Written by: Dr Peter Hammond
Article source: Supplied
Mission to Orania
By God’s grace I have returned from driving 1800Km to and from Orania, where I had been invited, by the Afrikaans Protestante Kerk (APK), for ministry including radio and churchservices and consultations for Missions and Evangelism. My car was so heavily laden with boxes of Gospel booklets and evangelistic literature and posters, that the vehicle literally was scraping over speed humps. We delivered many boxes of Gospel literature, from World Missionary Press and Jesus Messias books & Gospel posters in Afrikaans and Tswana and Christian books, Films and other helpful materials. It was a fascinating visit and very productive.
Numerous people there knew me and told me that they enjoyed my articles on the Ten Commandments, the Bible in a Nutshell, Answering skeptics and on South African Christian History in JUIG! Others had listened to our Salt and Light radio programs on Radio Tygerberg.
One Dominee recalled meeting me in the Army when he was a Colonel in Military Intelligence. One lady had completed our Great Commission Course several years ago. I also met someone who was part of a Frontline mission team outreach to South West Africa and Angola back in 1989. One auntie had followed our work for years, and asked me detailed questions concerning each of my children, by name.
Imagine
Imagine a community without any litter. No graffiti. Even construction sites looked neat and orderly. Imagine a community where children walk or cycle on their own without adult supervision. Where children play in the street. Imagine a society without any burglar bars, no security gates, no high fences and no razor wire! In fact, most residents do not bother to lock their doors. Most cars are left unlocked, sometimes even with the keys still in the ignition.
Imagine a society where you can drink the water out of the tap, without fear of falling sick! A community that is energy sufficient, where regular scheduled power failures (the so-called load shedding) do not occur! Imagine a community which has not had a single murder in over 33 years! That community is Orania.
Founded back in 1991, Orania is a private Trust that only accepts residents who are Christians and who are Afrikaans. Based on the principle of self-determination and self-sufficiency, Orania has effectively seceded from South Africa. They want nothing from the government except to be left alone to raise their children in the Christian Faith and to live out and celebrate their own culture, in a safe environment. What they have achieved is remarkable. They build and maintain their own roads. Purify their water. Print their own currency, the Ora. They run their own schools and they are building their own university.
The community has grown at a steady pace of 10% per annum, and since 2020 their population has doubled. Orania is a success story, economically, socially and practically. Although they are separatist, they are also very hospitable and welcome visitors. Some of their community are also interested in Missions to neighbouring communities, which is why I was invited to present training in missions and evangelism.
To listen to my mission report back on From The Frontline, click here: https://fromthefrontline.podbean.com/e/mission-to-orania/
To listen to the radio interview on Radio Orania, click here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064089311121
May God continue to be your joy and strength
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Date published: 20/11/2024
Feature image: Pater Hammond overlooking Orania
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