April 2008

Anathoth is the headquarters of Africa Upper Room Ministries. On five acres of land near Johannesburg, South Africa, it takes its name from the Jeremiah passage in which land at Anathoth is purchased as a sign of hope for the future. Anathoth is, for Upper Room Ministries, a sign of hope for the future of Africa. This newsletter from staff-person Roland Rink brings news from this important ministry.

"What are we doing here?"

Easter greetings from South Africa! It is really difficult to understand and remember that Easter 2008 has already come and gone. We pray that the afterglow of the celebration of the triumph of Christ over death has remained with you. It has been an extremely busy period for us at Anathoth. We have had numerous visitors and exciting meetings. (See the photos of visitors posted on the aurm web page). The exciting plans proposed for the development of the property are proceeding smoothly (for the moment). Amongst all of this frenetic activity, we as AURM have been asking ourselves a seemingly simple, yet difficult question: "What are we doing here?"

We are at that time of the year when we look forward to what is in store for us. The question is: What am I doing here at Anathoth and AURM? The question for me personally, does it make a difference in anyone else's life? Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the straight-forward business of selling and marketing our books. Yes that is what I am paid to do. But I would want to believe that I am here to do more than just to dispatch books. As I talk to many different people each day, I realize that I do sometimes make a difference in their lives. As Christians we are called to be God's shining lights in this world. We are also here to make a difference in the community that we work in. As this year begins I have no doubt that we will make a difference in the community around us here in Eikenhof. With the partnership that we have with Come Back Mission we will have an impact, I believe, on this community and on the larger community as well. So what am I doing here? I am here to be God's ambassador. I am here to help shine God's light in the world that we live in. May you shine the light of the living Lord Jesus wherever you may find yourself during this year.
- John Mitchley (AURM Books)

One would often view one's presence as insignificant, but on reflection you see the importance of your role and function in almost every area where you are involved. At AURM our role is to ensure that every African spends time with God each day and my function is to enable this dream to happen. I am here as an organ in the body to make the dream happen and I am happy doing the work required by this body. It enables me to be of services to God and to God's people.
- Nancy Herron (AURM database/office/administration)

Greetings from Nairobi, Kenya. This theme comes at a time when our nation is shaken to the core. People have been turned against one another, and things are no longer the same. In these circumstances, therefore, it's a real challenge for ministers of the Good News of Christ to play a leading role in the process of fostering peace and harmony. Sadly, though, these seeds of evil have got their ways into some of our churches as well. At these times, selfless commitment and doing every little thing one can do to restore normalcy is our yearning desire at all levels. For some of us, we only can do this by nothing but prayer! Blessings of peace.
- Philip Polo (AURM East Africa coordinator)

We are here at Anathoth, Eikenhof, Johannesburg, South Africa. We are here because there is a deep cry from Africa's belly today. We are here because questions remain unanswered. We are here because God wills it, because something needs to be done urgently yet without any rush, because God is asking strikingly sharp questions about how we handle what is supposed to be his assignment to us. Because we are part of a community (Eikenhof) that is crying so loud as to make us hear very little of what they are crying about. We are here not for our own sake, but for the sake of others and for God's sake.

I believe we are here to listen, to learn and to act, not until we know we understand very well the quiet whisper, that comes from among the trees, from the other side of the trees, no! From the other side of the street. We are here because we need to listen to one another. We are here to also understand that there is always human opinion, to listen to, to learn from and to act. We are here to act for God, not for ourselves. We are here to create an opportunity for others to spend time with God; we are here to expand the opportunity. But most of all we are for God to reveal to us, "Why we are here." Please Lord we are here; help us not to run ahead of you, so that the glory may be yours.
- Rev. Ike Moloabi (AURM Marketing)

During the reflections over the Lenten 40 days and the Easter period, the message of choosing God's way as the only way has come through strongly. What are we doing about choosing him who died for us, following him who showed us the perfect way to live and bring faith, hope and love to those whom we meet? Through the activities at Anathoth, we have chosen to serve God, listen for God's guidance about where our service will be best utilized, and make available those reading resources that will create a stronger faith. We bring hope to those who suffer through the Prayers of Encouragement booklet and bring agape love to those who battle with the daily struggles of life. It is so encouraging to see that when we have been obedient to God's guidance, God brings people across our paths, people who have opened their hearts to make bigger things happen than we ever anticipated. God is an awesome God!
- Renny Stoltz (AURM finance/HR)

What are we doing here? In our Lenten journey we learnt about service to others; caring for one another; seeing and accepting others, no matter who they are, as Christ sees and accepts each one of us, warts and all. In the words of the hymn writer: "Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbours we have from you." God, grant us a willing heart and spirit to follow the example of Jesus Christ. Easter blessings to you all.
- Beatrice Smith (African English editor)

I look up in wonder at the myriad of stars in the countryside night sky. I try and comprehend the immensity of the galaxies that our Creator God has put in place. I cannot. He chose this planet to put human life -- man and woman. Because of God's great love he chose this planet to come, God in human form. My God chose to create me, first in his mind's eye and then, in the physical, in this particular part of the world. What am I doing here? What are we doing here? Lovingly God has a unique purpose for each of us. However unique though, the essential common denominator is Love, for God is Love. To love God, to love others, to show that love, to spread that love, to let that love be part of all we do and all that we are. For without love we give and gain nothing. In God's wonderful way he has opened a door for me through Upper Room Ministries to be part of a team distributing resources that encourages and teaches his children all over the world that he is a God of love who desires and longs for us to sit at his feet each day, drinking in all that he has for us and giving us the chance to pour our love out to him. What are we doing here? We love -- for love never fails.
- Elaine Richardson (AURM marketing, West Coast, Cape Town)

We are the blocks of wood; the slabs of stone that are in the hands of the Supreme Sculptor. We are being chiseled, planed, sanded, shaped and changed each day into what God intends -- as individuals and as a group of Christ followers. We are profoundly, in whatever project we're working on, always somewhere in a cycle: we're intent on listening to God; we are always taking leaps in Faith; we are (so often) learning that we need to leave it to God; and finally we have the privilege, honor and joy to look at what God has created. We must continue to love him more dearly, follow him more willingly, and serve him more gladly.
- Roland Rink (AURM administrator)

Increase the Peace within us. Increase the Peace in every conflict situation, wherever that may be. Lord, we earnestly continue to pray for Your Peace on this earth.

We go forward!