Mighty Men Conference

[Guest Aussiegirl]

Without meaning to offend you "Springbok" it would seem you know nothing about Angus and his ministry. He travels into Africa all the time leaving his wife to go minister to all those "blacks" you are talking about. When he built his farm house he made it out of mud like the locals mud huts and to this day it has remained the same. He still lives in that very same house even though God has blessed him abundantly. Most of that blessing is poured back into the local "black" community. He has a heart for Africa and the locals of Africa. He did not choose who came to the conference. He simply held it and whoever wanted to, chose to go. As he himself said to certain ppl this weekend (my sister in laws father is an elder in his church) "This is God's conference, the ppl He wants here have come. This is not Angus's conference or anyone else's". A friend came to visit last night and was telling us he went to the conference. The entry fee was NOT compulsory it was voluntary some paid more some paid less some paid none. It was a personal choice. I don't see what the issue is. When ppl go to Splashy fen they pay over R200 just to camp, that excludes food, drink etc. Wherever you go to camp or stay for a weekend you have to pay for your accommodation. Why would this be any different? Just cos its a Christian conference must everything be free so no one takes immature offense. This makes no sense to me !! Another thing is I don't understand why some of you are getting all touchy, those ppl chose to go they chose to donate what they like no one forced them and it wasn't your choice!! Clearly that's not something you'd chose so no one is judging your choices why must these men be judged on theirs..........

[Rissiepit]

The playing field is level today? Right ... especially since we're outnumbered and have been disarmed, so to speak. Stating that this is God's country certainly does not put HIM in a box - it means exactly what was explained just after that, i.e. that this country was dedicated to Him centuries ago by our forefathers. In my book, any country dedicated to God is a special country.

There were men of all races at that conference. Those men were praying, singing and worshipping in English, Afrikaans and Zulu. There were even more than 100 men who made the trip all the way from Australia. And that without the event having been advertised beforehand. Pity that someone always has to play the race card ... even with an event of this nature.

And yes, a 1 000 000 man march/conference would certainly be "something". So why don't you organise one instead of sitting pretty in Aus, pointing fingers at people who are actually trying to do something about the crisis that we are in at the moment - even if the only thing they can do at this stage, is to stand together (or kneel in this instance) and pray.

Just to clarify: are the "nay sayers" actually saying that God is not powerful enough to save this country? Because that's what this boils down to. That's a relatively simple question. No "buts", just yes or no.

[CapeTownToolNut]

South Africa has become a place where EVIL people flourish. There is an entire EVIL generation without any value for human life and an immoral money hungry government who does not care if EVIL flourish....

I must agree - it is a breakdown of altruism,of civil "ubuntu" values.

It's the me,myself,I syndrome fueled by American style reality TV shows.

It's also the "must have it to be cool" and the "live large,pay later" bombardment of TV commercials.

It's also a government that is taxing us for national education,national health and national security,yet still forcing us to pay privately for our kids' educations and for our own armed response and for our own private medical aids because they won't allow us onto national health.

Add to that,the fact our government is using our taxes to pay monthly interest repayments to the IMF,World Bank and Bank of International Settlements in Basle,Switzerland,for RDP and re-armaments loans foisted on us in 1994 upon "independence" and one begins to understand the "dog eat dog" mentality of the average SA citizen who is being bled dry by inflation-causing repayments that our government never mentions to us.

It's the global debt based monetary system that is the REAL evil,because it's money lent into the economy and not spent into the economy.

[Alida]

Yes, good will eventually triumph over evil - when this world finally comes to an end. Could be tomorrow, next year, or in a few million years. No one knows when. But in our own lifetime, evil can rule the world for a VERY long time, Zimbabwe is one example. For how long have those people now lived in misery??

Remember it's not the same today as in 1838 when the "civilised" white Christian Voortrekkers fought with firearms against the black non-Christian spear-wielding Zulu "barbarians".... the playing field is level today.

As for S.A. being "God's country" - we cannot put God in a little box and confine Him to South Africa.... what makes ANY country in the world so special anyway? Australia is not nearly as religious as South Africa, yet there's much less evil in Australia. South Africa's GOVERNMENT must start doing something and serve its PEOPLE, not ITSELF. Otherwise criminals will continue running wild and do what they want. Of course prayer helps, but it's not a guarantee that things will improve when the majority of a country's citizens (and its leaders) aren't engaging in prayer too.

