19 September 2011

BLUE BULLS COMPANY AND CLOTHING4CHILDREN RAISE R200 MILLION WORTH OF CLOTHING

Brothers, Schalk and Wim Burger with their dad, Hennie.

A simulated rugby field at Loftus Versfeld was filled to capacity with bags of clothing and bedding collected by Clothing4Children from Pretoria Schools. Vodacom Blue Bulls, DHL Western Province and Sharks players in the under 19, under 21 and senior teams, fans, sponsors and suite owners in the Pretoria region also collected for the Clothing4Children Campaign. Prior to Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and DHL Western Province, all the players walked on to the field with their bags to show their support for the inspiring campaign, started by Burger brothers Schalk and Wim.

In the week building up to the final day for donations, The Blue Bulls Company and Clothing4Children had received more than 53 000 bags of clothing and bedding from schools, while fans and players brought their bags to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, taking the total tally to almost 55 000 bags which are estimated to be worth more than R200 Million.

Distribution: turn the tide 4 children mobilized the Churches and charities in Pretoria

Turn The Tide 4 Children, distribution partner of Clothing4Children, mobilized the Churches and Charities in Pretoria to distribute the bags to the 1.2 million poverty-stricken people in the Pretoria/Tshwane metropole.

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain Gary Botha said the sights at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon left him speechless. “It

"An overwhelming sight!"

was so overwhelming to witness first- hand the generous and charitable spirits of all those associated with the Blue Bulls family. To have been a part of this wonderful initiative is very gratifying and I know that everyone involved will be delighted to know that we have made a difference in our community and will continue to do so in the future.”

Blue Bulls Company press release: BLUE BULLS COMPANY AND CLOTHING4CHILDREN RAISES R200 MILLION WORTH OF CLOTHING

Powerful images of homeless, poverty-stricken South Africans evoked the sense of charity and generosity amongst various schools in Pretoria and its surrounding areas so much so, that 38 500 bags have already been collected to date from 24 schools. The bags of clothing and bedding already collected by C4C to date are worth an estimated R205.8 million and would more than comfortably fill a 100m x 50m rugby field.

Richard Papo, Vodacom Blue Bulls Marketing Manager, said the desire amongst schools to make a difference by providing basic necessities for the unemployed, homeless and poor was overwhelming.

“The Clothing4Children initiative serves as a constant reminder that there are millions of underprivileged people in desperate need of our help. While conjuring up images of pain and sadness, there are many heart-warming stories as a result of the inspirational work started by the Burger brothers. Without question, we struck an emotional chord and have been astounded by the immense response of our local schools.

The Blue Bulls Company and Clothing4Children are immensely grateful and are confident we’ll surpass our joint Loftus goal of 50 000 bags of clothing based on the response and support we’ve already received.”

The focus then turns to rugby clubs, suite owners, sponsors and general fans who will deliver their bags of clothing and bedding on Saturday, September 17th at Loftus Versfeld when the Vodacom Blue Bulls host Western Province in an Absa Currie Cup match.

Players from the Under 19 and Under 21 teams as well as senior players from both teams will walk onto the field carrying their bags of clothing.

There are a dedicated area 100 X 50 m in size behind the Northern pavillion already stacked with approximately 39 000 bags of clothing and we want to encourage more fans to participate and bring their bags to Loftus on or before Saturday’s game.

40 000 bags. 10 000 to go!

Saturday’s match programme will include information, pictures and details about the Clothing4Children initiative and participating schools will be also be included. Three minutes during the halftime interval has been allocated to Clothing4Children to address the fans.

LED screens at Loftus Versfeld will feature one-minute videos of schools’ collections and Vodacom Blue Bulls players’ endorsements, Clothing4Children advertisements and the names of participating schools. Additional bags will be distributed via the ticket office at Loftus Versfeld from Monday, September 12th.

Article from www.bluebulls.co.za: Bulls celebrate local schools’ generosity for clothing4children campaign

Monday, 12 September 2011 outside Loftus

In the Pretoria/ Tshwane metropole alone, 1.2 million of its 4.2 million citizens are desperately needy.

