Reminiscing on Billy Graham’s landmark crusade in apartheid South Africa
“The South African Congress on Mission and Evangelism in Durban in March 1973 was, I believe, a turning point both in our own ministry and for South Africa.” – Michael Cassidy
When AE invited Dr. Billy Graham as a guest speaker for the Mission Congress, there was a frenzy of interest from the South African public. The Congress was a landmark event in segregated South Africa, as Christian leaders of all races and denominations united in pursuit of true Gospel transformation.
On Saturday the 17th of March 1973, a large evangelistic rally was held at Durban’s Kings Park rugby stadium. A record audience of between 45,000 and 50,000 gathered that day. In a landmark moment for South Africa, a racially diverse, yet peaceful crowd had gathered publicly.
In his autobiography Footprints in the African Sand – My life & times*, Michael Cassidy reflects, “Here was South Africa as it should really be – a glorious kaleidoscope of racial beauty and diversity. In fact, never did the segregationist way seem more unnatural and grotesque than in those moments.” He goes on to describe the ripple effects that the rally had on the nation, “Newspaper banners screamed in hyperbole: ‘Apartheid Doomed’. Beyond that, multitudes in that stadium and around the country via the media caught a vision of what South Africa could become.”
Dr. Graham gave a simple Gospel message that day, followed by an invitation to accept Christ. More than 4,000 people surged forward. Counsellors struggled to provide follow-up booklets to all the new believers, many of whom were unable to get near the platform area.
Michael Cassidy describes the beautiful scene that followed:
“Blacks counselled Whites. Whites counselled Indians. Coloureds counselled Blacks. And so it went, for an hour or more, as the stadium slowly began to empty. This was South Africa. The Beloved Country. The country to weep for. And pray for. And work for. Here it was in an identity crisis, and trying to find itself. And here was the Spirit of Jesus on the job, proclaiming good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and liberty to those who are oppressed… Of course, history would prove that we still had a long way to go. But a start had been made.”
In reflecting on that day at Kings Park, Prince Mntambo, an African pastor, said,
“Black alone looks dull. White or yellow alone look pale and empty – but black, brown, yellow and white look like beautiful flowers planted by God. That was the beauty of Kings Park with Dr. Billy.”
*Footprints in the African Sand – My life and times (by Michael Cassidy) is available for purchase from AE Australia. Contact:ae@aeint.org
Please pray for our upcoming missions across Africa and for the Gospel to reach those that have never heard it before.
My name is Elizabeth Wanjiku, I am a single parent of 5 children and a grandmother of 13 children. I live in Korogocho slums in Nairobi where I have lived for over 20 years now. I raised all my children here in Korogocho but unfortunately 3 of them got sick and passed on. Life in Korogocho is not easy and we only live here because we are unable to afford living in a better place. Due to lack of jobs many young people are idle and engage in criminal activities, drug abuse and other things to try to survive the hard life here.
Most of my time I scavenge at the local dumpsite where I collect sacks plastic containers etc. and clean them for resale at a local market. My grandchildren and I live in a small house and since most of them are orphaned I have to provide for them and I keep praying for God to help me as I am now old and sickly. Despite all these challenges our community is full of joy, most of the times you will find children happily playing in the streets.
God has used AEK to help me and my neighbors for many years; they have built good toilets in our community and since last year they have been providing us with food and soap since most of us are no longer able to earn anything due to Covid-19.
Please pray for the health, wellbeing and jobs of displaced and marginalised people in informal settlements, and for the government to care and provide assistance to these communities.
“My Name is John Kalenzi, I’m married to Joselyne Bivugire Kalenzi, and we have two children: a boy called David Kalenzi – 17 years old and a girl called Esther Ineza Kalenzi – 12 years old. I became Team Leader of African Enterprise Rwanda in 2008.
My normal day as a Team Leader of a local and growing para- church organisation is comprised of very many activities:
I wake up at 4:30 a.m. and pray with my wife Joselyne after reading a bible passage. From 5:20 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. I check emails and respond to the urgent ones, after which I prepare myself and then go to the office. I normally leave home at 6:30 a.m. and it is a 30 minutes’ drive from home to the office. I participate in the staff morning devotions from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. This enables me to provide spiritual oversight to the AE Staff. With affect from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., I meet AE staff and different outsiders like pastors and leaders or staff of different organizations who come to my office for one reason or another. 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., I check reports from heads of departments to ensure successful implementation of all projects run by AE Rwanda and maintain the culture of AE among all staff and projects. 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., I deal with office work that ensures efficiency and accountability, after which I address the challenges as they arise.
Time for lunch at AE Rwanda is from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., so I share a meal with the staff and have some catch up and refreshing time, where we talk about different topics, and have some bit of fun. I use the biggest part of the afternoon – 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to develop fundraising opportunities and cultivate new donor relationships which include, generating and reflecting on ministry ideas, meeting church leaders, writing concept notes, writing thank you notes, making phone calls to local supporters and the like. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., I respond to emails, scan whether administrative systems in place are adhered to, and then set objectives and plans for the next day. From 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I travel home, where I join my family. After a short time of relaxation, we have dinner together, then evening devotions from around 9:20 pm to 9:50 pm and then head to bed.
The day I have described is a normal one, but there are many times when I am invited for meetings on a short notice, or get involved in an eventuality, which causes my plan not to run as prior arranged. During such cases, I must push some of the activities to the next most convenient time.”
Current focus areas:
- Mobilizing Rwandans to pray that the Lord will awaken the slumbering spirits in our nation so that they might find everything they are searching in Him.
- Training 480 AEE staff and associates on some factors that contribute to effective personal evangelism.
- Equip 1,200 faith leaders to fight Covid-19 in communities and support them with personal protective equipment.
