Rev. Stéphen Pedro (centre) with church council members of URCSA Die Ark Congregation in Beaufort West.
“I once again realized the importance of reaching out as a Minister in Synodical Service (MSS) to the leadership of congregations; to inform them about important information and especially important tools for the ministry. Although they have a new minister, I could just sense and feel their need for engagement and for more information.”
Rev. Stéphen Pedro
MSS and Manager: Congregational Witness
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On the 30th of January 2024, on his way to the training and planning workshop with ministers in Graaff-Reinet, Rev. Pedro met with the church council of USCSA Beaufort West, Die Ark Congregation.
“All in all, it was really a blessed meeting,” Rev. Pedro says. “In fact, we started at six o’clock, and because of load shedding at eight o’clock, I tried to wrap up the presentation summary at half-past seven, but the church council members didn’t want to go home. They wanted to hear more. So, it was a really powerful meeting.”
One elder sister said, “You shared so much in the short space of time with us, Reverend. These tools and information can really help us to take matters further and to help us in our ministries as elders and deacons. We need this. We are dedicated to serving as congregational leaders.
“As elders and deacons, we live in very difficult and challenging times. Our people have to face innumerable challenges like unemployment, resulting in poverty. They struggle to make ends meet. Many suffer from stress-related mental health conditions like depression, and some have to deal with trauma.
“We do not always know how to minister to our members. Yes, we have a minister, but he cannot always be there for everybody, especially for those who need individual attention. So we desperately need this empowerment, equipping us with tools to do what God calls upon us to do.”
Rev. Pedro says, “We have obviously also spoken about Contextual Bible Study as a tool and method to strengthen church leaders in their work as congregational leaders. It even provides a method to preach. It’s another way of preaching, seeing that in many of our congregations our elders have mostly the responsibility to proclaim the Word of God.
“Another reason for my visit to them was also to see how we can support an NGO in the community who reached out to me during our previous visit when Dr Braam Hanekom accompanied me when he presented the 100 Towns Dialogue (100 Dorpe Dialoog).
“One of the NGOs and mostly young people working in the community with regards to trauma and a few other challenges asked me during our previous visit if there was anything that I could offer to support them doing this work in the community. I suggested that they should try and utilize the Contextual Bible Study as a method and a tool to help them refine their focus on the needs of their community. Seeing that they are all Christians and that they are working mostly with Christians in their community, they will be able to see and learn from the Bible to empower and equip them to tackle the challenges within the community.
“The idea is to start with the church council, and work with the leaders of the congregation’s youth, women’s, and men’s ministries, and then take it from there to the community via this NGO.
“I thank God for the small contribution that I had the privilege to facilitate in strengthening our church community. God bless.”
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Contact Rev. Stéphen Pedro at stephen@kaapkerk.co.za for more information.