NELSPRUIT – Thousands of people attended Past André Myburgh’s memorial service at the Community Church yesterday – almost a week after he took his own life here.
It was a battle to find parking as the masses began to arrive long before 11:00 when the service was scheduled to start. Some of the people who attended were former members of the church who had left when Myburgh was accused of irregularities like nepotism and financial mismanagement at the beginning of the year.
Although an investigation by the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of South Africa would prove him innocent, the mounting pressure and resentment by church members, most likely became too much for him to bear.
The memorial service
The service was observed by Dr Isak Burger, president of the AFM of SA. “I cannot think of anything more painful or traumatic than this. I am standing here in great dependence of the Lord,” he began. “This is an extremely difficult gathering and words cannot begin to describe it.”
Myburgh’s death compared to a storm
Burger read out of Mark 4:35 – the story of Jesus and his disciples who were in a small boat at sea when a furious storm erupted. Jesus was asleep and his disciples woke him, asking: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and waves and it became calm. Burger explained that the Bible often added an emotional connotation to a storm. He said that a storm had been brought about in Myburgh’s family, the Communio Church and the broader community.
“The tragedy that took place on Friday, was a storm and there are many opinions and speculations after that day. There are even resentments towards God, and the question is being asked: ‘where were You?”
Burger tries to put a stop to the rumours
He requested everyone “with great love and responsibility” to think twice before they spoke. “What happened, is extremely complex. Everyone is wondering what the last straw was that broke the camel’s back. Be wary of you answer.”
He added that there were probably a lot of people resenting themselves. “Me too. Shouldn’t we have completed the investigation a week ago? However, the entire situation was so complex, chances were, that nothing anyone would have said or done could have prevented it.”
Spiritual leaders are not exempt from depression
Burger continued by saying that the Lord wanted to free us and wanted our lives to continue. “This tragic incident reminds me of the unbearable pressure that rests on those working for God.” He explained that, although he wasn’t saying that spiritual leaders were experiencing more pressures than those in other professions, that everyone (according to Ephesians 6:12) was not battling flesh and blood, but Satan.
He added that everyone thought that spiritual leaders might not suffer from depression. According to him, someone commits suicide every 40 seconds – totalling one million people per year. He tried to comfort churchgoers by saying, not even Myburgh’s tragic death was strong enough to pull him (or any believer) from the hand of God. “Nothing, not even death, can separate us from His love.”
Burger warns against suicide
He stressed that suicide was not justifiable, a solution, or right. He referred to Biblical figures David, Job and Eliah – who all battled depression. “You are at your most fragile when your will to die is stronger than your will to live. But our God is a merciful God. He understood Myburgh’s weaknesses.”
He also spoke to those who believed that Myburgh’s soul was lost because he had taken his own life: “You don’t go to heaven because you didn’t sin, you go to heaven because you chose the Lord and Jesus’ crucifixion.” It was met with applause and loud cheer from the churchgoers.
“Who knows what happened in those last moments between André and his Maker?” He concluded, “If your boat is on stormy waters, please don’t jump overboard. As long as Jesus is with you, you will make it. Satan may have won this round, but he hasn’t won the battle.”
A word from Communio Church’s management
Mr Cobus Rudolph said the board “believed 100 per cent in Myburgh’s innocence.” He added that the pastor’s method of preaching was something to get used to. “Even those who said ‘they wouldn’t tolerate being screamed at’, returned and became members of the church”. Rudolph said Myburgh wouldn’t be remembered by the way he had died, but by the way he had lived.
A tribute from his brother, Mr Hercules Myburgh
He remembered how Myburgh, after two years of studying law, quit to pursue ministry. He later noted, in tears, that Myburgh was the third brother he had had to bury. He said he and Myburgh had spoken a lot during these past few months and that he (André) said “it was the closest he had ever been to God”.
A tribute by his daughter, Past Leanie Erasmus
She came across a piece on her father’s iPad which she read in church. She didn’t know when he had written it, but it was titled “The ideal me”.
“I see myself as strong, calm, with a silent trust in the Lord. I don’t want to become anxious and want a clear relationship with God. I want to be like Jesus. He must direct my footsteps. His agenda is my goal.
“I want to accept myself and empower myself on every level. I want to be in touch with my feelings and live from my identity within Christ. I will continuously develop myself intellectually. I want to be fit and healthy. I see my body as a temple of God and want to care for it that way. I see myself in the gym – four to five times a week – not overweight.
“I see myself as someone dying with honour and dignity. My wife doesn’t have to do anything to deserve my love. I want to bring out the best in her on every level.
“I see myself as a great father and grandfather. An example to them on all levels. If I make a mistake, they must learn from the way I handle it.”
Erasmus said her father was just that. “The ideal me. The best husband and father. Even though you didn’t grow old, you did more than most people at 100.”
The service concluded with a song being played while Myburgh’s family and friends could pay their last respects by laying down red roses next to a framed photo of him in the front of the church. Burger will also observe the service on Sunday.
Read the editorial comment related to this here by our group editor, Irma Green, and news editor, Nicolene Smalman.
