Charting the course of the AFM Church
- Isak Burger
His year the Apostolic Faith Mission celebrates 100 years from 1908 to 2008. With Spirit-filled, passionate leadership, the AFM has grown from strength to strength – not only internationally but here in South Africa as well. The AFM is the oldest Pentecostal denomination in Africa and in South Africa has several Afrikaans churches, known as the AGS or Apostoliese Geloofs Sending van SA.
In South Africa there are 1800 congregations with more than one million members. The growth in these churches is due to a commitment to the Word of God, the work of the Holy Spirit and to fellowship and missions. Their vision sums it up well: "We see a church accessible to all people, celebrating our unity and God-given diversity, empowering our members for caring and transforming our communities to the glory of God."
As they gear up for the centenary celebrations in May, JOY! Magazine interviewed AFM/AGS president Dr Isak Burger for an inside look into this dynamic denomination.
You have been the president of the AFM/AGS for 20 years. Tell us about your early years before taking up this post.
I was born in Cape Town in 1951 and grew up in Pretoria. At age 8, I was converted to Christ during a Gospel campaign and my life from that day forward belonged to God. It was during matric, as I was preparing for medical studies the next year, that I felt the Lord calling me into the ministry and specifically into the AGS. I then went to the University of Pretoria and studied for a BA, BD and DD (Theology).
What is your greatest joy in your daily work?
More than ever before it is to see the life-changing effect of the Gospel and the saving power of the Lord Jesus in the lives of people.
What are the challenges you face in ministry?
To manage the diversities within a much diversified church and an increasingly polarised country.
Managing different cultural, economic and social groups must be difficult - certainly a challenge needing the wisdom of the Lord. How do you balance the demands of your work together with your family?
I cherish and protect special times with my family - meal-times, an off-weekend from time to time and holidays. My wife of 35 years, Heletia, and my three children are of utmost importance to me. On the otherhand – my work is my life. Seeing people set free and living for Jesus is my passion.
Describe the average day for Dr Isak Burger…
I spend the first two hours of the day working on my spiritual and physical fitness. If I am not travelling to meetings, interviews, seminars or church services, I spend almost all my time behind my laptop – either doing administrative work or busy with a new book.
Which came first, AGS or AFM?
Why the move into the English/Afrikaans churches?
Although the AFM was started by American missionaries (John G. Lake and Thomas Hezmalhalch), it was indigenous from the beginning. The Afrikaans and English names come from the beginning.
What is the English/Afrikaans percentage?
We are established amongst all the indigenous groups in South Africa with Portuguese and French speaking churches as well. Plus/minus 30% of the membership is white with the majority being Afrikaans speaking.
How many churches do you have countrywide?
1 850. The AFM is also established in 25 other countries of the world.
What is the heart of the AGS/AFM?
It is a Christ-centred, Bible-believing church, unashamedly Pentecostal and strongly focused on the salvation of sinners. Wherever you find people, you’ll find the AFM.
What are the biggest challenges facing SA churches today?
Both in SA and in Africa our biggest challenge is to really affect the hearts and minds of all our people. Although Africa (and South Africa in particular) is highly ‘Christianised’, it remains inclined towards a Third World mentality - poverty, dependence on foreign help, exploitation of resources by superpowers ( first the West and now the East), ethnic clashes and corruption. Ideological sentiments tend to outweigh Christian values. Human disasters like in Rwanda a couple of years ago, now in Kenya and in Zimbabwe, have taken place in countries where the majority of people are Christians. Moral and social decay is occurring at an alarming rate.
What is your message from the AGS/AFM in 2008?
I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can truly change the face of this continent and of SA in particular. But to change a country, communities will have to change and for communities to change, individual hearts and lives will have to change. That is what Jesus came to die for. The challenge for us is to let His light shine through us in such a way that the world will see our good works and that our Father in heaven will be glorified.+
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