Celebration at Coronation Park

Food parcels are needed daily

Mark van der Walt and his team of dedicated volunteers continue to work with the disadvantaged and children in need in Coronation Park, South Africa. 
On the 8th of December, they hosted a Christmas party for all the residents of Coronation Park.

A big marquee was set up, and everybody was treated to music. 
People were singing, while fires were being lit for a barbecue later on. 
Every child received a number of gifts.
 Some of the children were excited to be able to invite friends to spend the day with them, and join in the festivities.

While the children received their gifts, Mark and his team offloaded food parcels, clothing and blankets - all desperately needed by the impoverished residents of the area.

To the great delight of the children, Father Christmas arrived on a fire engine. 
After enjoying his visit, the children spent the rest of the day singing, listening to music and jumping on the jumping castle.

It is wonderful that the children and people in the area had a day out of the difficulties that face them on a daily basis. 
Unemployment, poverty and hunger continue to make life a continual struggle for survival. 
Yet this day was an oasis - an oasis which would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of the team from Marike de Klerk Children Fund.

Mark and his team continue to assist those in need in many areas.
Funding coming into the MDK is at an all time low, and members are struggling to make ends meet.
The team no longer have a Charity car, and lack many of the needs which would make the work of the Charity easier.
In the spirit of Lumiere, is there anything you can do to help?
If so, please email 
lumierecharity@yahoo.co.uk

Helping the children

Food parcels are given regularly

Good Shepherd Church Seminary; Module 12 The Four Gospels Part (2)

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 12

THE FOUR GOSPELS PART 2

Objectives; 
By the end of this module you should;
1. Know what The Way means
2. Know about Jesus' message of peace
3. Know about the early spread of Christianity

CONTENTS;
1. Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus
2. The Way
3. Refuge in Pella
4. Jesus' message
5. Spread of Christianity


1. Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus
The Gospels were written several decades after the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus' follower and apostle Paul of Tarsus wrote his letters to new churches within twenty years of the crucifixion; thus his written words are an older source than the New Testament Gospels.

The history of the Gospels shows that story-telling was an essential part of daily communication in the Middle East of Jesus' time. Indeed, Jesus used this form of imparting teaching in His parables. A reliable memory was vital as a social skill, and from repeated retelling of the stories of Jesus' life came the Gospels as we know them.

2. The Way
Written Gospels were neither written nor needed in the first years after Jesus' resurrection, as people had personally been eyewitnesses to the wonder of Jesus.
Then The Way began to spread into a bustling world which held no eyewitnesses as testament to the occurrences of Jesus' life.
(The early Christian church was called 'The Way' as evidenced in The Bible, The New Testament, The Book of Acts Chapter 9 verse 2).

The followers of the The Way now had to deal with the challenge of how to give reliable information on an ongoing basis to the largest possible number of people in the swiftest possible way.
The answer was simple; to write it and circulate the evidence. And thus written accounts came into being, and the Gospels were born.

The advantage the early followers of The Way had was that they personally knew eyewitnesses to Jesus; Mary of Nazareth, the disciples, people who had been healed by Jesus.
As historical circumstances began to gain momentum early followers of The Way continually looked for ways to continue witnessing to Jesus Christ as they had been mandated to do by Jesus at His Ascension into Heaven; 
"...you will receive power of the Holy Spirit which will come upon you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the world." (Acts Chapter 1, verse 8).

3. Refuge in Pella
Jerusalem was the first centre of the early Christian church. Jerusalem eventually was besieged after a revolt.
Many early followers of The Way had earlier taken refuge elsewhere, and so the movement began.

One theory is that the followers travelled to Pella in the Decapolis.
This theory is a reasonable one, given that Eusebius (AD 263 - 339) gave clear reference to this in EH III;5.
This early Church historian - also known as Eusebius Pamphilius - wrote; "When the people of the church in Jerusalem were instructed by oracular revelation delivered to worthy men there to move away from the city and to live in a city of Peraea called Pella, the believers in Christ migrated from Jerusalem to that place."

