Weekly Prayer Letter

But, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed. Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good." - Romans 12:20,21 

We are in the season of Lent which encourages us to prepare for the Easter celebration. It is a time for reflection and self-examination. Because the Easter message is all about hope for the world, our challenge to everyone is not so much “what are you giving up for Lent?” Rather it is “To whom can I bring hope?” Every Sunday morning our service will have the theme “Hope Changes Everything – In Christ there is always hope!”

Readings for this week’s meditation: Hope where there is hatred - Luke 10:25-37; 1 John 4:7-21; Romans 12:9-21

Missions

• Bruce and Sheri Erickson are holding a Christian camp for 56 learners from 3 High schools in Khyalitsha starting on Monday. Ronnie Davis and Pastor Kwanele from New Crossroads Baptist are the speakers  and there is a team from the USA helping them.  This is a very strategic ministry as they seek to build young Christian men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds and usually little Christian influence while growing up.
• Sydney Davis is still hoping to raise sufficient support for a missions trip to Ireland in June /July this year. 

CBC Family

• Peter and Megan will be getting married tomorrow in Limpopo. Do be in prayer for them – especially that the rain stays away. Also be in prayer for all the people who are travelling up.
• James Davis is still unsure whether he will be accepted for Medical school after graduating in May with a pre-med degree.
• Our seminary students – Rob Swan and Corina Spinazzola -  begin exams next week. 
• Pray for CBC family who are overseas – Rachael Beukes (N Zealand)

CBC Ministries

• The church AGM is this Tuesday 25th March at 7.30. Please make every effort to be there. We have one nomination for the Board of Trustees. The agenda will be on the notice board in the foyer.
• Another men’s hike is planned for Sat 29th March. Again, meeting at the church and then going up Chapmans Peak. All men are welcome to join – bring you sons as well.
• Pray for our up coming “40 days of growth” series. This begins on 11 May.
• We are really thankful that finally the wall of remembrance is now operational. It is super to be able to have a permanent tribute to loved ones who meant so much to us but have now died. It is also a tribute to the generosity of Kathleen Raines.

Denominational

• The BU Assembly will be held in the Strandfontein Baptist Church this year. Please be in prayer for the organisers. They will be looking for homes willing to host delegates from out of town as well as arranging transport, meals etc, etc! If you can assist contact Eric le Roux.
• The Baptist World Alliance asked us to pray for the tense situation in the Ukraine.  The former President Viktor Yanukovych went into hiding and was replaced by Oleksandr Turchynov, a Baptist minister in the Ukraine, as interim President of Ukraine on 23 February.  Turchynov previously served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2007-2010 and was earlier elected Speaker of Parliament before being appointed Interim President.

Our Community

Lets be in prayer for the upcoming election. With things like the Nkandla report, cracks in the labour movement and the mining strikes, this could be a tension filled time. Lets pray that violence and intimidation will be held in check and that we will again see a peaceful election.

Sunday 23rd March

• 9. 30 am. “Hope Changes everything!” This morning the theme is “Hope where there is hatred.” (Luke 10:25-37) Peter Smallbones is the preacher.
  
• 6.00pm. A journey through the Psalms. Psalm 8 – “O Lord our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!” Peter Smallbones is the preacher