If we look at the 60,000 men at the MMC, I'm sure 99% of them were white. So much for reconciliation... What about the majority of men in the country who are black? Blacks outnumber whites by about 10:1 in S.A., which means you'll need about 600,000 black men at a similar conference. It's up to ALL South Africa's people to make it a better place. How about a "million men" march or conference, including men of all races? Now that could be something...

So who's responsibility is it to get those 600 000 blacks at a conference ? The whites' ? In this time of 'equalness', everybody is responsible equally as well. It's no white man's responsibility to get the blacks there, they are quite capable. It's nobody's fault that they weren't there - they were in no way prohibeted nor hindered to go. There were some men of other nationalities, out of their own and they were treated with respect. Please stop playing the race card, it's each for his own since 1994.

[Rissiepit]

You know, CapeTownToolNut, we are fully aware of the problems that this country is facing and experiencing. We don't need anybody to highlight them for us ... we need solutions. And heck, if all else fails, why NOT pray? Perhaps we should have started praying before trying anything else. It might have saved us a lot of heartache and misery.

My question remains unanswered. Do you think God is not powerful enough to save this country?

[Gean]

Just to clarify: are the "nay sayers" actually saying that God is not powerful enough to save this country? Because that's what this boils down to. That's a relatively simple question. No "buts", just yes or no.

[Rissiepit]

Well thank God it is not taking us 40 years to come to our senses and realise that we have to repent and seek His mercy and guidance to fix this situation.

Let's put a lid on that can of worms:

"2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

I believe God is true to His Word.

I guess that's what the MMC was all about

[Alida]

Allow me to 'chip in' - of course God is far more than capable to save this country - but, He gave His conditions for His blessing to be bestowed. That includes honouring Him, abiding in His will; read an example of this in Deut. 28. If this is not done, He said that He would allow 'other nations' to rule over us, that would have no compassion. The situation we are in today is judgment, not fate. He is merciful and loving by judging us now in order to try and save us from eternal judgment. Furthermore, He always gave those who turns back to Him a 'way out', or a 'way through' (like Daniel that stayed in Babel when Judah returned) - in our case, we see Australia as our 'way out'. Some of us will have a 'way through', safe and sound. We turned to Him and sought Him for deliverance from all this current evil. He introduced Australia to us through friends and family. For us personally, it's our way. For others, like Buchan, they'll have a 'way through' prepared for them.

Sorry, I digressed a bit from the topic ...

[Ing]

Go to YOUTUBE

type in: Mighty Mens Conference (and Mighty Men Conference) and have a look. (don't know how you do those link-thingies...)

You can feel God's annointing was there - even as you watch.

I have seen "change" in people who were there. If so many individuals change & become the King, Prophet & Priest God created them to be - it will bring change in their homes, their families, their communities, their work-place and the Spiritual ripple will be much bigger than what can see with our eyes.

I just say: PRAISE GOD for the MMC. It is good to see people hungry for God.

And for this I might get 'stoned'... but the Word clearly says: Do not judge the Lord's annointed...

I believe Angus has got an annointing (which anyone can have) that atttracts people from all over... even from "Down Under".

Let's rather be thankfull for what happened in individuals' lives and in the Spirit - than sitting behind our keyboards critisizing & judging. Let's think "kind thoughts" - as you become what you think....

Edited April 24, 2008 by I&J

[Lynn]

Personally, I am bit skeptical about huge demonstrations like the MM conference. One silly question: Why do you have to gather in a large group for God to hear your prayer? Say each of those 60,000 devotees said a quiet prayer alone, at home: Would God somehow not hear it then? Is an individual prayer less powerful? The MMC, imho, is rather an indication of how desperate SAffers have become. They'lll cling at any straw -- including mass religion -- in an effort to stem the tide of ctime and murder. I don't blame them.

Hi Chris2

Read your bible... "... one will put 1000 to flight, 2 will put 10 000 to flight ..." "... when two or more are gathered in my name...."

K.rgds Lynn

[Geduldige van der merwes!]

