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For Wynberg in the Cape, the 40 Days of Purpose campaign went much wider than just the individual congregations. God worked in the hearts of people to unify congregations that had been divided by colour for more than a century.

 Main Article, Kerkbode, 24 August 2007, translated in English (view the orignal version in Afrikaans at the end of this article)

Wynberg congregations set the pace for reconciliation

After colour divisions drove them apart, more than one and a quarter centuries ago, the NG-Gemeente in Wynberg is now one again. This happened after a unanimous decision last month in a united church council meeting of the NG-Gemeente Wynberg and the Wynberg-Gemeente of the Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk (VGK). The decision states that all services of both the congregations are to take place together, in future.

With this decision, Wynberg becomes one of the first NG congregations in the country that gives practical being to the unification process in the NG Church family. Dr Danie Nel of the NG-Gemeente Wynberg told Kerkbode that this decision was made after the church councils took note, with great thankfulness, of the special blessings received from the joint 40-Days of Purpose campaign.

Church counsel members that took part in the discussion said, “Now we have to do what we believe the Lord asks of us, without looking over our shoulders, even if it should cost a price”; and “We believe that the Lord blesses us to shine a bright light to the nations!”

In 1829, when the NG-Gemeente Wynberg seceded as the first offspring from the Groote Kerk (Larger Church) inside the Cape Peninsular, some of it’s founders were brown members of the congregation.  In the synods following, this congregations was upheld an example where brown and white served the Lord together in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, this unique aspect of the character of the congregation suffered damage after the NG Mission Church Wynberg was formed in 1881. The recent decision by the two Church councils will result in the congregation of Wynberg looking on Sundays like it did before 1881.

Dr Nel told Kerkbode that they are thankful for the landmark and trust that this witness will shine like a light in a divided society.  “This is a very positive experience for our community and some church council members believe this is a ‘prophecy’ being fulfilled,” says dr Nel.

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 Original version in Afrikaans:

Hoofartikel, Kerkbde 24 Augustus 2007

 Wynberg-gemeentes gee pas aan vir hereniging

Nadat kleurverskille hulle langer as ’n eeu en ’n kwart gelede van mekaar weggedryf het, is die NG Gemeente Wynberg in Kaapstad weer een. Dit is die gevolg van ’n eenparige besluit verlede maand tydens die gesamentlike kerkraadsvergadering van die NG Gemeente Wynberg en die Wynberg-gemeente van die Verenigende Geref Kerk (VGK). Die besluit lui dat alle eredienste van die twee gemeentes voortaan gesamentlik moet plaasvind.

Met hierdie besluit word Wynberg een van die eerste NG gemeentes in die land wat praktiese gestalte gee aan die eenwordingsproses in die NG Kerkfamilie.
Dr Danie Nel van die NG Gemeente Wynberg het aan Kerkbode gesê die besluit is geneem nadat die kerkrade met groot dankbaarheid kennis geneem het van die besondere seën wat tydens die gesamentlike “40 dae van doelgerigte fokus” ervaar is.

Kerkraadslede wat aan die bespreking deelgeneem het, het onder andere gesê: “Ons moet nou doen wat ons glo die Here van ons vra, sonder om oor ons skouers te loer, al sou dit ’n prys vra”; en: “Ons glo dat die Here ons seën om ’n helder lig vir die nasies te laat skyn!”

Toe die NG Gemeente Wynberg in 1829 as die eerste dogter van die Groote Kerk binne die Kaapse Skiereiland afgestig het, was sommige van die stigterslede bruin lidmate. By daaropvolgende sinodes is die gemeente voorgehou as voorbeeld waar bruin en wit in harmonie en vrede die Here saam dien. Hierdie besonderse aspek van die karakter van die gemeente het ongelukkig begin skade ly nadat die NG Sendingkerk Wynberg in 1881 afgestig is. Die besluit van die twee kerkrade, bring mee dat die gemeente van Wynberg op Sondae weer gaan lyk soos voor 1881.

Dr Nel het aan Kerkbode gesê hulle is baie dankbaar oor die mylpaal en vertrou dat die getuienis soos ’n lig mag skyn in ’n verdeelde samelewing. “Die gemeenskap om ons beleef dit baie positief en sommige kerkraadslede meen dit is ’n ‘profesie’ wat waar geword het,” sê dr Nel.
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