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Key Women – 1 March 2012 Report-Back

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Written by Justine Engelbrecht

Adele Herbert discussed the journey of Sarah with the ladies that attended Key Women on the 1st March; the emphasis was on being a ‘Woman of Faith’. She encouraged us to live in the world in a supernatural way and to realise that God is in the little things. She also emphasised the importance of putting on the Armour of God every day.

Consider Proverbs 13 vs. 12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Sarah’s life is a true example of what the Lord says, happens. We need to have patience knowing that God’s plan is the best plan, God knows best. God sees through our present faults to our future faith. God sees us as women of faith, His love will never dry up, always being a overflowing well; God is merciful.

Despite Sarah’s imperfections, Sarah was a ‘Princess of God’; despite our imperfections we are ‘Princesses of God’. God is always true to His Word and God is faithful and trustworthy.

Read about Sarah in Genesis 11 – 15 and Hebrews 11.

Key women is held on the first Friday of every month and is a must for every woman. Take two hours out of your working month to be inspired by the remarkable Women of the Bible.

A Remarkable Story of Healing

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This testimony of healing – a letter the elders received – was shared at prayer meeting last week. It’s a remarkable story of God’s incredible healing of Hannelie, who was diagnosed with cancer. Her and her family are friends with Marcus and Adele and others in Cornerstone. Let it be an encouragement that Jesus still heals today as he healed in the Scriptures.

Now that Han is at home I thought it helpful to summarise what happened over the last three weeks.

“At the beginning of this month Hannelie was hospitalised with a urinary tract infection. The oncologist saw that her haemoglobin levels were about half the minimum level, and based on his experience he gave her two weeks to a month to live.

We were shattered by this news and I took a month off to be with her all the time. Over the next two weeks her condition gradually worsened. She became so weak that she could no longer walk and was delirious 90% of the time.

It was apparent that the phases of death were running their course. Her one kidney started to fail as her urine had a very dark colour. The doctor explained that the brain was not getting sufficient oxygen, hence the delirium, and that this was common in dying.

Friday before last I rushed her to the hospital with another blockage of the intestine. When this happens the body ejects its waste via the only opening possible – upwards – if the normal downwards route is blocked. The same thing happened last year when the tumour grew so large that it obstructed the intestine.

Her oncologist examined her and said that the end was imminent. His assistant confirmed that she would go the same or the following day. He also indicated that Hannelie’s very strong muscle twitches pointed towards her brain busy dying.

That evening she reached a state where she was white as a sheet, ice cold and hardly breathing. I rushed the children to her bedside to see their mother maybe for the last time. Afterwards myself, Nito and Lili prayed earnestly for and over her and we trusted God to save her.

More than two years ago when Hannelie first became diagnosed with cancer God said that he would do a miracle before the nations that would be for His glory. We pleaded with Him to uphold his word. The next morning Hannelie was awake and amazingly she had a clear mind, for the first time in two weeks. She could not stop smiling and told us of the experiences she had with God. She also did not have any more muscle twitches.

The doctor on duty was astonished and at least recognised that they could not explain what happened. Since then Hannelie’s morphine dosage has dropped from 1260mg per day to 480mg with no recurrence of the constant hip pain that she lived with for one year. She also used to take up to six fast acting morphine rescues per day, which she does not even need anymore.

We are continuing to reduce her morphine intake daily to avoid strong withdrawal symptoms. She is still very thin with weak muscles, so still a long road to full recovery.

Oh, I almost forgot, the blocked intestine got sorted out by itself, without any surgery or any other treatment. She is also free from the chronic diarrhea that made her life a living hell for one year (this is due to the radiation therapy).

We are very happy to testify to this miracle which shows that God still heals today, and that even cancer, the dreaded disease of our time, is under His authority. May his name be glorified in the nations because of this. Thank you Lord that you uphold your word.

An Update from Marcus and Adele

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Marcus and Adele are currently in the U.S. with Tyrone Daniel and many others on the NCMI team. They’ve sent us a little update on how things are going there, so here it is:

From Denver
13 February 2012

We’re starting our team meetings Tuesday through to Thursday this week. Please pray for us. God’s will and directing are of paramount importance.

We then go on to spend the weekend and a few days with Kirk and Jan Slow in Ottawa, Canada. We’re looking forward to our ministry time and connecting time there. They do feel like they are on the frontiers of our vision and need all the support and friendship they can get.

We believe God has led them there to plant a base church and already the signs of that are evident.  They are moving into a new venue and are trusting God for greater breakthrough with young people. Nathaniel, their son, is being used by God in this regard!

I’ve heard great reports from home and hear that part two on the Holy Spirit has been well received. This is our season and this is the challenge of the day: how is your relationship with the Holy Spirit? He has taken hold of us and is doing things in us so that He can move through us in a mighty way.

I want to urge us to stay the course. The enemy will try to steal the baby! But we overcome through the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and not loving our lives unto death (Revelation 12:11).

We love you guys and are enjoying the privilege of sailing again! See you soon!

Marcus & Adele

Key Women in February

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Written by Justine Engelbrecht

The First Key Women Meeting for 2012 was held on Thursday 2nd February and after worship, an introduction and sad farewell to Bernie Weeden, Collette Meeske discussed the plan for the year ahead.

Exciting dates to diarise are:

9th March –                    Discussion by leading gynecologist on Women’s Health,

17 – 20th May-              Kaleidoscope 2012

28th July –                      A talk by a local Image Consultant.

1st Sep –                        Annual Spring Walk

These are all perfect opportunities for women to fellowship together and invite other women from the community to join.

The Theme for 2012 – ‘Lessons Learnt from the Remarkable Women of the Bible’

Theme Scripture – 1 Corinthian 10 – 11 and Proverbs 3.

We can learn and follow the examples from the leading women in the bible and I encourage all women to take 2 hours a month and come to the Key Women meeting.

Some verses offering encouragement and inspiration are Ephesians 2 vs. 10 – ‘For we are God’s Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’

Read 2 Timothy 3 vs. 6-7.

Remember in Christ we are all equal 2 Corinthians 3 vs. 4 – 5

Women have a role to play –

In Christ we are competent,

In Christ we are adequate

and in Christ we are sufficient.

You do have a role to Play.  Join Collette on the 8th March to learn more about the remarkable women of the Bible and how God uses ordinary women to achieve remarkable things.

Making the Most of Life: Come Sailing

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written by Nick Wienand

The Christian life is one full of adventure when we allow God to use us. That was the message Gregg MacAlpine shared with us on Friday morning. The predominant themes coming out of our time of Prayer & Fasting the week before, were “We’re Going Sailing Again”  and “Roaring Forties, Doldrums and Traded Winds” and Gregg made this applicable to those in the marketplace. As he illustrated, we’re looking to move from “here to there” and not get caught in a life of simply maintaining the status-quo.

This was the first Exchange meeting of 2012 and the turnout was brilliant. It is so great to see so many men and women who want God to use them in their workplaces. As we met before the meeting and connected over a cappuccino , there was an air of excitement and anticipation. There were a number of first-time visitors who were treated to copy of Chippy Brand’s “Branded by Grace.” As Gregg shared the sense of challenge was strong and I believe many were changed as the Holy Spirit ministered. We ended the morning with a delicious breakfast, served by Linda and her team. Thanks to all who were involved.

Gregg concluded with this challenge; “To “Go Sailing” and make the most of this life that God calls you to, to live well, and to live to the full, you require a ticket! A two coupon ticket of FAITH and WORKS. The coupon of works is not good for passage, and the coupon of FAITH is not valid if detached from WORKS!”

We look forward to seeing you at the next Exchange.

P.S. You can download the recording and Gregg’s notes here.

 

Kaleidoscope 2011 Report Back

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written by Tanya de Ruig

Kalos (the root word of kaleidoscope) in Greek means beautiful; that was the theme of this year’s Kaleidoscope Women’s Conference: She’s beautiful. The women looked beautiful, the hall looked beautiful, but what God did at the conference was beautiful. Women were set free from rejection, jealousy, fear, hopelessness and their value was restored as Jesus revealed himself to all the women. He showed them how beautiful they are inside and out in His eyes. This freedom lead to unabandoned worship and a new revelation that a woman’s call and purpose is to advance God’s kingdom.

Download the recordings of the messages here.

 

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Uptown Karaoke Photos

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Written by Ryan Strydom

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A few weeks ago it was Karaoke time at Uptown on Friday night and it was a ton of fun. The girls were really showing up the guys in the singing department. Some of the songs sound great when you’re singing them on your own but put yourself behind a microphone and add the pressure of some competition and things change!It was a fantastic and super fun way to spend a Friday evening. Due to popular demand there will be another Karaoke time soon, but in the meantime here are some of the photos that were taken.

Uptown Sundays Going Well

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Written by Wendy Herbert

Just over a year after Uptown started in the heart of the Joburg CBD a second meeting time was started. The decision to include a Sunday morning meeting was made in order to accommodate those that are unable to get to the usual Thursday night slot.

Different meeting times allow for more people to be part of our community and continues to establish us in the heart of Braamfontein. Our Thursday night meetings remain a highlight in the life of Uptown and we’re always surprised at how lively and colourful the people are that God has brought in.

Sunday mornings have been going for a month and although they are not as full as our other meetings they have been a wonderful success. We have been grateful for the help Central has provided in getting us kitted out and training us in sound and worship.

Please keep us in your hearts as we live our dreams in the city!

Some photos and a small write-up of Uptown’s Karaoke evening this last Friday will be posted tomorrow.

The South Side Launch

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Written by Barrie Knox-Davies

 

It was a morning packed with excitement and enthusiasm as members of Cornerstone gathered at 8am sharp to set about getting the South Side venue ready for the service that was to start in two hours time.

Never was the saying “many hands make light work” more true than when referring to the venue’s heavy gym artillery – punch bags, mini trampolines and aerobics steps were all shifted and shunted around, partitions were assembled and blinds were raised to create the spaces so familiar to a Cornerstone meeting environment.

Very soon an auditorium took shape with the smell of freshly brewing coffee filling the air. Boards directing potential first timers and existing Cornerstonians were placed on all the right street corners – you wouldn’t have been able to miss the venue even if you were stumbling along the straight and narrow.

As 10am drew nearer so did many cars and people. Laughter filled the air and there was a real buzz. Pizza arrived too along with biscuits, chocolate brownies, cookies and coffee. The fellowship was thick with people easily mingling with strangers, making the most of the occasion to get to know each other.

The meeting got underway at 10:20am with praise and worship having a flavour of its own – something of Cornerstone, but songs and words adapted to suit the South, to much amusement of both the regulars and the fringe.

A prophetic word was shared calling the “valley of dry bones” to arise and mobilise into a great army. Marcus built on this word by emphasising that this work builds on that which existed before Cornerstone saw this prophetic vision, and that Columbine Road is like a river flowing down into the valley, with many different streams flowing into one – symbolic of the rising up of God’s people as one, moving towards the common goal of seeing the lost saved and preparing the Bride of Christ.

Marcus went further by calling all the people over 35 years of age to come forward – and then they prayed for all the younger generation seated / standing in the rows, saying that the older folk were there to raise up this generation to go beyond that which the older generation had achieved so far.

The meeting ended around 11:30am and with continued enthusiasm and fervour a number of people stayed behind to assist with restoring the venue to its former state – that of a gym aerobics / boxing studio.

South Side In The News

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