An American civil engineer,  architect and archeologist Gottlieb Schumacher (1857 - 1925)  reported caves in the general area of Pella which had been inhabited at some point. 
Early Christian symbols were found in the general vicinity. 
A theory put forward is that refugees possibly inhabited the caves. 
Pella has a wadi and spring, with a good supply of water.
There was plenty of room for a relatively small group of refugees to establish domicile without much contact with others, save for trips to the spring. 
A late first or early second century sarcophagus found beneath the floor of a church in the western part of Pella may be a relic of Christians' stay in that city.

The early followers of the Way flourished, and the message flourished with them.
During Jesus' lifetime, He had ministered and travelled with his band of disciples in the Decapolis, a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in Judea and Syria.
Now the message grew and strengthened in this area of ministry and further afield.
The excellent system of roads, public transport and sea travel of the Roman Empire, as well as the Silk Road along which commerce flourished, enabled the message to move swiftly along with travellers.

4. Jesus' Message
Jesus' message of peace, and His intentions as peaceful Messiah were not in line with the concept of a military messiah.
Jesus' messianic claim led Him to trial by Pilate, and Jesus was found guilty of treason against Caesar.
His execution followed, with the charge against Him written personally out by Pilate in Aramaic, Latin and Greek as attested to by John Chapter 19, verses 19 to 20.
The notice which was read by many ran 'Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews'.

As Jesus' Arms were stretched out on the cross to accept his death, He forgave His executioners (Gospel of Luke Chapter 23, verse 34).
He pardoned the sins of the repentant criminal who died alongside Him, (Luke Chapter 23, verse 43).

The message Jesus brought to humanity and which has been told through the Gospels is that God did not come to earth to condemn us as a Judge for our shortcomings, but to bring healing, compassion and mercy to humanity and to bridge the rift between God and humanity with forgiveness and salvation.
We have been saved by Jesus from the eternal consequences of humanity's original complicity with satan  (The Bible, The Book of Genesis, writing of The Fall of humanity Chapter 3, verses 1 to 24).

The Gospel of John tells us the good news "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John Chapter 3, verse 17).

5. Spread of Christianity
The message of Jesus' love, forgiveness and salvation for each person continued to spread, and the number of followers of Jesus throughout the Mediterranean basin grew steadily.
The timeline shows how rapidly the message of love and peace as preached by Jesus Christ moved from country to country.

Eastern end of the Mediterranean - AD 33
In AD 33, around the time of Jesus' earthly death, a small number of early believers were grouped around Jerusalem and Antioch at the eastern end of the Mediterranean.

Egypt - AD 33
Around this same time, it is believed that the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Egypt was founded by Mark the Evangelist.

India - AD 52
The message moved to India. 
In AD 52, Eastern Christian writings state that Christianity was introduced to India by Thomas the Apostle who visited Muziris in Kerala.
The Acts of Thomas is a series of episodic Acts that occurred during the evangelistic mission of Judas Thomas ('Judas the Twin') to India.
This early 3rd century Syriac work connects the tradition of the apostle Thomas' Indian ministry with two kings; one in the north, the other in the south.
In the north was the Indo-Parthian King, Gondophares.
In the south was the kingdom ruled by King Mahadwa, one of tthe rulers of a first century dynasty in southern India.

China
It has been reported that tombstone carvings from ca AD 86 depict Bible stories and Christian designs, according to Wang Weifan from Jinling Seminary.

The Way spread like wildfire by AD 112
By AD 112 Roman Governor Pliny wrote to Emperor Trajan requesting guidance on how to deal with followers of Christ, whom he names Christiani.
By this time The Way had spread to numerous areas as attested to by the New Testament in the Bible and the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch. 
Ignatius (possibly AD 35 - 107) was  third bishop of Antioch.

