The Algoa FM team rolling out the footprint to the Southern Cape. Seen  at the introduction to the Mossel Bay community are (from left): MD Dave Tiltmann, Jo Olivier from Neo Hair in the Langeberg Mall (who walked off with a golf umbrella and a 2012 Diary), Mimi Finestone from Goji,Kevin Reed (Deputy MD/Financial Director) and Dennis Karantges, Sales Manager. Algoa FM will hit the airwaves to the Southern Cape on 1 December 2011.
(PHOTO: Denise Lloyd)

Charities along the Garden Route are being  invited  to tell Algoa FM listeners about the work they are doing

Are you a charity organisation that is battling to get your message through to the public or who needs assistance to carry on the good work? Exceptionally good news  just before the festive season is that charities along the Garden Route are being  invited  to tell Algoa FM listeners about the work they are doing and the needs in the community.

Algoa FM is broadening their footprint and they will be broadcasting to the communities of Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay etc.

Algoa FM is broadening their footprint and they will be broadcasting to the communities of the Southern Cape including Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay as from Thursday 1 December. The Algoa Cares radio feature broadcasts info about charity organisations to give them the necessary exposure they need. As part of their service to the Southern Cape, the radio station is “doubling up” the time it devotes to promoting community organisations, as well as charitable activities and events, says managing director Dave Tiltmann.

Algoa FM starts broadcasting as from 1 December 2011 to the Garden Route

In addition to the Wednesday Algoa Cares interview with charities working in the Algoa FM listening area, the station will be broadcasting a community Info Slot. This will cater for the charities in the Garden Route, to which Algoa FM starts broadcasting in December. “We did not want to have to turn away the charities we have been supporting since 1997 in order to cater for our expanded reach down the Garden Route,” Tiltmann says.

Two of the well known charity drives that Algoa FM supports on an annual basis are the Winter Woolly Week and Bloodline Day. These causes are supported during the year, in addition to the weekly interviews with charity spokespeople, who are also free to ask for donations.

The Winter Woolly Week, which took place from 13 – 17 June this year, focuses on the collection of clothes and blankets for those in need. The project is a crucial element in the Community Chest’s annual fundraising programme. The clothing collected brings warmth to so many needy out there. The Community Chest also does a cash collection in order to feed the many hungry people in the Port Elizabeth Metro. The Chest’s – pap project makes a huge difference in many lives in the Metro.

For the Bloodline Day Algoa FM teams up with the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) in hosting a drive where the aim is to collect 800 units of blood in one day. The project is conducted in different areas in Port Elizabeth and East London.

The inserts supplied by the Southern Cape charity organisations will be hosted by Roy Williams and will be broadcasted just after the 12:30 news headlines.
Charities can contact Algoa FM by e-mailing Roy Williams on roy.w@algoafm.co.za, or fax to 041-5835555.

Charities Benefit From Algoa Cares is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Mev SA 2011 is Saterdagaand by Fancourt Gholflandgoed buite George gekroon.
Mev Lynné de Jager van Pretoria is as die wenner gekroon. Haar twee prinsesse is mevv Nozuko Dlamini (derde van links) en Jo-Ani Jacobs (tweede van regs). By hulle is die direkteur van Mev SA 2011, mev Joani Johnson van Mosselbaai, Mev SA 2009 en die hoofborg, mnr Christo Strydom, besturende direketeur van Bains Lodges International (Edms) Bpk. Heel regs is sy vrou Anita, ook ‘n direkteur van Bains Lodges International.

Dit gaan oor jou vorm en nie oor jou grootte nie

“Dit gaan oor jou vorm en nie oor jou grootte nie!” Dis die boodskap van die nuut gekroonde Mev SA 2011 Lynné de Jager van Pretoria.
De Jager, ‘n model en aktrise, glo dat dit belangriker is dat ‘n vrou aan die vorm van haar karakter en die grootte van haar hart geken word en beslis nie aan die feit of sy ‘n nommer 8 rok dra of goed in ‘n bikini lyk nie.
“Wanneer jy die dag trou betree jy ‘n nuwe faset van die lewe waar ander dinge belangriker raak as net jou voorkoms” het sy aan Die Burger gesê.

