Kwasizabantu
Encyclopedia
Kwasizabantu is an
organization, originating in South Africa
, but also active in Germany
and Switzerland
. Other organisations which started out of the work at KwaSizabantu are Christians for Truth and the Domino Servite schools.
), an active missionary among the Zulu population of Natal starting in 1954. In 1966-67, Stegen's efforts culminated in triggering mass conversions, accompanied and miraculous healings. In 1971, based in a Natal village called Kwa Sizabantu (Zulu
for "place of help for people," or "place where people get helped,") which became the movement's eponym.
On 12 August 2006, Kwasizabantu Mission officially opened the Emseni Care Center (meaning "place of grace"). The first stage of the complex has been completed and can accommodate about 20 HIV
and AIDS
patients as well as full-time staff. The Kwasizabantu Mission also houses the water factory aQuellé as well as several other non-profit initiatives including Christians for Truth. They also have a bakery and a convenience store.
The director of the Kwasizabantu Mission in Kranskop, the Reverend Erlo Hartwig Stegen, was named co-recipient of a major international award — the Robert W. Pierce Award for Christian Service — by World Vision International on 9 December 2007.http://www.witness.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=1179http://www.kwasizabantu.com/outreaches/Youth_conferences/200712/200712_youth_conf.htm#Award
Protestantism.
organization, originating in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, but also active in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Other organisations which started out of the work at KwaSizabantu are Christians for Truth and the Domino Servite schools.
History
Kwasizabantu was founded by Erlo Stegen (born 1935 near DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
), an active missionary among the Zulu population of Natal starting in 1954. In 1966-67, Stegen's efforts culminated in triggering mass conversions, accompanied and miraculous healings. In 1971, based in a Natal village called Kwa Sizabantu (Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
for "place of help for people," or "place where people get helped,") which became the movement's eponym.
On 12 August 2006, Kwasizabantu Mission officially opened the Emseni Care Center (meaning "place of grace"). The first stage of the complex has been completed and can accommodate about 20 HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patients as well as full-time staff. The Kwasizabantu Mission also houses the water factory aQuellé as well as several other non-profit initiatives including Christians for Truth. They also have a bakery and a convenience store.
The director of the Kwasizabantu Mission in Kranskop, the Reverend Erlo Hartwig Stegen, was named co-recipient of a major international award — the Robert W. Pierce Award for Christian Service — by World Vision International on 9 December 2007.http://www.witness.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=1179http://www.kwasizabantu.com/outreaches/Youth_conferences/200712/200712_youth_conf.htm#Award
Controversy
Because of the reported miracles in the events that led to the mission's establishment, there has been some debate about the classification of the movement relative to charismatic currents. The movement today does not emphasize glossolalia, and Stegen's theology maintains an ideological distance from both charismatic Evangelicalism and cessationistCessationism
In Christian theology, Cessationism is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, ceased being practiced early on in Church history. The opposite of Cessationism is Continuationism...
Protestantism.
External links
- KwaSizabantu Mission Home
- Revival Among the Zulus - the story of Erlo Stegen and the start of the revival
- Article on KwaSizabantu Mission by Frontline Fellowship
- Joy! Magazine article on KwaSizabantu Mission
- Rev Erlo Stegen receives the Robert W. Pierce award from World Vision
- KSB (relinfo.ch, article in German)
- Afrikaans article by Dutch Reformed Group who visited KSB
- ↑ www.salmo42/video/video.html - Palermo 4.09.06 Pastore Erlo Stegen