There is a unique strength when men of all ages, young guys just starting out in their careers, seasoned professionals, and those enjoying retirement, gather around a cup of coffee to sharpen and encourage one another. Last month at our Businessman’s Meet, we had the privilege of doing just that at ECHT Coffee. Together, we shared fellowship, drew wisdom from God’s Word, and listened as one of our own shared his journey of navigating life and faith.
Whether you are wrestling with career decisions, managing the pressures of the workplace, or looking to mentor the next generation, you don’t have to walk the journey alone. Our monthly Businessman’s Meet is designed to give you a bright-and-early boost before the workday begins, offering meaningful fellowship, practical biblical wisdom, and uplifting prayer.
Bernard’s testimony
I was born in Pretoria to a young German lady and a British medic on 4th July 1947. On the day I was born the president of the United States of America, Harry S. Truman instructed his Cabinet and all his ambassadors across the entire world to hold explosive celebrations. Every year on the 4th July, the Americans go crackers and celebrate my birthday. Because of my deep humility I have never corrected the American historian’s version of the 4th of July.
About 10 years later I was, I believe what Jesus called “Born again”. Although it was 69 years ago I remember the occasion clearly. Dad, Mom and I were in Pastor Fred Buchler’s Baptist Church in Robertsham. The preacher was an American, Rev. Paul Finch. When he invited those who wanted to yield their lives to Jesus, I asked my Dad if I could go. Dad said “Yes”. The space between the seats was narrow. I remember climbing over my Dad’s knees, and going to the front of the Church.
It was a member of the Benoni Baptist Church, Reverend Howard Web who was a missionary for the WEC International in the Congo, who first sparked my desire to become a missionary. After I had completed school and my first years of military service, I spent two years 1968 to 1969 studying theology in the Cape. I linked up with the Oriental Mission Society and applied to do mission work in Northern Thailand. I visited the Baptist Theological College in Kalk Bay and was scheduled to start suitable training there in 1970. As 1969 was closing it’s doors, my mother suddenly went home to the Lord. I had three younger brothers at home so I abandoned the missionary ambition and went home to bring them up.
By now Reverend Hugo Lategan was the Pastor of the Robertsham Baptist Church. Because I had two years of theological training he appointed me as the youth pastor. The idea was I would complete my theological education by correspondence. I also was the technician who recorded messages and prepared tapes for two Christian radio programs: “The Hope of Israel” run by Reverend Lex Malan and the program, “The light of the World”. These were broadcast initially on LM Radio and later on TWR Trans World Radio, and later on Radio Pulpit.
The Robertsham church started a satellite branch in Primrose where several couples once in the youth group who were now married were living. We were called to help that fledgling Church. Priscilla and I purchased a home in Primrose and later in Boksburg, where we have been living for the past 40 years. While serving the Primrose Church, the diamond industry in which 3 families in the Church were employed took a nose dive. Within a few months these families moved to George. In the same period, 1 family joined the Methodists, and another family joined the Full Gospel Church. At that same time some members took ill and passed away.
I personally faced the governing body of the country wide Church confessed my failure; resigned my calling and the Church. I went to work for Armscor’s Atlas Aviation and eventually became a business analyst there writing computer programs. I blamed myself for the failures of the various ventures the Church assigned to me. My marraige was in a shambles, due to my own faults. I felt the members who passed away did so because my prayers were pathetic. Everything that I had hoped for my life was dashed. The pictures I had painted of my life were smudged with ugliness. Above all I had disappointed my Saviour. I was now without a Church and without a calling.
One evening, I was sitting at my desk in Atlas Aircraft Company. I had nothing to do but wait for those ancient programs written in Cobol or Focus to complete. In those early days, if you had complicated programs to run, you would run them after hours, so as not to retard the computing speed for the general staff working during the day. While waiting for my programs to complete, I took out a Bible I kept in my desk and read Jeremiah 18:3-4 “So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.” The following phrases shouted at me: The pot he was shaping from the clay was marred. There was something in the clay, a pebble, a hardness, a twig that marred what the potter planned. There was no fault with the potter. So the potter. The potter held onto the clay and did not give up hope for the clay. He retained the right to do what he wanted with the clay. What was it the potter wanted? The potter formed it into another pot. Another pot. Not the same pot he had planned before. A different pot. Maybe for a unique purpose. As seemed best to him. The potter still had best in mind. This different pot he was forming would still be designed with the best intentions, the best designs and to be the best the magnificent potter could produce. If the clay lay submissively on the potter’s wheel, and yeilded to the pressures of the potter’s fingers, the clay would discover that the potter never produces anything that is second best. God has no second class children, even though some don’t behave like He hopes they will.
This scripture inspired me. I decided to be the best the Potter wanted me to be. I became a senior business analyst and later a Principal SAP consultant. I implemented SAP in Denel, for Engen, in Kynoch, in ESKOM, in all of Amplat’s enterprises across the country. I implemented SAP in Botswana, Kenya, Italy, Spain and the UK. I implemented SAP for Izuzu and retired after Babcock.
I will always be the clay that was marred, my Redeemer will always be the Potter who formed me into another vessel as seemed BEST to him. Maybe you too consider the work you are doing or the career you have chosen as not the best there is. God never makes or designs mediocre creations. If you submit quietly to the Potter’s hand, and stop fidgeting on the Potter’s wheel, he will make the best out of you. God met Job sitting in the dust, scraping his scabs with broken bits of pottery. There he uttered those world famous words, written into wonderful symphonies and songs. “I know my Redeemer lives, and in my flesh I shall sere God.”
Job 42:12 “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.”
Businessman’s Meet
Businessmen, young guys getting started, and old guys enjoying retirement. Join us for a morning chat over coffee, a word of wisdom from an older saint, and a practical Word of encouragement.
📅 Date: Friday, 28 August
⏰ Time: 6:00am, giving you enough time to get to work.
📍 Venue: ECHT Coffee Benoni (39 Rennie Road, Corner of Rennie Road & Celia Nestadt Rd, Benoni North AH)
What to expect:
• ☕️ Meet and greet: Come ready to introduce yourself, and to build relationships.
• 🗣️ Word of wisdom: This month, Bernard Warder will share his experience navigating work as a Christian man.
• 📖 Word of encouragement: A short, encouraging devotion and prayer from the Psalms to get Friday started.
Whether you are just starting out in your career, or have years of experience to share, See you bright and early! 🙌