Port Elizabeth Express: Wednesday, 28 November 2007

Herewith an article published in the Port Elizabeth Express.

Central New York Church of Chirst-Blog Archive-Remembering Our Dear Brother Rod Fick

Herewith a link from the Central New York Church of Christ remembering Rod Fick.

Rod's memorial services arrangements, encouragement for family and donations

To all.

Herewith a link to an article entitled, "In memory of Rod Fick...funeral arrangements...donations to the family."

Note of encouragement
Readers may write a note of encouragement to Linda Fick and family. An email link is provided in the article.

Donation
Local and international banking details are inserted within this article for those who would like to "donate towards the outstanding medical bills."

Memorial services
"Two memorial services will be held." One in Johannesburg on Sunday 25th November and as well as in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday the 28th of November 2007.

Contact the PE Church direct

To all.

Herewith PE Church contact details of three people who are Rod’s friends. They are married. They are members of the Port Elizabeth Church of Christ.

icoccommentary was asked to provide the following email addresses in order for any one to ask them any questions related to Rod's death. They will try their best to respond to your emails as soon as they can.

1) Email Alex Croote

2) Email Niel Trollip

3) Email Steyn van Wyk

Feel free to do so.

Sarel de Wet

Disciples Today Link

Disciples Today have updated the link from the Cape Town Church of Christ article, entitled, "In Memory of Rod Fick" published on November 19th 2007. Initially it announced "Rod Fick passed away early Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa."

The new article entitled, "In memory of Rod Fick...funeral arrangements...donations to the family" disclose more details.

The PE Church response letter

An email comprised by the evangelists of Southern Africa is currently circulating regarding the tragic death of Rod. icoccommentary obtained permission to publish it in its full entity.

Start

2CO 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

It is with great sadness of heart that on Monday the 19th of November our brother and dear friend Rod Fick, took his own life.

Rod has served as the evangelist of the Port Elizabeth Church for the last 7 years and was known and loved by many disciples throughout Africa & the United States. He will always be remembered as an exceptional and faithful servant to God and his people.

His life was filled with adventure, from his days as a Peace Corp volunteer in the Central African Republic, to his time as a professional tri-athlete and ultra-marathon runner, and the years that he has served in the ministry in PE, Cape Town and Gauteng.

During this year Rod experienced a great amount personal and leadership pressure. To lighten his load and help him recover the PE leadership team offered him a 3 months sabbatical.

Shortly after taking the sabbatical Rod’s condition rapidly deteriorated and he admitted himself to hospital where he was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. After being in hospital for 2 weeks he got a weekend pass to attend a family function in Pretoria.

Tragically on Monday morning, before returning to PE, Rod took a gun from a relative’s safe, and in this altered state of mind took his own life.

Many people from around the world knew and loved him deeply. He will be very sorely missed. Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to Linda, Mika, Jordan, their families and the PE church.

Please keep them in your prayers during this time of grief.

If you would like to write a note of encouragement to Linda and the family please hand it to your church leader tonight or on Sunday. You may also donate towards the outstanding medical bills this coming Sunday.

A private cremation will be held during the week. A time to fellowship to encourage the family will be held on Thursday from 7-8pm in the gardens of the Bird and Animal hospital at 494 Atterbury Rd, In Pretoria East. Please bring a candle and flower and a chair to sit on.

Two memorial services will be held. One in Johannesburg on Sunday 25th of November at 2pm at the Johannesburg Church building as well as in PE on Wednesday the 28th of November.

Much love

The evangelists of Southern Africa.

Stop

The Herald Newspaper, Wednesday November 21, 2007

Herewith a report, entitled "Port Elizabeth's 'Ironman pastor' Rod Fick falls ill, commits suicide" published in The Herald newspaper on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 on page 4.

Herewith the link related to The Herald's coverage on Rod's death.

