30th Building Anniversary of the Walvis Bay Baptist Church

                                           15^th – 17^th  March 2013

l-r Sue Watson; Peter & Linda Radmanovich; Don Watson

What an exciting weekend  this  has been for me ! 

Time, distance  and circumstances prevent us from  staying in touch with many people from our past. But not this weekend! A glorious get together  was organized  by the Walvis Bay  Baptist Church under the leadership of her deacons and pastors.

The occasion  was the 30^th  anniversary of the  opening of the church building  in January 1983. 

Clive & Lynn van Rooyen

Now for some perspective.  The Walvis Bay Baptist Church isn’t 30 years old.  It was actually constituted in 1972,  and there had been a Sunday School work going on before that, which had already started   in 1962.  So the Walvis Bay Baptist Church can look back over a history of at  least  50 years. This  fact  actually makes the church the oldest  Baptist  church in Namibia.

What we celebrated   then was actually  the  30^th anniversary since the church building  was  dedicated  as a place of worship.  The building  had  originally  been a hospital laboratory  which had   become an old derelict  building. Pastor Peter Radmanovich  had approached the  Walvis Bay Municipality  with an offer of purchase, which was eventually, if not reluctantly,  granted. The members of the church,  in the ever practical hands of Pastor Radmanovich  undertook to renovate the building – a project which may have taken  2 years to complete, and now the time  had come to look back and to give thanks for 30 years of God’s faithful faithfulness to the church.

Old friends:  Ivo & Kaiko de Gouveia

Old friends : Andrew and Soleil  Ratcliffe

Celebrations began on Friday evening as past and present pastoral  couples  came together for   fellowship, hosted by Callie and Carol Rossouw,  at their home.  Pastor Don and Sue Watson (1977-1980), Pastor Peter and Linda Radmanovich  (1980   - 1987),  Pastor Clive and Lynn van Rooyen (1987-1995)  had served  the church at their various times, while Pastor  Paul and Ethne Jones  and Pastor  Les and  Elsabe  Wiseman  had served the church as interim pastors  at various times. Don Watson  was the  pastor  who  welcomed me into the Walvis Bay Baptist Church  after I had  I had returned from Cape Town where I had become a Christian in 1978. He baptized me in 1980. Peter Radmanovich impressed upon me the  seriousness of Christian  discipleship.  

Since  December 1999  the church  has been led  by  Pastor Callie  and Carol Rossouw, assisted by Student Minister Marinus and his wife  Ilse de Bruijne.

A great church dinner

Present pastor : Callie Rossouw

A Church Dinner  was held on Saturday, 16^th March. This was yet another grand occasion when  God’s faithfulness was remembered. A slide show  visually  reminded us  of the church’s history. Peter  Radmanovich spoke  afterwards and  reminded us that  at the opening ceremony, and before turning the key, he had prayed that  God would honour His Word taught and that  He  would close down the building if ever       there was a departure from His truth!  What a legacy to abide by!

On Sunday morning  a worship  service  led by Pastor Rossouw resounded to the Glory of God as we  continued to exalt the Lord our God for His faithfulness to this church,  which had survived  all these years  through the Grace of God alone, through some very difficult and challenging times.

I had the privilege of preaching the Word. I took  as my text  1 Samuel 7:12  “Ebenezer- until now the Lord has helped us!”  The exposition can be found on by sermon blog.  http://joachimrieck.blogspot.com

SOLI DEO GLORIA !

Joachim Rieck

March 2013

 
 

Paul and Ethne Jones

Les and Elsabe Wiseman

What is the Greatest of All Protestant “Heresies”?

Now  that the Catholic world has  a new pope, it is time  for Protestant Christians  to think afresh as to why they are Protestants. I came across this helpful article  written by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, and I highly  recommend that you should read this!  Greetings, Joachim Rieck