It is this desperate need which birthed a partnership between the Blue Bulls and clothing4children  - with the aim of collecting as many as 50 000 bags of clothing by the 17th of September 2011.

The clothing will be distributed in disadvantaged communities across the metropole by turn the tide 4 children, local church networks and other organisations, including Walk Thru the Bible’s High Impact Network.

Clothing4children and the Blue Bulls are working together to collect these clothes from as many local schools as possible in the Pretoria/ Tshwane area. With over 40 schools expected to participate in this venture, this is indeed a drive that will make a difference to many in this area who live in dire need.

The clothing4children  initiative  was launched by brothers Schalk and Wim Burger, who saw the potential for meeting great need, through encouraging their fellow school mates to collect surplus and unused clothing, shoes and bedding to

give away. The official launch of clothing 4children was at St John’s College in November 2010 (see video here), with the

Tuesday, 12 September 2011

retail value of the clothing already collected through this venture exceeding R100 million.

The partnership between the Blue Bulls Company and clothing4children was officially announced by Martin Deacon, CEO

of Turn the Tide, at Loftus Versveld on Saturday the 3rd of September 2011, at the Currie Cup match between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Sharks.

What a joy to see the support of both the Blue Bulls and Sharks players – who certainly made an impact as they walked onto the field carrying their filled clothing4children bags.

Empty clothing4children bags were made available to supporters at the stadium, and they were encouraged to take them home, fill them and return them to Loftus Versveld by Saturday the 17th of September 2011, when the Blue Bulls play DHL Western Province.

It is hoped that the Blue Bull supporters will follow the example of generosity set by both the Currie Cup players and

many local schools, who have already collected over 18 000 bags of clothing, shoes and bedding – with a retail value of

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

R54 million – already an excellent start towards meeting the target of 50 000 filled bags.

It is indeed encouraging and exciting to see the difference that we can make as we partner together to be ‘the hands and

feet of Christ’ and meet needs in a practical way.

Read the article on www.bluebuls.co.za:  Bulls celebrate local schools’ generosity for clothing4children campaign.

Read the article on News24:  Bulls, Sharks unite for cause.

Traditionally we expected children to sit still while we did the teaching – this way some learning takes place. On the other hand, if teach children in a way they learn, they retain much more of what has been taught while enjoying the process as well.

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On the 8th June 2011, the KidZ at Heart training was attended by six participants from various backgrounds, all involved in youth ministry and the task of bringing the Bible to life for the children they minister to. The training took place at the Victory Park LifeChange Centre in Johannesburg.

The participants were taught the L.E.A.R.N principle (Learner based, Experiential, Applicable, Relational and Narrowly focused). This principle ensures that the participants are able to “bring the Bible to life” using different storytelling techniques in recognition of the fact that the children being ministered to, have different characters, and relate differently to the different storytelling techniques showcased over the two days.

Here is what some of the attendees had to say about the training:

I have learned how to help kids with their prayer life. I personally enjoyed the protection prayers. When it was my time to stand in the middle of the circle I could feel God’s presence. – Shoneez Collins (student)

I have learned the different types of story-telling techniques and how to involve every child during a lesson without making them feel uncomfortable. – Shoneez Collins (student)

I have learned about the L.E.A.R.N. principle and also about different types of learners. Now I will be able to teach the Word of God more effectively. – David Rhoda (student)

What I have learned from KidZ At Heart has transformed the way I think about children – specifically how to make tailor-made lessons for children and to make Bible stories come to life. I have learned how important it is to make the Bible applicable to children’s lives. – Pastor Morris Ncube (student)

I enjoyed the practical presentations of Bible stories and teaching children how to pray. I will also remember the L.E.A.R.N. application for lessons! – Norma Blignaut (student)

The KidZ At Heart training opened my mind to teach children about God in a whole new way. It has also opened my own eyes to God. – Alida Groep (student)

