My dear Friends and members of the Rustenburg and Mooinooi Congregations, These last three years I have had the pleasure of meeting so many of you and befriending so many of you as well. From people who have been part of this congregation for the majority of their lives to new members who have become friends, I count myself as being privileged to get to know you all so well. In my time here I have discovered, again, that each congregation I have had the joy of being with are so different to other congregations with which I have known. Rustenburg and Mooinooi are no different. But allow me to share some of my joys which I have discovered the last few years. Let me begin with our ‘little sister’ church called Mooinooi. What did I immediately discover? A congregation in wonderful union with each other. Everyone knows everyone else and all the people truly like each other. Added to this there is a deep desire to please God and every time I joined you either in the week or on a Sunday I left with a sense of contentment because you are who you are – a beautiful tapestry of God-fearing people who love their Lord so deeply. The leadership is cohesive, and the people are content. Although the congregation is small (which by the way I absolutely love) the light of Christ shines brightly from you. Keep, dear friends, what is truly yours in Christ. Do not ever close down! You have something truly remarkable as you have given yourselves to Christ your King. I also urge you to continue the Bible Reading plan which I will share with you for 2025. Keep the fire of commitment alive in your hearts. Now let me move to Rustenburg... As with Mooinooi I continue to urge you to read the 2025 Bible Plan. Do not give it up! The depth of your love for Christ will shine through as you dedicate yourselves to this discipline. Over the last three years I have presented many courses on various subjects from a study on the book of Malachi, to prayer workshops, to exploring the unseen world. The Order of the Donkey was also something that was entirely different. So many people have become involved in these groups through the years and I wish to thank you for journeying with me on what were many different subjects. Probably the most difficult was it THE UNSEEN WORLD course as I did this for the very first time and it was entirely new matter for me. As I bumbled on the majority of folk stuck it out. Then there are the life-groups. I have led two life groups. The first was on Thursday evenings and functioned for two years – always growing! We looked at subjects like the prophesies of Daniel and the book of Nehemiah. The subject matter was important, but equally so was the meeting and sharing of life with remarkable people who so easily enriched my life. The Monday Morning group was a new journey as a group of people resuscitated their previous life-group and birthed their Bible meetings. All I did was help them get back on their feet and it was such fun. But I would be remiss if I did not mention the other friends that have become part of my life. The ones with whom I could laugh with, use my dry British humour upon and who know my heart. Thank you for being you. To everyone in the congregation I could only wish the best for you. Some of you have had consistently good times, and some of you who have had to go through very dark valleys. Know this, whoever you were, I prayed for you – regularly – sometimes with ease, sometimes in agony because of what Life had thrown your way. Sometimes I prayed in laughter as I have thought about you, other times I have prayed in anger or sadness when I have mentioned your names to our Lord. No matter – you were prayed for, for only one reason – that God would give you the very best as you continue to give your lives to Him. My dear friends – please do not ever abandon your love for Christ. I ask you to support Sam Dipadi and his family as he takes the reins of leadership from early next year. Please pray for him and his family. I close with a small dedication to the Ministers that will remain in our church circuit group and beyond. To Rampai Seeri, who will succeed me as the Superintendent Minister I offer my gratitude for his friendship. To Bheki Buthelezi, my dear colleague and small in stature (but not in heart) friend, do keep well and keep up the good work Geelhout. In a few days’ time I will move to Pretoria to yet another very different congregation. New friends, new opportunities, new moments to bless my heart with. God bless you all
Alan Molyneux