Fltr: Rev. Stephen Pedro, Petri Hofland, Marjon Staal (from Kerk in Actie, the Protest Church in the Netherlands) and Rev. Sean Esterhuizen
“The past four days I was privileged to join Rev. Sean Esterhuizen of Diaconia and our colleagues of Kerk in Actie (KiA) of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN) on a visit to the Eastern Cape,” says Rev. Stephen Pedro, manager of the task team Congregational Witness.
“On Thursday we joined a CABSA workshop in Somerset East at the DRC congregation. It was an ecumenical workshop and I was encouraged to see all the young adults participating in the workshop.
“On Friday Diaconia had a workshop with our URCSA pastors of the Eastern Cape to build capacity, have koinonia, and shared important information from Synod. One of the colleagues from KiA facilitated as session on fundraising and shared the different methods and possibilities of fundraising. I was especially encouraged by the motivation and camaraderie of our colleagues of our Easter Cape congregations.
Visiting URCSA Somerset East Congregation
“Friday night the KiA colleagues, Petrie Hoffman and Marjon Staal, and I met with church council members of the two Xhosa and Afrikaans speaking congregations in Adelaide. Our friends from the Netherlands also wanted to meet and greet and listen to the leaders and members of especially congregations in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, and in a congregational setting and also wanted to see the communities where congregations are located in.
“This was also a blessed experience and what stood out was the commitment of our leaders to the ministry, even with little resources and without a pastoral leader. How they try their best to do the ministerial and spiritual work against all odds and sometimes in dire situations.
Meeting with the church council members of the two URCSA congregations in Adelaide.
“The reason why I chose Adelaide was because the next day a CBS introduction workshop with leaders of the CWM of the Fish River presbytery took place at URCSA Adelaide (Xhosa ncongregation). So on Saturday the three of us joined the CBS workshop facilitated by Rev. Sifuba and CYM leader Siyamthanda of the Presbytery of Gqeberha.
“What a beautiful face it was to see our woman reading the Bible together to be agents of transformation and action in their congregations and communities. Still on Saturday we also visited the CYM conference of URCSA Bhofolo. Again what a beautiful face to see all our young leaders leading the way of their youth ministry on congregational level. We also met with the newly elected leadership, Nandi (chair).
Joining the CBS Workshop with the CWM leaders of the Fish River Presbytery.
“What stood out for me was that the conference of the CYM of the congregation is indeed a congregational affair. Not only were the men’s and women’s ministries present, there was even ecumenical support and the relieving minister, Rev. Murphy Maart was also present. The hope, love and fellowship we could sensed among the youth leaders from different congregations of the presbytery was just palpable and electric and we felt so at home and welcomed.
Joining the CYM conference of URCSA Bhofolo
“The Sunday we closed our EC visit-tour at URCSA Gevandale where Rev. Hendry Tromp is the local pastor. And what an uplifting spirit-filled service it was. And to see how the young members take their place in the service in different liturgical ways was just encouraging and inspiring.
“Rev. Tromp’s message from Samuel 16 was on point and he encouraged all of us to take courage in the Good News that although we don’t always see, feel, and experience that God is at work, God is indeed working in, on behalf, and with us to fulfill God’s plans for us. The Sunday after the church service we departed for George where our colleagues of KiA joined the SKLAS conference for the Southern Cape region.
“All in all it was such a blessed and uplifting visit and I believe our partners of the PCN and KiA in particular now even have a better idea who their resources impact and why they should continue with this special and transformational partnership.”
Contact Rev. Stephen Pedro at stephen@kaapkerk.co.za for more information.
Rev. Stephen Pedro, Ms Petri Hofland, Rev. Hendry Tromp, Ms Marjon Staal and Rev. Sean Esterhuizen