I got more than I imagined from the KidZ At Heart training! I will most definitely apply everything I have learned to the children I work with, not only now, but for years to come. The way they teach the Bible is so different from the way we have been doing it. – Gwendoline Radebe (student)

I love it when God transforms our way of thinking about how we should minister to children. There are six very excited and changed students ready to take their children’s ministry to a new level. Praise God! – Yolande Nunes (KidZ At Heart trainer)

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Please click on Toolbox Events to see when the next KidZ at Heart training will take place. To register, please visit the Walk Thru the Bible website www.bible.org.za, click on Toolbox Events and register for your chosen date. You are encouraged to invite your friends as well! Please register as soon as possible because there are limited places per session!

For more information please contact Walk Thru the Bible on info@wtb.co.za, at 011 782 4222, or www.bible.org.za.

The Project 434 DVD was shown in Polokwane by Andy Sapiro (Principal) in early June 2011 to the students of the Northern Academy.  Over100 young people answered the call to commit to abstinence until marriage, with many more waiting for their rings to make their commitment.

This commitment has shown their moral standing and sets standards for the teens of South Africa to follow.

Northern Academy has made an exception to the ‘no-jewellery’ ruling to allow the wearing of this specific silver ring. The school has determined that the Silver Ring Thing ring is not to be perceived as jewellery but as a sign of a covenant with God.

Each person who takes a silver ring makes the following covenant with God:

In signing this covenant before God Almighty, I agree to wear a silver ring as a sign of my pledge to abstain from sexual behaviour that is inconsistent with Biblical standards. On my wedding day, I will present my silver ring to my spouse, representing my faithful commitment to the marriage covenant.

This is based on 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin, then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honour.”

Project 434 is a DVD resource designed to capture students and their parents with the powerful, real-life stories of a generation gutting out the decision to wait, dealing with past mistakes, and find redemption in a broken world. This resource includes two films, one for students, and another for parents. Participants qualify for the Silver Ring Thing silver ring.

Project 434 is ideally done in a group context, be it a church, school, small-group or another organisation. If participating in such a group is not possible for you then individual, self-study, options are available for either Students or Parents.

Project 434 for Leaders (church, school, small-group or organisation)

Project 434 for Parents (individual study)

Project 434 for Students (individual study)

Please click here for more information on the exciting Project 434, or visit www.silverringthing.co.za. This is an excellent tool to reach your and other children within your circle of influence.

Facilitated by Mark Schaaf, the Raise up a Child training voyages through the difficulties of parenting, while at the same time providing real, easy to apply solutions through four elementary parenting scenarios. Known as the four compass points, these are :

Choices

Consequences

Compassion

Consistency

These seek to create a balance in parenting as they are implemented by parents attending the course. Peter, who attended the event, stated that the teaching is important because, “… knowing that there are consequences for their actions, our children are brought to a place of maturity where they are able to discern the good results brought about by good choices, and vice versa.”

Participants engaged in discussion

Mark Schaaf urged the participants to immerse themselves in the four compass points and stressed the need to for them to “…explore all the key ideas in order that they are able to convey the message to the various audiences” they would be teaching the course to.

Tony, who also attended on the day, indicated that he was struck by the fact that the clear lesson taught is that, “ Children are made aware of the consequences their actions would bear,” and become more mature as a direct result thereof.

Serious debate in the small discussion groups

The participants were encouraged that the course not only extended to how parents raise their children, but that the lessons taught, applied to themselves especially with regard to discipleship relationships the participants have forged with church members, as well as in their relationships with people outside the parent-child realm.

Lebogang stated that the message taught, is “…as shocking to Christ’s listeners during the Sermon on the Mount, and is as applicable today, as it was then.” He further went on to say that he is encouraged at “ the philosophy of Walk Thru the Bible in terms of teaching which not only looks at content, but rather at an environment which is conducive to learning.”

Phil Tuttle is the president of Walk Thru the Bible and also serves as teaching pastor at The Bridge, a fast-growing, non-denominational church in northeast Atlanta. Phil and his wife Ellen live in Atlanta with their teen-aged son, Phillip. They also have a daughter, Emily, who currently attends college in Illinois.