Lynné De Jager is Saterdagaand tydens ‘n spoggeleentheid  by die Fancourt gholfbaan  as Mev Sa 2011 gekroon

De Jager is Saterdagaand tydens ‘n spoggeleentheid  by die Fancourt gholfbaan net buitekant George gekroon en die vermaaklikheidskunstenaar en sanger Amor Vitone was die seremoniemeester. Verskeie voormalige Mev SA’s plus Mnr SA en ander skoonheidskoniginnne was deel van die gastelys.

Die twee prinsesse, Nozuko Dlamini en Jo-Ani Jacobs kom ook van Gauteng.

Dlamini is ‘n bankier van Johannesburg en Jacobs van Hartbeespoortdam wat areabestuurder van ‘n bekende farmaseutiese maatskappy is.
Die Mev SA 2011-kompetisie is vroeër vanjaar deur me Joani Johnson, Mev SA 2009 gekoop en binne ‘n paar maande het sy die spogkompetisie bymekaar gesit en aangebied. Al die finaliste het saamgestem dat die kompetisie vanjaar ‘n nuwe hoogtepunt bereik het. Johnson en haar span het saam met die finaliste gesorg dat die wenner met pryse ter waarde van meer as R200 000 wegstap.
Elke finalis het ook ‘n groot verskeidenheid prag produkte ontvang.

Mnr Christo Strydom besturende direkteur van Bains Lodges International was die hoofborg van die Mev SA Kompetisie

Die hoofborg van die kompetisie is ‘n plaaslike sakeman van Groot Brakrivier met uitgebreide belange in die Vrystaat en Mosambiek. Mnr Christo Strydom, die besturende direkteur van Bains Lodges International (Edms) Bpk het ‘n kontant borgskap van R30 000 geskenk om De Jager se kostes te dek om in 2012 aan die Mev Wêreldkompetisie te gaan deelneem. Hy het ook onderneem om die bykans R7 000 lisensiegeld vir die deelname te betaal. Hierbenewens kry De Jager ook geborgde akkommodasie vir die hele jaar by die bekende Bains Game Lodge en Sangiro Game Lodge, albei in Bloemfontein. Geskenkbewyse van verskeie ander maatskappye in die Bains Game Lodges International-stal, is ook deur die finaliste gewen.

Mev Fotogenies is deur die tweede prinses Jo-Ani Jacobs gewen

Die finaliste het die afgelope week die Tuinroete deurkruis en is bekendgestel aan van die streek se mooiste en interessantste toeriste-aantreklikheide. Almal was dit eens dat die streek onder hul vel ingekruip het en dat hulle beslis saam met hul gesinne sal terugkeer.
Benewens die drie wenners is daar ook vier ander toekennings gemaak. Mev Fotogenies is deur die tweede prinses Jo-Ani Jacobs gewen.  Dianne Erasmus van Groot Brakrivier as die Mev SA 2011 Sakevrou aangewys is.

Dianne Erasmus van Groot Brakrivier as die Mev SA 2011 Sakevrou aangewys

Dianne Erasmus van Groot Brakrivier as die Mev SA 2011 Sakevrou aangewys. Erasmus het die hoofborg gekry asook verskeie ander borgskappe ter waarde van bykans R180 000. ‘

Mokgadi Senoamadi van Tzaneen, is deur die finaliste en die beoordelaars as Mev Prettig (‘Congeniality’) aangewys

‘n SMS-kompetisie om die publiek se keuse te kry, het gegaan aan die tweede prinses Nozuko Dlamini. Mokgadi Senoamadi van Tzaneen, is deur die finaliste en die beoordelaars as Mev Prettig (‘Congeniality’) aangewys.

Mev SA 2011 Lynné de Jager van Pretoria is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Mrs SA Finalists entertained by Kalahari Theatre in George

A night at the theatre with Elvis and Neil Diamond! That is exactly what the 13 finalists of the Mrs SA 2011 competition experienced on Tuesday evening at the “Double Booking” show at the Kalahari Theatre in George. Photographed with Neil (Marius du Bruyn at the back) and Elvis (Carl Erasmus in front) are the Southern Cape representatives Dianne Erasmus ( front left) from Groot Brak River and Adele Potgieter (frontright) from George.