Let us begin with a church history exam question. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, he wrote: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .” Complete, explain, and discuss Bellarmine’s statement.
How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies? Perhaps justification by faith? Perhaps Scripture alone, or one of the other Reformation watchwords?
Those answers make logical sense. But none of them completes Bellarmine’s sentence. What he wrote was: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is assurance.”
A moment’s reflection explains why. If justification is not by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone — if faith needs to be completed by works; if Christ’s work is somehow repeated; if grace is not free and sovereign, then something always needs to be done, to be “added” for final justification to be ours. That is exactly the problem. If final justification is dependent on something we have to complete it is not possible to enjoy assurance of salvation. For then, theologically, final justification is contingent and uncertain, and it is impossible for anyone (apart from special revelation, Rome conceded) to be sure of salvation. But if Christ has done everything, if justification is by grace, without contributory works; it is received by faith’s empty hands — then assurance, even “full assurance” is possible for every believer.
No wonder Bellarmine thought full, free, unfettered grace was dangerous! No wonder the Reformers loved the letter to the Hebrews!
This is why, as the author of Hebrews pauses for breath at the climax of his exposition of Christ’s work (Heb. 10:18), he continues his argument with a Paul-like “therefore” (Heb. 10:19). He then urges us to “draw near … in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). We do not need to re-read the whole letter to see the logical power of his “therefore.” Christ is our High Priest; our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience just as our bodies have been washed with pure water (v.22).
Christ has once-for-all become the sacrifice for our sins, and has been raised and vindicated in the power of an indestructible life as our representative priest. By faith in Him, we are as righteous before the throne of God as He is righteous. For we are justified in His righteousness, His justification alone is ours! And we can no more lose this justification than He can fall from heaven. Thus our justification does not need to be completed any more than does Christ’s!
With this in view, the author says, “by one offering He has perfected for all time those who come to God by him” (Heb. 10:14). The reason we can stand before God in full assurance is because we now experience our “hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and … bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22).
“Ah,” retorted Cardinal Bellarmine’s Rome, “teach this and those who believe it will live in license and antinomianism.” But listen instead to the logic of Hebrews. Enjoying this assurance leads to four things: First, an unwavering faithfulness to our confession of faith in Jesus Christ alone as our hope (v.23); second, a careful consideration of how we can encourage each other to “love and good works” (v.24); third, an ongoing communion with other Christians in worship and every aspect of our fellowship (v.25a); fourth, a life in which we exhort one another to keep looking to Christ and to be faithful to him, as the time of his return draws ever nearer (25b).
It is the good tree that produces good fruit, not the other way round. We are not saved by works; we are saved for works. In fact we are God’s workmanship at work (Eph. 2:9–10)! Thus, rather than lead to a life of moral and spiritual indifference, the once-for-all work of Jesus Christ and the full-assurance faith it produces, provides believers with the most powerful impetus to live for God’s glory and pleasure. Furthermore, this full assurance is rooted in the fact that God Himself has done all this for us. He has revealed His heart to us in Christ. The Father does not require the death of Christ to persuade Him to love us. Christ died because the Father loves us (John 3:16). He does not lurk behind His Son with sinister intent wishing He could do us ill — were it not for the sacrifice his Son had made! No, a thousand times no! — the Father Himself loves us in the love of the Son and the love of the Spirit.
Those who enjoy such assurance do not go to the saints or to Mary. Those who look only to Jesus need look nowhere else. In Him we enjoy full assurance of salvation. The greatest of all heresies? If heresy, let me enjoy this most blessed of “heresies”! For it is God’s own truth and grace!

This post was originally published in Tabletalk magazine.

Prayer Week 2013 : “Appointed to bear much Fruit”

Namibian  summer holidays  occur  in  December and  during much of January.  Many of our people  go away for their annual vacation. During this  time  many church activities  go into recess, almost all -  except   prayer meetings and worship meetings.  We cannot afford not to pray and  to worship!

We see divine wisdom  in the fact that  the  church  like a  human body needs to have seasons of rest  and relaxation, whilst always being on her guard  against Satan’s  manifested schemes.

Our people return refreshed  and  ready  to face the  year.

At Eastside  Baptist Church,  Prayer Week follows our  summer holiday,  after children have been settled back into school, and  after  people  have settled back into their work routines.

Prayer week is normally  held  at the end of January.  The  Sundays  leading up to prayer week are  dedicated to  preaching on themes related to prayer  and vision casting. This year  our motto  is  taken  from  John 15: “Appointed to bear much fruit !”   I  have reminded the congregation that this is  the Vinedresser's desire for the church. The goal for which we are planted  is to bear much fruit. Any prayer relating to a desire for fruitfulness will be  honoured by our Father who is in heaven. We may need to be content  with  His pruning, and we may need to be content that the  divine Gardener will remove unfruitful branches out of our midst!  But we know  and understand the purpose for which He does it!  He does it to make the vine – the church even more fruitful,  thereby  bringing   more glory  to Himself.

This year  Prayer Week  started  on Sunday, 27^th January and ended  on Sunday  the 3^rd of February.  From Monday to Friday  the church had gathered to pray every  night  of the week   and also on Saturday and Sunday  morning. We were greatly encouraged by the turnout in the week  and also  by the fact that our people were generally steadfastly devoted to the Lord  in prayer.  

A number of people  have   indicated in the context of prayer  week that  they  want to join the church. For this immediate result we give thanks to God !

We  have reminded our people that prayer is not just an  occasional activity, but     a lifestyle. Prayer is to the soul what  oxygen is to the body. It sustains the church  like nothing else. No activity describes ‘abiding in Christ the vine’ more than  habitually  praying to God the Father in His Name !

As you help us by your prayers !