Yolanda Nunes facilitated the training, and expressed her satisfaction that the attendees were equipped to be … “…more effective in children’s ministry.”  Whilst everyone enjoyed the “Bring the Bible to Life” and “How to lead a Child to Christ” sessions, there were different sections which stood out for different people. This highlighted God’s touch on each student’s life with regards to their own personal journey with Him.

The students illustrating the twelve spies

One student in particular, (Sihle from South Africa) was greatly affected by the training and stated that he, “enjoyed the way we learned how to lead a child to Christ.”  He now feels called to children’s ministry, wanting to reach children so that they may be strengthened in their relationship with Christ.

Prayer taking precedence

Lana Basson (South Africa),  was gratified at being able to reach children without the need for  jargon, which only serves to obscure, rather than educate, and added the following, “ I learned simple definitions for some terms that make it easier to explain to kids.” This is ultimately what Kidz at Heart aims to achieve through the training they provide.

Transferring knowledge to the students

The application of the LEARN principles proved to be very effective in becoming ingrained in the students’ minds, with Marius van Rooyen (South Africa) stating that, “what impacted me most was the Narrowly-focused approach, one principle repeated frequently throughout the lesson.”

Prayer is an essential part of the training, and students are encouraged to teach the children the importance of prayer and the precedence it needs to take in our lives as we forge and strengthen the bonds we have with Him. Lana Basson (SA) stated the following, “I received a new revelation of prayer which is a life tool to teach others.”

The clothing4children movement is gaining momentum in South Africa, with a number of schools answering the call for the needy children in our country to be clothed. The “two fish and five loaves” principle is being applied to the extent that real needs are being met through the participation of schools in South Africa.

Sharing the load

When Schalk Burger laid down the challenge last year, no-one envisioned that the challenge would be met to the extent that is happening. This impetus brings home the reality that, through prayer, the seemingly impossible can be achieved.

Answering the challenge

Martin Deacon, CEO of turnthetide4children, quoted the following statement, “Little is much when given to God,” after hearing that one pupil’s bag weighed over 200kg. The headgirl from King David’s School (Clarissa Snyman), expressed her belief that, “We must not love with words only, but with action and truth,” which resonated strongly with all gathered at the school.

The preschoolers at the school had a great turnout, with 335 bags collected. This was really heartwarming to witness, as the children-despite their size-struggled to heap their bags on the pile outside their classrooms.

Doing their bit for the movement

The message of giving was driven home to all of South Africa, after the children raised their hands in unison, and urged all of South Africa to join the movement as it is, “the responsibility of every single South African to help other communities in need.” (Clarissa Snyman).

Innes Buys, the headboy at The King’s School further reiterated that, “ at heart, everyone has a caring heart, and everyone should use this capacity to bless others”. Martin Deacon summed up the proceedings in these words, “ We should all thank the Lord that we have so much, that we are able to give this away.”

The halls at The King’s School echoed with the euphoria felt, as the children let out their war cry as a challenge to other schools to join the movement, and make a real, discernible difference in the lives of those less fortunate than themselves.

Schalk and Wim Burger are seeing the call answered, and the dream of collecting R100 million worth of clothing, coming to life, and the legacy of  clothing4children impacting positively on the lives of so many underprivileged in our country.

To find out more about the clothing4children movement, or to donate your time, resources or funds, please click here.

Now more than ever, this instruction from God has become more relevant in our lives. With the scourge of HIV/AIDS, unwanted teen pregnancies and a host of other diseases plaguing contemporary South African society, the need for purity through abstinence has become greater than ever.

An attendee seeking the right fit

The Silver Ring Thing live show held in Northcliff, Johannesburg, on the 5th March 2011 was filled with over 1,200 young people. The official attendance was 1,200. Of these, 1,140 young people answered the call to commit to abstinence until marriage – that is a whopping 95% of the audience! You are not alone – abstinence CAN be the norm!