The areas in which The Way flourished and was putting down strong roots in the communities were named as;
Puteoli
Neapolis
Berroia
Thessalonica
Philippi
Corinth
Cenchreae
Athens
Pergamum
Sardis
Symma
Thyatira 
Magnesia
Tralles
Philadelphia
Hierapolis
Laodicea
Colossae
Amastris
Ancyra
Antioch of Pisidia 
Iconium
Lystra
Derbe
Damascus
Tyre
Caesarea
Diocaesarea
Joppa
Pella
Lydda

Ethiopia
Philip baptised a devout worshipper of God, who was an important official in charge of the Treasury of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This Ethiopian had travelled to Jerusalem to worship.
Kandake, or Kentake, also Candace, was the title for queens and queen mothers of the ancient African kingdom of Kush, also known as Nubia and Ethiopia.
It may be presumed that the Treasurer witnessed to his baptism and belief once he returned to his country of origin after his pilgrimage of worship to Jerusalem, and baptism as follower of Jesus on the desert road.
Christianity in Ethiopia dates to the 1st century AD.


Early Christianity established by AD 250
By AD 250, at the time of Decian Persecution,  early Christianity was thoroughly established.
The Christian population was increasing in density in Syria and Western Asia Minor, as well as spreading in the Western half of the Empire.
Christianity had spread as far as Londinium (Roman London)
Trier
Lyon
Sirmium
Serdica
Byzantium/Constantinople
Nicaea.

Tidal wave
Thereafter Christianity became a tidal wave.
Today, the Name of Jesus Christ as Son of God is known throughout the whole world.

*Photograph by Rev Catherine - with thanks to the glass artist

Breaking News; Pro-Life Protests escalate in Ireland

Concerned passerby pledges support at picket line

Protests escalate
Pro-Life protests continue to escalate in Ireland.
Today saw protesters such as former Councillor Richard Greene braving the icy weather bearing placards protesting plans to legalise abortion in Ireland. 
Lumiere was in Dublin today to add our pledge of support for the sanctity of life of the unborn child.

Vox Populi
The public voice of dissent against plans to legalise abortion in Ireland is growing steadily.
Lumiere was told that 40 000 Irish citizens have signed the Life Institute Pro-Life Pledge and the numbers continue to rise.
The voices of the Vox Populi on the streets and places of gathering are growing in intensity - the majority of Irish citizens will not accept legalisation of abortion in Ireland.

Picket line
A protester in a picket line told Lumiere today that the people of Ireland have accepted austerity measures, but abortion legislation will not be accepted.
"We want jobs, not abortion," the protester concluded.

Constituencies under pressure
Constituencies are coming under increased pressure from the people on the street who are refusing to accept  plans to legalise abortion in Ireland.

A Quarter of a Million Petitions
250 000 'Petitions of Concern for unborn babies' was presented by Precious Life Group on 12th March 2013 to the Northern Ireland Assembly (1)
Our readers will remember Lumiere's visit to Belfast on Thursday 18th October 2012, where we came to add our dedication to the sacredness of each person's individual life, gifted by God (2)

Why not sign the petition to support the sanctity 

of life of the unborn child in Ireland at

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-abortion-being-legalised-in-ireland.html

(1) http://www.preciouslife.com/?va=1&vc=1234
(2) http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2012/10/how-sacred-your-life-is-lumiere.html
* https://en-gb.facebook.com/lifeinstitute

Nurses Pledge - in Charity, health care requires dedication and integrity

In Charity, healthcare which is carried out to help others requires dedication and integrity in the healthcare provider.

Often as minister, you may be called upon to assist someone in dire health need in a shack or situation far from a hospital or healthcare professional help.
It is helpful to have a good qualification in healthcare in order to be able to give competent assistance in these cases.
It is also good to be registered with a healthcare registration body in the area in which you carry out your charity.
As minister, you will be empowered to give spiritual assistance to others confident in the knowledge that if a health emergency occurs, you will be able to render competent assistance.

The assistance given to others is given according to the highest ethical principles, which go back over many centuries.
Healthcare providers uphold the highest standards, and commit themselves thereto.
An example is the Nurses Pledge.