Middle: Estelle Mengel (Johannesburg), Lynne de Jager (Pretoria) and Tracey Minnie (Pretoria). Back: Nozuko Dlamini (Johannesburg), Jo-Ani Jacobs (Hartbeespoortdam), Estelle Smith (Krugersdorp), Laetitia Loubscher (Durbanville), Neil (Marius du Bruyn), Koekwano Taukobong (Rustenburg), Mokgadi Senoamadi (Tzaneen), Anri Powell (Bloemfontein) en Lee-Ann Spears (Port Elizabeth).             (PHOTO: Denise Lloyd)

The amazing beauty and warm hospitality of the Garden Route has totally bowled over the 13 finalists in the Mrs SA 2011 competition. Since their arrival at Fancourt on Sunday they have been treated to the cream of tourist attractions in Knysna, Mossel Bay and Albertinia.

Even a private show “Double Booking” by Elvis (Carl Erasmus) and Neil Diamond (Marius du Bruyn) was staged for them at the Kalahari Theatre in George.

Mrs SA 2011 Pageant  at Fancourt

As a special bonus for the residents of the Southern Cape, the owner and organizer of the Mrs SA 2011 pageant, Joani Johnson, Mrs SA 2009, has made a limited number of tickets available for the prestigious event on Saturday at Fancourt at only R300 per ticket instead of the full price of R700. The guest artist for the night is Amore Vitone.

For more details call Joani at 072 620 4127.

Mrs SA 2011 Finalists Wowed by Garden Route is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Caption: Dianne and her two girls Isabella (9, left) and Simone (6) are in their element on the banks of the river at the game ranch.

Southern Cape Finalist for Mrs. SA Title, Dianne Erasmus from Great Brak River loves the outdoors and animals – a Real Greenie

One of the two Southern Cape finalists for the Mrs SA 2011 title, Dianne Erasmus (30) from Great Brak is a real “greenie”. She loves the outdoors, has a passion for animals and is forever exploring new avenues to make her environment and surroundings more eco friendly.  “I’m a nature girl who enjoys a wholesome life” she describes herself.

Function Venue and Restaurant near Great Brak River

She loves challenges and the latter is playing a huge role in her latest venture, a function venue and restaurant Yellowoods that she and her husband Carl opened on 1 October   on their game range. The venue is a beautifully restored building, known as one of the oldest in the district and it is situated on the restant of the Botlierskop farm. The ranch will soon also house a buffalo sanctuary which will have the  largest number of privately owned buffalo in the country.

Church Groups will be invited to make use of the beautiful naturally formed amphitheatre on the ranch

“As soon as  the accommodation tents and chalets adjacent to the restaurant is erected and the ablution facilities completed, we will be extending an invitation to particularly church groups to make use of the beautiful naturally formed amphitheatre on the ranch. People will then be able to organise religious rallies and bring the whole family to camp out along the river and in the beautiful valleys” she said.

Dianne loves to experiment with new and innovative ideas in catering.

Dianne and her husband Carl, better known as “Elvis” after winning an Elvis competition in Las Vegas (best voice second to Elvis)   way back in 2001, and their two daughters, Isabella (9) and Simone (6)  moved to Great Brak during December 2010. Carl is a game farmer and has been in the industry since 1993. During 2000 he and Dianne became involved in the tourism aspect of game farming and they both believe that if hunting is regulated and controlled, it helps to conserve the different species. She became involved in the catering and hosting side of the industry and love to experiment with products to come up with new and innovative ideas to present dishes to the visitors.
At the new venue Dianne uses their own organically grown vegetables, they catch the rain water for use in the restaurant and use local ingredients available from the area. All the rubbish is disposed of in a natural way and the electricity  comes from solar panels. “We all have to do our bit to conserve the earth’s resources” she added.
In Mozambique she was also involved in a project to supply shoes to the children of the country. “It is awesome to see a child’s face after he has received a pair of shoes – the first ever in his life!” she added.