About 200 (16%) of the audience trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour for the first time – the angels in heaven celebrate. About 500 (41%) young people recommitted themselves to live their lives for Christ. All praise to God alone for His grace!

The Silver Ring Thing show is presented in a way which young people can relate to, and the entire performance deals with issues which are relevant in the lives of our young people.

Heeding the call to wait

The central theme running through the show is an evangelistic message which is centred on forgiveness, and grants the opportunity to avail oneself of a “second virginity” through a renewed commitment to the call for purity and abstinence by purchasing a ring which symbolizes the decision to abstain and remain pure, and serves as a constant reminder of that decision.

The inspiration for the Silver Ring Thing comes from 1Thessalonians 4:3-4, and places an emphasis on living a life which pleases God, and achieving sanctification by placing our faith in Christ.

Below follows personal testimonies from people who attended the event :

“Hallo. Ek wil baie dankie sê vir die aanbieding van “the silver ring thing”. Toe my kinders by my kom in laas week en vra of hulle mag gaan (12 & 14) het ek bietjie navorsing daaroor gaan doen en hulle toe vergesel na die aanbieding. Dit het werklik vir my aangeraak om soveel jong mense opgewonde te sien – nie net vir Jesus nie, maar ook om hulleself rein te hou. Dit was voorwaar ‘n belewenis vir my en my kinders. Mag God julle ryklik seen! Anél Du Preez, Ouer, Johannesburg”

I am 20 years old and I would like to join the crew, I was at the Mosaiek theatre on Saturday night, 5 March 2011, for that show, and I must say I really enjoyed it, I even bought myself a silver ring, because I think it will change many of our youths lives, like it changed mine, I feel that by putting a ring on your finger means you agree to the Lord’s Word.” Kyle Alworth-Elvey

Please click here for more information on the exciting Project 434-click Here, or visit http://www.silverringthing.co.za/project434/. This is an excellent follow-up, as well as a way to reach other children within your circle of influence.

Walk Thru The Bible, in partnership with various radio stations throughout southern Africa, are exploring this avenue as a means to convey lifechanging Bible tools and training to listeners to see every community impacted.

This foray into the medium of radio broadcasting, is bearing fruit, with 28 minute teaching programmes being broadcast with regular slots on 9 radio stations across southern Africa. Among these are national stations like TWR Malawi, which covers Malawi and crosses over into neighbouring countries. Then there are the community stations like Radio Tygerberg and CCFM which cover the Western Cape, and Radio Pulpit which covers the Gauteng area. Most stations also support DStv broadcasting and internet streaming. Between all the stations, an average of 20 courses are broadcast each quarter.

Anthony Dube and Sean Goliath doing a voice recording

Radio stations like Radio Christian Voice (community radio station in Zambia), Channel 7 (Namibia) and Gamkaland Radio (South Africa) broadcast the 28 Minute teachings periodically, according to their subject matter.

Various radio stations in South Africa utilise short 2 to 3 minute radio bites from John Maxwell and Living on the Edge as fillers. These are proving popular, with Highway radio in Durban, Impact Radio (Pretoria) and Rainbow FM (West Rand), using John Maxwell shorts on a regular basis. On average,  approximately 500 short programmes are broadcast each quarter. The programmes are given to stations at no charge, so the estimation is that there are numerous broadcasts which have not been included in the figures currently available.

Anthony lending his voice to the Living on the Edge short programme

In the medium of television, Chip Ingram teachings are presently being rebroadcast on Botswana National Television, reaching the whole southern African region via the vivid satellite, and also available on DSt channel 137.

Available on the website are message notes (similar to mini workbooks), which are downloadable from the website, to serve as a workbook with the teachings.

Testimonies :

I really love the Walk Thru the Bible messages that are played on our 2 Christian stations in the Western Cape. So simple, but VERY effective. Keep up the good work.
- Kim Webster, 15 December 2010

Thanks for the notes in your website, they are really helping me a lot.
-Bonnie B. Lekgaba, via e-mail