Why not go and rent the movie: "Faith like patatoes" before you judge Angus Buchan. Especially watch disc two.

[Rissiepit]

It would appear that the ripple effect is indeed taking place. My 15 year old daughter came to me this evening, wanting to know how far our visa application was. When I asked why she wanted to know, she told me that the kids at school were discussing the MMC and that lads who had attended, could not stop raving about the whole experience. Their lives have been visibly touched and the positivity is rubbing off.

She no longer wants us to emigrate. And here I was, thinking that I was doing this for her. In her own words: "Mamma, hier kom 'n ding. Ons gaan hierdie land reg bid en ek wil nie uitmis op dit nie!"

We are leaving it up to God - if He wants us in Aus, He'll get us there. If not, well then we'll just "blom waar ons geplant is".

[BasinOzson]

Dankie Rissiepit....... Wonder hoeveel gaan jou nou stenig??? Ek het dieselfde gevoel...hier kom dinge......die Here kan hierdie hele land met 'n "blink" van Sy oog verander.

My man was daar. As ek na sy videos kyk kan ek net in verwondering staan oor die Here.....op die ou einde gaan dit nie oor ons of die land nie, maar of Sy Naam verheerlik word.

Oom Angus het duidelik gestel dat daar geen skuld vir die tent is nie.....daar was sprake dat die tent geskenk is deur Amerikaners....maar as dit die mense plae waarom bel hul nie sommer oom Angus en vra hom nie....

Ons is besig met PR omdat ons vir ons kinders se veiligheid vrees, maar as die Here die land verander....wat Hy kan doen....bly ek!!!!!!!

[Rissiepit]

Hallo Vlam

Nee wat, oor "stenig" is ek nie veel gepla nie. Ek bekommer my eerder oor my beeld by God as by die mens. Immigrasie is en bly 'n persoonlike keuse. Ek sal nooit iemand veroordeel wat voel dat dit hul roeping of uitweg is nie. Die mense wat in Aus of in enige ander plek bly, se gebede vir ons land sal net soveel beteken as die van die mense wat hier in SA is.

Die laaste ruk het dit vir my gevoel of iets my aan die keel beet het. Al die negatiewe dinge wat 'n mens lees en hoor het my laat voel of ek nie meer kon asem haal nie. Die angs pak 'n mens beet en jy voel of jy in 'n hoek vasgekeer is. Elke dag het ek 'n rede gesoek om te bly, en elke dag het ek 10 redes gekry om te gaan. Geen mens kan so lewe nie!

Ek kan nie vir jou beskryf hoe dit gevoel het om Sondag oggend die Rapport se artikel oor die "MMC" te lees nie. Ek bid al so lank dat die Here moet ingryp en 'n wesenlike, sigbare verandering in ons land teweeg bring - en Sondag oggend was dit asof my antwoord daar was ... op die voorblad nogal.

Nou moet ons net volhard

[BasinOzson]

Rissiepit.....Stem saam my lewe voel soos 'n wiplank tussen gaan en bly......maar soos jy se....ons los dit in die Here se hande....en Hy wil vir ons net die goeie he......

Vlam

[Springbok]

Without meaning to offend you "Springbok" it would seem you know nothing about Angus and his ministry.

no offence taken... I have never said anything against Angus, questioned why the MMC was free nor did I judge the men who attended the MMC. If I was still in S.A., I probably would've gone there too. I'm just asking where was the majority of men in S.A., who happen to be black. Including the leaders in government. A country needs strong leaders with solid moral principles whom the people can look up to. But it's up to the people to put the right leaders in power.

Pity that someone always has to play the race card ... even with an event of this nature.

I wasn't playing a race card... I was just asking where were the representatives of 90% of the country's population? Yes there were a few black guys, I could see that from photos my friends sent me, but the far majority was white. Once again, men of all races should work together for peace and harmony in South Africa.

And yes, a 1 000 000 man march/conference would certainly be "something". So why don't you organise one instead of sitting pretty in Aus, pointing fingers at people who are actually trying to do something about the crisis that we are in at the moment - even if the only thing they can do at this stage, is to stand together (or kneel in this instance) and pray.

