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• Tackling your debt effectively
• Lots to eat
• International MTS conference
• Training of clergy to change
• New Wine offers ministry
• GRA change operation
• iindaba needs help
Tackling your debt effectively
Charles Qoto continues his series on debt, this month writing on 'Tackling and managing your debt effectively.'
Let me start by saying that going into debt is a bad idea to start
with. In earlier issues of iindaba the consequences of being in debt
were explained. You get poorer, while your lender gets richer. In
addition to paying back the principal amount owed, you also must pay
interest on the balance outstanding, as well as other costs linked to
the debt. Since July 2006 South Africans who are in debt have
experienced the pain of paying the debt where interest rates have
kept on going up every month.
Now let us look at some of the steps that you can take to manage your debts effectively:
- Know how much you really owe. If an enemy is not faced, it
cannot be defeated (Thompson and Horton, 1999). Are you one of those
people who will not open their bills because you do not want to be
confronted by the reality of your financial condition? Open those bills
and list all your debts from the smallest to the largest. Make a table
indicating for each debt how much is owed, who the lender or
creditor is, why debt was incurred, your goals after debt is paid,
minimum monthly payment required, and interest rate.
- Prioritize payments. Look at your list and identify secured
debts and necessities. Make sure those are paid for first.
Examples are your house mortgage or rent, electricity and water, phone,
car or other transport, doctor or medical aid, and your taxes to list
but a few. This does not mean that other debts are less important.
Every debt has to be paid but where a choice must be mad e between
paying for your house or for your credit card, furniture shop or
clothing store, then clearly your house comes first.
- Tackle the smallest debt first. After paying off the
smallest debt use that extra money to tackle the next debt. Do not
throw away those paid off bills but keep them as memento and
motivation. This will give you confidence that you can conquer bigger
debts as well.
It is wise to appoint an individual you will discuss your plan
with whom and to whom you will be accountable. We will look at more of
these debt management steps in the following issues of iindaba.
Pic: Money matters: Loyce Aisu discusses budgeting with Charles Qoto.
 Lots to eat
Pic:
Lots to eat - Learners from Douglas Mbopa High School in Motherwell
enjoyed a braai after the service at All Saints’ in Kabega Park.
Xola Pama, Yokwana Nombelelo, James Neliswa, Mali Vuyokazi and Nkontso
Nontuthuzelo are seen enjoying their braai while churchwarden, Veronica
Kaibe, checks that they are being looked after. All Saints’ in
Kabega Park collect Matric inserts from the Herald every Tuesday for
the school and have contact with the learners during the year.
International MTS conference
David Stansbury, our Missions
to Seafarers chaplain, reports on the MTS conference held at “The
Hayes“ Conference Centre, just outside the city of Derby in the
UK, which he attended.
It was held from Mon 23 Nov to Friday 27 Nov 2006 and it was great
linking up with port chaplains and Seafarers' Centre managers from all
over the world. I was encouraged to hear that they have similar
problems to those we have in our port. I could relate especially to the
ports in Australia and their chaplains where there are many honorary
chaplains, like myself Most of the input and addresses were
presented by the British and from a particularly British angle. Many of
us felt that the input needed to be more reflective of ports and
settings outside of the British Isles and should probably have included
non British people in some of the presentations.
As an evangelical, it was interesting to note that a large majority of
the representatives, especially from the British Isles, seemed to have
a particularly liberal stance on many of the issues raised. We were
placed in groups in order to debate and reflect on the various subjects
presented to us. This was particularly helpful and "insightful" as we
were able to hear the opinions and reflections of a diverse group
of people - in our group, we had representatives from Ireland,
Canada, West Samoa, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. The
chaplain from Dubai presented their project, which is a first for
the MTS, of building a mobile Seafarer Centre on water, in the form of
a sophisticated boat. This is being sponsored by one of the Sheikhs.
Speakers highlighted various changes in the shipping industry that
affect the seafarers. They include human rights issues and port
chaplains' need to be ready to assist with such issues and even
organising lawyers and interpreters. Chaplains also need to network
with the port authorities and so be the tangible link for the seafarer
as well as gaining the trust of the port authoritie s, which are
constantly changing and are not favourably disposed towards
‘Christian’ ministry.
