The man affectionately known as the father of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) was honoured with a memorial lecture on Sunday as well as the launch of the Sam Arends bursary fund to ensure his legacy of community upliftment continues.
The lecture was held at the Bethesda Congregational Church in Schauderville.
The late Samuel Arends, who died at 90 in 2020, spent the majority of his life spreading the message of love through Christianity across the northern areas.
He was ordained as a minister at the age of 24 on March 25 1955, while continuing his job as a teacher for about six years.
The Rev Heidi Petersen, chairperson-elect of UCCSA, said the lecture was to honour the work of Arends.
“We honoured his legacy and the allround impact he had on the church and the community.
“We also established and launched the Sam Arends bursary fund.”
Petersen said Arends was someone who developed preachers.
“He was a gentle but firm teacher who never raised his voice. We were privileged to have him.”
Uncle Sam, as he was also called, was the minister of the Bethesda congregation in Schauderville from 1964 to 1987.
In 1988, he became the second general secretary of UCCSA and served in that role until 1997.
He also represented UCCSA at the South African Council of Churches, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Council For World Mission, World Commission of Reformed Churches and Church Unity Commission.
He was an ordained minister of UCCSA for 65 years.
“Under his ministry, 16 ministers were ordained, of which five were women.
“He was impactful and very good in delegating and entrusting others,” Petersen said.
Arends’ son, Alistair, was also ordained as a minister under his leadership before Alistair died in 2017.
Soon after that Arends’ younger son, Gareth, also died.
UCCSA president Coenraad Williams described Arends as a loyal colleague who was also a friend, father, husband and grandfather among the community and congregation.
UCCSA synodical secretary the Rev Bertram Swartz said the memorial lecture was delivered in the form of a service.
“We celebrated his life and ministry. His wife, Daphne, is doing very good. She supported him very well through the years and kept his arms afloat.
“The Lord is keeping her in good health and we are grateful for that.”
Former UCCSA president the Rev Julius Coltman said he was privileged to be associated with Arends.
“We worked closely together and he was an outstanding man of God.”
The Herald
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