Dianne also has a passion to help other people and also gets involved in community projects

As one of 16 finalists Dianne has to get involved in community projects. She has already started working on one for the Penguin Sanctuary outside Mossel Bay and she is involved   in the small mission town of Friemersheim. Another cause that she has committed herself to is that of raising funds for the second stem cell transplant for Zac Bruwer, a two year old boy from Mossel Bay that contracted brain damage after a motoristed motor gate fell on him. Dianne met up with his mother when the evangelist Dr Fergus Buchan, visited the Southern Cape and she organised for a visit to Zac.
On 8 November Dianne and the other Mrs SA finalists will attend a dinner at the Kalahari Theatre. Carl and another Great Brak resident, Marius du Bruyn will be performing in “Double Booking”.   The show revolves around the double booking on the same date for two of the greats, Elvis (Carl) and Neil Diamond (Marius). Both rock up at the venue to find the other one booked it. However they decide to make the best of the bad scenario and it is hilarious to see them together on stage.
The public is invited to attend and to meet the finalists. Tickets at R30 per person is available at the theatre on 044 874 5000.
If you feel that you would like to support Dianne in becoming the next Mrs SA 2011, then send an sms to 35959. A sms cost R3,00 and unfortunately free smss do not apply.

Mrs. SA Finalist a Real Greenie is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Most women love jewellery – and if it is something exclusive, the attraction becomes even more.

Nichole Maritz from Mossel Bay with designs from the Mark E Collections. The winner of the Miss Garden Route & Klein Karoo 2011 title will walk away with an exclusively designed pendant. The winner of the safe house make-over competition will also receive a pendant. (Photo DENISE LLOYD)

Jewellery designer, Mark E has donated a specially designed piece to the winner of the Miss Garden Route & Klein Karoo competition.

During the past few years, local jewellery designer, Mark E has donated a specially designed piece to the winner of the Miss Garden Route & Klein Karoo competition. This year, Mark Furness will once again honour the beautiful girl with one of their designs. As an addition the winner of the safe house make-over competition will also receive an exclusive piece of jewellery.

The Furness family, who are the owners of the exclusive Mark E Design label, have been in the jewellery industry since 1903.  Bardins Jewellers, one of the country’s oldest family jewellery firms, was formed in Mossel Bay during that year. Almost a century later the Mark E Design label was born from the Bardins stable. Today Bardins is still a family business with several branches in the Southern Cape.

At Mark E they believe that jewellery should be the extension of a woman’s personality and that it should emphasise her natural beauty.

According to Mr Mark Furness, who is one of the designers at Mark E, it is an absolute privilege to design something special for Miss Garden Route & Klein Karoo.  “We strive to  capture the essence of each of the women that wear our jewellery” he said. During the past eight years the winners have all made their mark in the beauty and modelling industry.

Each piece of jewellery designed at Mark E is done exclusively to the needs and preferences of the owner. This is done by the chief designer, Ms Sue Furness. This lady is a jewellery expert and loves to wear beautiful designs. She has more than 40 experience in the industry and her exclusive designs are worn by some of the country’s best known and influential women.

Her son Mark is in the process of stepping up to her and he already has his own range, the Mark Edgar Collection. He subscribes to his mother and his grandmother’s philosophy  that jewellery should be worn and not be kept in a safe or drawer somewhere.

Enter for Miss Garden Route and Klein Karoo 2011 now.

Unmarried ladies, without children, between the ages of 18 and 26 may enter this year’s search for Miss Garden Route and Klein Karoo 2011. Entry forms are available from the tourism bureaux as well as from the Garden Route Casino and online

For details contact Tryana Potgieter on 044 606 7777 or send her a mail at tryana@gardenroutecasino.co.za

Jewellery for the Winner of Miss Garden Route and Klein Karoo is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Two Mossel Bay fashion designers will be in the run for the Designer of the Year title at the Miss Garden Route & Klein Karoo 2011 pageant at the gala evening planned for 1 October at the Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort. The rest of the lineup consists of a designer from Great Brak, two from George and one from Uniondale. The six designers from the Southern Cape region will each design two outfits to dress the 12 finalists for the grand finale of the pageant.

