Youthful4God Christian Magazine
April 2020/Issue 3
Contents 03 Editor's Note 4-5 Real life story: mother dealing
12 13-14
with Autism
Contact information Pastor JJ van Rooyen as a Kingdom Shaker
6-7 CRC Church feature
15-16 Sermon: "I am a city without walls"
8-9 Real Talk on Easter Eggs
17-18
10-11 Ur Plug: all you need to know
that's for sale
19
Fear of losing out as a young person Just For Fun: to check your knowledge of the Bible
All is not bloom and loom-COVID-19 Sometimes let's not look at the worst and try to focus on the better things. I believe by now we are aware that the pandemic will not stop churches from giving food (the word) to it's shepherds. Some people have never prayed so much before this pandemic. Some people have not had time with themselves or their families. Read a book to feed your soul Start a Youtube channel Start a short course Spend time with God to hear what He wants from you There is no specific medicine to prevent or treat Corona-virus disease (COVID-19). People may need supportive care to help them breathe. Self care if you have mild symptoms, stay at home until you have recovered. You can relieve your symptoms if you: Rest and sleep Keep warm Drink plenty of liquids Use a room humidifier or take a hot shower to help ease a sore throat and cough
Our theme is very interesting in that,most people do not want to try.they try and when they fail or fall they give up.Have you realised that the nice things are so easy and enjoyable to do... but do not last for long or forever (like things made in China).
Editor's note
The good things need discipline and they are not enjoyable at the beginning but fulfilling at the end, that is life! Above all, know that God loves you and knows your heart(whether good or bad). Self control is not easy but situations can trial you every time. You make it in some,you fail in some but do not lose hope.God is on the throne.
My heart is so swollen with the increase of infections and deaths from Covid-19. The families are breaking up because of this virus killing people. Please let us adhere to the precautions made as a way of fighting the spread of the disease. My heart breaks for people that have not seen that this is a serious virus. All that we can do is trust in a higher power than us (God) to protect us and keep us. Above all, know that God never changes in any circumstances. He is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. Love you like crazy Lebo
World Autism Awareness Day 2 April
I was a teenage mother, pregnant at the age of 15 and basically clueless about life and definitely had no clue about motherhood. My parents were very supportive, loving and guided me until her birth and to this very day, so does the rest of my family. But life would never be the same again for our family. My daughter's birth would question life as we know it forever. KLZ (my daughter) met all the growing milestones until about the age of 2, after that everything stopped. She was not meeting any of the developmental milestones, particularly speech. That was the first red flag but doctors assured that it is normal and can happen, we should be patient. At 6 years old, nothing had improved and it was another red flag. Her speech and social interaction had not gotten any better. She did not have any friends, she was not properly potty trained, she moved from one school to another because teachers were unable to handle her. How we got help was short of a miracle. KLZ was staying with my parents while I was schooling in South Africa. Someone told my mother of an important meeting that I have to attend as it concerns my daughter. I came home and went to this meeting. That meeting was one of the few things I have ever had an aha! moment in my life! Speaker after speaker described my daughter and her different behaviors and said that she might have Autism. What's Autism? Autism is a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior. Okay, tell me more, I asked, and they went on to break it down to me to a level that I understood. Does your child do any of the following: Adoption of unusual speech patterns, such as using a robot-like tone Avoid eye contact with others not babbling or cooing to parents as an infant not respond to their name Late development of speech skills Having difficulty with maintaining conversation Frequently repeating phrases Apparent difficulty in understanding feelings and expressing their own Cause harm to themselves by hitting their head against the wall or bite their fingers until they bleed if they are frustrated and unable to communicate Becoming preoccupied with objects, such as a toy or household object Engage in repetitive motions, such as rocking side to side Line up or arrange toys or objects in very orderly ways I answered yes to almost every single one of these questions. That meeting ended up being the inception of Autism Botswana with me as one of the founding members.
Since the diagnosis, it is been a journey. Now that I knew what was wrong with her, I was able to get a confirmation diagnosis from doctors and help her better. It has not always been easy, as a single mother, raising her has not been an easy ride. For her to live independently she needs an array of therapies that will enable her to live alone. If, ever. She needs speech therapy, occupational therapy and other stimulation activities like swimming that can enhance her coordination.
