Dear AE Friends
CAN THE GOSPEL STILL TRANSFORM?
 The answer is an absolutely resounding, yes, yes, yes! You and I are living testimonies of how the power and presence of the Holy Spirit can enter into a life and being of a person and initiate this incredible process of transformation. Saul, the persecutor of the early church, is a profound example of how gracious our God is to sinful man. Saul, like many people today, was sincere in his passion and position, except he was sincerely wrong! However, it took a dramatic encounter with a radically transforming God on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3) for him to experience, not only a name change, but a change of character, purpose and destiny. The constitution of our country has created an equal platform for all faiths. This movement, even though politically correct, has challenged many, even believers, to question the validity and authority of the Gospel to be the sole means through which a soul can be redeemed.
We at AE, desire to hold true to our calling by holding in tension our “word” and “deed” approach to ministry and to this end we find it extremely challenging to raise money for the “word” side of our work. There are millions of rands available to people affected and infected with HIV and Aids, poverty, orphans, skills development, micro enterprise etc. These needs are of paramount importance to the economic and social well being of South African citizens, however, if we neglect the importance of the destiny of the soul we have missed the essence of life and more importantly, eternal life. This is the calling of AE! This mandate compels us to call on you to continue to partner with us and even to increase both your financial and prayer support to enable us to fulfil this mission.
I am tremendously encouraged by the example of the man who became Paul in that he remained faithful to his calling despite the many challenges. Paul was no stranger to loneliness, physical affliction, misunderstandings, financial hardship, ostracism etc etc. In Acts chapter 26, the Apostle is provided with the opportunity to make his defence before King Agrippa and Festus, the Roman governor, against the false accusations made by the religious leaders. Paul boldly and fearlessly shares his testimony as his defence. He concludes his testimony with these words: “So then King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven” (Acts 26:19). Festus tries to appease his conviction by interrupting Paul’s conversion story and making the outrageous claim that much learning has made Paul insane. King Agrippa is challenged to consider becoming a believer and thus rejects Paul’s life-transforming message and says “… do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?” Paul graciously responds “I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains…”
Can the Gospel still transform lives? Paul in prison shackles experienced the freedom that the former Saul without shackles never knew because Paul’s soul had been set free. The message of the cross never looses it’s power (1Cor1:18), you and I can testify to this and so can one of our 2007 Foxfires, Monique Hill, who shares her story below.
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