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Erlo Stegen

Erlo Hartwig Stegen (1935 - 2023). South African missionary and revivalist of German descent, born on Mbalane farm near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to Hermannsburg missionary descendants. Raised Lutheran, he left school after grade 10 to farm but felt called to ministry in 1952, evangelizing rural Zulus under apartheid. After 12 years of preaching with few lasting conversions, he experienced a transformative revival in 1966 at Maphumulo, marked by repentance and reported miracles. In 1970, he founded KwaSizabantu Mission (“place where people are helped”) in Kranskop, which grew into a self-sustaining hub with farms, a water bottling plant, and schools, serving thousands. Stegen authored Revival Among the Zulus and preached globally, establishing churches in Europe by 1980. Married with four daughters, he mentored Zulu leaders and collaborated with theologian Kurt Koch. His bold preaching drew 3 million visitors to KwaSizabantu over decades.
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Sermon Summary
Erlo Stegen emphasizes the importance of purity and faithfulness in our relationship with Christ, likening it to a bride preparing for her wedding. He warns against the deception that can lead us away from the simplicity of Christ, urging believers to maintain a pure heart as the church is betrothed to Jesus. Stegen reflects on the cultural significance of purity and the need for both husbands and wives to honor their commitments and spread the Gospel. He shares the story of C.T. Studd to illustrate the passion for God that should remain even after marriage. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep, unwavering devotion to Christ as we prepare to meet Him.
Scriptures
Prepare to Meet Christ
2Corinthians 11:2,3 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. It is wonderful to see the bride coming in and it reminds us of the last wedding when we will see the Lord Jesus. A bride normally has a trousseau or box in which she has collected items for the day when she will get married. We will also have a box or coffin when we die and go to meet the heavenly bridegroom. The Bible says many things about marriage. It says that we are engaged to the Lord Jesus and it is feared that we will be deceived in the same way as the serpent deceived Eve. We must be presented as a pure virgin. The Bible says much about purity. The Zulus honoured purity. Unfortunately that has been lost today. Today, even homosexuals and lesbians are prevalent, which is evil. The Lord Jesus is jealous and wants us only for Himself. A wife cannot have two husbands. We, as His church, must have pure hearts. A bride must treat her husband well. She must not be like the Zulu proverb that says, "later she will kick her husband". Then the husband should send her straight back to her family for them to teach her to behave properly. She must be a daughter to her mother-in-law, and a help in the family. The Gospel brings light and direction. A husband should be faithful even if he goes to Johannesburg. The in-laws should also treat their daughter-in-law well so that she will look after them well in their old age. As married people, you should spread the gospel more than ever before. C T Studd was a sickly person and when he saw a sign that cannibals need a missionary, he smiled thinking of the missionary being eaten. However, later he went to Central Africa and preached and many were converted. Before missionaries are married, they are often on fire for God and afterwards they are like a blunt knife. God wants us to be pure and holy and on fire for Him even if we are married.
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Erlo Hartwig Stegen (1935 - 2023). South African missionary and revivalist of German descent, born on Mbalane farm near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to Hermannsburg missionary descendants. Raised Lutheran, he left school after grade 10 to farm but felt called to ministry in 1952, evangelizing rural Zulus under apartheid. After 12 years of preaching with few lasting conversions, he experienced a transformative revival in 1966 at Maphumulo, marked by repentance and reported miracles. In 1970, he founded KwaSizabantu Mission (“place where people are helped”) in Kranskop, which grew into a self-sustaining hub with farms, a water bottling plant, and schools, serving thousands. Stegen authored Revival Among the Zulus and preached globally, establishing churches in Europe by 1980. Married with four daughters, he mentored Zulu leaders and collaborated with theologian Kurt Koch. His bold preaching drew 3 million visitors to KwaSizabantu over decades.