I have set up parent’s support groups for parents as a safe haven to share experiences but because everyone wants a quick solution, so it becomes difficult to keep going. But it has not all been bad. I'm raising an amazing 15 years old baby girl who is a typical teenager, I have even dubbed her that. Teenager is intelligent, so intelligent, her IQ is truly the highest I've ever experienced. When she's not hiding out in her room listening to music like a typical teen, she's doing the dishes, cleaning her bedroom. Oh, she loves music! Although her speech is still isn't age appropriate, we are able to
And all these things cost money, money that I don't have. Between raising funds through an initiative in her honor called Ask Me About
understand each other better now. She listens, she takes instructions well, she's empathetic and an all great child. She's my best friend.
Autism Bw and the legal battle between her father and I for financial assistance, I have a
God has been faithful because He has allowed us to walk this journey with my parents, family and
lot going on. She has been attending a special school that is so expensive but so worth it.
friends. I really would not have done all of this without their support and love. I have seen His love
She made tremendous progress while she was there, but we had to discontinue because of lack of funds. I have been to the Government
through my child, He literally gives me signs through her and although we have struggles and often worry about the future, we lay safe in His
offices, I knocked on doors that have not been able to assist us.
arms always!
More about Ask Me About Autism Bw To assist in any amount possible, you can donate to the below details
Name: Ambrose Academy Bank: FNB Branch: First Place Account: 62768063796
Church Feature
The name of our church is Christian Revival Church (CRC). The significance I believe is quite obvious, as we are a church of Revival. We are a church who is unashamed and believe we are in a move that is seeing revival happen across nations of this world. Our founder, Pastor At Boshoff, started CRC in 1994, when he heard a word from God, 'Run for Me, or I will find another'. This vision came about through the obedience of one man who was fully persuaded that Jesus is the answer to all the ills we face on earth. CRC was established in 1994 by Senior Pastors At and Nyretta Boshoff in Bloemfontein with 180 members. Since then, the church has grown to over 90 CRC churches all over the world with branches in Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. We are a home cell based church with thousands of home cells in homes, schools and offices in and around the city. Vision of CRC We believe that we are called to make a difference in the world that we live in. At CRC we strive to stimulate growth in our members through relevant teaching, passionate worship, loving care and small group interaction (home cells), by releasing members to function in their gifts and talents and by encouraging them to reach out to others. If you are looking for a church where you can experience love and where you can fulfill your God-given potential, we trust that you will find a home at CRC.
Senior Leaders and Founders - Pastors At & Nyretta Boshoff
To building One Church In many locations, nationally and international. Mission Mend the nets, the catch will be great. To train and release every member for Ministry, caring For, disciplining and evangelising our community. Mandate is to Win The Lost At Any Cost! Dream It is the dream of CRC to be an oasis of life in this city where the hurting, the depressed, the sick, the frustrated and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, healing, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement. It is our dream to feed the poor, to clothe the naked and to take care of orphans and widows.It is the dream of CRC to effectively share the Good News of Jesus Christ with every man, woman and child.It is the dream of CRC to welcome a tithe of our cities as members into the fellowship of our Church family, loving, learning, laughing and living in harmony together and fulfilling God’s vision for us. It is the dream of CRC to develop every incoming member to spiritual maturity, ministering to the whole man (spirit, soul and body) through small groups, seminars, retreats, bible studies and a Bible School for our members. It is the dream of CRC to equip every member for significant ministry helping them discover the gifts and talents God has given them.It is the dream of CRC to be a Lighthouse to the nations, a mission base regularly sending out missionaries to the four corners of the earth. It is the dream of CRC to have suitable, practical but yet beautiful facilities designed to minister to the total person, spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially. These facilities will include a worship auditorium seating thousands, recreation facilities, children facilities, Bible School, several fellowship halls, administration facilities and schools. It is our dream to have a farm with rehabilitation facilities, industry warehouses, orphanages, old age homes and several community centres in our city. I confidently state that these dreams will become a reality because they are inspired by God. We are in Block 3 Industrial Gaborone, plot 206256. Service times: We have 3 services on a Sunday: 8.30AM, 10.30AM & 6PM. The 6pm services are where we livelink with our Senior Pastor and Founder of CRC - Pastor At Boshoff with over 46 CRC churches from all over the world!