The Nurses Pledge is a wonderful emphasis on the principles which guide good health care;
- Leading by example
- Faithfulness
- Accountability
- Accuracy
- Responsibility
- Confidentiality
- Devotion
- Quality

This Pledge can be taken in private or in public, or both.
It can be spoken in a small ceremony, while you hold a lighted lamp or candle.*
The original Nightingale Pledge, as adaptation of the Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians, was composed in 1893 by Lystra Gretta.
Here is a version of the Nurses Pledge of Service;

"I solemly pledge myself to the service of humanity.
I will endeavour to practise my profession with conscience and with dignity.
I will maintain by all the means in my power the honour and the noble traditions of my profession.
The total health of my patients will be my first consideration.
I will hold in confidence all personal matters coming to my knowledge.
I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient.
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life.
I make these promises solemly, freely and upon my honour."

*(Be careful with any flame in the interest of health and safety, there is always a fire risk).

More information about the Nurses Pledge;
http://www.sanc.co.za/aboutpledge.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingale_Pledge

Teaching English to those in need? Here are Free Printables

The great website www.mes-english.com offers Free Printables for Teachers.
Ideas abound such as flashcards, worksheets, phonics, videos, games, curriculum, certificates, projects, colouring and forums.
It's no secret that young language learners - and adults - respond well to printable ESL games.
Mr Mark Cox, owner of the website, offers these resources for learners.

The website has over 1800 words in printable flashcards for download.
There are 100+ sets covering 60+ themes and he adds to them regularly.
They are ready to print and go with handouts and Powerpoint flashcard presentations.

There are worksheet templates to match MES-English vocabulary sets, which are available on a different site.
There are many resources for the English teacher, and Lumiere Charity has often availed of this marvellous resource in our English Academy.

Why not visit the website and find out how you can give great English classes in your slum, squatter camp, outlying village area, school with the aid of these free resources.

Find these great resources at
 www.mes-english.com
http://www.mes-english.com/worksheets/
www.mes-english.com/games.php
http://tv.mes-english.com/
http://www.mes-english.com/flashcards.php

Our grateful thanks go to Mark for his dedicated assistance online to all of us who wish to help others.

Lumiere Charity - education today for a better future tomorrow!

*With kind permission of Mr Mark Cox, www.mes-english.com

Prayer Day in Knock Ireland on Saturday 20th April 2013

Prayer Day
A prayer day will be held in Knock, a well-known spiritual centre, on Saturday 20th April 2013.
An invitation has been extended to come and pray at the place of remembrance of Yusuf ben Jacob (Joseph the son of Jacob, husband of Mary of whom Jesus Christ was born), Miriam of Nazareth (Mary of Nazareth, mother of Jesus) and Yohanan (John the Evangelist).

Why not come and join?
A day of remembrance, prayer, reading the scriptures to find the way forward and the quiet place within us where God dwells is always a refreshing well of serenity in a busy world that has many financial worries.
Why not take a day out from your worries, bring a packed lunch or enjoy traditional Irish fare at the restaurants and pubs in beautiful Knock.

Various beauties of Ireland are well known at Knock, such as Ballintubber Abbey at Claremorris, a 13th century Abbey. See link
http://knock.ebookireland.com/

The time of the prayer day is from 10am to 5pm. See the following links for information;
http://www.knock-shrine.ie/default.aspx?treeid=48&NewsItemID=212
http://www.knock-shrine.ie/

Why not watch a few minutes of the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus
http://www.mormonchannel.org/bible-videos?v=1309449650001
Peter and John heal a man crippled from birth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT7cnOkGcBQ
With thanks to the Mormon Channel

Health Tips: Clean Food and Drink

Maintaining good health is closely linked to cleanliness in eating and drinking. What goes into the mouth as food or liquid can either build up your health and strength, or cause illness, suffering, loss of wage earning ability or death.

