Resignation.
I am resigning from Living Hope Bible Church at the end of March 2007. It has been a great opportunity to work at LHBC since May 2003. The church has grown in many ways. The church now has a core group of leaders we call the ‘Steering Committee’. These men are capable and can do almost all that I currently do in the church. My departure will only encourage the development of these brothers as Mark further equips them. Our prayer is that elders come from the group. Nicole and I are seeking alternative areas of service in Africa. Now after ordination (2005) and almost 4 years of pastoral experience under Mark’s leadership it is time to venture out. Nicole was converted at LHBC in early 2003. Later that year she went on a short-term missions trip to Kwazulu Natal where she worked with Zulu children in a rural setting. She fell in love with the people and returned to Cape Town wanting to be a missionary in Africa. We are both excited about the future and are currently exploring opportunities in Malawi and Mozambique. Our immediate plans are to fellowship at Kraaifontein Baptist Church, which is a good distance away from LHBC. There are many areas of service there and the elders have welcomed our fellowship. Both Mark Christopher and Steve Fernandez are supportive of this move. There is a black church-planter working near the church that I hope to minister with a little. One of the opportunities there is a bible study in a town called Paarl, which may develop into a church plant. Our plans are to fellowship at Kraaifontein for the remainder of the year while Nicole studies for her teaching credential at the University of Cape Town. In South Africa, the school year extends from January to December. Please pray for us as we pursue where next to labor in the Lord’s vineyard.
Arthritis.
Nicole has been diagnosed with arthritis. She has it in all of her joints but it is worst in her shoulders, spine and hips. It looks like she probably has rheumatoid arthritis since she has all the symptoms of that type. Please pray for her as she tries to discover which medication will help her the best.
Drugs.
We have discovered that two of our neighbors are drug addicts. It came to our attention through a series of events that one of them was planning to break into our house. I have been away in Pretoria this week so Nicole has been alone in the house. A friend of mine was able to stay with her, which was just as well because when Nicole went to open the gate for my friend to park his car this neighbor who was hiding behind a bush by the gate shouted out to Nicole. He was all dressed in black. Nicole screamed and ran to my friend. So far nothing has actually happened to the house but please pray for Nicole’s safety. I hope to speak to these guys on Sunday.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
God bless.
Kilwa Anderson ]]>
Thank you all for your prayers for Nicole and I during these busy days. A brief synopsis since marriage on 30 September: went up to Pretoria to partake in a two-week course on Biblical Counselling with Dr. Wayne Mack. We returned to move house that same week. Nicole found full time work for the month of December. November was the usual busy month of the year as ministries were drawing to a close. We had the last SSTEP class (Survey of Systematic Theology) two weeks ago for the year. Mid-week Growth Groups also came to a close. This past Saturday, we had a church picnic where we enjoyed some sweet fellowship.
Thank you for praying for the sale of my apartment. We have sold and anticipate transfer to go through some time in January or February.
Please pray for a brother in the church who wishes to pursue a divorce with his wife.
Please pray for increased fellowship and interaction among the brethren in the church during this holiday season. A number of folks are sick and this is a wonderful time for people to visit them.
The last few months have felt like a continual set of waves that won’t end. The trials and tests seem to keep on coming. Please do continue to pray for Nicole and I. Our sweet Lord is definitely in the process of chiselling away at this clay pot. We anticipate a respite in January when we will get a chance to have our honeymoon! I’ve included a picture from the wedding.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.
Your brother
Kilwa Anderson
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Greetings from the Cape of Storms. The weather is wet but our spirits are high. God continues to answer our prayers and build His church here in Cape Town, so thank you for all your prayers.
Venue.
The first and most exciting news to report is that we have a new venue to meet in on Sunday mornings. We had until the end of July to find a new place and a few weeks ago Wynberg Boys High School agreed to give us a trial run. This particular school is an answer to many of our specific prayers. It is fairly close to the old venue but a lot closer to public transport. Those who catch the train and taxis to church can walk to the school from the station. Wynberg is a famous school in Cape Town and most people know exactly where it is so it will be easier for visitors to find the place. Praise God as we venture forth into this next chapter in the life of Living Hope Bible Church.
Fundamentals of the Faith.
We just finished the last class of Fundamentals of the Faith last Sunday night. The group that went through it met in the Northern Suburbs, which is about half an hour away from where we meet on Sundays. The group was enthusiastic throughout the course and learnt a lot. They are keen to start a bible study (growth group) out in their part of town. Pray for this new venture as Mark and I plan to get this off the ground in the near future. We pray that this growth group will be a means to reaching out to a lot more people in that area.
Sylvester approached me on Sunday wanting to go through FOF. He was recently robbed of most of his belongings including clothes, money and his cell phone. Despite this his spirits are high and he continues to grow in the Lord. Pray that God will equip him for a ministry back in his home country of Mozambique one day.
Shepherd’s Conference.
Last month I attended the South African Shepherd’s Conference down in Cape Town. Three American brothers did most of the teaching. Living Hope Bible Church hosted one of the speakers, Dr. Bill Barrick and his wife Barbara for a couple of Sundays. The church met on Sunday night to have a Q and A with Dr. Barrick where we learnt all about bible translation to head coverings to parenting.
I was personally encouraged from personal time I got to spend with Dr. and Mrs. Barrick. He was the man who taught me Hebrew at bible school and how to go deep in the study of the word. His family had spent over 15 years in bible translation in Bangladesh before he returned to the USA to teach in seminary.
