SANATCO meeting and social -- Victor Kubik

January 20, 2013

This morning Graham Cowley and I fly back to Johannesburg where we hold a South African National Council meeting hosted at the home of Neil and Isella Wallis in Pretoria. 

Graham Cowley and I fly up on the same British Airways flight that takes 1 hour and 45 minutes.  We waited on Ray Mercer who flew up from Durban....his flight was somewhat delayed....but we all got to the Wallis's by 11:30....and the meeting commenced promptly.  Roy Demont conducts a GREAT meeting....I was amazed at the focus of getting to the key points of any matter on the agenda and bringing it to a decision.  The meeting lasted just under two hours and we talked about church affairs relating to finances, the various Holy Days gatherings including the Feast of Tabernacles.  There are people from the US already coming over, God-willing.  I gave a report from the home office, discussed our senior pastor arrangement and connection with the USA, future manpower development for not only South Africa, but for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.  Also we talked about LifeNets and Good Works programs and our upcoming visit over Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. 

Graham Cowley was then driven by Jason Webster to the airport for their flights to East London and Durban, respectively; great meeting.  I am a member myself of SANATCO.

Then we had a braii (BBQ) social at the Webster’s and a number of people from the Church joined all of us.  It was good to see Arthur and Gayle Fisher, Flip Roos and his wife Ellise (not sure of spelling), Mariet Horjus, the Dan Smiths and several others.  I'll have photos to add to this blog after I return.

One great disappointment is our dismay at the shameful actions that have taken place here in South Africa by the Abigail Cartwright people against our churches.  We learned more details of how some of their leaders planned to wrench away people and church assets in a forceful and hostile takeover. They told people that there were no changes in the church....they were just changing the name or something to that effect... They took over meeting places, song-books, podiums....anything that they could in this looting process. They just plain kept things that didn't belong to them.  Some people believed the leaders who told them we would cease to exist and that we would change our beliefs....none of which has occurred.   Many people were deceived by these absurd stories.  Their plan was not to simply leave in conscience because they could not bear to stay together...the plan was to do as much damage, take as many people and assets as they could.  They would prefer that we not talk about these things....a technique of abusers to keep those victimized silent.  In any event, they did not succeed....  But their actions have resulted in great sadness as families, long-time friends who find themselves on opposite side of issues that they cannot explain.  What a travesty. I have never experienced anything so bizarre in my 43 years in the ministry. The apostle Peter and Paul, as well as John and others spoke in their writings about those who would harm the church, so I don't feel so badly about voicing my observations. They really weren't polite either.

Overall it has been a wonderful trip both to be with all the people with whom I'm interfaced in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.  The growth in the membership and leadership is more than I can express.  We have lots to do to maintain these areas and develop more sustaining leaders; but, we're well on the way.

I truly love these people....Africa has become very much a part of Bev and me....I know that she would have really wanted to be here, but I kept costs to the greatest minimums. 

Tomorrow I fly out at night to Munich, Germany...then on to Newark and Dayton....Bev will pick me up Tuesday evening.......thanks for following this blog......