First and Foremost, Sarel de Wet is not responsible for being the source to The Herald. The news story in The Herald is copied from icoccommentary. How I don't know. A shoddy job. Cheap. And without professionalism. This matter I will take up with this paper's editor of news. The purpose for posting this newsclip is to provide clarity on the matter. Some "information" concerning Rod's death published in The Herald newspaper this morning need to be clarrified.

Firstly, the "information" published in The Herald's article is base on the "facts" derived from icoccommentary's article.

Secondly, in order to avoid any form of confusion. Rod Fick acted as an evangelist for the Port Elizabeth Church of Christ (ICOC South Africa) not to be confused with the mainstream church of Christ' branch also named Port Elizabeth (North) church of Christ.

Thirdly, the Herald Reporter's information regarding the "leaders of the PE Church of Christ" in paragraph 5 need to be corrected. The blog icoccommentary made a comment in paragraph 3 stating: "In the last year..." referring to the year 2007 and not 2006 as reported in The Herald's relevant story: "Last year...".

Finally, the controversial issue and fact concerning "different views on how the church should move forward" is inside news obtained from members of the P.E. congregation by icoccommentary. The Herald Reporter did not consult any one regarding this matter.

Background information and adjustments concerning the P.E. Church
The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) has broken up or decentralised since December 2002. What remain of the ICOC is two main groups namely the Portland 'discipling' Movement associated with the ICOC founder Kip McKean and a unity of 70% of ICOC congregations known as ICOC Co-opperation Churches.

It was earlier reported by icoccommentary" It is not certain if the Port Elizabeth Church of Christ (ICOC South Africa) have signed up to the Unity Proposal of the ICOC Co-operation Churches." They have not signed up. Also, it was earlier reported by icoccommentary" However, the P.E. church are part of the "ICOC churches" in South Africa." The P.E. Church is a church in transit. The Cape Town Church of Christ (ICOC South Africa) and Johannesburg (Joburg) Church of Christ (ICOC South Africa) have officially signed up with the Unity Proposal group, better known as the ICOC Co-operation Churches.

Mike Taliaferro have submitted on Monday, 19th November 2007 an article, entitled, "In Memory of Rod Fick" on the Cape Town Church of Christ webpage. It has been replaced with a new article, only submitted by Justin Renton (not the author), entitled, "In memory of Rod Fick...funeral arrangements...donations to the family" on Thursday 22nd November 2007.

The P.E. Church have released this statement submitted by Renton. Before that, the P.E. Church held a meeting on Monday evening, November 19, 2007, which was attended by icoccommentary. The P.E. Church does not have a website.

In memoriam from the Cape Town Church of Christ

The Cape Town Church of Christ

(Page not found)

ICOC evangelist dies tragically

Rod Fick, lead evangelist of the Port Elizabeth Church of Christ (ICOC South Africa) died tragically this morning, Monday, 19th November 2007. He had been suffering from severe depression and had been undergoing treatment for this condition. His doctors were satisfied with his progress and he was released from hospital last Thursday. He accompanied his wife and children to a family function in Johannesburg, which was held over the weekend. Unfortunately while he was there, he had a relapse and committed suicide early this morning by shooting himself.

The Port Elizabeth Church of Christ congregation is devastated by his tragic death. Members of the congregation gathered together this Monday evening, where they were officially informed of the details of Rod's death as well as the funeral arrangements. It will be held in Johannesburg this weekend. A second service will be held in Port Elizabeth in two week's time. A Christian psycologist was present at the meeting and he encouraged members to express their feelings. Several members shared their feelings of guilt, sadness, anger and shock while others shared their gratitude and love for him.

In the last year the leaders of the Port Elizabeth Church of Christ have had different views on how the church should move forward. Rod was asked to go on a sabbatical. The resulting conflict no doubt added pressure.

Rod is survived by his wife and two children.

BREAKING NEWS

One of the prolific leaders in the Port Elizabeth Church of Christ has committed suicide. Details sketchy. Will post update as soon as possible.