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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 significance of companionship as illustrated in the creation of Eve from Adam's rib, highlighting that just as Adam needed a suitable helper, we too need Christ in our lives. He draws parallels between Adam and Jesus, noting that Adam's deep sleep and the creation of Eve foreshadow Christ's sacrifice and the birth of the Church. Stegen urges believers to recognize their identity as the bride of Christ, prepared for Him, and to prioritize their relationship with Him over worldly pursuits. The sermon challenges listeners to reflect on whether they are fulfilling Christ's needs and being His helpmeet in their lives.
Christ's Need
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." Gen 2:19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. Gen 2:20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Gen 2:22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Gen 2:23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. There is the first Adam and Jesus the second Adam. One is the example of the other. Eph 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." Eph 5:32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. Adam needed a helper who was right for him. Adam saw all the creatures God had made and had to name them all. None of them was suited for him. None of them met his need. In different cultures different animals are compared to different characteristics e.g. as stubborn as a mule, as dumb as a sheep, as free as an eagle, as clumsy as an elephant, as quiet as a mouse. Adam saw all the creatures and none was suited to him. None was like he was. Adam can be seen as a foreshadow of Christ. It is not good to be alone without the Lord Jesus Christ in your life. God put Adam into a deep sleep and blood and water flowed from his side as also happened with the Lord Jesus. Adam awoke and Eve was there, presented by God the Father as his bride. She was like him in nature but not in gender. God made Eve from the rib near the heart to show that they should love one another. He did not take from the foot to be trampled on by the man or from the head so she could sit on Adam’s head. Adam could say she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. Can Christ say that of you or does He have to say that you are not part of Him? We believers are Christ’s bride being prepared for Him. When the church of Christ is ready the Father will present the bride to the bridegroom. The Bible shows us that marriages are made in heaven. Are you busy with your own life and business or with the Lord’s affairs? Aim to meet Christ's needs and be His helpmeet.
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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.