Not pointing fingers. The MMC is a great idea for a country in crisis, desperate times require desperate measures. Just get the whole country including government, involved. As for me "sitting pretty" in Australia, it was my personal decision to come and live here, not "in exile" until things in S.A. improve, but for the rest of my life, because I feel a better sense of belonging in this great country than in Africa. Others prefer Africa, so if you choose to remain in S.A., then that's good. Each to his own.

Just to clarify: are the "nay sayers" actually saying that God is not powerful enough to save this country? Because that's what this boils down to. That's a relatively simple question. No "buts", just yes or no.

of course I believe God is almighty - to save or not to save, whatever His reasons might be. Now we can argue that God was powerful enough to save Adam & Eve from listening to the devil in the Garden of Eden. Surely it wasn't God's will that they disobey Him and bring sin into the world? But God gave them free will, to make their own decisions and to live with the consequences of their actions, good or bad. And that's how I see emigration, at least I know God is wherever I am.

[Guest Aussiegirl]

no offence taken... I have never said anything against Angus, questioned why the MMC was free nor did I judge the men who attended the MMC. If I was still in S.A., I probably would've gone there too. I'm just asking where was the majority of men in S.A., who happen to be black. Including the leaders in government. A country needs strong leaders with solid moral principles whom the people can look up to. But it's up to the people to put the right leaders in power.

Whilst the country does need strong leaders and there is a majority of blacks in South Africa you cant force someone to go somewhere they are not interested in going. Its not as though the MMC was a "white" secret. Living in PMB I know that everyone here knew about it. So again it was a matter of personal choice. Our church (NCF) have hosted a number of "outreaches" and we have invited and had the privilege of hosting our current Premier at one of the events. There have been other outreaches that the men and women in govt have been invited to. So please don't think that the churches here are not trying to reach the leaders of this country. That is just one church, I'm sure the others are also praying for the leaders (as are we) and inviting them to outreaches.

I know you never said anything about paying for the MMC, I was just mentioning you by name cos it was the last post I read and my first point was about the racial quotas. There was another bloke right in the beginning talking about the financial side of it and I was referring to him - sorry about the mix up

Hope you have a fantastic day and keep on praying for this country. You sound like you are passionate about seeing the Lord change the hearts of the leaders here. It says in Ecclesiastics that God changes the hearts of kings!!

Aussiegirl...........

[Rissiepit]

Springbok, fortunately nobody is questioning your decision to emigrate, as stated in my previous post. This thread is not about leaving or staying, or judging those who have made their decision - that debate can carry on for years and in the end we will all have to agree to disagree, as each person is entitled to his/her own opinion and one cannot enforce your beliefs on someone else.

So let's keep the topic on its tracks. i.e. the MMC and the remarkable effort being made by so many believers to change things with help from Above.

The MMC is getting the whole country involved slowly but surely ... the 60 000 man gathering was just the start of things to come. Loftus is sold out, Newlands is going fast. How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time.

Nobody is precluded from attending and I'm sure you will gradually see more non-white faces at future conferences - hmmm ... now I sound like a politician debating the "quota system" and I'm not going to get into politics as that is also not what this topic/thread is about.

[Olkabolka]

Ek het 'n e-pos ontvang met fotos van hoe die tent opgeslaan is, en dan die finale foto met 60 000 mense in die tent. Ook was die volgende daarby geskryf:

“He is no fool who lets go of the things you cannot keep, to grab hold of that which you cannot loseâ€. Angus Buchan

Hoe kry 'n boer uit KwaZulu-Natal dit reg om 60 000 mans vir 'n geestelike konferensie op sy plaas byeen te bring? Neels Jackson skryf oor Angus Buchan en die boodskap wat hy bring.

Wanneer Angus Buchan by die Mighty Men’s Conference voorgestel word, is dit as iemand “wat die onverdunde Woord van God verkondigâ€.

Self sê hy dat hy nooit die kans gehad het om na ’n Bybelskool te gaan of in die teologie te studeer nie. Hy is wel deur die skool van die lewe.

