CBN East & Southern Africa

Highlights – November 2007

Top Accomplishments

Ø      In 141 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 26,793 people were led to Christ, an average of 190 per film show.

Ø      We shot and edited a story about a young man who has started his own business selling what he has grown in an OB-sponsored ‘vegetable tunnel’ in his community. After a few final touches to the editing it will be shown during the January Telethon.

Ø      25 new water wells were completed and dedicated this month.

Top Prayer Points

Ø      Pray that the local people taking over from engineer Stephen Nash in Kwa Zulu Natal continue seamlessly with the water well project, so that we continue to have the great opportunity of not only dedicating these new water sources in an otherwise hostile environment, but that we can offer the same living water to the communities that the Lord Jesus offered the woman of Samaria.

Ø      The ANC National Conference starts from the 16^th of December and will be running for 5 days. The next ANC president will be selected at this conference. Continue to pray for those in authority. Praise be to Your Name O God for ever and ever; wisdom and power belong to You. You change times and seasons; You set up kings and depose them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning (Dn.2:20-21). Father, with prayers, intercession and thanksgiving we come before Your throne for the ruling party, our government, and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness - for this is good, and pleases You, God our Saviour. You want all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1Tim.2:1-4). Our rulers’ hearts are in Your hand, Lord; direct them like a watercourse wherever You please (Pr.21:1).

Ø      Pray that the CBN East & Southern Africa staff have a good rest over Christmas and New Year as they all take their annual vacation and that God will prepare them for the challenges of 2008.

Top Story of the Month for Website

None this month.

Television & Radio Programming, Media Blitz Highlights, and Video Ministry

Media Ministry Centers

Ø      In 141 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 26,793 people were led to Christ, an average of 190 per film show.

Television

Ø      Nothing further to report this month.

Production

Ø      We shot and edited a story about a young man who has started his own business selling what he has grown in an OB-sponsored ‘vegetable tunnel’ in his community. After a few final touches to the editing it will be shown during the January Telethon.

Ø      We also filmed the children’s graduation at the CBN-sponsored Day Care Center in an informal settlement called Waterworks. Several children are being promoted to the government’s primary school system next year, having been taught bible principles in pre-school over the last two years.

Humanitarian Highlights

Micro Enterprise Projects

Ø      Cape Town- The Sewing Center made 244 articles this month, selling all of them and bringing in a total of R2000. The Center is closed for 2 months in December and January.

Ø      Eastern Cape- No report this month. 

Ø      Hazyview/Cork, Mpumalanga – The men at this project produced 3400 bricks in the period under review. The Sewing Center made 120 ladies’ dresses.

Ø      Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal – No report this month.

Vegetable Tunnels

Cork, Hazyview – It was a good harvest.

Cape Town: Helderkruin Primary – A dedicated staff tend this garden and pick huge spinaches twice weekly. The local community pays less than half of what it would cost them in a super market and the spinaches are bigger and better. In January they will purchase more seedlings and start a new planting process.

Cape Town: City Mission – Marketing the crop is a challenge, but the tunnel yields huge returns and the spinaches are healthy, and as a result so are the consumers. They too will purchase new seedlings for January’s planting.

Water Wells

25 new water wells were completed and dedicated this month. The engineer who has partnered us in this venture over the last 4 years or so is leaving the KZN area for the Eastern Cape. Ken Pettitt was present in KZN to ensure that there was a smooth transition to the trainees who have learned about well-location and well-digging under the engineer’s watchful eye.

Food distribution

Both the Mpumalanga projects, Bushbuckridge and Cork, received their allocation of nutritional food as usual during the month, assisting with the feeding of the orphans and vulnerable children.

The Ebenezer Care Center in Bushbuckridge is feeding 980 children and Hope in Christ Ministry in Cork is feeding 220 Orphans.

Training, Cell Church Planting, Evangelistic and Discipleship Highlights

Ø      In 141 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 26,793 people were led to Christ, an average of 190 per film show.  

Ø      As a result of the Medical Mission, a Center has now been established at 4 Way camp. Johannes Mabunda plans under God to turn the center into a Training and Sending Place, called the Turning Point Antioch Christian Center. Sunday services and Wednesday Fellowships having been going for the whole month, and will continue as all age groups are supporting it. The leadership intends to grow it both numerically and spiritually.

