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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 profound blessing of deriving strength from the Lord, contrasting it with the futility of seeking strength in worldly practices or leaders. He highlights that true happiness and fortune come from having God's ways in one's heart, guided by the Holy Spirit. Stegen warns against the transient nature of human trust and encourages believers to maintain their first love and commitment to God's teachings. He calls for introspection on whether God's highways are truly in our hearts, urging a genuine relationship with Him.
Scriptures
God's Ways in Your Heart
Ps 84:5 "Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion." (Amplified Bible) There is so much contained in the word "blessed". Such a person is to be envied, he is very happy. Blessed is the one that gets his strength from the Lord. Where do you get your strength from? Some trust in occult practices, or charms. But such people are troubled. Unless you get your strength from the Lord you will be weak and troubled. Others get their strength from politics and put their trust in certain leaders. But they will soon be disappointed. The one who trusts in the Lord will never be disappointed. These days people divorce and remarry contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible. But may it not be like that with you; may the first love remain. "Even those whose heart is set on the Lord's ways." For a Christian God's ways are in his heart. God has placed the Dove of Heaven, the Holy Spirit, in a Christian's heart, to guide him on his way. A genuine Christian has God's law in his heart. It isn't necessary to run after them all the time and tell them, "not like this but like that", for God leads them by the Holy Spirit. Here it speaks of those whose hearts are set on God's ways, even His highways. Are God's highways in your heart?
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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.