(PHOTO: Denise Lloyd)

Four of the designers that will take part in the Designers Competition, which forms part of the Miss Garden Route and Klein Karoo 2011 project, recently showcased some of their designs. Here they are with models showing off the beautiful garments. Seated are:Thabo Direko (second from right) from KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay,  Mariëtte Hankey from Wilderness and Juan-Loui Venter from Uniondale. The models are (from left): Ntombie Princess  from Mossel Bay (in Susan Moodie’s designs), and Penelope Dimba from Mossel Bay (in Thabo’s design), Juvani du Toit from George (in Mariëttte’s designs),  Patience Dlamini from Mossel Bay (Susan Moodie design),  Zizipho Nzima from Mossel Bay (in a Juan-Loui design) and Tilana Burger from George (Mariëtte Hankey design)

A new resident, Thabo Direko, is originally from Parys in the Free State. He is a creative designer who has now based himself in Mossel Bay. Thabo got involved in the Miss KwaNonqaba pageant and was noticed by our own Mr Western Cape 2011, Vuyo Mfumbe. Thabo now makes sure that Vuyo steals the limelight wherever he performs.

The second Mossel Bay designer is Susan Moodie, who was also one of the designers at the 2010 competition. Susan has an African flair and makes sure that her models look stunning in her African inspired creations.

Bianca Boshoff is a young designer from Great Brak River. She also took part in last year’s competition.

One of the George designers is Jeanine Barnard who designed the dress worn by last year’s winner Marizanne Visser at the gala evening. She loves playing with colour and designs inspired by nature.

A brand new resident to the Southern Cape, Mariëtte Hankey is an experienced lecturer in fashion design. She and her family moved to Wilderness and she has just opened The Fashion Design Training Studio in George. Mariëtte has for many years designed and supplied clothing under her own label: Martezi.

Juan-Loui from Uniondale also took part last year. He moved from Pretoria to Uniondale and specializes in romantic, elegant and very feminine fashions. “The more expensive the material, the better” he added.

What makes the competition so special is that the designers have only five days to complete two outfits. Each designer will draw the names of two finalists on the Monday before the pageant. Up till then they will have no idea of who they will be designing for. The basic outfits can be made up, but they will only be able to take the measurements on that evening. The designers will then have to make and fit the garments for the grand finale within five days.

The winning designer will walk away with the title as well as a cash prize of R5 000 sponsored by Die Burger. A feature on the winning designer will also be published.

The Master of Ceremonies for the gala evening is Eloise Cupido. She will be joined on stage by the special artist, Nicholas Louw. An array of celebs will also rub shoulders with the guests and finalist. Natasha Sutherland and Sandra Prinsloo only two of the ladies that have pledged their support for this project.

Tickets at R150 each are available from Computicket. For more information call Tryana Potgieter on 044 606 777 or mail her on tryana@gardenroutecasino.co.za

Designer of the Year Title at the Miss Garden Route & Klein Karoo is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Mathys Roets Mathys Roets tree op Sondag 13 Maart by die Kalahari-teater op George

Die man met die fluweelstem, Mathys Roets tree op Sondag 13 Maart om 14:00
by die Kalahari-teater op George op. Kaartjies teen R90 is beskikbaar by
Computicket of by die teater by 044 874 5000.

Mathys het homself oor die afgelope 14 jaar as ‘n ernstige Afrikaanse
vermaaklikheidskunstenaar gevestig, wat veral bekend is vir sy besonderse
vertolking van musiek van Koos du Plessis, Lucas Maree, Leonard Cohen, Neil
Diamond en Rodger Wittaker.  Met meer as 250 vertonings per jaar in van die
grootste stede tot die kleinste dorpies, het Mathys al so te sê ‘n
huishoudelike naam in die Afrikaanse musiekwêreld geword.

Dit bly ook nie net in Suid-Afrika nie, Mathys het reeds toere na Engeland,
Griekeland, Kanada, Londen, Dubai, Nieu-Seeland en Australië onderneem.