En wanneer hy oor Jesus praat, sê hy: “Ek praat nie oor iemand van wie ek in ’n boek gelees het nie. Ek ken Hom. Hy is my beste vriend.â€

Later hou hy die Bybel in die lug en roep uit: “Ek gee nie om hoe goed jy dié boek ken nie, as jy nie die outeur daarvan ken nie, weet jy niks.â€

En dít is die kern van sy boodskap, dat ’n mens ’n persoonlike verhouding met die Here moet hê.

Van die redes waarom hy so gewild is en so ’n groot impak maak, lê waarskynlik presies hier. Want Buchan preek nie soos ’n gewone dominee nie. Hy lewer ’n getuienis. Hy praat uit ondervinding.

En anders as baie dominees wat sukkel om die kloof tussen hul leefwêreld en dié van hul gemeentelede te oorbrug, is dit nie vir Buchan ’n probleem nie.

Hy praat uit die harde ekonomiese werklikhede van die boerdery. Hy ken misoeste en krisis. Hy kan vertel hoe sy geloof hom daardeur gedra het.

Nie te trots vir ekskuus sê

Miskien is dit juis daarom dat so baie van die 60 000 mense wat die afgelope naweek op die plaas Shalom naby Greytown saamgetrek het, mans was met bande met die landbou.

Toe Buchan in ’n stadium vra hoeveel boere of ander mense met belange in die landbousektor daar is, het ’n see van hande opgegaan.

Op sulke ore maak ’n boodskap oor hoe die Christelike geloof in ’n landbou-opset werk, soveel sin. En Buchan se boodskappe is deurspek met sulke verhaaltjies.

Hy vertel byvoorbeeld in ’n sessie oor verhoudinge hoe die inspekteurs op sy plaas aankom om na sy saadmielies te kyk. Hulle is besorg oor hoeveel mielies in blom is, dat daar te veel stuifmeel in die lug is en hulle dreig om sy oes af te keur.

Met ekonomiese rampspoed wat so ’n stap sou meebring, probeer hy sy werkers, ’n groep Zoeloevroue, oortuig om in te spring en die lande te help skoonmaak. Maar dis laatmiddag en hulle is moeg en onwillig. Hy raas, maar vergeefs.

Toe hulle omdraai en loop, besef hy daar is net een manier: die Christelike manier van verskoning vra. Toe hy hom so voor die swart vroue nederig maak, het hulle hom gehelp. Verhoudinge is herstel, sy oes is gered, hy het hulle ruim vergoed – en hy het ’n belangrike geestelike les geleer.

Dié saak van verhoudinge is belangrik. ’n Hele sessie wy hy daaraan om met die tienduisende mans voor hom te praat oor die herstel van hul gesinsverhoudinge. Hy sê vir hulle hulle moet die hoofde van hul huise wees, maar dit word nie ’n vrypas tot baasspelerigheid nie.

Hy vertel hoe hy een dag moeg by die huis kom, sy vrou en een seun, toe ’n student, in die kombuis kry waar hulle tee drink. Sonder rede is hy sommer moeilik met hulle, hulle vervies hulle vir hom en die huis hang dik van die suur verhoudings.

By homself dink hy maar hy is die hoof van die huis, maar verklaar dan dat sulke denke sommer twak is. Hy het dié aand eers sy seun en toe sy vrou gaan wakker maak om hulle om verskoning te vra en verhoudings te herstel.

Moenie te trots wees om dit te doen nie, was sy boodskap.

Lewe heilig

Die meeste van die tyd, drie van die vier sessies tydens die konferensie, praat hy egter oor sy verhouding met die Here. En dis nie ’n teoretiese of dogmatiese kwessie nie. Dis ’n lewende werklikheid wat in sy dag-tot-dag-lewe neerslag vind.

Hy loer van die verhoog af na die ouens in die voorste ry en sê vir hulle: “Vir my is Jesus meer werklik as julle wat hier voor my sit.â€

En die God van wie hy vertel, is een wat mense liefhet, wat vir hulle die lewe in oorvloed wil gee, maar wat ook heilig is en wat gevrees moet word.

Aan die een kant vertel hy dat die Here sy beste vriend is, maar aan die ander kant waarsku hy dat Hy nie jou maat is nie: “God is not your china.†Hy moet gerespekteer word. Daarom dat ’n mens heilig moet lewe voor Hom.

