TOTT 6 October 2016.compressed

6, 2016 ADVERTISING / NEWSDESK: (046) 624 4356 Find us on Facebook
Talk of the Town 11
Jewish minister tells
of testimony to CMA
Rejected for believing in Jesus
LOUISE KNOWLES
THE Christians Men’s Association (CMA), which
celebrated its 30th anniversary breakfast last
Saturday, is not just for men.
It started as an association for Christian
businessmen in the 1980s, but grew to include
women and people of all races.
Members of the CMA packed the Port Alfred
Celebration Centre at the Lodge on Saturday to
hear Jewish Presbyterian minister Lihai Baruch
Bercovich speak about his conversion to
Christianit y.
“Not a very Scottish name, but I’m a
Presbyterian and a minister nog al,” said
Bercovich, who is the minister of St Columbas
Church in Komani.
Disowned by his father when he told him that
he believed in Jesus, and declared dead to the
congregation of the synagogue where he had
once had his Barmitzvah, Bercovich converted
his father on his deathbed.
Bercovich shared of how he had not had a
good relationship with his father, who was
sporty and physical, whereas he was not,
having been born with muscular dystrophy.
Born in Beer Sheva in southern Israel in 1970,
Bercovich came to South Africa in 1982 when
his father, an engineer, got a job at the new
power plant in Sasolburg.
He attended Greenside High School and was
head of the Student Jewish Association. One
day, the head of the Student Christian
Association suggested they do something
together. But what?
“When two or more Christians get together
they will play volleyball,” Bercovich said to
l a u g h t e r.
Every time the Christians scored, they would
do a little Jehovah jive, treating Jesus as if he
was alive – and he decided they were real
mashuganas (crazies).
Later, he joined the Israeli Defence Force and
tried to become a fighter pilot to live up to his
fat h e r ’s expectations, but he was rejected,
which led to him feeling suicidal.
Standing on a hill overlooking the
Mediterranean sea, he called out to God and
asked him for an intimate relationship such as
he had witnessed his former Christian peers at
school had enjoyed – something more than just
rules and regulations.
“It takes a Jew to bargain with God,”
Bercovich quipped.
Back in South Africa, working with his father,
he got a call from his old friend in the Student
Christian Association. He went with her to their
old hangout, the White Horse Inn, where he
asked her to tell him about Jesus.
“Another funny thing about Christians, apart
from volleyball, is that they always want you to
read a lot of books,” said Bercovich.
But he read a book called Bet rayed, which
was written by an Orthodox Jew whose
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OPENING to the public this Friday is Guido’s
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The new restaurant section will include
meals by new chef Mourad Mezned, from
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and previously worked as a chef in London.
The dishes prepared by Mourad include
lamb tagines, vegetable tagines, humus,
pita bread, couscous, and much more.
Now diners can experience the delicious,
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cuisine.
Guido’s itself will continue to remain open
as usual, seven days a week, providing all
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r e st a u r a n t .
For bookings at Touch of North Africa,
contact (046) 624-5264.
KOMANI MINISTER: Presbyterian minister, Lihai
Baruch Bercovich, speaking at the breakfast
celebrating the 30th anniversary of the
Christian Men’s Association at the Lodge on
Saturday
Picture: LOUISE KNOWLES
daughter converted to Christianity. The author
wrote the book to disprove his daughter, but
was converted himself.
Reading the Old Testament in the original
Hebrew, Bercovich found references to a virgin
birth of a prophet called Immanuel. But he
hesitated to go into an actual church.
He agreed to go with his old friend on
condition there was an easy exit. They went to
the Linden Presbyterian Church, where the
minister wore no collar, and the people were
normal, trendy and diverse, there were
instruments on stage and a worship team.
But he began to feel uncomfortable because
Jews were the ones who called “crucify Him” in
the Bible, and he asked God to make him feel
more comfortable.
Just then, a woman who had been praying for
her son began singing in Hebrew although she
could not speak a word of it. God had answered
his prayer.
He started reading the New Testament and
realised most of the writers were Jewish.
“This book was kosher,” he laughed.
Finally, he was baptised in the Holy Spirit and
he told his parents he believed in Jesus.
His father banged the table. “No son of mine
believes in Jesus. Get out!” he said.
Five years passed before Bercovich saw his
father again. In that time, he had become a
candidate in the Presbyterian Church and was a
probationer in Durban.
He then received a call from his mother, who
told him his father was dying from cancer.
He then went home and in those last two
weeks, he and his father became very close.
On his father’s deathbed, Bercovich asked if
he could pray to Jesus, and if it was okay that
he should squeeze his hand – which he did.
Joyous move for church
THE Nuwe Lewe Volle
Evangelie Kerk (VEK), which
began in a double garage
four-and-a-half years ago,
celebrated moving into their
new premises on Saturday.
After a few months, the
venue became too small and
so the congregation moved to
the Honeycomb Centre in
Albany Road.
After a further four years,
the growth of the congregation
necessitated another move to
a bigger venue.
The building right next door,
in the Honeycomb Centre
became vacant, and so the
hard work began.
The premises, where iHire
used to be, has now been
transformed into a beautiful
place of worship.
The facilities now include a
church auditorium, prayer
room, junior church
classrooms, a kitchen and
bathroom facilities.
The official opening and
dedication of the new venue
took place on Saturday,
October 1, at 2pm.
Several members of the Port
Alfred Minister’s Fraternal,
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AMAZING GRACE: Pastor Theo and Marinda Snyman at the
first church service of the Nuwe Lewe Volle Evangelie Kerk at
its new premises on Saturday Picture: LOUISE KNOWLES
visitors and members of the
congregation all joined
together to celebrate this
momentous occasion.
Pastor Theo and Marinda
Snyman led the programme,
which included prayers,
Scripture reading, a
PowerPoint presentation and
worship.
The celebratory programme
was concluded with the
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singing of This is Your house.
The words “Loving God, Loving
each other” are prominently
displayed in the front of the
church.
The overseer of the Eastern
Cape Region of the VEK,
Pastor Cyril Craill, was unable
to attend this event, but will
be ministering during the
morning service on Sunday,
October 9.
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