Because of flight delays, the Kiloughs missed their connection from New York to Johannesburg, and as a result arrived a day later than scheduled. Another predicament arose when it was discovered that Mrs. Kilough's luggage was not on the flight. However, the bag was traced and delivered three days later.

Sabbath services were conducted in Johannesburg, with Mr. Kilough giving general news about developments in the Church, as well as a Bible study and the sermon titled "Vision, Commitment and Sacrifice." There was a record attendance of 110. Many appreciated the opportunity to spend time getting to know our guests better.

Sunday morning was set aside for traveling from various corners of the country to the meeting venue. People came from various countries in southern Africa. The ones who traveled the longest distance were Kambani and Shirley Banda from Zambia, and Gladstone and Alice Chonde from Malawi.

National Council Meeting

Before the start of the ministerial meeting on Monday, Mr. Kilough attended the quarterly meeting of the National Council for Southern Africa. Neil Becker, who together with his wife, Erlene, and daughter, Leanne, handles all mail out of their homes in East London, gave an office update.

It was reassuring to notice that there was growth in virtually all aspects of the work carried out by the Church. The budget for the next financial year was discussed and, again, the financial outlook for the coming year appears rosy.

As usual, time was devoted to discussions of media promotions and projects, and we are especially encouraged by the responses from our Web site. Recently a record number of over 100 requests per day for The Good News were received at the office.

Ministerial Conference

The next three days were set aside for matters relating to the ministry, especially the future leadership of the Church. In his opening lecture, Mr. Kilough pointed out how God has richly endowed us with various skills that we, in turn, can pass on to others. He emphasized that we need to ask God for greater personal effectiveness so that we can help others assume leadership roles.

He also led an interactive session on what to look for in leaders and how to further mentor those who respond positively, and explained how those in Ministerial Services are introducing various education programs that should help develop a rich crop of future leaders.

As the group was small, there were many opportunities to interact with each other. The result was an exceptional spirit of togetherness and camaraderie. The peaceful setting contributed to the success of the conference, with outings to view the wildlife in the vicinity.

Huge herds of African or Cape buffalo were spotted, together with elephants ominously feeding right next to the road. On one occasion we came across two male lions that had made a kill on the road, and were lying with extended bellies close to where our vehicles were. Various species of antelope were spotted, as well as zebra, giraffe and gnu.

It was a sad occasion when finally the day of departure arrived, and we left to travel to our various homes in the scattered regions of southern Africa and the United States. However, the goals and purposes of the conference were accomplished, and we feel better equipped to handle the enormous responsibilities God has given us to carry out. UN