Vir Buchan was dit die eerste stap waaroor hy met die mans wou praat. “Get rid of the rubbish.†Of dit ’n verslawing aan alkohol is en of dit ’n verhouding met ’n ander vrou is. Of dit geld is wat jy die belastinggaarder skuld en of dit trots is wat jou verhoudinge beduiwel.

Hy vertel hoe hy ná sy bekering benoud na die doeanekantoor is om te bieg dat hy nie alles verklaar het toe hy uit Zambië na Suid-Afrika geïmmigreer het nie.

Dit was soos ’n blok sement van sy skouers af toe hy oop kaarte met die doeanebase gespeel het – en ’n bonus toe hy hoor dat hy in elk geval niks invoerbelasting hoef te betaal het op dit wat hy weggesteek het nie.

'n Integrale deel van sy geloof is dat God wonderwerke doen.

“Geloof,†verklaar Buchan, “is om te glo wat jy nie kan sien nie – en die beloning vir jou geloof is om te sien wat jy glo.â€

Hy vertel van die insident wat ook in Faith like potatoes, die fliek oor sy lewe en geloof, uitgebeeld word: ’n Brand breek op sy plaas uit wat dreig om na omliggende plantasies te versprei. Hulle kan dit nie in bedwang bring nie en hy en ’n werker bid dat God reën moet stuur.

En dit gebeur, al is dit nie reënseisoen nie, en dit blus die brand.

Dis nie die enigste keer dat hy gebid het vir reën nie. Deur die loop van die naweek hoor ’n mens van minstens nog drie sulke gevalle: in Australië, in die Oos-Kaap en die Wes-Kaap.

Hy vertel hoe hy in Australië met die boere oor berou gepraat het, hoe hulle tot inkeer gekom het en hulle voor God verootmoedig het – en hoe dit daarna begin sous het.

“Hulle het my die reënmaker genoem. Ek het gesê ek is nie die reënmaker nie, ek is die Reënmaker se seun!â€

In die Oos-Kaap het hy op die Dinsdagaand aan ’n groep mismoedige boere gesê dit gaan reën voordat hy die volgende Maandag vertrek.

Hulle was opgewonde, maar toe daar teen die Donderdag nog geen teken van reën was nie, het hulle begin wonder. Buchan self het benoud geraak en by God gepleit.

Toe hy die Sondagmiddag voor ’n saal vol boere sy Bybel oopmaak, hoor hy die druppels op die dak.

“Dis my koning!†het hy uitgeroep. Hy verklaar dat die Here hom nog nooit in die steek gelaat het nie.

’n Honger na ankers

Die naweek se Mighty Men’s Conference was vir hom net so ’n wonderwerk. Toe hulle besluit het om die wêreld se grootste tent daarvoor op te rig, het hulle nie geweet waar die geld vandaan sou kom nie. Maar teen die tyd dat die konferensie gehou is, was dit betaal.

Op een punt tydens die konferensie toe hy sy gehoor wou aanspoor om te glo, roep hy uit: “Kyk net na die tent.â€

By ’n ander geleentheid word hy onderbreek deur een van sy helpers omdat hulle dokters soek om met ’n mediese noodgeval te help.

Nadat gevra is dat ’n dokter moet gaan help, bid hy dat die Here daar moet help met ’n wonderwerk en hy sê dankie dat hy kan weet dat daardie mens genees word.

In ’n volgende sessie vertel hy dat daardie man ’n hartstilstand gehad het, dat die dokters hom klinies dood verklaar het, maar hom ná tien minute weer kon bybring.

Wanneer hy die volgende dag vertel dat iemand wel tydens die konferensie dood is, is hy tevrede daarmee dat dié persoon “huis toe is na Jesus toeâ€.

Aan die einde van die sessies bid hy telkens vir mense wat siek is. Eers mense met laerugpyn. Dan mense met migraine. Later mense met kanker en uiteindelik mense met enige kwaal waarvoor hy nog nie gebid het nie.

Hy moedig mense aan om hul genesing te aanvaar en verklaar by geleentheid dat die mense genees is. Dis nie ’n vertoon nie en nie een van die siekes word vorentoe geroep of tot skouspel gemaak nie.