- We are responding in every community where we work in one form or another and our Covid-19 emergency response, aims to provide targeted support to reach at least 500,000 most vulnerable people including 260,000 children -focusing on situations of pre-existing vulnerability and fragility (in every community where we work, we are committed to both limiting the spread of Covid-19 and reducing its impact).
Prayer points:
Pray with AEE Rwanda Team Leader that:
- God’s presence would move greatly in AEE Rwanda ministry and touch lives.
- God would give AEE staff a heart for his ways and discernment to see his direction.
- God would give us opportunities to share his Gospel with others.
- God would mold our character into his likeness.
- Unsaved Rwandans would come to know the Lord, that their eyes would be opened to see the truth.
- Children of Rwanda will receive joy and hope as their tangible needs are met.
- Join AEE Rwanda to pray for healing, provision, wisdom, and opportunities to serve.
The inspirational story behind the word ‘harambee’
The Swahili word harambee means ‘all pull together’. The word appears on Kenya’s coat of arms as the nation’s official motto. More than that, harambee describes an unwritten law of generosity engrained in the Kenyan, and African, moral psyche.
In Kenya, when an individual is facing a significant life event, members of the community organise a harambee. A harambee is usually a fundraising event, but those who attend can also show their support for the person in other ways, such as providing services or emotional support. The spirit of harambee is that of selfless community, of giving without expecting anything in return.
The word harambee is said to have been used by Swahili porters, when they needed to lift a heavy object. One person would shout “Harambee!”, and the group would then lift the object in unison.
This concept of “lifting together” is what inspires all of AE’s Aid and Development programs. For instance, AE Rwanda’s Women’s Self-Help Groups, which have been immensely successful, are all about community members empowering each other, and achieving more together than they could have on their own.
After Kenya gained its independence, the concept of harambee was invoked by Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, in his inaugural speech:
“I would suggest we use the Kiswahili word harambee to express the mood we want to create. It means ‘let us all work together’. Get up and go!”
In Australia, our AE newsletter takes its name from the word harambee. Because now is the time to work together, to “get up and go” for the greatest cause that there is. The Great Commission. Kenya’s harambee is a picture of the much greater generosity of God who became man, and gave His life for the world. And in doing so, created an eternal community, His Church.
Meet Ben Sachie, the inspiring Team Leader of AE Ghana
Bernard Owusu Sachie, Team Leader of AE Ghana, has been serving at African Enterprise since 2004.
Born in 1965, Ben lived with his aunt and uncle, and did manual farm labour until the age of 10, when he was able to attend school for the first time. Ben recalls his first public Scripture reading in primary school, which was from Jeremiah chapter 1:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
After committing his life to Christ in high school, Ben felt called to Christian ministry. Describing himself as a “nervous person” who prefers “committing myself to do background work, rather than to be put forward”, Ben was encouraged by these words, also from Jeremiah chapter 1:
“Do not say, ‘I am too young’. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you”.
And Ben has done just that.
After completing high school, Ben joined a fellowship that conducted rural evangelism and planted churches.
He then completed a Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, and pastored a church for 12 years.
He has also served in multiple leadership roles, such as the Administrator for Ghana’s Bible Training Centre for Pastors, Secretary of Ghana’s Evangelism Committee and coordinator for several pastors’ conferences and evangelical crusades, including Ghana’s Franklin Graham Festival.
Ben feels privileged to have served AE since 2004, when he first coordinated an AE mission.
“Working for AE has been a blessing to me. I have seen a lot of lives transformed by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… I believe that our gracious Lord is always on the move to accomplish His plan of redemption. He really has better things for us, and yet only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Ben Sachie has chosen to partner with the God who continues to work out His perfect plan, through us. The God who knew him “before he was born”.
Ministry focus for AE Ghana:
- Vocational training through the Street Kids and Vulnerable women training programs in Kumasi and Accra.
- Togo mission outreach: 2020 follow up and 2020 outreach.
- Mission follow up in Accra
- Leadership training and ministry centre Accra
Click here for more on Ghana.
Featured Photo – Ben’s family:
Front: Vida (Ben’s wife), Agnes (granddaughter), Beatrice (granddaughter), Linda (Step-daughter and mum of Agnes & Beatrice)
Middle: Josephine (daughter), Sarah (daughter), Mercy (daughter)
Back: Ben, Ernest (brother-in-law), Victor (son)
Our much loved AE Zimbabwe Team Leader and his family process the loss of their home
2020 has been a difficult year for Guide Makore, our AE Zimbabwe Team Leader. On the 19th of October, Guide and his family lost their home in a house fire. Since then, Guide, Forgiveness and their 5 children have been slowly rebuilding their lives.
The family is processing the loss of their home, and the trauma of the incident, with the help of counselling. Forgiveness and the children have been experiencing nightmares, while Guide has been struggling with a burden of false guilt, as he ponders how he could have prevented the family’s loss. Guide mentioned that even their young baby has been unsettled, as if she has been sensing the distress of her family members.
Following their loss, churches, Christian organisations and individuals have rallied to support Guide and family both emotionally, spiritually and financially. Guide has been keeping a record of gifts and donations received, and the family are so grateful.
After losing their home, Guide and family initially stayed with friends, before temporarily moving into the AE Zimbabwe office. The family have currently secured another interim residence, as they begin the process of rebuilding their home.
Guide and Forgiveness have asked us to convey their gratitude to all of our supporters who have given so generously to help them rebuilt and to those who are keeping the Makore family in their prayers. Please continue to pray for Guide and his family during this challenging time.
Featured Photo – Guide and Family (Guide, Privillage, Forgiveness, Giovanna, Genius , Graham & Elshaddai is missing on this photo)