Testimonies

Ø      A single mother of six forced her first-born daughter, Ndanu, to enter prostitution to alleviate appalling poverty. A ministry we support in Emali, a town in Kenya, rescued Ndanu from the grip of prostitution and provided her mother with a small capital amount to enable her start a greengrocers business. – Emali, Kenya

Ø      It really blesses me when I see Pat teaching on TV. I thank you for the good work you are doing. Each time I watch 700 Club on God Channel my life is blessed. - S. Lwazi, Malawi

Ø      I was amazed by the testimonies of people on 700 Club……Your program is interesting and I don’t miss it. - E. Masosota, Zimbabwe

Ø      Thank you for the booklets that you sent me they helped me to move from a certain level to another level. I am so much grateful for everything. - S. Michael, Zimbabwe

Ø      I phoned 700 Club for prayer as I was diagnosed with cancer and was to undergo a surgery. The operation was done and no trace of cancer was found. Praise God. - R. Pillay, Johannesburg, South Africa

Ø      I phoned 700 Club as I was undergoing operation and everything was successful. - R. Venter, Laeresdrif

Ø      I phoned 700 club offices for prayer as I was unemployed for 10 months and now I got the job. - L. Du Plooy, Port Shepstone, South Africa

Letters and Testimonies from counseling centers

Kenya

Ø      Your letter gave me a lot of information that made me know that God cares for me. I can now control my temper and I have changed my way of approaching others. God is a miracle working God, Alpha and Omega. - Atieno

Ø      I got school fees for my children through the intervention of God. I didn't have a way out and because of being unwell; I couldn't be able to do much work so as to get enough money for domestic use and also for the fees. A sister took up the burden and cleared the balance. - Rebecca

Ø      Thank you very much for your kind and loving support. I'm now abstaining and I have seen the power of God working in my life. My resolution is to stay committed to Him for life, God helping me. - Evans

Ø      Matthew joined as a CBN partner; we thank God for His sacrificial giving despite the fact that He is a young campus student.

CBN East & Southern Africa

Highlights – October 2007

Top Accomplishments

Ø      We have written new contracts for 700-Club, Turning Point and One Cubed with One Africa, a new private station in Namibia.

Ø       In 130 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 22,533 people were led to Christ, an average of 173 per film show.

Ø      At an anointed dedication service and celebration nearly 100 partners of the ministry joined us to see and hear Ben Edwards, as he dedicated the new production facility to the Lord, cutting the ribbon that symbolically opened the door to the multi-purpose studio/edit suite and office.

Ø      Following on the successful Medical Mission of last month, a new church plant took place in 4way, near Randfontein, under leadership of Pastor Johannes Mabunda.

Top Prayer Points

Ø      Pray for Ken Pettitt as he travels to Somalia in respect of Operation Blessing projects and proposals.

Ø      Pray for Keith Strugnell as he travels to Cape Town to visit television stations that transmit CBN programs via satellite, inspect some OB projects and meet with new converts from the former gangster fraternity in an effort to find prospective testimonies for our production team.

Ø      The Cape Flats is bracing itself for all-out war as factions in the Americans gang vie for leadership and claim territory for lucrative drug operations. This follows the slaying of five people who were killed execution-style and the murder last month of two suspected top-ranking gangsters in Manenberg and Athlone. Pray for the communities in the Western Cape that are influenced negatively by the activities of gangs. Pray for the young children that join gangs because of the lack of a father figure. Ask that they will be healed of the effects of rejection and loneliness. Pray for the people that live in fear. Ask God to awaken prayer in the hearts of believers in these areas and pray that those former gangsters that have recently committed their lives to Christ will be kept by His all-powerful hand and witness to others of His awesome grace.

Top Story of the Month for Website

None this month.

Television & Radio Programming, Media Blitz Highlights, and Video Ministry

Media Ministry Centers

Ø      In 130 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 22,533 people were led to Christ, an average of 173 per film show.

Television

Ø      In a trip to Namibia, Keith Strugnell was able to meet with the representative of the national television station in an effort to restore CBN programs to their program line-up. He received a favorable response after a senior executive had removed all religious programs from their schedule. We have also made contact with a new private station in Namibia, One Africa, and in response to their request we have written new contracts for 700-Club, Turning Point and One Cubed.

