United in prayer and worship with brothers and sisters in South Africa

The UEM Moderator Deaconess Regine Buschmann ensured Churches in the Southern part of Africa: “Our sisters and brothers in UEM members in Africa, Asia and Germany are united in prayer and worship” during the Easter week, sharing stories of encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ”. Through a two week visits in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, in five days the UEM delegation (Deaconess Moderator Regine Buschmann, vice Moderator Rev Barbara Rudolph, Staff Rev Chediel Sendoro and Rev John Wesley Kabango) had intensive meetings and visits to projects implemented by congregations of the Rhenish Church (RCSA), a UEM Associate member and the Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa (URCSA). In the last eight years, there has been the RCSA closeness to UEM. In 2008 the RCSA has regularly sought meetings with UEM and the Rhenish Church in Rhineland. In 2009, at their 180 year celebration of the Rhenish heritage in Cape Town, South Africa, UEM was represented by the UEM General Secretary who preached in church services where the 4 early missionaries to South Africa were commemorated. In 2013 delegates of UEM, the Rhenish churches in Rhineland, Hong Kong, South Africa met in Wuppertal and Düsseldorf /Germany to learn and trace their common roots. In 2015, again delegates met in South Africa for a continuity of their findings. The arrival of missionaries in South Africa contributed to the economic development, education and the emerging of mission stations in South Africa. Thousands of women and men have been touched by the Gospel through the faithful ministry of the missionaries achieving the mission objectives and work of the Rhenish Mission Society. The two churches in South Africa are encouraged to identify themselves with German origins and roots. Through UEM they are proud and confident not to be alone as similarly to other UEM members, they respond to God’s call to make a difference and to continue the work of redemption. These two churches in the southern part of Africa appreciate UEM and its internationalization process. They are seeking to be more integrated into the UEM communion of Churches. In togetherness; “the church is a life support system not only enabling its members to survive in a cruel and hostile world but also empowering them to prevail over the principalities and powers of this world” said the RCSA Moderator Rev Tommy Solomons. In her remarks, the UEM Moderator said: “the UEM delegation with you these few days is impressed by how RCSA and URCSA are change agents that take full responsibility to rebuild the community taking hold of their future and confirming their duties for a holistic and social transformation”. As your sisters and brothers, the UEM family holds you in thoughts and prayers, concluded Regine Buschmann. (John Wesley Kabango, UEM Africa Executive Secretary)