TEASA Newsletter June/July 2025
‘‘ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciple’’ John 15:8
Contents
National Dialogue
Discipleship Movement Conference
SACC National Prayer Day
Community Bible Study
The National Dialogue
There aren’t many nations in the world that get to have a national dialogue, to have heated discussions, to reimagine again who they are as a society and who they are becoming. Coming 3 years after the Zondo commission report traumatized us about the state of our Democracy and the men and women we have elected to preside over it, it is really time to talk. On the 15thAugust, the National Dialogue conference will convene, blowing the whistle to begin the National Dialogue process. Nine “layers of conversation” are envisaged, as listed by Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. Christians will do well to soak these layers of conversations in prayer, so that they yield an outcome that is worthy of the miracle God gave us in 1994.
Here are the 9 levels of this process:
- The First National Convention on 15 August 2025 – 1000 delegates. This is an agenda-setting convention which will prepare the nation for the community engagements.
- Community Dialogues – 13400 ward-based community dialogues.
- The Online platform is aiming to reach no less than 2.5 million citizens.
- There will also be smaller citizen-hosted events in churches and community groups that shall have access to the toolkit being designed so that the outcomes feed into the process.
- Sectoral Dialogues – self-organized in specific social or economic sectors, which shall also have access to the toolkit so that their outcomes feed into the process.
- The 2nd National Convention will be the concluding event that converts the engagements into a National Compact and 30-Year Plan of Action. We estimate that this will be about another 1000 delegates.
- A detailed implementation plan.
- A national roadshow to socialize the outcomes of the National Dialogue and engage with implementation partners.
- Independent, citizen-led Monitoring and Evaluation will remain in place. For more on the National Dialogue, see here: https://nedlac.org.za/national-dialogue/
Disciple making: Casting a Vision
TEASA cohosted a Vision casting workshop with an international team from African Strategic Discipleship Movement (ASDM). It was a prelude to a full on training event for church leaders and disciple makers later in the year.
South Africa is about 70% Christian, and similarly Africa boast of being the continent with the greatest number of Christians. While the number of believers are the highest in Africa, Christain impact on the socio cultural, economic and political context of the continent do not evidence this. The implication is that Christians are not representing the Kingdom of God well as salt and light. They are often the reason others turn away from the faith. Rev. Ceasar Magueju of AFM Zimbabwe, emphasized the urgent need for intentional disciple-making in the African church, not just as a program.
Bishop Paul Mususu, Chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, stressed that disciple-making must be central to every denomination’s vision. Using real-life examples, he demonstrated that stylistic changes in the church cannot replace deep spiritual transformation. He called on leaders to return to Jesus’ model of disciple-making, which builds churches rooted in love, unity, and mission (Eph. 4:16).
True discipleship involves teaching, mentoring, real-life practice, and multiplication, explained Dr. Tom Lunsford, ASDM Director of Training. Spiritual transformation requires a move away from program-driven models to relational and transformational disciple-making,
SACC National Prayer Day
When believers gather to pray for their nation, something shifts in the atmosphere. Faith is released. Angels join them in the work to bring about something of the Kingdom of heaven in the circumstances of today. What a privilege it was to join Christians from a wide range of Christian denominations, joined by guests of the World Council of Churches.
Beyond praying for God’s grace to touch the nation, the benefit that comes with believers standing as one in the Lord, and lavishly sharing the diversity of gifts given to the Church is that, as the Psalmist says: “ there the Lord bestows his blessing.” Radio Pulpit’s Ds Jannie Pelser followed this up in a panel interview, featuring Heidi Petersen, Ds Jan Lubbe, and TEASA GS Rev Moss Ntlha on the significance of the day.
Transforming lives and communities
TEASA partners with Community Bible Study (CBS)
“What would it take to achieve authentic transformation of lives in our communities?” This question is a challenge that faces many pastors and disciple makers as they are confronted with astonishing incidents of moral failure in a society that is predominantly Christian. Churches also report high incidents of moral failure, including among leaders.
The answer of course, is that only God can change people, and the bible – properly used – is an important resource in the process. This is a pathway to behavior change and social transformation.
TEASA leaders recently held a vision-casting session with CBS Africa continental leader Rev Prosper Isichei. This laid the ground for a full-on training on Community bible studies as a resource in the toolkit of leaders and disciple makers.
Be sure to join us on the 1st and 2nd of August 2025 at AFM Victory Outreach Centre, 3005 Forbes Rd, Meadowlands, Soweto. 1852 at 10 am-4 pm both days.
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