MARCH 2021
FROM THE TEAM LEADER
Dear beloved AE supporters,,
Hard to believe it’s March already! Time is not on our side, as the popular AE saying goes. Yet, we are all allocated the same amount of hours in the day, and we need to make the most of it…carpe diem!
The first quarter of each year at AE is mostly about training! We equip our Foxfire Youth Team for the year ahead, and as we engage church leaders concerning outreaches, we also provide evangelism training courses. Before we step onto the spiritual battlefield, and before we attempt great things for God, we need to prepare ourselves…most importantly through prayer! The adage “first to the mountain, then to the ministry” comes to mind. Jesus demonstrated this many times, for example in Luke 6:12 (NIV) we read “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” The next morning Jesus appointed His twelve apostles, and then ministered powerfully to a large crowd from all over the region, healing the sick and delivering those with evil spirits. Point made!
Although in-person ministry has been restricted, we thank the Lord that we have reached over 295,000 people with the gospel or leadership enhancement, primarily through media engagement during January and February.
Friends, we have a wonderful opportunity to partner in reaching millions of people with the gospel on Good Friday (02 April)! There will be a 1-hour TV program with AE friend and evangelist, Nick Hall, which AE has helped to get broadcast to every African country on Good Friday. You are invited to join our follow-up team for this key moment, and help connect with those who make a decision for Christ in South Africa, from the comfort of your home! The follow-up will be facilitated on a new and easy online platform for which I will provide training…please contact me at t.pauw@aeint.org by 24 March to join our team and be part of this global life-changing mission.
Please enjoy our newsletter below, and check out the Legacy update as promised!
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, through your giving and prayers, in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in South Africa and beyond!
Much love,
Theuns
Theuns Pauw
CEO | AE South Africa
t.pauw@aeint.org
LEGACY NEWS
A lot is going on behind the scenes of the Michael Cassidy and Friends Legacy Foundation. Although under the umbrella of African Enterprise, a unique and identifiable brand for the Legacy Foundation was critical in differentiating it. We wanted something dynamic and dignified which would also pique the interest and capture the attention of the generation between 18 and 34. Our designer Clinton September from JCG Media was quick to catch the vision and produce something that we thought was right on the mark. We are excited to unveil our new logo and branding to you today.
Africa is central to the heart of the Legacy Foundation as Michael was called in ministry to the continent and his legacy is stamped on it through the ongoing work of African Enterprise. The icon stripes form an abstract globe, uniquely representing the creative spirit within Africa, but also illustrating the creative and unpredictable road Michael had to embrace as his vocation/calling/ministry. The inclusion of the globe speaks to the global relationships that partnered in establishing the work of African Enterprise. Africa is rich in precious metals and minerals but from an evangelistic perspective the people are the true treasure and the gold colour expresses this. The font is clean and contemporary. The word “Legacy” is emphasized to make people think about how their life’s work might also leave a legacy – to ‘do their bit’. Our hope is that through engaging with Michael’s legacy project that people might be encouraged and inspired to find their unique vocation or calling within the world we live…their contribution, and their purpose.
On 01 March we launched our temporary splash page, soon to be developed into a comprehensive website with access to various archival resources and information. We will also launch the Michael Cassidy and Friends Legacy Foundation social media platforms, both Facebook and YouTube, as avenues to engage with various Legacy Foundation media, news and events.
Charlene Pauw
Legacy | AE South Africa
cpauw@ae.org.za
FOXFIRE NEWS
Greetings AE Family,
We are pleased to announce that our Foxies have finally arrived! Our 2021 team consists of three boys and three girls, Eddie, Zweli, Spha, Winnie, Dishante, and Puleng. They were welcomed into the program by the Foxfire staff and AE CEO, Theuns, and his family at a special dinner. We had an amazing evening getting to know the Foxies over a meal. Our Foxies have moved into the Foxfire house and are settling in well.
The Foxfire training commenced on the 01st February; with sessions on our ‘AE values’. I then facilitated training sessions on ‘discovering yourself’. Other areas of training covered Dance and Drama, Apologetics, Evangelism 101, and Camp Directing. These series of trainings were conducted in-house by the AE team save for the Camp Directing training wherein we partnered with Scripture Union – SU. The Dance and Drama training was facilitated by our ex-Foxfire Coordinator, Bongani Ramongange.
