Trip to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa,

September 2007

Dear Reconciler Family,

I just returned from a thrilling trip to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, representing the African Enterprise Board of Directors USA at an International Partnership Board meeting and conference. Pietermaritzburg has a rich history. It’s the place where Ghandi was thrown off the train and Mandela was captured. I visited those places.

The mission statement for AE ministry is: “Evangelizing the Cities of Africa in Word and Deed in Partnership with the Church.” The ministry preaches the gospel, resulting in many converts; it feeds the poor, visits the sick and prisoners. It also trains, equips and sends forth missionaries. What great efforts in practicing the deeds mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-40!

The reports given by leaders from all over the continent of Africa were inspiring, producing tears of joy over the triumphs experienced. They also brought tears of sorrow over the woeful conditions that prevail in many urban areas, not the least of which are the AIDS crisis and devastating poverty. Our prayers are needed.

I was very excited to realize that we have a Worldwide Church of God congregation in Pietermaritzburg. I spoke there on Sunday, August 12. Pastoral Team Leader Rachel Rozentals-Thresher led an uplifting worship service as the vibrant teens and young adults (the dominant church population) bopped to the music and sang out. The youth are so dedicated that two of them who were not ready when their pick-up vehicle arrived decided to hire a cab and paid to come to church. WOW! How impressive!

I also spoke at Newton Special Education School to about 50 teachers and staff about reconciliation and healing the hurts that many of their students have experienced. They responded very positively, and school principal Wal Bornheimer took the remaining four Reconcile newsletters that I had and said she would like more of our resources, which we will send. I also got a number of requests for ORM literature at the conference from leaders living in different parts of Africa. Several of them are doing reconciliation ministry in their communities, churches, and at various levels of government.

My last assignment was to speak at God’s Family Life Centre, a very ethnically diverse contemporary service, pastored by Greg Smerdon. The altar call by retired All Souls Church Pastor Richard Bewes brought three people forward to accept Christ. I must say, this energetic, church, singing and “dancing” in Zulu gave me a RHYTHM TUNE-UP. I told them that the Black church in America has nothing on them!

Prior to this service I asked people sitting around a lunch table about race relations in South Africa. One person asked this rhetorical question in answering mine, “How long has America been dealing with race following slavery?” He then said, “We have a long way to go since apartheid only ended about 15 years ago.”

From my perspective, a lot of progress has been made since my last two visits there in 1989 and 2000. But a lot more is needed. Let’s pray that it will continue in South Africa and in our own country here in America.

Thank you very much for your prayers and loyal financial support. God bless you.

In His Love,

Curtis May