Focus on the Family - Southern Africa

December 2007

Untitled Document

Dear Friend

This will be the last opportunity this year to wish you a merry Christmas and every blessing for the new year of 2008. It’s also an opportunity to thank you for your continued support of this ministry.

I, along with the staff here, are very excited about the coming year and all of the exciting plans we have to increase the impact we are having on families in Africa. We will be keeping in touch with you and will continue to give you more information on various programmes and projects that will be taking place throughout the year.

May I also take this opportunity to honour all of the pastors in Africa. These men and woman are heroes who selflessly give themselves to the calling that God has placed on them. Focus on the Family salutes you and we would also like to say that we are here to support you in your ministry.

Once again, merry Christmas and may God richly bless you and your family.

Sincerely

Dr. Amon Kasambala
Chief Executive Officer

STATISTICS:
September - October 2007

No Apologies Workshops ....................... 43

Attendees
- Educators..................... 654
- Learners....................... 495

Number of Learners Reached..................... 59894

Parenting Workshops..........4
- Attendees ......................70

Other Events...................... 1

Testimony
Letter from the Deputy Principal at
Sarnia Primary School

“I wish to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation for the way in which the No Apologies course was presented at our school. The learners said it was 'awesome!' and most beneficial. In a society where few values are taught we so appreciate your concern. I really commend the way in which Mthoko Shange, Khosi and Johanna had the course - not one problem arose! Wonderful. Please write us in for next year.”

NO APOLOGIES

We have had a number of workshops over the past two months, all of them running smoothly. The learners were very open, which made for interactive workshops. In most cases it came out that learners believed that age 12 is an average age that children are engaging in sex.

Learners believe some of the reasons for this early start is: it’s fun, peer pressure, the media’s influence, pornography, it gives a sense of authority, boredom.

Feedback from learners showed that they appreciated the open manner in which the workshops were conducted and they admitted to being amazed by their own ignorance.

[No Apologies]

No Apologies Workshop held at Northlands Primary School

GRANDPARENTS EVENT

These past two months Focus on the Family Africa held two grandparenting events in Durban. Grandparents are part of the important network of any child’s life, and Focus on the Family was able to share with the grandparents some valuable hints from their experiences with children. Some examples that were raised included:

How could a grandparent be of help to their broken hearted grandchild whose parents had just divorced?
How should grandparents deal with confidential matters discussed with them by grandchildren?
The importance of having fun with our grandchildren.

The events were the first of their kind and grandparents were appreciative of the arrangements as well as the family resources that Focus on the Family had available for the spiritual health of their children and grand-children.

Grandparenting Event held at Le Domaine - Hillcrest

CHURCH RELATIONS

Focus on the Family Africa was invited by a church to address relationships between parents and children with respect to HIV AIDS and other family challenges. The topic was titled “A sound relationship between parents and children and the difference between LOVE and LUST”. This talk centered on challenges parents and children need to overcome in order to communicate and understand each other better before any crisis hits the family. The importance for parents to exercise Unconditional love towards their children irrespective of their status was discussed and the fact that lust masquerades as love even though it is impatient and selfish was also addressed.

STATISTICS:
September - October 2007

Internet:
No. of Website Visits
per Month on average ............. 15330

Radio Broadcasting:
No. of Stations in Africa ........... 55

Approximate Total
Listenership of Stations ....... 7, 255 000

Television:
No. of TV stations in Africa ....... 3

Publications:
No. of publications we feature in..5

The media initiatives of Focus on the Family Africa continue to expand. We hope to use the channels of Radio, TV, Print and the Web, which are so often employed for destructive purposes, to positively influence families in Africa. We actively engage with new stations and publications all the time with the aim of getting our programmes and content out to a world in so much need of the advice and encouragement we have to offer.
If you would like a copy of any of our radio broadcasts or if you’ve seen something on TV and would like the DVD, please contact us. Or visit our website and browse through the multitude of articles that are written for the purpose of strengthening your family.

RADIO
[Radio Programme Schedule]
[Find a Station]
[Top 100 Broadcasts]

INTERNET
[Visit our Website]

STATISTICS:
September - October 2007

Incoming Letters, Emails & Faxes... 4559

Outgoing Letters, Emails & Faxes... 172

Counselling Calls......................... 545

Other Calls................................ 3232

FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT

Dear Constituents,

Without you there would be no Correspondence and Counselling Department at Focus on the Family Africa.
You have opened your hearts and entrusted us with your deepest hurts and feelings - a trust that we do not take for granted.
We thank you for allowing us to bear your burden through our written responses, our telephonic counsel and the many prayers we’ve prayed on your behalf. This indeed is a humbling experience.

While for some, Christmas is a time for giving and receiving, for many, it is a time of sadness and loneliness. In whatever state you find yourself, know that we are here to lend a helping hand.
Please do not hesitate to contact us.

[Counselling]

Testimony
Letter from
Rock Community Care, Paarl

“It is with great appreciation that this letter is drafted to take this opportunity to thank Focus on the Family for the much needed reading material provided to us. I once again was reminded of God’s grace and sovereign plan across borders, culture, race, age, nation or denomination.

Thank you for sowing into our ministry helping us to equip, educate and support people which enable us to not only talk the talk but walk the walk with each individual and every sibling willing or unwillingly touched by the crisis they face.”

Testimony
Letter from
Christian Student Leadership Centre,
Ufungamano House Nairobi

“Thank you so much for your very encouraging letter.
May our good Lord bless you especially in your ministry to families.
When I wrote my letter, I felt different, healed and a new. It was a kind of confession and all that was tormenting me was lifted. I was also able to forgive. Thank you. And be blessed. Our God is truly faithful and all who trust in Him will never be forsaken.”

STATISTICS:
September - October 2007

Number of Resources Sold .... 14035

News Flash !!!

Latest reports indicate that to date,we have distributed in excess of 3000 units of items promoted in our Christmas catalogue.

We thank those who have supported the ministry in this way.

We have had a most favourable response to our recent mailing (Christmas Flyer). Already we have experienced "sold outs", so may we encourage you to order now, to avoid disappointment.

Our latest resource is a hardcover book written by the Focus on the Family USA, President and CEO, Jim Daly, in which he shares his autobiography. Read how the challenges of growing up in a dysfunctional home and how God took a young boy from a shattered background and transformed him into the leader of one of today's most recognized and effective International family ministry. This book will be available early January 2008.

[Click here]
to view our online Shop.

Please consider buying a gift that keeps on giving by ordering a magazine subscription to our wonderful magazines.
[Click here to view our magazines]

1. Another No Apologies Children’s Camp will take place in the Northern Cape, in December 2007.

2. The Global Services Group of Focus meeting in Dublin in January 2008.

3. In April 2008 we will be hosting Rob Parsons and launching the 21st Century Parenting & Marriage Programme.

Please join us in praying for the following:

1. Our upcoming events.

2. Launch of the Truth Project in August 2008

3. Guidance and Courage in Family Work

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

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