"'…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6 Reformation to the Remotest Regions 2017 is Reformation 500. 31 October 2017, will mark the 500th anniversary of Professor Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses on the church door of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg. This is by far the most significant spiritual anniversary that will take place in our life time. Reformation 500 provides us with an inspiring historic milestone to inspire, inform and involve our families, congregations, communities and countries, in rediscovering the foundational Biblical doctrines which: revived worship, renewed prayer, revitalised families, restored Biblical economics, re-established Christian schools, reformed society, removed idols and restricted government to Biblical limits. Eurochor in Cape Town In less than six weeks we will be welcoming the Eurochor in Cape Town. The Eurochor is unique in every way. With over 150 members drawn from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Romania, this youth choir is affiliated to KwaSizabantu Mission, and has thrilled audiences throughout the world with multilingual, varied, colourful and captivating concerts. We have been given the privilege of hosting the Eurochor and have organised a series of events, including an opportunity for the Eurochor to sing at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Amphitheatre in Cape Town, Saturday, 29 October, 3pm; participate in the Reformation Sunday service at Strand Street Lutheran Church in Cape Town, Sunday, 30 October, 10am and on Reformation Day, to be a vital part of the Reformation Day Celebration service at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek. Thereafter they will present a concert at the NGK (Dutch Reformed Church) in Franschhoek, Monday, 31 October at 3:30pm. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing Psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy Name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvellous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." 1 Chronicles 16:8-12 Reformation 500 FIRE On 31 October 2012, we launched the Reformation 500 FIRE (Fellowship for International Revival and Evangelism) initiative at the Reformation Day Celebration services at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek. This included publishing The 95 Theses for Reformation Todayand The Coalition on Revival Reformation 500 FIRE Manual, which includes: The 42 Essential Articles of a Christian Worldview, A Manifesto for the Christian Church, 25 Articles on the Kingdom of God, 7 Essential Actions Local Churches Must Take, the Authority of Scripture, as well as other vital documents produced over the last 40 years, by the Coalition on Revival, in order to lay firm foundations for Biblical Reformation and spiritual Revival in our congregations, communities, countries and continents. Reformation Africa Since then Frontline Fellowship Mission teams have widely distributed these publications throughout Africa and conducted Reformation FIRE Conferences and Seminars in Zambia, Malawi, the Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan. Resources for Reformation Since the launch of the Reformation Society, in 2005, we have produced a series of books to inform, inspire and involve a new generation of Reformed Christians, to make a vital difference in their congregations and communities, including: The Greatest Century of Reformation, The Power of Prayer Handbook, Reforming our FamiliesandVictorious Christians - Who Changed the World. In addition, other vital discipleship resources, such as: Practical Discipleship, Putting Feet To Your Faith, Biblical Principles for Africa (also available in Afrikaans and French), Discipleship Training Manual, and The Firm Foundations for Your Faith series, including The Apostles Creed, The Authority of Christ and the First Day SabbathandBiblical Faith and Modern Counterfeits, have also been produced. A series of audio visual resources, MP3s and audio data boxsets for Understanding History and Reformation and Revival, have also been produced. Our Literature4Africa ministry has distributed an average of 180 tonnes of Bibles, books, New Testaments, Gospels and Sunday school materials, each year, completely free. "So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 Africa Overland Missions - Field Workers for Reformation In order to sow the Gospel seed and lay foundations for Biblical Reformation and spiritual Revival, Frontline Fellowship has sent out a series of Africa Overland Missions, including the Livingstone 200 in 2013. Now we are planning and preparing to send out an Africa Reformation Overland Mission to conduct Evangelism and Soul Winning Seminars, Discipleship Seminars, Great Commission Seminars, Biblical Worldview Seminars and Reformation 500 FIRE Seminars. As Professor John Wycliffe sent out the Lollards to preach and sing the Scriptures and to distribute copies of the Gospels throughout England, so we need Field Workers of the Reformation to establish Revival Prayer Meetings, Bible Studies, Reformation Societies and Christian Action Groups throughout Africa. "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 Transforming Nations by Changing Lives Our Mission is working at completely revising, updating and expanding our Chaplains Handbooks, Biblical Preaching Handbooks and Digital Libraries in order to educate, energise, equip and empower pastors, teachers, chaplains, Evangelists and missionaries throughout Africa, to inform, inspire, involve and impact their congregations and communities for Christ. Firm Foundations for our Faith The Coalition on Revival (COR) documents reprinted in the Reformation 500 FIRE Manual, includes the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978), 42 Articles of the Essentials of a Christian Worldview and the 17 Sphere documents, Manifesto for the Christian Church, Articles of Affirmation and Denial on the Kingdom of God and other vital resources, which give a clear, Biblical response to the many challenges and threats confronting the Church today. Mobilise for Reformation It is our vision to mobilise the Christian Action Network members throughout Africa to organise regional seminars and conferences, where we can educate, equip and energise leaders to motivate and mobilise their people to inform, inspire, involve and impact their congregations, colleges and communities throughout the country. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16 Weapons for Spiritual Warfare Along with the Doctrinal, Discipleship, Evangelistic and History textbooks, which our teams will seek to donate to colleges, schools, ministries and ministers, our Comms office is devising up-to-date Digital Libraries, on discs, USB flash drives and SD cards, to equip and empower principals and pastors, educators and Evangelists, chaplains and councillors, missionaries and ministry leaders, throughout the continent. In addition to the printed and Digital Libraries being delivered and distributed by our teams in the field, we already have over 300 sermons and lectures uploaded on our SemonAudio.com page, over 160 PowerPoints on our Slideshare, and many hundreds of articles on the 17 websites we have established, including www.ReformationSA.org, www.Reform500.org, www.frontline.org.za, www.christianaction.org.za, www.gospeldefenceleague.org, www.williamcareybi.com and www.livingstonefellowship.co.za. Libraries for Pastors Various authors have donated books and Study Bibles for us to entrust to suitable pastors and teachers. Dr. R. C. Sproul of St. Andrews, has donated a large number of Reformation Study Bibles, which we have already carefully, prayerfully and strategically distributed far and wide, as far as South Sudan. We will be praying for authors, publishers and film producers to grant us the permission to upload films, books and study notes on SD cards and USB flash drives for Digital Libraries to be strategically delivered to those in Restricted Access Countries and to Unreached People Groups. Great Commission Course To select, orientate and train many of the Field Workers needed to assist our Missionaries on this Reformation 500 initiative throughout Africa, Frontline Fellowship will be conducting the Great Commission Course (30 December 2016 - 18 January 2017), near Cape Town. If you are interested in being involved, on the ground, with Film Evangelism, Literature Evangelism, transport, teaching, technical support, or any other aspect of this continent-wide Reformation 500 movement, please contact us [email protected] and plan to participate in the upcoming GCC. How Can You Help? This movement needs manpower, material, money and much prayer. We already have a number of teams who are trained, experienced and eager. However, we need more co-workers, support staff and National Co-ordinators to maximise impact and expand this movement. Our Mission has produced many of the materials needed, but we need far more from other specialist ministries, such as Answers in Genesis, Way of the Master, Evangelism Explosion, World Missionary Press, and others. What resources can you contribute to the Reformation 500 FIRE movement throughout Africa? Please contact us to arrange how we can put you in touch with ministries that are shipping containers of Bibles, books and Sunday school materials to our ministry. They will be able to include boxes, or even pallets, from your ministry. If you have produced films or documentaries, such as, Polycarp, Indoctrination and Agenda 2 and would be willing to grant us permission to upload these onto SD cards and USB flash drives for Digital Libraries to equip trusted Christian leaders in Restricted Access Areas, we would be most grateful. Do you have contacts in any African countries that you would like us to visit, equip, train, or deliver resources to? Contact [email protected] for us to follow up on contacts you would like included in this Mission. We are also trusting the Lord for the financial resources needed for the diesel, travel costs and equipment needed to complete these series of Missions in the next year. Be Thou My Vision We need a positive and practical vision from the Word of God for our personal lives, for our families, for our churches, for our communities, for our nations and for the world. "Where there is no vision, the people perish…" Proverbs 29:18 The vision of the Africa Reformation Overland Mission is to equip and empower God's servants, to build upon Luther's legacy, to follow in Livingstone's steps and continue William Wilberforce's war against slavery, to fight the good fight of Faith, to make disciples, teaching obedience in all things that the Lord has commanded. The aim of this Mission is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, throughout Africa, working for Reformation in the remotest regions. Strategic Impact The Africa Reformation Overland Mission is being designed to carefully, prayerfully and strategically engage and Evangelise the largest number of people, on the ground, with personal instruction and equipping and empowering them with the very best resources, to enable them to establish and expand God's Kingdom in their communities. This will involve a concentration of forces, focus in prayer, with the printed page, with the most up-to-date technology, visiting, supporting and supplying some of the most desperately needy Christians, including in Restricted Access Areas and in some of the most neglected regions amongst Unreached People Groups. Back to the Bible The Coalition on Revival study documents will help provide focus and foundation for congregations and colleges, to resist the corrupting influences of secularism and call congregations and communities back to the Bible, as God's infallible, inerrant and irresistible Word. Back to the Bible for Reformation and Revival The Reformation 500 FIRE movement will focus on the three R's: Redemption, Reformation and Revival. Redemption and Revival are God's sovereign work. We need regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is by the grace of God alone, received by Faith alone, on the basis of Christ's Blood Atonement on the Cross of Calvary alone. Scripture alone is our ultimate authority and everything is to be done to the glory of God alone. Evangelism is our first step, education is the next. But the goal is empowermentby God's Holy Spirit. Through faithful preaching of God's Word and patient teaching on how to apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life, our Missionaries will seek to inspire a hunger and thirst for God's righteousness and energise God's people to steadfastly seek God's face for Heaven-sent Revival. "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" Psalm 85:6 Do You Share This Vision? As we approach this year's Reformation Day and the launch of the one-year countdown to the momentous Reformation 500: 31 October 2017. Will you join us in fervent prayer andenergetic strategic action to fulfil the Great Commission, making disciples, teaching obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded, seeking first His Kingdom, loving the Lord our God will all of our heart, soul, mind and strength? "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the Kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations." Psalm 22:27-28 May God enable us to be faithful to His Word and effective in His service. May we be brave and bold for God. Yours for Reformation and Revival Dr. Peter Hammond Reformation Society P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725 Cape Town South Africa Tel: 021-689-4480 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ReformationSA.org
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