Vir Buchan is dit bloot ’n uiting van sy geloof in dié God wat reeds in sy lewe wonderwerke gedoen het. En vir sy gehoor val dit op vrugbare aarde.

’n Mens sou die geestelike honger kon probeer verklaar aan die hand van omstandighede in die land, van onsekerheid en van soeke na ankers.

Hoe ook al, die honger is duidelik daar onder Buchan se gehoor, waarvan seker twee derdes Afrikaners was.

Sy duidelike boodskap van ’n lewende God wat in die daaglikse lewe by sy kinders is en wat hulle en hul land desnoods met wonderwerke deur krisisse kan dra, help klaarblyklik om dié honger te stil.

Konferensie se hoofkwessies

'n Mens sou die kern van die boodskap wat mnr. Angus Buchan die afgelope naweek op die Mighty Men's Conference gebring het, in twee dele kon saamvat: Jy moet die Here liefhê met jou hele hart, en jy moet die mense om jou liefhê en met respek behandel. Terwyl hy uitvoerig hieroor gepraat het, het hy verskeie ander (soms omstrede) kwessies in die verbygaan aangeroer.

#   Rassisme. "Hier is mense hier wat probleme het met rasseverhoudinge. Ouens, dit moet end kry." Hierop het Buchan gebid dat die Here die rassisme uit mense se harte moet wegneem. Dit ontneem hulle van hul lewensvreugde, het hy gesê. Hy het gevra dat die Here hul harte met liefde vul. "Julle sê: "Angus, ek kan nie.? Julle kan!" het hy uitgeroep.

# Homoseksualiteit. "Ek haat nie homoseksuele of lesbiërs nie, maar wat hulle doen, is onaanvaarbaar."

# Lyfstraf. Hy sê dis pa's se taak om hul kinders te dissiplineer. "'n Mens moet 'n rebelse kind 'n pak slae gee en vir hom sê: 'Ek is lief vir jou'."

#   Belastingontduiking. "Party van julle raak slim met die belastinggaarder. 'Betaal aan die keiser wat die keiser toekom.' Betaal net, man!"

# Waterwys. Buchan sê 'n mens moenie 'n wiggelstok ("divining stick") gebruik om water te wys nie. Dis nie volgens die wil van die Here nie. ?n Mens moet God vra waar jy moet boor.

'Ramshoring wys Sy krag'

Neels Jackson

Dit klink soms soos vuvuzelas langs 'n sokkerveld, maar "ramshorings" het die laaste tyd al hoe meer hul verskyning gemaak by groot kerklike byeenkomste.

Mnr. Johan Storm van Goodwood in die Kaap het die afgelope naweek by die Mighty Men's Conference opgedaag met 'n koedoehoring waarvan die puntjie afgesny is sodat hy dit soos 'n trompet kan blaas.

"Dis 'n teken van die Here se krag en teenwoordigheid," sê hy. Hy wys daarop dat die Israeliete in die Bybelverhale van die val van Jerigo se mure en van Gideon se stryd teen Israel se buurnasies, telkens op hul sjofars of ramshorings geblaas het.

Deesdae is dit dikwels koedoehorings wat gebruik word, maar Storm se vriend, mnr. Philip Kotze, het die horing van 'n merinoram uit die Karoo saamgebring.

Hulle sê die horings is vanself hol. Dit word net met growwe sout en klein klippies behandel om die vesels aan die binnekant uit te kry.

'n Mens kan 'n paar verskillende toonhoogtes uit een horing kry en dit kan met verskillende ritmes geblaas word. Dit het 'n ryk geskiedenis in die kultuur van oud-Israel, maar vir hulle vandag is dit 'n geestelike teken wanneer die ramshoring geblaas word.

Mnr. Wouter de Lange, wat saam met Storm en Kotze uit die Kaap gekom het, sê soms voel dit asof daar 'n geestelike muur is wat jy moet deurbreek. Dan is die blaas van die horing soos 'n geestelike oorlogskreet. Ander kere is dit meer feestelik.

By die Mighty Men's Conference was daar verskeie mense wat met hul ramshorings iets oor die grootheid van God verkondig het.

