Brothers in Christ: A prophetic call to lead

The Anglican Mens Fellowship & Evangelism guild (diocese of Johannesburg) 2025 elective conference has come and gone, held between the 20th and the 23rd of November, the year of our Lord 2025 in Soweto, and a new crop of leaders were elected. This crop will be lead by a brother whom I cherish greatly, reverend Vusi Ndaba of St Andrews Pimville as President. Now, what informs and inspired me to write about this prophetic outcome of God's ministry is the fact that God through his people, also chose me to be my brother's keeper as his vice president, a prophetic revelation that many are not aware of, but only myself and this brother in Christ, to this Paul writes to the church in Rome and asserts that "all authority comes from God" (Romans 13:1 NIV) and so the spirit said I must write down and record this prophetic revelation that God has put before his people.

But first I must go back in history and lay down the historic background of the movement we have been given four years to lead as President and Vice President. Its history goes back to the year 1967, in the section/district of Koster (Western Transvaal), where at its first conference, the Revd. Canon Reuben Manentsa, Canon Rakale, Venerable Leo Alexander as the Archdeacon of the area and other laymen in Tigane, formally established the movement (https://www.anglicanmensfellowshipevangelism.org/history.html). This means that we have been granted the privilege to participating in leading a branch that is the diocese of Johannesburg of a body of Christ that has been in existence for fifty eight (58) years. Because the organisation's term of office is four year, it would mean that we are in the region of about 'the fifteenth cohort to lead the people of God in the diocese of Johannesburg, a responsibility which we should never take for granted.

At the center of this prophetic revelation is the question of the ministry of leadership in the church, inspired precisely by the election of the incoming President, reverend Vusi Ndaba, and the prophetic nature of God's call upon him and his new cabinet. Given that the man is a brother to me more than anything, i'm of the view that ours is more personal and deeper in how we are going to be lead by the holy spirit, together with the rest of the team to lead the rest of God's flock. It is evident that we have a journey of four years to travel to an unknown destination. Upon reflection I have come to realise that ours is a prophetic call to the task. It only dawns me now that 'our relationship that is founded on the basic principles of mutual respect, brotherhood and love, is but a piece of the bigger puzzle, God's plan'. I'm certain that I could have easily worked in harmony with any individual that God may have chosen, just as it was the case with the outgoing president Revd. Tshepo Hope Maloka. But I strongly believe that "in father Ndaba God couldn't have chosen any better person to travel this journey with". Ours is a simple task as mandated by the people of God "lead our growth strategy, humble ourselves before God's people, in all our efforts look from within and put the people of God in this guild first". We are both well aware that it will not be easy, challenges lie ahead, but our God is on high alert, after all "it is he that will build this house, if not then we shall be laboring in vain" (Psalm 127:1), our human effort is in vain without God's blessing. Just as the author of the second book of prophet Isaiah says to us "do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) in an effort to demonstrate to us that "all the strength, wisdom and guidance comes from God".

In his sermon during the Eucharist of the masses on day three of the conference that gave us this task, the Bishop elect of Johannesburg Revd. Canon. Dr. Sepadi Moruthane reminded us of the importance of revisiting the past, assessing the present and imagining the future in a positive light, a future that seeks to deepen our relationship with God. I am convinced that "our task is to help God's people in this guild to deepen their relationship with God", and for us to achieve this is to do that which we have been mandated to do "and that is 'to look from within the guild'.



This mandate simply means that "in whatever we do, we ought to first consider the members of the guild, empower them in every way possible, in order for them to see the living God at work in their lives, through the ministry of AMF & E". To this I am drawn to the words of the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews when he says "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6 NIV), an emphasis to the reality that "when God's works are seen in practicality, the relationship between God and his people is strengthened". The only reason why the people of Israel continued to believe in their God is because of the works of God in their lives, where challenges arose God was the solution, when they faulted and broke away from the covenant God still remained their refuge, in captivity God remained the only hope of freedom, on the journey to the promised land God was the only best solution to all challenges, because God continuously showed-up in works, through many men and women whom he had chosen to lead his chosen people as his representatives that brought him to Life.

And so this mandate of the conference, understood together with the message of the Bishop elect, says to the new leaders of the guild in the diocese "strive to make God a reality in the lives of the members of AMF & E and God's people in general, so that their relationship with God can be strengthened", strengthen their belief in God by making God a living God, a real God that is seen through works. This then means that ours is a journey of reformation, requiring a delicate approach to managing change, introducing new ways and new ideas, some will be seen as extremes and rejected, but our prayer is that others will be welcomed and embraced by God's people. As the deliberations during the first two days of conference declared and adopted among others "the new policy document that shall be read together with the guild's constitution to guide the diocese towards a number of reforms", we remain alive to the reality of the difficulties that lies ahead, especially in how we are going to manage change, for the greater good and growth of God's kingdom. Among others in practical terms our immediate tasks are to look into: - The different ministries of the guild, including the ministry of its men

- The question of social responsibility that looks from within

- The question of fundraising in light of the Provincial Conference that will be hosted by Johannesburg

- Ensuring a standardised diocese (as per the new policy document)

- Improving member participation

- Improving Cabinet visits to parishes

- Improving Clergy participation

- Improved recruitment methods

My prayer is that God our father who brought himself down on earth through his incarnate son Jesus Christ, will remain with us in this new journey, just as he was with his prophets of old, who led the chosen people of Judas into the land he had promised them. May we not be weary as we encounter the hardships of leading, may we always remember that ours is a prophetic call of God and not our own personal journey. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews submits that "without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Hebrews 11:6 NIV), ours is a God led journey.

Disclaimer: Kgosi writes in his capacity as the Diocesan Vice President, however, views shared in this personal blog do not in any way represent the official views of the guild in both the province and diocese.