Production

Ø      Our second edit machine is now up and running and we look forward to producing more stories on a faster basis, i.e. for Telethon, 700-Club and My World.

Ø      We are working on several new stories that were found during the month.

Humanitarian Highlights

Micro Enterprise Projects

Ø      Cape Town- 118 articles were made, bringing in the sum of R750.00.

Ø      Eastern Cape- Groundwork and training have kept this center busy.
A customer has agreed to order bags from the center in the New Year. He has promised a monthly order from then on.
A further order could exceed a thousand bags, cardboard boxes and golf-shirts. 
The center has also met with a leather smith and believes it can establish a good working relationship for the future. 

Ø      Hazyview/Cork, Mpumalanga – The sewing ladies produced 36 dresses and 3000 bricks were produced by the men.

Ø      Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal – No report this month.

Vegetable Tunnels

Helderkruin Primary - The tunnels are harvesting twice a week. 13 families in the area have received spinach.

City Mission – The harvest is ready and we are looking at marketing opportunities to sell the spinach.

Water Wells

We have been given a further batch of wells, on which work has begun. They should be ready for dedication at the end of November.

Food distribution

The care centers near Soweto continue to receive food, and in Mpumalanga both Anna (Bushbuck Ridge) and Simon Ntandane (Cork) receive their extra Imunomeal food supply regularly. The Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the area are escalating. Presently Anna and her team are catering for 100 kids per day at their Drop in Center.

The HIV/AIDS group numbers 32, all of whom come to a support group every Thursday.

Mozambique

The bathroom block of the youth center at Bethel is now ready to receive the roof and the Lord has been good in providing the funds for that too.

Also, through the generosity of another donor we are able to complete the plumbing.

Training, Cell Church Planting, Evangelistic and Discipleship Highlights

Ø      In 130 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 22,533 people were led to Christ, an average of 173 per film show.

Ø      At an anointed dedication service and celebration nearly 100 partners of the ministry joined us to see and hear Ben Edwards, as he dedicated the new production facility to the Lord, cutting the ribbon that symbolically opened the door to the multi-purpose studio/edit suite and office.

Ø      Following on the successful Medical Mission last month, a new church plant took place in 4way, near Randfontein, under leadership of Pastor Johannes Mabunda.

Testimonies

Ø      I saw your program on TV and you are doing great job. Please keep on the excellent work. - C. James, Zimbabwe.

Ø      Thank you for the letter I received from you, [together with] … the booklet. [They are] very encouraging, and a great blessing for me and my family.  - E. Wagaye, Ethiopia.

Ø      We are grateful for what God is doing through your ministry reaching all around the world. We have been watching you on GOD TV and my family members got saved through 700 Club. This has helped us spiritually and makes us stand firm on the Word of God. The 700 Club gives us hope as we learn from other people’s challenges. - M. Temba, Malawi.

Ø      I am a regular viewer of 700 Club. Thank you for the life-transforming programs. I love the readings you give at the end of the programs. - L. Mosime, Botswana.

Ø      I always watch your program the 700 Club. I am always blessed by the testimonies of others on your program. - B. Banda, Zimbabwe.

Ø      I want to thank you, for you have shaped my life through the blessing of the booklets you sent me. They have helped me to open my eyes so I can understand the reality of the things of God. - G. Maboshego, South Africa

Letters and Testimonies from counseling centers

Zimbabwe

Ø      A certain man who had been staying on the streets came to the office with intention of giving up a bad habit and changing his life for the good. One of our counsellors asked him what had caused him to want to change. He revealed that he had been surviving on stealing for most of his life. One day, after he had stolen a calculator, the owner of the calculator caught and confronted him. The owner referred him to The 700 Club and told him that he would be assisted there to have a change in his life, as he himself had been assisted greatly before. After prayer, the counsellor had the joy of leading him to Christ.

Testimonies from Media Ministry Centers

Mpumalanga

Ø      At the time of ministry after one show a woman claimed to have been healed of cancer, while seven with high blood pressure were prayed for and confessed their healing. One man showed clear evidence that he had been healed of epilepsy.

