On, 12th September 2008 (also known as Steve Biko day), we woke up to the news that there has been a breakthrough in the negotiations on Zimbabwe that are facilitated by President Thabo Mbeki. This is tremendous news and we want to give thanks to God for this development.

The UCCSA and other churches have been and    continue to be involved in many efforts to try and bring the situation in Zimbabwe to normalcy.  Local churches consistently hold the people of Zimbabwe in prayer and give material support to Zimbabwe. In this issue of the Chronicle is a statement that a recent summit, which was jointly sponsored by the UCCSA, UPCSA, CWM and SACC. 

After the very violent few months in Zimbabwe many are less than optimistic about Zimbabwe.  Whilst this is understandable we wish to challenge all to seize this opportunity to invest their goodwill, prayers, resources and friendship on the people and land of Zimbabwe.  Whilst the world would be cautiously deciding whether to go into Zimbabwe to help, we have to continue our engagement which is based on a faith imperative to go in there and proclaim through our deeds that there is a future and hope in Christ. 

Recently, the UCCSA sent a solidarity team to go and be on the side of our sisters and brothers when they were preparing for the run-off elections.  Unfortunately some of our people decided not to be part of this    mission for fear of their life.  A planned youth conference was also aborted because synods did not want their children to go to Zimbabwe.  Whilst we are not saying people should be reckless with their security, we also cannot leave our people to suffer on their own.  So we wish to appeal to youth groups, local churches, ministers to visit our churches and regions in  Zimbabwe.  Through these visits we would be able to bring them hope, encouragement, food stuffs, and much needed foreign currency.

As we all know the UCCSA has the gift of the Vision Plan, through which a lot of activities are happening across the denomination.  We want to take this opportunity to commend to you some of the programmes that  are on offer:

Justice and Transformation Training  Programme. The Rev. Manning runs three and half days training workshops to develop Justice Advocates for our  Church.  This programme has already been offered in the Central and Free State regions and Namibia synod.  We are encouraging other regions and synods to invite the facilitators to bring the programme to their locations.

Worship and Liturgy Training- The Worship and Liturgy unit of the Mission Council  offers this three day training programme for ministers and worship leaders in our denomination. 

Worship is at the core of our existence as   Christians and we should be skilled and creative about it so that it truly becomes a living sacrifice to God.  The many other programmes offered by organs like the Leadership Academy that we encourage you to participate in.

To conclude these comments, I wish to introduce to you the UCCSA Mission Secretary, the      Rev. Alistair Arends.  He is a son of the UCCSA, an accomplished trainer, and very passionate about issues of mission and youth work.  He will soon be visiting your area in order to keep the fire of the Vision Plan alive and burning!