Hy tree gereeld by die groot kunstefeeste op, waar sy vertonings gewoonlik
reeds voor die feeste begin, vol bespreek is.  Hy sing beide Afrikaanse en
Engelse musiek wat groot byval vind by sy gehore

Mathys Roets by Kalahari Teater en Restaurant is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Comedy at Kalahari Theatre Restaurant and Theatre in George

Most of us have seen   ‘Dinner for One’ (also known as “The 90th Birthday”) traditionally shown on TV on New Year’s Eve and which has became a cult movie in Germany after it had been filmed in Hamburg in 1963.This slapstick comedy sketch takes place in an ancient English mansion, where the last remaining member of the family, Miss Sophie, is celebrating her 90th birthday. The entire sketch takes place in the dining room, with Miss Sophie (Elize Cawood) at the head of the table with places laid for her ‘guests’- whom she has outlived.Come and experience this classic as well as its spoof at the Kalahari Restaurant and Theatre in George on Friday and Saturday 11 and 12 March at 21:00.

Watch the butler, James (Wilson Dunster), serving a four course meal to all the guests, as well as a different alcoholic beverage for each course. As none of the guests are actually there in person, Miss Sophie insists that James drinks the toasts as the four different characters…

”Same procedure as every year, James”

James becomes more and more inebriated….

The tension is increased by a tiger skin rug, the head of which he has to negotiate on every trip from the sideboard to the table.

And then … the sequel:   Dinner for One Too…

In the second version (or spoof) of ‘Dinner for One’   the roles have been reversed:   Wilson plays Miss Sophie and  Elize plays the butler, James, without turning it into a ‘Drag-show’. It has also been South Africanise  and the classic version is so well-known, the audience knows exactly what to expect, but with Dinner for One Too…  it has been toyed with somewhat and some liberties have been taken!

The reversal of the roles – Elize  portraying James, the ‘plaasjapie’ and Wilson  playing the ‘English Lady’ – in itself demanded a constant re-think and re-evalution of the characterisations. With the virtuoso talents of both Elize and Wilson a  new, fresh and credible spoof that could be as popular as the original has been created.

Tickets at R120 available from Computicket and from the Kalahari Theatre at 044 874 5000

Double Bill – Dinner for One and Dinner for One Too is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Dr Fergus Buchan received a Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.Div) from the Team Impact University, Pennsylvania, USA during January. This makes him one of only a handful of recipients annually. This honorary degree is granted to distinguished individuals who have achieved outstanding results in ministry, who have served the body of Christ faithfully for many years and who demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and character traits. At the function with Dr Fergus is his wife Jo and two Southern Cape residents Mr Christo Strydom (left) and Mr Carl Erasmus (right). The latter two work very closely to Dr Buchan and they are responsible for bringing Dr Buchan to the Southern Cape.

Dr Fergus Buchan will lead the community of the Southern Cape in a special thanksgiving for rain prayer session at Great Brak River
Dr Fergus Buchan, brother of Angus Buchan will lead the community of the Southern Cape in a special thanksgiving for rain prayer session at Great Brak River on Thursday 3 March. EVERYONE is welcome to join the gathering which will take place on the grass area on the riverbank in  front of the Great Brak Spar.

Dr Fergus follows in the steps of his brother Angus that has visited the Southern Cape on numerous occasions to pray to God for rain. “The Lord blessed us with rain to break the grip of the severe drought and we need to say thank you to Him”
Wian Vos and Carl Erasmus will perform at a special programme of praise and worship at Great Brak River
Dr Buchan will visit the schools at Great Brak earlier the afternoon and it is foreseen that the community will join the brass bands in marching to the gathering spot at the river. A special programme of praise and worship will be presented from 19:00 and the well known gospel singers Wian Vos and Carl Erasmus (known for his Elvis shows) will also be in action.

“We will be thanking the Lord and rejoice in His name at this meeting to be held on the banks of the Great Brak River. The programme will include praise and worship and the whole community of Great Brak will be involved,” he said.

The Mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderlady Marie Ferreira will also attend the prayer gathering. The community is requested to bring their own chairs.

Dr Buchan who recently received an honorary doctorate, the Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.Div) from the Team Impact University Pennsylvania USA, will also visit the Southern Cape tomorrow as part of his vision of encouragement to motivate men and woman of God to stand tall and rise up boldly in these troubled times. “God has a plan for this area and the leaders of the church  need to get together to see the way forward and together ask the Lord for guidance and confirmation as to what should happen” he says. Where Angus has given new hope to millions of people, especially men who have attended his Mighty Men camps, Fergus wants to create a support network for the Christian leaders and to bring them back to the Lord.

