From the Frontline

Oceans of Opportunity

Calvin and I will discuss the recent visit of the Russian Federation Navy Battle Cruiser Marshall Ustinov in Table Bay Harbour and the tremendous opportunities all around us in a busy port city, like Cape Town.

“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters.”

Psalm 107:23

Why Home Education is Superior to State Schooling

Emma Vaughan-Jones and I discuss our experiences of how home education is the most effective, inexpensive, time-efficient, practical preparation for life and how it is the most Biblical model for real education.

“…tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders He has done.”

Psalm 78:4

Why Do Most Schools Not Work?

Me and my son, Calvin Hammond, will be discussing what is wrong with education today. In what ways do schools today actually prepare students for real life? What does the Bible say about education? Who is responsible? What can we practically do to restore Biblical balance and sanity to our schools?

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

Colossians 2:8

The Seven Year Jericho Prayer March Project and the Fall of the Wall

November 2019, marks the 30^th anniversary of the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. This was seven years after the launch of the Jericho Prayer March initiative to bring down the wall and to open up the Iron Curtain, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to the Gospel.

Learn how the Leipzig Prayer meeting grew into an international prayer movement, which ended the Cold War, breached the Iron Curtain and brought an end to the notorious Berlin Wall. What can we learn from the Berlin Wall and the Leipzig Prayer movement? What other factors were working behind the scenes to undermine the communist dictatorships, which had torn Europe in half and were crushing hundreds-of-millions of Christians? 

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption…” 

2 Peter 2:19

Serving the Persecuted

Over 400 million Christians live under 67 governments, which severely restrict religious freedom and persecute believers. Every year hundreds-of-thousands of Christians are targeted for their Faith. What are the different ways that anti-Christian governments use to persecute Christians? Who are these Christians who are being persecuted for their Faith? What can we learn from them? How can we best serve the persecuted Church? What can be done? How can we encourage the persecuted and provide what they need to be effective in fulfilling the Great Commission in these Restricted Access Areas and closed countries?

“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ and members individually.”

1 Corinthians 12:26-27

Halloween or Reformation?

What are the roots and fruit of Halloween? Is Halloween nothing more than “a harmless festival that allows kids to collect sweets”? What does the Bible say? Is it just coincidence that Professor Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation on 31 October 1517? How should we mark 31 October?

“Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.

The Urgent Need for Reformation Today

With many Christians in defeat and retreat, we are facing a resurgent paganism, pervasive perversion and an aggressive Islamic radicalism. To counter the many threats and challenges arrayed against us, it should be clear that we need a new Back to the Bible Reformation and a Heaven-sent Holy Spirit empowered Revival. What can we learn from Reformation and Revivals of the past? What can we practically do to work for Reformation in our own lives and our families and in our congregations, in our communities and throughout our country and continent?

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Romans 12:2

Urgent Prayer and Action for the Persecuted

The invasion, this last week, by the Turkish Army of Northern Syria has led to a dreadful increase of persecution of the long-suffering Assyrian Christians and Kurds in Northern Syria. The initial reports are of indiscriminate artillery barrages, aerial bombardments and specific targeting of Christian communities. After all that these poor people have endured at the hands of ISIS, before being recently liberated, this new disaster comes as a most heavy blow. Commenting on the disastrous tendency of the Turks to target Christians, British Prime Minister William Gladstone in the 19^th century described the Muslim Turks as: “They were, upon the whole, from the black day when they first entered Europe, the one great anti-human specimen of humanity. Wherever they went, a broad line of blood marked the track behind them and as far as their dominion reached, civilisation disappeared from view. They represented everywhere government by force, as opposed to government by law.”

“…Cease to do evil; learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

Isaiah 1:16-17