THROUGH FIRE and STORM

Dear Friends

Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2

Cape of Storms
Cape Town is the only city in the world that sits astride two oceans. With the warm Indian Ocean and the Cold Atlantic meeting at Cape Point, our part of the world has long been known as the Cape of Storms. That was not particularly good for tourism so it was renamed the Cape of Good Hope. On 6th June, we were warned that a severe storm with anticipated wind speeds of up to 120km/hr would hit later that night. For the first time in my lifetime, all schools in the Cape Peninsula were ordered closed the next day, Wednesday 7 June, in anticipation of the severe storm.

In the Path of the Storm
The winds were picking up and the roads were almost empty when I left my weekly Sword Fighting Club to collect our Missionary Joseph and drive out to Radio Tygerberg for our weekly Salt and Light radio programme. After tackling Biblical responses to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Britain and other parts of the world on our radio programme, we left the studios as the winds were howling. It was evident that a serious storm was about to hit Cape Town.

Tempest and Fire
Coming at the end of a long and devastating drought, the severe storm that hit the Cape Peninsula, Tuesday night, 6 June into Wednesday morning, 7 June, uprooted trees, blew rooves off homes and shopping centres, brought down electricity pylons, caused fire and damage to large sections of Cape Town and surrounding areas. “You will be punished by the Lord of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire.” Isaiah 29:6

A Call to Return to God
The city’s Disaster Risk Management Centre warned of waves in excess of 12 metres high along the coastal areas. Numerous coastal roads had to be closed as waves washed over roads, intersections and vehicles. The city authorities described the storm as the worst in over 3 decades.

In the Book of Amos 4:7-8, the Lord declares: “'I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city… Yet you have not returned to Me’, says the Lord.”

The Need for Repentance
On our regular radio programmes, through e-mailings, on social media, on the internet, through our SermonAudio uploads and at public meetings, we have regularly been calling the people of our city and country to Repentance. In Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and Jeremiah 18, the Lord lays out the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. When our Lord was asked about a man-made disaster, He responded in Luke 13:2-3 “…Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Then the Lord referred to the disastrous fall of the tower in Siloam where 18 people died. “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish!” Luke 13:5. Our Lord Jesus used both natural and man-made disasters as an opportunity to call people to Repentance.

Compassionate Love in Action
There is a time to weep (Ecclesiastes 3:4) and we should grieve with those who grieve and render all practical help within our power. Compassionate Christian love in action is our first priority. We should also repent. “'Now, therefore,' says the Lord, ‘turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning. So rend your heart and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness and He relents from doing harm…” Joel 2:12-13

Community Consensus
An article I wrote on the Droughts, Storms and Fires – Is God Speaking to Us? led to other radio ministry opportunities, including on Radio Cape Pulpit and CCFM. With a prime time lunch time, Saturday phone-in programme, all the callers and text messages received agreed that the drought, storms and fires being suffered by the Cape must be seen as merciful calls from a Holy God for us to Repent. Some callers stated: “Our government is Godless. They are teaching our children in schools to be perverts. When will they learn?”

Storm Damage
Aside from some trees that came down, our Mission and home were mercifully spared any significant damage in the storms, but many homes and buildings nearby were severely damaged and roads blocked by uprooted and falling trees.

The Knysna Fire Disaster
The greatest damage was caused by devastating fires in Knysna, where firefighters reported tackling over 50 separate fires simultaneously. Some pointed out that Knysna had recently hosted highly publicised “Pink Loerie Gay Pride” marches and multiple high profile gay weddings which their mayor celebrated. Various radical groups such as Black Land First have encouraged Blacks to burn down the homes and farms of whites. Numerous social media posts expressed delight at so many white people losing their homes. Andile Mngxitama has called for Blacks to seize land and kill whites.

Inter-Faith Idolatry
Cape Town’s mayor had organised high profile inter-faith rain ceremonies with religious representatives from Buddhist, Baha’i, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and witchcraft adherents on the slopes of Table Mountain.

What Could God be Saying to Us?
Could God be speaking to our city where abortion kills thousands of babies every year, where gambling impoverishes the poor even more, where crime and violence stalk our streets daily and where our schools are teaching evolutionism, situation ethics and perversion? “The Lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:8

To Heal our Land
In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, the Lord declares: “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain... if My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Throughout the Bible natural disasters are seen as a judgement of God and a clear warning to us to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek God's face and to turn from our wicked ways.

