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We, participants
in the consultation of South African leaders meeting in Pretoria
on 2 and 3 November 2004, from churches and missions all over
South Africa, acknowledge with gratitude to God the emergence
of the new South Africa in which we live and minister. We sense
a new hour, a kairos opportunity, presenting itself to the Body
of Christ in South Africa, urging us to move together in faith
with the mission of God in our nation and among the nations of
the world. |
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We
commend the leadership of WENSA and TEASA for calling together
national church and mission leaders to this consultation. |
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We celebrate the clear evidence of breakthroughs in the coming
of God’s kingdom during the first decade of the democratic
South Africa. We witnessed major progress in reconciliation, networking
in ministry on national, regional and international levels, the
growing involvement of churches in missions, church planting,
prayer commitment, entry of the Gospel in many formerly closed
or resistant areas, Bible translation, ministry to and with children,
leadership training, development of ministry resources, the increasing
use of modern media in spreading the Gospel, thorough research
and publication, etc. We commit ourselves to ensure that this
will be the beginning of a great and exciting harvest for God’s
kingdom in our own lifetime. |
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We
affirm the ongoing process of reconciliation in the church in
South Africa and commit ourselves to encourage unity and cooperation
among churches and mission agencies in the missionary enterprise
in and from South Africa. In this regard we encourage existing
mission agencies in their efforts towards transforming themselves. |
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We
welcome the focus during the consultation on the role of the Black
church in South Africa in an emerging missions movement. We commit
ourselves to retain and support this focus so that what is now
in its infancy will become a groundswell of missions involvement
nationwide. We are willing to work through important and challenging
issues facing missions in South Africa today. |
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We
affirm and endorse this movement towards national facilitation
of world evangelization initiatives in South Africa. We call on
this leadership group to continue facilitating the movement in
its search for maximum exclusivity and effectiveness. We commit
ourselves to strengthen and broaden this movement. We especially
commit ourselves to ensure that South African church leaders will
take their rightful place in this movement. |
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We commit ourselves to serve the local church and mission agencies
with ongoing research, sharing of information regarding trends
in, and the status of evangelization in South Africa and globally
and seeking to equip the Body of Christ in South Africa to become
strategically involved in the process of doing mission. |
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We
unite in calling the Church to active participation in the global
prayer movement directed at transforming communities by advancing
the Kingdom of God. |
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We
commit ourselves to continue our witness to all peoples of the
world, especially the least reached. We believe they need to hear
the Gospel in a contextually relevant, humble and non-threatening
way. We believe that God has ideally positioned the church in
South Africa to rise to the challenge. |
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We
believe that the Church also has a responsibility for the evangelization
of all people in our country, including adherents of other religions,
and those seeking refuge and work in our country. |