Ministers’ conference 2025
“A true mountain-top experience,” “a time spent at the feet of the Lord Jesus” and “this place is a little heaven” were comments made by many ministers after attending the KwaSizabantu Ministers' Conference 2025. More than 2,000 ministers, missionaries and other servants of the Lord gathered at KwaSizabantu Mission 3 – 5 March for the biennial Ministers' Conference. The conference theme was, ‘Lord, send me!’ – expressing the urgency which every Christian should feel to bring the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of every lost soul.
26 countries from all over the globe were represented, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Armenia, Hungary, India, Australia, South America, and closer to home Lesotho, the Kingdom of Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia, Congo, Kenya and Malawi.
It was in 1988 that Rev Erlo Stegen had the vision of hosting special conferences for ministers of the gospel to strengthen one another and to encourage, equip, and join hands to unite in the endeavour to spread the gospel. These gatherings have been held regularly since then and attract preachers and other Christian leaders from all over the world and from a variety of denominations and church backgrounds.
This year, KwaSizabantu preachers, Detlef Stegen and Michael Ngubane, shared the pulpit with several others who proved to be outstanding preachers: Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe (Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Natal); Kevin Swanson (Generations Ministry, USA); Hans Koller (KwaSizabantu Ministry, Romania); Chereddy Deevanaiah (Society of holy Ministries, India) and Dr Róbert Molnár (director of ‘For You Hungary Mission’ and former member of Parliament, Hungary).
From the first meeting the attendees were challenged to leave all complacency and negligence. An excerpt from a sermon by Rev Stegen in 1998 about the Macedonian Call made the great need in the world abundantly clear. All were exhorted to hear that piteous, desperate cry of the countless people on their way to a lost eternity and take steps to bring them the Good News of salvation. “You cannot have Jesus in your heart and not have seen this Macedonian man and heard him calling,” Rev Stegen said. It might be your next-door neighbour who is desperate for help, dying in his sins. It might be a person of another nation, your boss, your worker, maybe your child, maybe your parent. Such a cry should remove smugness and comfort, and cause Christians to say, “Lord, send me!” Paul is an example of a missionary who could help people in whatever circumstances he found himself. Whether he met groups of people gathered or was imprisoned – he reached out and helped them to get to know the saving grace of Jesus.
Through the KwaSizabantu Combined Choir singing the hymn, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the King,” the audience was reminded that “our God is marching on!” Many responded and committed to ‘march on’.
By God's grace this time together has served to bring courage, connection, clarity and encouragement to Christian leaders. Surely, the fire which was kindled by both the inspiring messages as well as the blessed times of fellowship, will burn brightly wherever each may find himself – until the last trumpet sounds and the Lord returns in His glory.