Ø      Through our door-to-door visit, a man confessed Jesus Christ and was saved. He had been in prison for 20 years after being convicted of several crimes and is recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. He has a desire to reach out to the gangsters and has opened his house as a prayer center on daily basis. He has already become a part of the MMC team in Nelspruit.

CBN East & Southern Africa

Highlights – September 2007

• Further contracts were written this month with satellite channels, Adonai Broadcasting Network (for Christian World News and More than Dreams) and Spirit Word Channel (for International 700-Club, Turning Point and One Cubed).
  
• In 141 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 20,063 people were led to Christ, an average of 142 per film show. The results reflect the added Video and DVD projectors and evangelistic teams since last month.
  
• A Medical Mission was held at two of our newest OB project sites near Randfontein on the West Rand, as well as Waterworks squatter camp. In all, 342 patients were treated, 663 prescriptions were filled and 54 gave their lives to the Lord Jesus.
  
• At an anointed dedication service and celebration nearly 100 partners of the ministry joined us to see and hear Ben Edwards, as he dedicated the new production facility to the Lord, cutting the ribbon that symbolically opened the door to the multi-purpose studio/edit suite and office.

Ben operated a car rental business. It was not brisk, but gave him a moderate living. Then one day carjackers held him up and he lost his brand new car. That was bad enough, but when his partners withdrew their vehicles from the business for fear they would be stolen too, Ben had a depleted fleet of vehicles and could not survive on the modest income they provided.

So to replace the cars he had lost Ben went to a loan shark and borrowed money. While the cars began to generate a little income the liability he’d incurred hung like a noose around his neck. He just could not make a dent in his debt. It was debilitating.

Fearful, stressed and overwhelmed Ben considered running away from home and the responsibilities of business. His creditors had threatened to take legal action against him unless he paid them immediately. Ben feared even for his life!

It got worse! Because of Ben’s rent arrears his landlord locked the office where he operated and threatened to auction his office furniture.

One day with head in hands, his emotions wracked with pain, Ben sat watching TV. The program showing at the time was Turning Point. While not remembering exactly what the testimony was about Ben saw and heard of a man who had been in a similar predicament and had turned to God for the answer to his own dilemma. There was a turning point in his life.

While Ben was a Christian, he had neglected the very thing a relationship with Jesus Christ is supposed to ignite. He had not prayed about his predicament and brought it to the Lord. He needed to talk to someone about his backslidden condition and the address given at the end of the television program afforded him that opportunity. The CBN counselling center in Nairobi received Ben’s letter and immediately replied, giving him encouragement from the Word, also including directions to the office.

He came to the CBN counselling office in February and was prayed for and counseled. He returned for further sessions and made progress in his spiritual walk. He gave his business over to the Lord.

Then one day, by the grace of God, Ben was miraculously given a fully furnished office rent-free for six months, allowing his business to become well established. Little by little, in partnership with God, six cars were added to his business and none are idle. Business is on the up! To date he's repaid half his debts and believes that he will clear the rest very soon.

Ben acknowledges that only God could change such a desperate situation. He no longer receives those threatening calls. The Holy Spirit has visited him and given him a positive attitude towards life. Ben is stress-free and happy, living by faith instead of fear because God has assured him of His divine intervention.

Television & Radio Programming, Audience, and Media Blitz Highlights, and Video Ministry
Media Ministry Centers

Humanitarian Highlights
Micro Enterprise Projects

• Cape Town-  We are informed that the Center is going well. No statistics are available this month, but they report that the ladies are busy with a large order for the Little Green Dolphins Educare. They also received a donation of fabric.
  
• Eastern Cape-  They have had 3 bag enquires for which they quoted. They also have the possibility of sewing leather goods for a local entrepreneur and are hoping this will lead to further work on a consignment basis.
  
• Hazyview/Cork, Mpumalanga – The sewing ladies made178 dresses. 2300 bricks were produced by the men.
  
• Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal – No report this month.
  
• Port Shepstone, Kwa Zulu Natal – Unfortunately their sewing machines are irreparable and will be collected early in 2008 and sent to Johannesburg to see if they can be repaired.