Real talk
Children are the most honest being ever, ask a child what they know about Easter. They might say two things; ''They don’t know or Easter bunny eggs'' Christian mothers or even mothers that don’t believe in Christ, should stand in the gap of Christian knowledge being covered by the activities of the world. Every child knows about Easter relating to bunnies and eggs. Do they know what happened on this day in our Christian walks? We celebrate with most holidays of the world and forget to teach our children the significance of the holidays biblically. The same goes to Christmas, santa clause, thanksgiving and hallowen. Why don’t you ever wonder why we do not have young people preaching and prophesying at a younger age? It is because we do not teach our children the meaning of the holidays rather than teaching them what the world celebrates. When the children see the holidays taking place as they read in the bible, they will believe. We only want them to go to church on Sunday and attend youth services. And you think the devil will not attack your children.
Growing up, I did not have people that could encourage me to seek God from a young age. I was the only Pentecost in my house, and we did not see things the same way with my mum because she is catholic. I would have loved to have someone to guide me through this journey. All is never lost. Parents can start now and teach their children about these holidays. I think the biggest problem is that parents do not want to invest in their children’s spiritual walk, they would rather get them the latest sneakers or kicks. Children need to know about fasting, having faith, giving. There should even par-take in all of these. The kids should attend mid-week services. There should be aware that, whatever homework you have, do it before church time.I felt this was amazing that they sacrifice sleeping and come early for morning dose.
The kind of school that you are taking your child. The kind of school that you are taking your child matters. What they teach them is important and what you do at home also plays a big role. We do not have Christian school that do not teach about.
God have in-trusted you with that children to raise them the best way possible. If you think that the church will teach them all of the meaning of these holidays when you could be a better example, to follow. The Easter story is at the heart of Christianity because it is when Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. His body was taken down from the cross and buried in a cave. Jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus. Easter Monday This is the day after the Messiah (Jesus) returned to earth. Jesus is believed to have stayed for 40 days, appearing to believers and giving ministry. He healed the sick and proved to doubters that He was the son of God. I believe that if we explain the holidays biblical to children and reward them with egg hunt for their understanding or participation, then we are changing the future of this world. They might not understand right away but as they year progresses and the stories link, they will understand. Happy Easters my Tribe
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THE THEME OF THE MONTH
I was raised in a small town called Karasburg in Namibia. I met my wife, Hannah in London, and have two children, Ariana (8) and Nathan (6). Anyone can be defined as a Kingdom Shaker if they wholeheartedly follow Pastor JJ van Rooyen the Word and the Will of God, to build His Kingdom on earth. I was brought up in a traditional Afrikaans family, as I mentioned in a small town in Namibia. We attended church religiously, but didn't understand what it was to have a 'relationship' with God. Privileged to have grown up with both parents, and I have two brothers, Jaco and Johan.
KINGDOM SHAKERS
I was brought up in a traditional Afrikaans family, as I mentioned in a small town in Namibia. We attended church religiously, but didn't understand what it was to have a 'relationship' with God. Privileged to have grown up with both parents, and I have two brothers, Jaco and Johan. I vividly remember at the age of 13 sitting on the back of my dad's pick up truck in the middle of the bush on his farm, and felt in my heart 'I am going to be a Dominee one day' which is basically a Priest / Pastor. Many things shifted as I grew older, but by just being obedient I am seeing God's faithfulness to fulfilling His purpose for my life. God is number one in my life. I love my family, my wife, my kids, and even ministry, but reality is that I would probably not have any of that without the transformation and relationship I have with God. There have been many tests of faith through my journey, from leaving my job in London to volunteer at my church because of the burning in my heart for ministry, to leaving London to come back to Africa to plant a church as a step of obedience, then even moving to Botswana and not the next shift will be the building of our building here in Gaborone. This journey is always about faith, because it takes faith to please God.The greatest miracle that I have ever seen, and thankfully continue to see, is that of Salvation. Seeing the hurt, lost and broken come to Jesus and receive a new life, and a new start.