So it is essential to be well clued up on how to keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Water
If you live in an area which does not have water coming from a pure water system, boil water before drinking. Water from water-holes, rivers, or stored in tanks, must be boiled even when it looks clean. What looks clean to the naked eye, may have small organisms which can cause illness that can't be easily seen.
It is especially important to boil all drinking water for babies and small children when there is diarrhoea, jaundice, cholera or typhoid fever in the area. Tips for keeping water for properly clean can be found in the Lumiere Charity blog posts links at the bottom of this post; (1)


Food
Keep flies away from the rooms where you store food. 
Cover food at all times in order to prevent flies and cockroaches crawling over it, because the insects carry germs (bacteria) and spread disease.

Don't leave dirty plates, cutlery, cups or leftover and scrap food lying around, as these attract flies. 
Food scraps offer germs a place to breed.

Germs (Bacteria)
Germs are tiny living creatures called organisms which cannot be seen by ourselves without the help of a microscope. 

Fruit and vegetables
Wash all fruit and vegetables well before eating. 
Don't wash the fruit and vegetables with dirty water, water that has not been purified or water from the same bucket you use to take water to wash your hands with after using the toilet in areas where you do not have running water. 
These can cause germs to contaminate the food.

Meat
If you are not vegetarian, eat only meat that is well cooked.
Meat can cause illnesses in the human body. 
Pork can cause illnesses such as a parasitic disease called Trichinosis which brings worms into the body.(2)
Trichinosis can cause nausea, heartburn, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, swelling around the eyes, oedoema, muscle pain, fever, weakness, splinter haemmorhage in the nails. 
The worms can enter the central nervous system and cause a stroke, ataxia or respiratory paralysis. 
Death can occur four to six weeks after the infection, and is usually caused by myocarditis, encephalitis or pneumonia.
Other illnesses caused by pork include Trichuriasis, Taenia solium (pork tape worms),  (3) Schitosoma japonicum and others.

Other illnesses caused by meat include Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle causing a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord.  

Fish
Eating fish can cause illnesses such as an allergic reaction (some people swell up and have difficulty breathing). Sometimes people are allergic to shellfish or other types of fish. (4)
If you have any food, meat or fish allergies, do not eat the food item that causes your allergy.
Check each dish to make sure a small portion of the food to which you are allergic has not been mistakenly added.
If you are not vegetarian, only eat well cooked and fresh fish.
Be very careful with tinned fish.
Never eat it if it is old or smells bad. 

Food poisoning and Salmonella
Food poisoning or Salmonellosis is a disease caused by raw or undercooked food.
The germ or bacteria that causes the illness is salmonella. (5)

Old Food and 'Off' Food
Do not eat food that is old or smells bad. It may be poisonous.
Do not eat tinned food, if the tin is swollen before being opened.
Be especially careful with tinned fish.
Never store food in the tin as this may turn the food poisonous.

If you are ill
If you are ill with an infectious disease such as tuberculosis, it is advisable to eat separately from other people. Plates and eating tools used by sick people should be properly cleaned with hot water and a good cleaning agent. It is best not to exchange plates and eating tools between sick and healthy people, as the healthy people may become infected with the illness.

Look after your health, and your healthy body will look after you.
You will be able to care for yourself, your family and earn a good wage to give you all good living circumstances.




(1) DelAgua - keeping water supplies safe
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2012/08/delagua-keeping-water-supplies-safe.html
Safeguarding water supplies
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2012/08/safeguarding-water-supplies.html
Health tips; Clean Water Supplies
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2012/08/health-tips-clean-water-supplies.html
Water for Life; giving fresh water for those in need
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2012/08/water-for-life-giving-fresh-water-to.html


(2) With thanks to Wikipedia
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis

(3) With thanks to Youtube and Mr Sakkeer Hussain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MxI2bMwFNE

(4) With thanks to Discovery Health
http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/food-allergy/shellfish/common-fish-allergy-symptoms.htm

(5) With thanks to Wikipedia
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmonella

*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose