Dear Partners in Christ

During my recent set up visits to Randburg/ Sandton and the Universities of Wits and Stellenbosch, my interaction with Pastors and leaders of Christian societies has often lead to one major concern: “We are apprehensive about the future of our country,” many are saying. “What can be done to turn the tide of moral decay, violence and crime our nation is plummeting towards?” My avid response is that we, as the Church in South Africa, should adopt an enduring approach by investing substantially into the lives of our children, youth and young adults. To gain significant short and long-term results, a place of immediate departure, is an effective well-organized strategic plan to restore Godly values on South African University Campuses and in schools, that paves the way to a sound moral and spiritual climate.

The bible in the book of Daniel, chapter one, brings to our attention the strategic plan the King of Babylon put into action when he embarked on creating an empire that would be a tool for propagating the kingdom of darkness. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem he did not only plunder the temple of valuable pieces of furniture and Godly vessels, he also usurped Israel’s most valuable resource, it’s young adults. Nebuchadnezzar knew that if you want to cripple a nation, go for its academic/ brainpower resource. His strategy is evident in Daniel 1:3 & 4 “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility. Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace.”  If Nebuchadnezzar, a heathen king, knew that he could establish a world wide power that would give him authority and control over the lives of many people who lived in his day, it leaves us no option as the church, but to “pour” ourselves into the lives of young South Africans who are the key building blocks to a morally sound nation.

I have been thinking, what if we had the means (human and financial resources) to divide the South African Universities into six groupings of three:

• Kwa Zulu Natal (UKZN, Westville, Zululand)
• Pretoria/North (Pretoria University, University of Venda, University of Limpopo)
• Johannesburg (Wits, Johannesburg University, Tshwane University of Technology)
• Free State/North West (University of The Free State, North West University, Central University of Technology)
• Cape Town  (Stellenbosch, UWC, UCT)
• Eastern Cape (Rhodes, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu University)

Each university, in these groupings, will have a major mission every third year, with smaller follow up missions in between.  I understand this was the strategy that kept universities like, Princeton, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge focused on the reason for their existence, which is the quest for truth.  It has become my conviction that Christians have a unique right to be woven into the life and soul of the university campuses, since we have an understanding of truth.  We know from the life that we now live, that truth is not a body of knowledge (Greeks held onto this philosophy to their peril) but rather a person, and that person is Jesus.  He is the only one who ever existed who has been able to boldly proclaim (John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” ) and substantiate this claim with an offer of eternal life by dying on the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18).

If the Apostle Paul, by revelation from the Holy Spirit, could confidently write in Colossians 1:16,17 “For by Him all things were created…He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.”  it compels us to revisit the original motto of Oxford University ” Dominus Illuminatio Mea” "The Lord is my Light" (Psalm 27) If all things in life are created by God and for Him, how can we provide effective service to His Kingdom in South Africa and beyond without having Him illuminate our minds since He is the main source of all education. How then can young adults, be sufficiently equipped to provide Godly leadership in key positions of government, business, education etc, if they solely rely on the academia for their preparation for the working world.

In 2004 we did a mission to UWC. The steering committee comprised close to twenty students. I received a phone call from two of these students who are now employed in the Nelspruit Municipality and are exerting a Christian influence in the decision making on matters surrounding the leadership of the city.  Imagine, hundreds of graduates, every year, academically equipped as a result of their university studies, having a Kingdom mindset because of the missions that added value to the work the Campus ministries were doing, infiltrating the market place to claim it back for Christ.

If this vision were to become a reality, I am convinced we can affect the moral climate of South Africa and witness increasing signs of the Kingdom of God in the country. Please search your heart about this vision and if you share the same conviction, do kindly consider financing our university mission work, we have Walter Sisulu University scheduled for the end of May (in conjunction with the Mthath mission) Wits University scheduled for 26 August - 2 September 2007 and Stellenbosch University scheduled for March 2008.

Thank you very much for your ongoing partnership displayed in your financial, prayer and moral support. May the Lord strengthen you and keep you as we journey together to bring this life-changing Gospel to or nation and continent.

Grace and peace

Greg Smerdon

We have seen how a city/state like Singapore that has meager natural resources (has to buy it’s water from Malaysia and has no minerals) invested substantially in human capital and has now become one of the fastest growing economies with minimal crime and unemployment.

Follow up trip to Rhodes University

At the Rhodes University mission, Michael Cassidy made an appeal to all those who thought God was calling them to full time missions, to come forward.  56 students and staff responded!  Michael and Greg Smerdon then returned to Rhodes a couple of weeks later to conduct a three-hour workshop for these individuals.  30 of the 56 were able to attend the workshop.  Greg spoke on identifying ones gifts and the relationship this has to ones calling.  Michael gave guidance as to what full time ministry is all about and also the option of part time ministry whilst tent making. He presented a list of institutions where one could study and prepare for ministry.  There was an outstanding response and the attendees felt the workshop was of great benefit, empowering them in their decision-making.  They appreciated the concern for their ongoing Christian growth.