The Foxies went on their first outing on 06th February, which was to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. It is important to explore the history of our country, “to understand the South Africa of today, we have to understand the South Africa of yesterday”.
The team got to meet with the AE family and to learn more about the various departments and how they function. They enjoyed getting to know more about AE and its functions and the role that Michael Cassidy played in making a difference in our country, by bringing people of different races together for Christ during apartheid.
Do watch out for our segment called “Let’s Talk” on Instagram and Facebook at foxfireteam.aesa and www.facebook.com/foxfireteam.aesa
Zwelihle Sokhela
Foxfire manager | AE South Africa
zsokhela@ae.org.za
CENTRE NEWS
The Centre @ African Enterprise’ is open for bookings, conferences, accommodation and teambuilding, so shout it from the roof tops and tell all your friends!
Heading into 2021, the bookings have been trickling in and business has been very slow. We really need to pick up if we are to keep our heads above the rapidly rising water.
Despite this, we have kept ourselves busy. Thami and Sthe have completed their ‘introduction level’ Supervisor Training with Shari, and have learned so much. We are proud of the attentive and enthusiastic way in which they approached the training and tackled the tasks given to them.
Sazi, Thami and Sthe hosted a very successful two-day team building for the new Foxfires. This helped to strengthen their bond and gave them a safe space for each to share their personal journey thus-far.
The Centre @ African Enterprise’ is open for bookings, conferences, accommodation and teambuilding, so shout it from the roof tops and tell all your friends!
Heading into 2021, the bookings have been trickling in and business has been very slow. We really need to pick up if we are to keep our heads above the rapidly rising water.
Despite this, we have kept ourselves busy. Thami and Sthe have completed their ‘introduction level’ Supervisor Training with Shari, and have learned so much. We are proud of the attentive and enthusiastic way in which they approached the training and tackled the tasks given to them.
Sue Fuller
Centre Manager | AE South Africa
sfuller@ae.org.za
TRAINING NEWS
Leadership & Ministry Development Programmes
How strange it is that our world demands trained and qualified professionals to attend to our physical, mental, and social wellbeing – we visit a qualified medical practitioner if unwell; consult a legal practitioner on legal matters; and so the list of professional practitioners goes on. Yet, when it comes to our spiritual wellbeing this standard is sadly lacking, and which to society’s peril could at its worst result in spiritual malpractice, neglect and sometimes abuse by spiritual leaders. Paul said to his mentee Timothy, a young ministry leader, “My son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me – the whole congregation saying Amen! – to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.”
[2 Timothy 2:2,15 – MSG].
The Church has great need for competent, well trained, and suitably qualified leaders as many in Church leadership are not recognised as suitably equipped to do so.
Religious ministers who serve churches and Christian groups in Southern Africa come from two distinct backgrounds. The first group, deemed more formal in nature, are often from “historic or mainline churches” which provide strong teaching and training structures based mainly on a tertiary level education at public universities (faculties of theology) or denominational seminaries. Recent estimates indicate that approximately 9,000 ministers from such a formal structure serve and meet the spiritual needs of South African society.
The second grouping, comprising mostly African Initiated Churches, Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, is often referred to as “non-denominational” and is the faster growing of the two. However, its teaching and training structures are generally far less formal with little to no recognised qualifications in place. This is more an issue of circumstance than desire as access to formal training is virtually impossible to the vast majority of pastors who are challenged with geographical, financial, and educational constraints. Recent estimates indicate that around 186,000 pastors in this grouping serve and meet the spiritual needs of South African society, largely unqualified.
Throughout its almost sixty-year history, African Enterprise’s vision has been “to be the most faithful and effective catalyst for holistic urban evangelism in Africa”, with a crystal-clear mission to “evangelise the cities of Africa through word and deed, in partnership with the Church”. Our vision and mission have driven our organisation not only to challenge what needed to be changed in our society, but also facilitated that change by transformational enhancement of its leaders through training programmes and conferences.
African Enterprise South Africa (AESA), through the African Enterprise Institute, is launching two nationally accredited qualification programmes in March and April 2021! These programmes serve to better equip those spiritual leaders who do not have a formally recognised qualification for their work as ministers of the gospel.