Dis nou nie meer net 'Scotsman' wat doen wat die Here hom beveel nie

Hoe het konferensiegangers die naweek beleef? Werner Geere van Theresapark, Pretoria, vertel:

Wat die naweek in Greytown gebeur het, is 'n teenvoeter vir alles wat negatief en beklaenswaardig was die laaste paar maande.

Kom ek vertel julle van 'n rigtinggewende naweek in Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis, want manne is besig om op te staan en gemeenskappe te verander omdat een "Scotsman" op sy knieë gegaan en begin doen het wat sy God vir hom gesê het.

Toe ons bus Vrydag kort voor 07:00 uit Pretoria vertrek, was daar 'n opgewondenheid oor wat die naweek voorlê.

Ons bus is die een wat vyf keer gaan staan het op pad Greytown toe ? die einste bus waar jy nie 'n gemurmureer en gekla gehoor het oor ons so stadig vorder nie.

(Ons sou later verstaan dat die tyd wat ons langs die pad deurgebring het met herstelwerk, tyd was waarin God deur manne 'n impak kon maak op een busbestuurder se lewe ? en ons was betyds vir die konferensie).

In die kampterreine is gesê dat ondanks die ure lange gewag in die verkeer om op die plaas te kom, daar nie een voorval was waar 'n man sy humeur verloor het nie.

Toe ons teen 19:00 in die grootste tent ter wêreld sit en sien hoe die aankomende motors se ligte lang toue vorm uit verskillende rigtings oor die heuwels van KwaZulu-Natal, kon jy sien hoe manne se gemoed vol word van dankbaarheid oor die grootheid van God.

'n Grootheid wat geopenbaar is daarin dat 60 000 manne by die konferensie opgedaag het waar 30 000 verwag is, dat almal elke ete geëet het, dat die geriewe voldoende was en jy nooit iemand hoor kla het nie.

'n Grootheid wat daarin geopenbaar is dat daar nie 'n organisasie ter wêreld is wat 60 000 manne vir ?n naweek kan laat saamtrek, kos gee en twee na drie ure voor die begin van elke sessie in die plek van samekoms saam sien sit rondom 'n ou wat kitaar speel en liedere sing, of 'n groep wat bymekaar staan en saam bid voor die sessies begin nie.

'n Grootheid wat daarin geopenbaar is dat 60 000 manne saam op hul knieë gaan en God aanroep om hul land te heel.

Op pad terug hou ons in Montrose stil om diesel in te gooi en kos te koop. Naderhand het selfs KFC se personeel saam ge-amen as die manne in die toue oorweldigend "amen" onder leiding van die ou met die cowboy-hoed.

Ons is terug; Angus Buchan se God is saam met ons terug; ons het 'n paar dinge van geloof geleer en dis ook saam met ons terug.

Ek het woord gehou en vanoggend stiltetyd gehad soos Angus ons geleer het. Ek is seker daar was duisende ander manne wat dit ook gedoen het.

Dinge in Suid Afrika is dus reeds besig om te verander. Die "Scotsman" is nie meer alleen op sy knieë nie, en hy is nie meer die enigste man wat doen wat sy God vir hom sê nie. Ons vir jou, Suid-Afrika!

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Edited April 25, 2008 by Olkabolka

[Biltongboer]

This topic is probably "old" now, but I still have some comments.

I fully support the whole "Angus thing", and it is great that men are returning their hearts to God. I am just wondering whether God is preparing the country for a great revival, or wheher he is preparing his children to be ready for a great persecution?

I agree with Springbok about the fact that this group of 60000 is not representative of our demographics.

If 60000 jews got together in 1935, do you think the Nazis would have changed their atitude?

[louw.pretorius]

Hi Biltongboer,

I think the point is not that the 60 000 ppl will go out and make a difference but that 60 000 men are available for God to work thru. The power is not in the arms of men but in the arm of our God.

Asfar as persecution is concerned, well the Bible is clear that wherever people serve God persecution will follow.

We have to acknowledge that the Zionist Church every year also gather in their thousands but nobody notices any change afterwards, so the acid test for Angus' work is the result that is felt afterwards in our country.

[Biltongboer]

We have to acknowledge that the Zionist Church every year also gather in their thousands but nobody notices any change afterwards, so the acid test for Angus' work is the result that is felt afterwards in our country.

Good point. The fruit afterwards is the proof.