Word to others
If you want to fulfill all God has planned for you - there are no tricks, no gimmicks and no 'get rich quick' schemes. It is purely and simply about surrendering your life, loving God, loving people and desiring to do God's will. You cannot give, what you do not have. With what we going through with the pandemic, the church doors are closed but the word of God continues. Follow the diagram on the left to connect with CRC services at the comfort of your home or work. You can go on YouTube CRCÂ main or facebook CRC main CRC will be live also on dstv, one gospel and Tbn 830am and 6pm
‘’AM I A CITY WITHOUT WALLS?" Mankind’s biggest problem is himself. Your biggest problem is you! You ask yourself why you can’t get things done, why you can’t become a better person who sets goals, pursues and achieves them. For example, how many times have you set resolutions at the beginning of the year and only to have a quarter or close to nothing done by the end of the year? Ever thought about the term selfcontrol? Yes, that’s where the problem is. Majority of our problems in life are due to lack of self-control. Now what is this selfcontrol that I keep on talking about? The oxford dictionary defines it as “the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations”. According to Wikipedia’s scientific definition, self-control as an aspect of inhibitory control, is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses. It goes on to say, as an executive function, self-control is a cognitive process that is necessary for regulating one’s behavior in order to achieve specific goals. In the Christian faith, self-control is counted among the nine characteristics or virtues of the fruit of the Spirit as articulated by Paul the Apostle in his epistle to the Galatians (Galatians 5:22-23); the inward and outward effect of having the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Proverbs 25:28 likens a person without selfcontrol to a city without walls, a city that is defenseless; a city that is exposed. Without self-control one will not be able to regulate his/ her selfish desires which inhibit growth and which also may lead the assassination of his/ her integrity. You may ask, but how do I master self – control;
by T.L Makula First be honest to yourself about your weaknesses, whether it’s a weakness of procrastination, of lust or any weakness that you can think of. It’s often easier to fight the enemy you know than the one you don’t, at least you know the kind of environment to avoid. Uriah the Hittite refused to go to his house to enjoy intimacy with his wife while other soldiers were at war (2 Samuel 11:11), Joseph fled when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him (Genesis 39:7-12). Had Joseph stayed, all hell would have broken loose and he most probably wouldn’t have made it to the throne of Egypt as the second man in command. The second thing is calculating the cost of lack of self-control. I’m sure Joseph did. Imagine the opportunities you would miss because of lack of self-control, imagine what overindulgence would do to your life? Overeating? Overreacting? Imagine the shame that you would have to deal with should you get caught. I’m sure no one wants to live their lives regretting. Some sins or weaknesses are life altering. Look at King David, look at what he had to go through because he could not resist Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Paul states in 1 Corinthian 9:27 that he puts his body (his flesh) under subjection lest after he has preached to many he be disqualified. Paul knew very well that one can start well, but if he loses control it may end in disqualification. The last point that I want to bring to your attention is that yield to the Holy Spirit; depend on Him for divine strength. God the Holy Spirit works in us both the will and the ability to do His will (Philippians 2:13). Our human will tend to fail us a lot. Have you tried leaving a bad habit without involving God? Did you manage? Well, not many do manage. But God has proven to be reliable. He is not out to expose us, but He is out to help us but giving us the strength and the self-control, we need for a better and effective life. Don’t hide from Him, yield. God wants you to win and to win every day, there is power available for victory! Fellowship with Him through prayer and the word and have the fruit of the Spirit made manifest in you.
If the above sermon has touched you and you want to give your life, pray : Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I I receive you as my Lord and Savior. Now,help me to live for you for the rest of this life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen To seal the above please start reading the bible (according to what you are currently struggling with) and books that would build your spiritual growth. Fast and pray when you get a change it will not come without you putting in the work.