The NQF 2 Leadership and Ministry Development Program (LMDP2) is structured as a SAQA recognised 156-credit course comprising knowledge, practical skills and workplace experience modules which upon completion will qualify church leaders without a high school qualification, with an occupational certificate as a Christian Religious Practitioner.
A certified Christian Religious Practitioner is able to:
- Share the gospel in a specific context and to a specific audience.
- Build caring relationships in the congregation and respond to the spiritual and physical needs of members.
- Provide spiritual leadership and develop leaders in a congregation.
- Arrange and oversee the day to day running of ministries and of the administrative and accountability processes of the congregation.
at a cost of R 5,000.
The NQF 5 Leadership and Ministry Development Program (LMDP5) is structured as a SAQA recognised 237-credit course comprising knowledge, practical skills and workplace experience modules which upon completion will qualify church leaders who have obtained their National Senior or FET Certificate with an occupational certificate as a Christian Religious Professional.
A certified Christian Religious Professional is able to:
- Lead a congregation in spiritual formation that nurtures their relationship with God.
- Develop and nurture fellowship and mutual care within the congregation.
- Facilitate the holistic well-being of people within the congregation by developing pro-active and reactive (coping) life skills and a Christian value system.
- Provide visionary leadership that leads to obedience to vocation, as well as well-being and sustainability of a congregation.
- Develop a missional practice that shares the good news of Jesus Christ and serves the holistic well-being of the entire community.
This twenty-four month program will launch on the 17th-18th March 2021
at a cost of R 8,000.
Learners have the option of either attending “In-Class” sessions or “Online Study Cohorts”. The “In-Class” sessions will be held over two days every two months for the duration of the program (Wednesdays and Thursdays). The “Online Study Cohorts” will be two-hour sessions, mornings or evenings, once every two weeks (Tuesdays or Thursdays) – learners are to prepare for study sessions in-between online cohorts.
For further information please email Gary Almeida on training@ae.org.za or register here using the relevant link.
COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION NEWS
NGEZANDLA ZETHU SEWING PROJECT
2020 Graduation & Fashion Show
Thirteen students of the Class of 2020 persevered despite the challenging circumstances to successfully graduate at a ceremony held on the 27th November 2020; nine (9) in the category of Fashion Designer and four (4) in the category of Dressmaker.
The Graduation ceremony included a Fashion Show were the students proudly sported their creative works including a ‘Wedding Collection’ of dresses for Bridesmaids, Maids of Honour and Bridal gowns.
We are so proud of their respective achievements.
The students’ creations being modelled at the Fashion Show
The Wedding Collection
Graduate Asanda Khoza proudly receiving her Certificate from instructor, Mrs Dladla.
“The Asanda Khoza Collection – 2020”
Asanda Khoza pictured in her graduation gown, flanked by those who modelled her creations at the 2020 Fashion Show
2021 Program
The commencement of the 2021 program was delayed for a month as a result of the high COVID infection rates in the Country, particularly so in KwaZulu-Natal, the province in which the project is located.
Our dedicated Project Manager, Mrs Ntombifikile Dladla, who had already begun work in December 2020 on the 2021 applications, was all set to go and could immediately start in February as soon as she was given the ‘green light’. To date, fifteen (15) students have registered for, and started the 2021 program. Amongst these are three (3) males that will be trained in tailoring.
We are deeply indebted to all our donors, sponsors and support offices for their invaluable contributions to this project, which empowers the impoverished that are eager and willing to learn life skills so as to earn a living and improve their family life and circumstances.
The project is equally indebted to Mrs Dladla for her tireless efforts and total dedication.
Gavin John
Communications | AE South Africa
gjohn@ae.org.za
Dear friends, we would like to stand in faith with you for your prayer needs, so we invite you to send prayer requests to prayer@ae.org.za
BIG THANK YOU to all of our donors and partners!
None of this would be possible without you.
Your prayers, support, and encouragement help us keep the
Good News alive in South Africa and beyond!
May our Lord richly bless you.
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CONTACT DETAILS:
PO Box 13140, Cascades, 3202
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Phone: 033 347 1911
Fax: 033 347 1915
Email: aesa@ae.org.za
Website: www.ae.org.za
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