At the end we resolved to redeploy our resources in the light of the
changes in context and new external factors. We need to match our
resources to the needs, eg changes in shipping industry. We need to
increase our profile in the ports. We need to face the challenge of
religious turmoil and seek to understand the seafarer - move away from
what we think they want and to discover their actual needs.
Training of clergy to change
A proposal has been accepted by
the Bishop and Diocesan Council which will see changes to the way
future clergy are trained in the diocese, reports the Dean of Studies,
Mario Hendricks.
The document entitled “Theological Formation and Education
Proposal” was presented on behalf of theological educators of the
diocese who met to discuss the process of theological education. They
felt the present process has many shortcomings and looked for a process
that will shape women and men as leaders for parishes and the diocese
who are committed to proclaiming the reign of God .
The proposal is a multi-purpose pedagogical device for ministerial
formation and theological education. The aim of the process is to train
and form candidates so that they can become competent and articulate in
their vocation and at the same time become a mirror of the vision and
mission of the diocese.
The new process begins in the parish with pre-Fellowship of Vocation,
where discernment panels will be set up. The process will be
characterised by a prologue period of intense interaction between
mentors, or vocational advisors, in the parish and the prospective
candidate. Changes to FOV and the Vocational Direction Conference
are also envisaged.
All parishes have received copies of the proposal for discussion.
New Wine offers ministry
New Wine ministries are
offering a special service on the first Sunday evening every month at
Holy Trinity Church in Central where people can “practice their
gifts” in freedom, writes the rector, David Stansbury.
New Wine ministries seeks to assist churches in discovering all that
God the Holy Spirit would bring to the church, given the space to
do so. David said, “To this end it is our desire to provide
services which give our people the opportunity to experience the
ministry of God the Holy Spirit, to be equipped for ministry and to
practice their gifts in an environment which allows them that freedom.
It is not our intention to draw people away from their churches, but
rather to give them an opportunity to learn and experience, and then to
take what they have experienced and learnt back to their home
churches“
Services will be held at 18h00 every first Sunday of the month.
GRA change operation
The Gender Reconciliation
Association will be operating a little differently this year with
teachings being made available to church groups at their own venue,
reports Ethel Schultz Pittaway.
To book courses Ethel can be contacted on: 041 581 7397
cell 083 398 6218
or fax on 041 581 3933
e-mail : epittaway@telkomsa.net
www.genderreconciliation.co.za
Two of the available courses are:
“Three women – 3 teachings”
Fascinating stories of women like Tamar, Deborah, Mary Magdalene, and
many unnamed women. Discover how the lives of these women mirror the
situations women face today. The session lasts 4 hours. The cost is R20
per person to cover the cost of the worksheets.
“Great Africans in the Bible”
Discover how a slave, a brilliant problem solver, a queen, a prominent
businessman, a trusted messenger, were used by God in mighty ways. God
has a plan for you too! The session lasts 3 hours. The cost is R20 per
person to cover the cost of the worksheets. Traditional African food
could be served and traditional clothing worn to make this a different
evening!
iindaba needs help
- The mammoth task of producing an index for all the issues
of iindaba since we went A3 size has been completed by Richard
Burbidge. Lyn Marsh has typed them out for us and now we need someone
to check them please. Contact Frankie on: 041 360 6808 (evenings)
or iindaba@anglicandiocesepe.org.za or Neville Lobb on: 041 360 4207
- We also need someone who will be prepared to keep our web
page up to date. Monthly changes with clergy moves, new contact numbers
etc. Contact Neville.
- We need reporters in every parish and diocesan organisation
to help us keep up to date with what is happening in the diocese. If
there is enough demand for a workshop to train budding reporters in the
basics of writing a report then one can be organised. Please contact
Frankie if you are interested.
NB NB NB
Frankie will be in Israel until 8 March so please phone her after that
date. The house-sitter will not be taking messages as he is a busy
varsity student!.
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