The 4th KZN Men’s Convention was held on 10 September at the Westville Baptist Church. Despite the fact that England were facing off against Argentina in the Rugby World Cup, about 155 men from more than 20 different churches and denominations came to hear Bishop Martin Morrison (Rector of Christ Church Midrand) speak from the Psalms on the theme: “Experiencing God”.
Each of these main talks was preceded by some carefully chosen songs and a short ‘Sound Byte’ designed to give men some practical, down-to-earth help in daily Christian living. Nigel Richardson (Trinity Church Morningside), speaking from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 on the subject of ‘The man of God and the Bible’, urged men to listen to their Captain as they prioritised the Bible in their lives. Rat Adjes (Christ Church North Coast) spoke on ‘The man of God and Prayer’ from 1 Timothy 2:8 and encouraged men to lead their churches and families in prayer. Jomo Mchunu (Christ Church Hillcrest) finished off the ‘Soundbytes’ with some challenging comments on what constitutes a Real Man as he spoke on the subject of ‘The man of God and Godliness’ from 1 Timothy 6:11.
The three plenary sessions (expositions of Psalms 42 & 43, Psalm 73 and Psalm 88) focussed on the faithfulness of our Triune God through the joys, sorrows, trials and temptations that are the normal Christian experience for men who follow Jesus. Bishop Martin held our attention with his careful exposition and the anecdotes and illustrations he drew from his many years of experience as a lawyer and a minister of the gospel.
Psalms 42 and 43 express the yearning and frustration of the believer who has been separated from the presence of his God. We were reminded that, though separated from the physical presence of Christ in this world, believers are to be people of faith and prayer as we wait patiently for His glorious appearing.
In Psalm 73, the believer notes the carefree and prosperous lives of the wicked and asks why the lives of believers are marked by trials and suffering. He wonders whether he has kept his heart pure in vain and whether it’s really worth living in submission to Jesus. Just when he is about to give up on God he remembers the eternal destiny of those who reject God and the eternal life that is promised to those who persevere. We were urged to keep eternity in perspective and to remember that the sufferings that believers endure for Christ are momentary compared to the richness of eternal life and the utter ruin that awaits those who are perishing.
The final session focussed on Psalm 88 in which the Psalmist feels abandoned and forsaken by God. It is a powerful description of what the Lord Jesus experienced on the Cross as he took on himself the wrath of God for the sins of believers. Through his unfailing obedience to death he secured forgiveness from sin and salvation from judgement for those who surrender their lives to Him as their Lord and Saviour.
The annual convention is slowly becoming a highlight on the Christian calendar for men in KZN. The overwhelming sentiment was that the changes in venue and format were for the better (especially the seating!) and that God’s Word had encouraged and challenged us all to live our lives for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Written by Andy Pike
