The Weekend that went by too quickly!

St John’s Men’s Weekend (16 – 18 May 2025)

From Morné Steenkamp:

It’s Friday afternoon, 16 May, and I am waiting for Jeremy Jobling to arrive at the parking lot at St John’s in Wynberg. It’s the weekend baby! But more importantly, it’s the start of the St John’s Men’s Weekend, being hosted in Simon’s Town! I’m super excited, and kinda expecting Jeremy to be late. You know how these things go… There is always a delay or distraction of some sort.

Not today though, Jeremy is on time, and we load up the Suzuki (car, not bike) to set off for the weekend. A quick stop to pick up uncle Brian De Smidt goes without a hitch, and we set off on the M3 in the direction of Tokai to take Ou Kaapse Weg to get to the Town of Simon.

In the car is uncle Raymond Abrahams and I (Morné) on the back seat, with Jeremy driving, and Uncle Brian doing navigation duties and sorting out the aircon controls etc…

I’m very excited! My 1st weekend away with an interesting bunch of men from St John’s Church Wynberg, and I haven’t had a weekend away in a very long time. AND! Maggie Skota will be seeing to it that we are fed with physical food while we focus on getting fed with the Spiritual Food and the Word of God.

The get together is hosted at two homes, not a camping site, and our posse is the 1st to arrive. Unpacking and sorting sleeping arrangements goes down without a fuss, and the four of us head down to the beach. The sea is calm and inviting. Jeremy and Uncle Brian accept the invitation, and soon the two of them are splishy-splashy in the ocean, enjoying the invigorating waters of the Simon’s Town ocean. Uncle Raymond and I just watched on, neither of us feeling the need to get wet. We headed back to our weekend home, which was lovely and quite adequate for our needs, and Jeremy taught me how to make cappuccino using a moka pot.

The other men arrived, and then accommodation was sorted out as to who was sleeping in which house. Two homes were booked for this Men’s Weekend, and as luck (or planning) would have it, they were close walking distance from each other, with a bit of a mean uphill on the last stretch to the “main” house.

Friday night dinner was courtesy of Fran’s, and fish and chips was served. Delicious food, and the restaurant staff looked after us in a friendly and professional manner. After dinner we gathered at the “main” house, enjoyed an intro to the weekend and went through the program and set out some general rules and guidelines.

A quick introductory round of the game Taboo followed, hosted by Carlo, and it took a few go’s to get into the rhythm, but we all soon caught on, and much fun and laughter followed.

Then it was off to dreamland. Uncle Royston and I slept in the lounge of the main house, and I am very happy to report, that he doesn’t snore. Or, I was just sleeping so deep that I didn’t hear him. Thank you uncle Royston! I did hear some other folk in the house take chainsaws and destroy some trees in imaginary forests while they were sleeping, but I didn’t investigate who was responsible for the noise, and I won’t testify in court as to who I think it was either. What happens in Vegas, I mean Simon’s Town, stays in Simon’s Town…

Saturday morning started with Devotion hosted by uncle Brian De Smidt in the “main” house, followed by an excellent Maggie prepared breakfast! Eggs, bacon, toast, tomato, coffee and tea etc… After our tummies got filled, we got filled with The Word. We started with praise and worship led by Michael Murphy and his guitar, and then we got into the 1st session, “Son, Hearing the Father’s Voice”. Jeremy Jobling did the presenting honors, and I personally learned a lot.

After a coffee break, session 2 was titled “Servant, Faithful In The Field”. 

On to lunch, Maggie prepared of course, and boy was it great! Maggie definitely knows that the way to man’s heart is through the stomach.

After lunch, we had free time. Some of us went to explore the mountains and the hiking trails, while the other not-so-adventurous amongst us went on the Boulders boardwalk to go look at the penguin chicks and just enjoy the fresh sea air. I was among this group. We saw some really cute penguin babies, and enjoyed the fellowship of each other’s company while discussing various topics. Some of the “old toppies” chose to have a nap, and the “mountain men” had a great time enjoying the view from the top, as the photographs they took testify to. There is a rumor that one of the “mountain men” had a bit of a fall, but as the saying goes, “What happens in Simon’s Town, stays in Simon’s Town”… That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Supper was enjoyed at around 18:30 Saturday evening, once again Maggie seeing to us hungry types being fed properly with delicious food, after which Jeremy presented session 3: “Disciple, Follow Me And Multiply”.

Taboo, the family game followed, and boy did we have fun and much laughter. I’m still not to sure which team won, but it doesn’t matter really, as we all had a great time and it looked like all involved were enjoying themselves.

Sleepy time followed, some more rainforest trees were cut down by the guys who use chainsaws instead of sleeping, and then it was evening and morning again the Sunday…

Uncle Arthur Van Aswegen hosted the Sunday morning devotional at the other house, and then we all trek'd back (up the steep hill) to the “main” house for a Maggie breakfast. Once again, great food, as always.

Session 4: “First Love – Revival Starts With You” followed breakfast. Whenever a person looks at the session topics presented on a weekend such as this, it can easily happen that we develop expectations of what to expect each topic to include. The Holy Spirit has His way with us, as we asked Him to do before the weekend officially started on Friday evening, and God came through. I’d like to think that all who attended got what they needed from each session, as the Holy Spirit ministered to our spirits.

Lunch followed after some time off, and once again, Maggie rose to the occasion. Then the sad part came, saying goodbye and then departing for home… The worst part of a great weekend in my opinion. I felt a sense of loneliness as we were leaving Simon’s Town, as if a piece of me was staying behind, crying out to me saying “Come back, don’t go!”.

I noticed that most of the men who attended the weekend started relaxing and opening up more after the Saturday afternoon free time. If I had my way, the Men’s Weekend would happen three or four times a year, because I saw friendships and camaraderie strengthen and deepen, I saw new relationships form and build, and I saw men becoming brothers.

Spending time in God’s presence, getting filled with God’s Word in an informal relaxed setting does wonders for the soul and the spirit. I took notice of how we all interacted with each other, the jokes and banter, the laughter and the caring and love that was growing between us all who were there.

On behalf of all who attended (and the wives who were glad to have a weekend to themselves for a bit), I would like to thank every person who made this Men’s Weekend possible, from the organizers, the planners, the facilitators and the preparers and providers. Also, a big thank you to the families who opened their houses to us. Praise and glory to God for bringing us together in the way that He did and for the work He is doing in us.

PS: When is the next Men’s Weekend?

From Trevor Rossouw:

This past weekend was the culmination of the much anticipated SJCW Men's weekend away. The Leadership of the Men's Ministry at SJCW felt strongly that a weekend away was long overdue, since the last one was held years back at Wortelgat campsite in 2010.

Thus a date was set, venue secured so too a top speaker was sorted plus a well known caterer to see to the needs of the men. Our venue was the beautiful picturesque Simon's Town.

The men who signed up were from across the Parish, though mostly SJCW. We secured "leave from our respective homes" with the blessing of our spouses.

Lifts and travel arrangements were sorted amongst the men. We were split into two groups between the two houses, which were within walking distance of eac other, the main house serving as 'The Conference Centre' and an eatery.The theme for the weekend was 'Sons of God, Fathers to many, Leading with Faith and Humility'

We were all stoked and excited for what God's Spirit was going to do over this weekend! Our first night on arrival after dropping off our belongings at the accommodation was to meet for a sit down meal at Fran's Restaurant at the Simon's Town waterfront. We were seated together around a long table, reminiscent of Jesus and the Disciples enjoying meal time together...we enjoyed delicious Fish and Chips, it was a wholesome soul connecting time, meeting and introducing new and old acquaintances. After returning from our meal, Carlo Milandri introduced us to an Ice Breaker game, a lovely game aptly named TABOO, the game of unspeakable woods...!

The programme for the weekend was thoughtful, practical and structured, definitely heartfelt and Holy Spirit inspired and led. It allowed for group and indvidual time, group activities, which were enjoyed by all.

The meals provided by our very own caterer Maggie,were 5 star treats! She really spoiled us with the most scrumptious meals and desserts... lt was so good there were no leftovers...! Likewise the various sessions presented by Jeremy were deep, practical, insightful, challenging, convicting and Holy Spirit inspired, yet gentle, nudging. With loving conviction undergirding it all with our Heavenly Father's Love for us....wooing us back, waiting for our response, kindling dying embers into flame again with His AGAPE Love for us his sons.

As one person commented we were totally 'FED-Up both from meals and the WORD...!'

Preceding the sessions was the worship and prayers, courtesy of Michael Murphy (St.Luke's) and Jeremy, who ushered in a gentle warm spirit through their music and songs chosen, giving back to God, our Heavenly Father worthy praise and adoration of who HE is and what He means to us His children, we the sons of the Most High God.

The Spirit of God permeated everything from our arrival to our leaving, in the quiet moments of enjoying the time alone, or together on walks, exploring nature, relaxing and taking in the wonderful creation and the beauty of nature around us.

As Jeremy taught and allowed for times of reflection and prayer, God's Spirit was moving and working in each man's heart (spirit and soul) - Restoring, Reassuring, Reviving, Renewing, Reminding, Refreshing, Re-Aligning, Re-Awakening, Resurrecting Dreams, Hope, Vision, Rebirthing in us something FRESH from HIS SPIRIT to ours.

...Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.... (Isaiah 43:6)

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Drawing us back to Himself, to The FATHER, reminding us who we are, sons of HIS. Belonging to a FAMILY. Born of His SPIRIT. Serving each other. Leading in that SERVANT Leadership. Becoming like Jesus Christ.

Beginning first in our Homes, then in our Work place, and then our church community.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

There is so much more that I sense God's Spirit has done, and is still doing, in each of our hearts from this weekend. Only time will show and we each have to pursue HIM to ask what it is HE desires from us and how can we fulfil His Call on our lives for this GENERATION.