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A congregation is not a business, and to manage it as such would be inappropriated. Although the church is primarily invis- ible and spiritual by nature, in this world it is functioning as an institution which must be managed efficiently and effectively to ensure that everything is done successfully and in good order. A major part of the responsibility to ensure order and effective- ness rests on the shoulders of the minister. The training of as- piring ministers in the Reformed Churches of South Africa does not involve specific training in managing and leading an organi- sation. This fact might leave them vulnerable, especially in the earlier stages of their careers. Although some people are blessed with natural skills and ta- lents regarding management and leadership, it has been pro- ven that management skills required to manage an organisation successfully can be acquired by means of study and training. An empirical study was performed to determine whether training in management could assist ministers in the execution of their calling. A questionnaire was sent to all the ministers of the Re- formed Churches of South Africa regarding the scope of circum- stances in a congregation which can be compared with other organisations, as well as the minister’s role in managing the situations. The research concludes with a recommendation that considera- tion should be given to include a course on management in the training syllabus of aspiring ministers. Furthermore, it is sugges- ted that this course be developed specifically taking into ac- count the background and circumstances of the Reformed Churches of South Africa, and should not be generic like the course which is included for Baccalaureus Commercii or Mas- ters of Business Administration (MBA) students.

A study was conducted to evaluate whether timely initiation of antiretroviral drugs during tuberculosis therapy was effective in reducing mortality and improving survival rates among patients with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Results indicated that the use of such therapy greatly improved survival rates among such patients.

The church is not like any other institution or organisation in society. Although the church is primarily invisible and spiritual, it is a visible organisation in the world, and it spans across borders of nations, languages and countries. John Calvin strongly rejected the notion that the church is only a spiritual organisation of which the visible administrative side is downplayed. The fellowship of the church must not only be seen as a mystical relation with Jesus Christ. During 2010, an empirical study was done on the extent to which congregations of the Reformed Churches of South Africa (RCSA) adhere to the request to have a well-designed congregational strategy. The knowledge gained from a literature study on the science of Strategic Management and the results of the empirical study was combined into a framework for crafting and executing a congregational strategy. This framework can be used by congregational leaders to guide them through their own process of crafting and executing their unique congregational strategy. The research was concluded with a recommendation that the Theological School of the RCSA should consider including a course on Strategic Management in the training syllabus of aspiring ministers. Considering that Strategic Management is a specialised management science, and external Strategic Management consultants tend to be expensive, the research also recommended that the Administrative Bureau of the RCSA consider employing their own Strategic Management consultant for the RCSA with the specific assignment of assisting and guiding all congregations with their congregational strategy. ’n Raamwerk vir die ontwerp en implementering van ’n gemeentestrategie in die plaaslike gemeentes van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika. ’n Kerk is ’n unieke organisasie. Die kerk is primêr onsigbaar en geestelik van aard. Tog funksioneer dit as ’n instituut in die wêreld en moet dit doelmatig en doeltreffend bestuur word, ten einde alles ordelik te laat verloop en doelgerig te laat funksioneer. Johannes Calvyn het die idee dat ’n gemeente slegs ’n geestelike instelling is, waarvan die sigbare administratiewe deel as onbelangrik afgemaak word, verwerp. ’n Empiriese studie is gedurende 2010 onderneem om vas te stel tot watter mate gemeentestrategieë wel in die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) opgestel en uitgevoer word. Die kennis wat ingewin is met die empiriese studie is gekombineer met ’n literatuurstudie oor die vakgebied van Strategiese Bestuur, en ’n raamwerk vir die ontwerp en implementering van ’n gemeentestrategie is daargestel. Hierdie raamwerk kan deur gemeenteleiers gebruik word in die ontwerp en implementering van hulle gemeente se strategie. Die navorsing sluit af met die aanbeveling dat daar oorweging geskenk moet word om ‘n kursus in strategiese bestuur in die opleidingsillabus van teologiese studente in te sluit. ’n Verdere aanbeveling is gemaak dat, weens die gespesialiseerde aard en koste aan eksterne Strategiese Bestuurskonsultante verbonde, die Administratiewe Buro van die GKSA oorweging behoort te skenk om hulle eie konsultant in diens te neem. Die opdrag moet wees om gemeentes van die GKSA by te staan in die ontwerp en implementering van die gemeentestrategie.

Sheath gas has a crital role in the thermal protection of the inner reactor wall of an inductively-coupled plasma reactor (ICP). Argon ionises more readily than hydrogen. Hydrogen is thus used in small concentrations in the sheath gas when argon is the main plasma gas in order to prevent plama formation in close proximity to the reactor wall. The high linear velocity of the sheath gas further minimises temperature increase of the sheath gas, and thus heat transfer to the reactor wall. Many numerical models of ICPs have been published in the literature; not one has specifically taken the effect of sheath gas into account. The concentration of hydrogen may have deleterious effects on general plasma behaviour, because of its higher ionisation potential. In addition, an excess of hydrogen is costly. Both factors have an influence on the economics of any plasma process. The research reported here shows that more than 2 % H2 in the sheath gas is required to prevent plasma formation at the wall surface. A local minimimum in modelled radiative heat losses indicates the optimal hydrogen concentration to be 3 %. The commercial software package COMSOL Multiphysics was used for this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die Raad van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerke (1907-1962) kan tereg as 'n unieke liggaam bestempel word. Dit was geen sinode wat bindende besluite kon neem nie en tog veel meer as 'n blote advieskommissie. Vir 55 jaar het hierdie raad, wat in die omgang bekend gestaan het as "Die Raad van die Kerke" of "Die Federale Raad" groot invloed binne die Ned Geref Kerk uitgeoefen en op talle terreine leiding gegee en die koers waarin die kerk beweeg het, aangewys.

Die huwelik is ’n monogame, onverbreekbare, deur GOD-gewilde lewenslange instelling, tussen twee mense. Die hoogste geluk in die huwelik word daar gesmaak waar sowel man as vrou wedergebore christene is — hulle sal voortdurend ondervind dat GOD hulle ware bron van liefde en geluk is. Nie in eie insig, krag of kennis is die geluk van die huwelik geleë nie, maar in die ewige, onwankelbare liefde van die algenoegsame GOD.

Na aanleiding van ’n boek van ds. J. Overduin: Is geloven moeiliiker dan vroeger? Kok, Kampen, sonder jaartal. Soos van Overduin se ander boeke wat ek gelees het, boei hierdie een eweneens. Ook al verskil ’n mens plek-plek. Dit geld veral die derde hoofstuk waarin die skrywer ingaan op die vraagstuk van God en die lyde.