Presbevents 22

Wednesday 03 February 2010
Jan and Ellen Herbst (Adelaide): Jan has been having trouble with his heart for some weeks. It has resulted in his being weak (most unlike Jan!) and short of breath.
Last Wednesday he went to Johannesburg for Laser Treatment to his heart. The operation was successful and Jan is now recuperating well.
Ian and Jean Bernhardi (Darling, Western Cape): It has been good to hear of fellow ministers especially when in a small out of the way place like Darling! Ian retired from the SANDF in 2003 after an eventful active ministry and we are now ministering as Stated Supply to the Presbyterian Church in Darling. For those who have never heard of it, Darling is a small village on the West coast mainly farming community and has a wonder of wild flowers in the Spring. For this it is famous and attracts many visitors. The Presbyterian Church has been serving the community since 1915 and we are celebrating our 95th birthday this year. The Presbyterians are a very active busy bunch and at present one of our projects is 'Adopt our Cops" a project we have felt led to undertake together with the local V.G.KERK. We pray regularly for them as a congregation as their names are published weekly in the bulletin, hold devotions at the police station for those on duty and thank them with a
special tea once a quarter. We feel that, as they are at the forefront of the crime fight we should seek to encourage and support them. The next big event in Darling is the Darling Music experience and our members together with those from the VGK and San people form a choir which will sing at the opening concert and combined Church service. The Church and village involvement keep us busy... there is no sitting around thinking you are retired here!!
Hugh and Mita Grant (Carletonville): We spent 20 years in Phalaborwa, 8 of them church planting and then 12 years seconded to the Anglican church. At St Francisby- the-Gate (founded as St Francis Anglican and Presbyterian Church), Hugh worked mainly in the traditional communities and served in the Kruger Park.]
Regarding our family:
Liz (41) is not married and is an active member of a large congregation in Pretoria and a member of a small group. Liz is a computer software specialist and is contracted to a media group doing software development and training end-users of the systems. Based in Randburg, Liz often does training the Cape, Ghana and Uganda.
James (39) is married to Elanie (Weber) and their children are Chara (daughter aged 11), and JD, (son aged 7). They live in Vaal Park where they are doing church planting with NCI. By training he is a software and systems developer. Andrew (36) is not married and lives in Fochville. He is a certified computer engineer and specialises in network management. He works for a mining group.
Ministry.
We were called to St Matthews, Carletonville, five years ago. Hugh became Minister Emeritus in July 2008 but has been asked to remain as Stated Supply. He is convener of Church Growth and Planning in Lekoa Presbytery and Interim Moderator of two congregations. He is chaplain of Mustard Seed Christian Academy, Fochville (an ACE school).
Mita is an elder and lay preacher and heads up the ladies ministry. She is district elder for Fochville and works at Mustard Seed Christian Academy, where she runs the Futurekids department.
Prayer needs
We have been blessed until recently with good health. Mita went stone deaf in one ear on Christmas day. The prognosis is that the loss of hearing is permanent but we are praying for a healing. Hugh has recently had a parathyroidal gland removed. It was diagnosed as the cause of his frequent kidney stones.
Please pray for St Matthew’s. We had two new small groups start in 2009 and we were blessed with strong financial growth. We have lost many of our longstanding members who have gone to be with the Lord and others who have moved elsewhere.
Our organist is one who moved so we need a permanent solution for music at worship. We are being blessed with an influx of Malawians who are playing an increasing role in the life of St Matthew’s. There are prospects of church planting in our area as well as elsewhere in Lekoa Presbytery.
News from Martin Lund: I have little detail but Ralph Bricknell died yesterday (Monday). I believe the memorial service is on Thursday from the George church.
Grateful thanks to this week’s contributors!
Doug