ourselves. Satan should not be victorious. Christ has triumphed.