Medical Mission

Dr Jim Lindgren and his team from Windows of Hope in the USA came to conduct a Medical Mission at two of our newest OB project sites near Randfontein on the West Rand, as well as Waterworks squatter camp. In all, 342 patients were treated, 663 prescriptions were filled and 54 gave their lives to the Lord Jesus. We praise the Lord for His hand upon the mission and thank Pastor Johannes Mabunda for his organization of it. Together with his teams, he has already started the onerous, yet rewarding, task of following up those who committed their lives to the Lord.
On the last day of the mission (Sunday) a new church was planted at Fourway Squatter Camp near Randfontein as the inaugural service was held in premises recently built for that purpose.

Vegetable Tunnels

All the vegetable tunnels planted over the last few moths are starting to produce a harvest. In spite of the fact that they are short of water, the tunnels in Hazyview are doing well and the people at the project have asked for more tunnels.

Water Wells

The most recent wells have been completed and signage is ready.

Food distribution

The care centers near Soweto continue to receive food, and in Mpumalanga both Anna (Bushbuck Ridge) and Simon Ntandane (Cork) receive their extra Imunomeal food supply regularly. The Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the area are escalating. Presently Anna and her team are catering for 100 kids per day at their Drop in Center.

The HIV/AIDS group numbers 32, all of whom come to a support group every Thursday.

Mozambique

The House of Hope orphan care center / residential school is now opening its doors to another 4 orphans from Maputo. These children have been living in abject poverty with their older brother of 14, and attending one of our Maputo Church schools. Due to the hard work of our Mozambican staff and the Project Serve Team from YFC Denmark, great progress has been made on the building project at Bethel.

Training, Cell Church Planting, Evangelistic and Discipleship Highlights

• In 141 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South Africa, a total of 20,063 people were led to Christ, an average of 142 per film show. The results reflect the added Video and DVD projectors and evangelistic teams since last month.
  
• At an anointed dedication service and celebration nearly 100 partners of the ministry joined us to see and hear Ben Edwards, as he dedicated the new production facility to the Lord, cutting the ribbon that symbolically opened the door to the multi-purpose studio/edit suite and office.

Testimonies

• Sister Leah got a job after a long wait. Sacked from work because of depression, she is now healed by the grace of God. Leah called CBN in January and the counselors have walked with her in the journey of her restoration.
  
• After a season of waiting and lack, a middle-aged lady from the women's skills group was employed in a good job. We rejoice with her because she has an ailing son who depends on her for everything.
  
• Joyce called in with suicidal thoughts because she discovered that her husband of 23 years had an extra marital affair. After a time of counseling and prayer, she is now strong and has seen a change in her husband who confessed that it's not easy to just walk away. We're praying with Joyce for a total restoration. As a result of the help she received, Joyce decided to become a CBN partner. We give God the glory.
  
• After praying together that God would give the CBN programs favor with the viewers, we have seen that the number of calls from people with needs is increasing.

Mozambique

• I had pain all over my body, I had no hope! And after I asked you to pray with me, I felt like something came out of me, my laziness went away and now I can do things on my own. Fernando Sambo.
  
• I’m delivered from drugs and alcohol not because I chose to, but because Jesus loved me in spite of everything that surrounded me. I lived a life of frustration and no one could help me, even my parents, but when I met Jesus He really gave me love and joy and everything started to make sense in my life. Mateus Mutola.
  
• On my previous calls I have been asking you to pray for my sister Hellen. It’s sad to say that she passed on. I strongly believe she has gone to meet the Lord and her passing on was in God’s predestined plan. Please keep us in prayer for strength. May God bless you. Jane Kundaeli.
  
• According to our tradition, they said a lady was spiritually married to tshini (ghost) – the spirit that made her barren. We prayed for deliverance and God moved in a miraculous way, delivering her. She gave her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that God may enable her to give birth for his glory.

Testimonies from Media Ministry Centers

Mpumalanga

• During our show we had healings, a woman was healed of cancer, 7 were healed of high blood pressure and 1 man healed of epilepsy.
  
• Through our door to door visit, a man was saved. He was in prison for 20 years for criminal activities and is recovering from drugs and alcohol abuse. He has a desire to reach out to the gangsters and has opened his house as a prayer center on daily basis. He has already become a part of the MMC team in Nelspruit.