Serving the Suffering
In the wake of the devastating fires which cost at least 6 lives and destroyed over 500 homes, we sent Abrie, Joseph and Francis on a Knysna Relief Mission to help in any way possible. They helped to distribute relief aid and ministered to some who had suffered and lost so much. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Praying for Clear Weather
Amongst the severe water restrictions of the drought and during the fires and storm, we praise God for good weather when we have had to offload container shipments of Bibles and books and pallets of World Missionary Press Gospel booklets, which arrived at our Mission headquarters yesterday.

Biblical Preaching Workshop
So far this year, Frontline Mission teams have already completed Missions to Namibia, Lesotho, Zambia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Sudan and Chad. Along with regular outreaches and open-air preaching at the University of Cape Town and other areas around the Peninsula, we hosted a Biblical Preaching Workshop with pastors, teachers, Evangelists and chaplains from a wide variety of ministries and churches at Livingstone House. John and Daniel organised an excellent programme and ensured that all the participants went home with a copy of our Biblical Preaching Handbook and Bible study aids.

History Tours of the Castle
Over 180 home educators and their children joined me for two History tours of the Castle. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest building still in use in the Southern Hemisphere. Constructed between 1666 and 1679, it is the finest example of a Dutch East India Company fortification of the 17th century anywhere in the world today. Each tour lasted over 2½ hours as I pointed out providential history lessons seen in so many features and artefacts of the Castle.

Family in Austria
My daughter, Daniela and son, Christopher, have completed a Spring Bible School at the Tauernhof in the Alps of Austria. Lenora has been representing South African Cancer Survivors in Dragon Boating in Vienna and at the 18km Vogalonga in Venice. 1,600 vessels of all types took part in this annual event. Lenora grew up in Austria, worked at the Tauernhof and has family living in Austria.

Audio Visual
Berdine has completed another inspiring video on the Eurochor Amazing Grace performance at the Waterfront in Cape Town. This has been added to our Frontline Vimeo video gallery. Caleb has added a large number of my recent lectures and sermons to our SermonAudio page, as well as some of my new PowerPoints to our Slideshare page.

The Case for Christ
Several of us had the opportunity to see the premier of the new Case for Christ film. It is now released in cinemas in South Africa and we can highly recommend it for both skeptics and Christians alike. We have promoted it on our radio programme and have also been widely distributing our leaflet on Evidences for the Resurrection.

Creation, Ark and Flood Education Events
Please pray for our upcoming events, including Exploring the Ark of Noah and the Flood, (Friday, 7 July) and Exploring the Creation Museum Workshops, (Friday, 14 July), which are particularly aimed for home educators, at Livingstone House, during these upcoming holidays.

Muslim Evangelism
I have been invited to conduct a Reaching Muslims for Christ Seminar, 29 July, in Johannesburg.

Upcoming Reformation 500 Events
Please continue to pray for the many Reformation 500 events being planned for October, including 16 – 21 October Reformation 500 Church Council in Wittenberg, Germany. For those in Cape Town, we are arranging a Reformation 500 Conference on Monday, 30 October in Franschhoek and a Reformation 500 Celebration service at noon at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek, near Cape Town. We are also offering prizes for a Reformation 500 Art and Essay Competition.

Biblical Worldview Summit
Plan now to attend, or sponsor someone to attend, the next Biblical Worldview Summit, 5 – 10 January 2018 in Hermanus.

Available Online
The latest Christian Action Magazine can be viewed online, as well as the most recent Frontline News.

“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them and not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and support.

May God continue to be your joy and strength.

Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission

Dr. Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za

Your support is needed and much appreciated.

Our banking details are:

(For South African supporters)
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship
First National Bank – Rondebosch
Branch code: 201509
Acc. No: 5017 0589 260
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(For overseas supporters)
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship
First National Bank – Rondebosch
Acc. No: 5017 0589 260
Swift No: FIRNZAJJ
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See also:
Droughts, Storms and Fires – Is God Speaking to Us?
Severe Storms Strikes Cape Town
Knysna Relief Mission
Inter-Faith Idolatry Aggravates Drought Crisis
The Ark Encounter
Creation Museum Celebrates 10 Years and Three Million Guests