2 Corinthians 1:11

SUNDAY EVENINGS AT EASTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

I love  Sunday Evenings  at Eastside !

The evening congregation  is normally a little smaller than the morning congregation, but there is something about  our evening worship that I  treasure. For one,  it is the fact that the people that come on a Sunday evening are  usually devoted worshipers. This fact contributes greatly to the ‘atmosphere’ of our worship. There is an aura of expectancy. There is love. There is spiritual fellowship.  There is good  singing. There is focus on ‘testimony’    and ‘prayer for the world’ , and obviously… there is the focus on the Word of God.  I often say,  with tongue in cheek,  that I love to put our people to sleep with the Word of God  on Sunday evening!   The Word  of God comforts the believer, so that they can go to bed that night  in the knowledge that our God reigns!  I know of no better sleeping pill than that knowledge!

What better way to end the week  and the 7^th day, than in worship!  I simply do not understand what would keep anyone at home  for that hour and a half, when there  is such    wonderful opportunity to exalt Christ  and  to enjoy  choice fellowship.

THE WORD OF GOD IN  2013

At the beginning of this year  we   come to the second half  of Paul’s letter to the Romans, as we  consider Chapters 12 -16.  This is a wonderfully practical  portion of the Bible , for here  we  find  the application of   gospel truth –  that which  we have learned  in the first 11 chapters.

We shall learn that the doctrines of grace  will make us gracious. This is indeed the mark of a true believer. No matter where you come from, and how  sinful your past has been … if Christ has set you free you shall be free indeed!  

And if  you have been saved by the grace of God    you will exhibit the marks of that grace, by growing in grace  (2 Pet. 3:18).

So, dear believer,  if you are in Windhoek  and  if  you have never experienced the thrill of ending  Sunday with Christ  and Christian fellowship, then  come meet with us between  18h00 and  19h15 .

And,  oh yes, you might stay a little longer, because after the service there will be refreshments  and    some more  chatting in our  Courtyard Café.  

Charles Whitson : 3rd April 1927- 9th December 2012

Charles Whitson, first and founding pastor of the Eastside Baptist Church  in Windhoek, Namibia   died on the Lord’s Day, 9^th December 2012,  in LaFayette, Alabama, USA. He  was affectionately known as ‘Uncle Charles‘  to many in Namibia. He was  a missionary  of the Southern Baptist Convention sent out to  South West Africa (today Namibia) in 1968. He came  at the request of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) in order to  establish churches  in this territory, which was then under South African rule. He concluded  his ministry in Namibia at the end of 1992, and thus served for  about 24 years in  SWA/Namibia.

As at the date of writing  he had been gone  from Namibia for 20 years. Many  here  will therefore not know him, but it is my  desire  to keep  his memory alive  for the sake of our posterity. 

Charles  was married to Betty,  and  two daughters, Deborah and Virginia (Ginger)  were  born  to them. Their  marriage  was a wonderful  exhibition of faithful and committed companionship, as they served  the cause of Christ in Namibia in an unselfish and sacrificial  manner.  Charles and Betty  loved the people that they  ministered to. After their daughters had left home and had returned to the USA, Charles and Betty spent much time  visiting people, ministering to  them on a personal basis. The people they were ministering to were often  stubborn  and slow to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw them weeping for such when I was privileged  to  live in their home for a few months in the early eighties.

Charles  had a great sense of humour. Once he told us  when he was growing up as a child in Alabama, “we were so poor, we couldn’t even afford the German measles!” His  winsome personality, his  southern humour, together with a homely  anecdotal style made him a preacher  that the people  liked to listen to.  He wasn’t an expository preacher; neither was he  too fond of taking firm doctrinal positions – a factor, which I believe ultimately  contributed to the loss of much of the work  that he had started.

Charles and Betty  were involved  with the churches  of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Khomasdal, Rehoboth, Luderitz and Windhoek, personally encouraging  pastors and congregations alike.

Charles was  instrumental  in  establishing   the Windhoek Baptist Church (today,  All Nations Christian Church), the Khomasdal Baptist Church, the Eastside Baptist Church in Windhoek, and in the closing days of his  missionary services,  the Luderitz Baptist church, whilst also  ministering to a small flock in Rehoboth. Sadly (and I believe, to his own sorrow)  much of the work  which he started  was lost  to other  causes. 

Eastside Baptist Church which was constituted  under his leadership in June  1985, continues  to be   a  church committed to historic  Baptist principles, continuing  to encourage  the  greater Baptist  work in Namibia.

Betty  Whitson currently   suffers from dementia ( Alzheimers)  and  now lives in a nursing home in the USA.  We  pray for her and her daughters  at this time, and continue to thank God  for the spiritual seed  planted  in Namibian soil.

Pastor Joachim Rieck/ Eastside Baptist Church  

December 2012