“My vision is to encourage leaders in the community to take up the challenge facing us and bring the word of God back to the centre of lives. “ he says.

This meeting for Christian leaders take place at the Kalahari Theatre in George on Friday 25 February at 10:00.

If you want to attend the meeting and have not yet received an invitation please contact Boenette Markgraaff on  076 102 0311 or send a mail to riversyde@vodamail.co.za. You can also contact Markgraaff re the thanksgiving meeting.

(Denise Lloyd)

BUCHAN TO LEAD THANKSGIVING FOR RAIN is a post from: Denise Lloyd

Dr Fergus Buchan received a Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.Div)

Dr Fergus Buchan received a Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.Div) from the Team Impact University, Pennsylvania, USA during January. This makes him one of only a handful of recipients annually. This honorary degree is granted to distinguished individuals who have achieved outstanding results in ministry, who have served the body of Christ faithfully for many years and who demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and character traits. At the function with Dr Fergus is his wife Jo and two Southern Cape residents Mr Christo Strydom (left) and Mr Carl Erasmus (right). The latter two work very closely to Dr Buchan and they are responsible for bringing Dr Buchan to the Southern Cape.

Fergus Buchan, brother of Angus Buchan of Mighty Men fame, has been bestowed an honorary doctorate by the Team Impact University, Pennsylvania USA. This Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.Div) is only awarded in exceptional cases and to persons who have really excelled in their life and ministry. This makes Buchan one of only a very privilege individuals in the world to have been awarded this degree.

The purpose of the D.Div degree is to recognize Christian leaders for their faithful service to the Lord. The degree is awarded as an honorary degree and granted to distinguished individuals who have achieved outstanding results in ministry, who have served the body of Christ faithfully for many years  and who demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and character traits.

Fergus Buchan, was nominated for the Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.Div)

The D.Div degree is not automatically awarded. Potential recipicants must first be nominated. Buchan was nominated by Dr Jeff van Wyk and Team Impact University accepted the nomination. Buchan received this honorary degree in Johannesburg in January 2011.

Dr Fergus Buchan  visits The South Cape on 25 February

Dr Buchan might not be as well-known as his brother Angus, but he has a message of encouragement to motivate men and woman of God to stand tall and rise up boldly in these troubled times. “God has a plan for this area and the leaders of the church  need to get together to see the way forward and together ask the Lord for guidance and confirmation as to what should happen” he says. Where Angus has given new hope to millions of people, especially men who have attended his Mighty Men camps, Fergus wants to create a support network for the Christian leaders and to bring them back to the Lord.

“My vision is to encourage leaders in the community to take up the challenge facing us and bring the word of God back to the centre of lives. “ he says.

The Lord has led Dr Fergus Buchan to use the Southern Cape, especially the George and Mossel Bay areas, as a starting point for this vision.  Further  meetings   are planned for Johannesburg,  Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban and Cape Town.

Fergus will be in the Southern Cape on Friday 25 February at 10:30  at the Kalahari Restaurant and Theatre to talk to the Christian leaders.

Individual invitations have gone out to the leaders and each pastor/minister/dominee who receives  this invitation will have a specially allocated seat, with his name on, at the meeting. Dr Buchan and his team’s prayer is that on 25 February 2011 there will be NO vacant seats in the Kalahari Theatre.

If you are a Christian leader and you have not received your invitation yet, please contact Boenette Markgraaff on  076 102 0311 or send a mail to riversyde@vodamail.co.za

Dr Fergus Buchan  visits The South Cape on 3 March for thanksgiving at the banks of the Great Brak River

On Thursday 3 March Dr Buchan will once again return to the Southern Cape. This time to give thanks to the Lord for the welcome rain that has fallen in the area to break one of the worst droughts ever experienced here. “We will be thanking the Lord and rejoice in His name at a meeting to be held on the banks of the Great Brak River. The programme will include praise and worship and the whole community of Great Brak will be involved,” he said.

DOCTORATE FOR BUCHAN is a post from: Denise Lloyd