Dear AE Friends
 This edition of the iVangeli was prompted by the sober challenge the apostle Paul brings to Timothy via his first Epistle:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of Godliness but denying its power……” 2Timothy 3:1-5.
These thoughts become more prominent in the light of recent press reports relating to young people. The confusion, as a result of Christ being removed from Christmas, brings on a festive season that motivates excessive abuse of alcohol and drugs. This leads to a party atmosphere, reducing inhibitions and self control, resulting in immorality and promiscuity. This is further aggravated by end of year school parties and raves, with the death toll of matric students rising almost daily.
Whether local or national, the press is full of the plight of our teenagers. Pietermaritzburg residents recently awoke to the news of yet another murder in the city; a mother of two had been stabbed in her house for her car keys. The shock lay in the age of the perpetrator, a 16-year-old youth. The Minister of Education has declared war on drugs and crime in schools, realising the situation is out of hand. In a recent report she advocated a police presence in schools to control the situation, and appealed to religious leaders for their help. Families mourn as their children are attacked and murdered by their fellow classmates, with statistics reportedly much higher than authorities will admit to. End-of-year exams begin and teenage suicides soar. Statistics show there are two suicides every hour in South Africa: many of these are young people. In Port Elizabeth a young girl hung herself after naked pictures, supposedly of her, were passed around the school on cell phones.
By the time they leave matric, 80% of learners will have tried drugs, with 15% becoming addicts. (There are 1.2 million registered Tik users in the Western Cape alone) Alcohol is the fourth greatest cause of death in young people between the ages of 10 and 24, and young people are four times more likely to become alcoholics if they start drinking before the age of 21. Over 1000 youths are currently in prison (excluding police cells and places of safety) awaiting trial, compared to less than 200, ten years ago. To the murders, the theft, the alcohol and drug abuse, add the rapes, the teenage pregnancies, the abortions, the AIDS crisis, the child-headed households…… and the list goes on and on as the country (and in fact much of the world) faces a moral catastrophe amongst its teens. Paul’s description of the last days is a wake-up call, as this reality has dawned on South Africa.
During the year, I have often quoted the Bible text about how Joshua failed to leave a legacy for the next generation. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10. In the light of this text, I am sure you will agree with this question: Where is our next generation headed and what legacy are we leaving?
These are not just statistics but real people going to a Christless eternity. Our Foxfire teams face this startling reality in schools every day, as they are afforded the opportunity to minister in the classroom, the prison cells, youth meetings, and open airs, etc. What an opportunity to share Godly values and the hope and redemption that can only be found in Jesus. As young people themselves, they command the attention of their peers, as they share with teenagers the difference God has made in their own lives. Many of our Foxfires come from broken backgrounds and dysfunctional families and can identify with the plight of the learners, but they can also testify to the amazing change God’s love has made in their lives.
As this comes to you the new 2007 Foxfires (accompanying photographs) are in the process of starting ten weeks of training, preparing them to meet these challenging needs. They will not only have training in dance, drama and evangelism, but also in life skills, counselling and deliverance for all that they will face.
As our resources and energies are limited, one of the ways for us to multiply our work in reaching the youth of the nation is to train young leaders who can, in turn, impact the youth in their area. AE has resolved to do this through their Leadership of Youth programme (LOY), which will be run in KZN, Eastern Cape and the Free State in 2007.
We ask you to partner with us in supporting the Foxfires, both in prayer and financially. May we have the privilege of touching many young people’s lives in 2007. I pray you will have a Blessed Christmas and we look forward to all God has for us in the New Year.
Isaiah 9: 6-7a For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
Grace and Peace,
Meet the 2007 Foxfire Team |