This year was the best turn out we’ve had in Cape Town so we rejoice that the Lord is bringing more pastors to come and be further encouraged and equipped through the conference.
Christ is Building His Church.
I was recently on a trip to the Maldives, which is a country made up of a chain of islands south of India in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is a strong Islamic state that prohibits any missionary activity. Visitors are only allowed on certain designated islands. On one of those islands I met a man who is a believer. He is only one of five believers on that island. They meet once a week to pray.
It’s wonderful to know that God has his remnant all of the place and he is building his church. So keep praying.
Your brother
Kilwa Anderson
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As I write this column, the early morning rays are creeping in my window. There has been heavy rain in Cape Town over the past two days that is sweeping its way across the whole country. Next week we are expecting more intense rain as a blistering ‘Black South Easter’ hits the Cape.
The winds are fierce and the rain unstoppable but after it is all said and done, there is a wonderful beauty that is left behind. The air is crystal clear. The air smells clean. Colors shine unlike before. After a day when that cleansing effect wears off, the environment goes back to normal. One is left with a slight haze in the air and the normal city smells return.
I share this with you because it is similar to how I feel after the past month. My mom’s passing was a shock to us all. It came as sudden storm into our lives. As sad as the loss is to me I have experienced the gentle pruning of the Father (Jn. 15.2) as I’ve had to draw near to Christ and experience his grace through it all. At a time like this when the yellow and orange rays are shining in I can see the hand of God clearly. The mourning is far from over. The bouts of utter despair in the knowledge that my one and only beloved mother is gone from this life will continue to hit me like those ferocious Black South Easters but in Christ there is grace. He is the ‘true vine’ (Jn. 15.1) and by abiding in him (v4-5) I have experienced ecstatic joy (v11). This is true and is difficult to explain.
Unbelievers have asked friends if the loss has rocked my faith. It has only strengthened it in the knowledge that God is a sovereign God and works all things according to his good plan.
It has forced me to face the consequence of sin, which is death. God never created us to die. It was sin that lead to death. This is why death is NOT natural. It is final for us physically but obviously through the lens of scripture I see that it is just a passing from this world to the next. This is the point that has been driven home in my heart. To be a minister of the gospel is be God’s messenger. The message I have been entrusted with is the message that has the power to save souls (Ro. 1.16).
God continues to shine his face upon Living Hope Bible Church.
The family camp in April was a huge success. A team came out from Community Bible Church, Vallejo in California. I had some sweet fellowship with these brothers and sisters from V-Town. The timing was perfect. I heard about my mom on the Saturday after spending two very encouraging days with them. Phil Foley preached on the work of the Holy Spirit. The two sermons I heard was the best teaching I had ever heard on the topic. Phil taught a SSTEP class after the camp for a few days on ‘Bible Study Methods’.
Mark begins the next SSTEP class this Sunday night. He will be teaching ‘Soteriology,’ which is the study of salvation.
The current FOF class is going very well. These saints love the word so much and it is a joy teaching them. Denver has been teaching some of the classes and is really developing his teaching gift. Please pray for Abrie who will be teaching next week for the first time. He has recently retired from his job.
The steering committee met for the second time a couple of weeks ago. The formation of some leaders is the most exciting development in Living Hope Bible Church. We spoke about what do to about finding a new venue. We must leave our current situation by the 1st of August so please pray as the Lord moves us to the next venue.
Thank you all for you prayers. There is nothing more encouraging than knowing that prayers are being lifted up to the Father as you walk through those dark valleys.
Your brother
Kilwa Anderson
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April 2006
As many of know, my mother passed away on Saturday. I flew up to Johannesburg first thing. The funeral was on Wednesday. It was a wonderfully dignified occasion. The service was honouring to both my mom (Sheryl Anderson) and the Lord Jesus Christ. Her faith was mentioned many times throughout the service. My dad gave a heart moving eulogy. A number of friends spoke words and all mentioned her faith. One of those who spoke was a Jewish lady who said that she is into astrology. She mentioned my mother’s faith and how they used to talk about the bible.
I gave the message at the service. I tried to give a clear gospel message using many scriptural references. My mother was saved in 1984 when she went to study at a bible college. My mom was an agnostic at the time. I don’t know how the bible college accepted her but she went to learn the facts about the bible to prove it wrong. I found her folders from her studies there. I read from two of her essays that she wrote during her studies. The word of God worked on her heart and one day during class she ran outside weeping on the steps of the college and turned to Jesus Christ.
This is what she said in one of her essays before her salvation:
People worship idols today, their status symbols, wealth, careers, etc.
and I think this is prevalent among the more affluent members of our
society. How much easier it is to buy another diamond ring than to
enter a church and pray for forgiveness. I think the people of today
are the same as those of Judah’s – we have our idols and apathy.
Revivals come and revivals go – what will our punishment be!!
In another essay after her conversion she said this:
The word “saved” is often scoffed at, and people feel that as long as they don’t murder or steal, they don’t need to be saved. I believe we need to be saved not because we are so wonderful we deserve it, but because we are so bad, we need to be. Christ died to save the sinner and we should accept this fact and praise him for it!!
Thank you all for praying for us during this time of loss. The Lord answered our prayers specifically on the day. My father and I both had much grace when we spoke. We have had opportunities to witness to a number of people including my mom’s dad who is a very hard man.
As unnatural as death is it is truly an encouragement to know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (cf. 2Cor. 5.6). We rejoice that mom is now with her sweet Saviour.
Your brother
Kilwa Anderson
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