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) Often times we come across this term and we think we have got it covered; that we can control ourselves but can we? First we need to understand what self-control is. It is the ability to not do something, though you have the power and ability to do what you want or say. That ability is what we refer to as self-control. Can you control yourself from saying or doing what you want to do even though you might feel it is in your right to do so. As a young girl who is in the process of establishing her life as an independent person, self-control and discipline are not only elements of success but necessities of discovery. Success is tons of disciplines. One might argue that we are living in an era where the highlights of our young years is trying out new things and going with the flow, that self-control cages us however without discipline this is a recipe for self-destruction. In us having goals and dreams , we want to see them become our reality, we ought to plan a journey which lays off a couple of things that not only delay us but leave us to only imagine what could have been. It is easy to cut off what you don’t want but what more of what you want; what you desire? This where discipline comes into play. Self-discipline is a concept to not just be talked about rather it exudes itself in practice and action. It shows when I am invited to a birthday bash and I have a test in the morning, I can go to the bash and have fun ,come back home late at night. I mean I need to live a little but will that help me with the 80% I wanted to get on my tests this semester? Staying home and studying doesn’t come close to the fun I will have with my friends at the bash but it is a necessity for me to improve my results, goes without saying; reach my goals. This then forces us to acknowledge that self-discipline and control are therefore not really enjoyable nor entertaining but essential to in making us to perform best and be the best versions of ourselves. It also highlights that our why-power is much bigger than our will power which is the lesson 101 of getting one’s mind to be in charge of their emotions. Delay gratification in the short term so that you enjoy greater results in the long term. Consider athletes, they have to practice every day without fail for their final race NOT to just race but to WIN. That is their goal and it requires proper planning followed by action. Prioritizing their practice over any occasion that may arise during the course of their training. It takes quite a lot of discipline to commit to showing up to practice on time without fail , where there is no one to cheer you on. you beat your time from yesterday’s practice. Sometimes pain may be the only spectator on the stands but we don’t want that kind of cheer leading do we? This constant discipline is exactly what will get us through to the finish line when the stadium raises their cheers for us as we walk proudly to collect our medals. It was made possible by cancelling that movie date etc, was not fun but it was worth it. It is understanding that we have it in us to do anything but we do not have to.
The ability to control our desires and impulses. Coming to terms with missing out, shifting your focus on the goal and knowing that we are instilling proper principles in our lives. As young people, more often than not, we find ourselves in situations that test our discipline. Situations that question our focus and commitment. An example of such situations may be a relationship you find yourself in as a young Christian who loves the Lord and wants to honor God with your life. Your boyfriend\girlfriends demands sex from you and makes advances on you. Let’s pause and clear out that I am not referring to a sexual harassment kind of situation.
You desire to experience that pleasure, your hormones rush and you find yourself in a society that does not find wrong with pre-marital sex and actually encourages it. You find yourself desiring to feel what you can only anticipate. You don’t have to indulge with your partner but you can, you are able to and you feel like it.Everything around you gives you a nod. But your decision regard God high and mighty in your life including your relationship shows discipline, knowing that premarital sex does not glorify God. Friends may think college is the right time to do it but the God you love values principles-obey Him. Having a strong will power to leave your partner if he\she does not back down, it is with great confidence that I say this because I know God gives us the Holy Spirit that bears self-control as one of His fruits in us {1 Tim 5;22}.The ability to lay your phone aside because you want to have your personal devotion with God even though you want to keep up with the trends because you recognize your dependence on God is critical therefore a growing progressive relationship with Him is vital. Simply choosing to have dinner before dessert. Mind you, it is not that you don’t want to have pleasurable experiences but it means you can have them after the necessary work or waiting is done and key tasks are done. Whenever you discipline yourself and force yourself to do the right thing you like and respect yourself more, your self-esteem increases, your image improves. Self-disciplines in action results in persistence. There are only two sides to this coin of discipline and success. Think about your future while making decisions about your current action. Choose wisely, your future is just a manifestation of your choice now, nothing magical.
JUST FOR FUN List these 10 plagues that struck Egypt during the times of Moses in the order they happened in the Bible
......Darkness ......Frogs ......Nile turned to blood ......Plague on the firstborn ......Plague on livestock ......Hail ......Flies ......Gnats ......Locusts ......Boils
1.Nile turned to blood 2.Frogs 3.Gnats 4.Flies
5.Plague on livestock 6.Boils 7.Hail 8.Locusts
ANSWERS 9. Darkness 10. Plague on the firstborn
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:25