'It puts crime in perspective'
2006-09-21 09:20
Pretoria - Stefan Louw was "a different kind of minister" with a simple approach to
life.
Louw, 34, who was murdered in his house in Westdene, Johannesburg, at the
weekend, was buried on Wednesday. The song Grace by Irish rock group U2 was
played at the start of his memorial service, and he was buried in a simple
wooden coffin with rope handles.
Louw, who was described by colleagues as "God's witty prophet", died on Friday
evening after being shot in an attempted robbery.
He was buried at the packed Melville Kruis-congregation where he had been a minister for the past two years. He was then buried in the West Park cemetery.
During the eulogy, Dr Nelis Niemandt, moderator of the Highveld Synod, called
on South Africans to take part in a public "prophetic protest" against
crime.
"Things cannot go on like this. Stefan's death has placed all the crime in
perspective," he said.
Johan Louw, Louw's brother, also criticised "a country where one dares not
open the back door to let your dog out".
Louw's killers apparently gained entrance to the house when he wanted to let
his dog out.
"He tried to tell people to make peace with their own mortality," said Ds Andre Agenbag, who led the service.
"Stefan's own pilgrimage (which was how Louw had referred to it in an
earlier sermon) has stopped with God," said Agenbag.
Professor Zak Nel said on behalf of the congregation that Louw had managed
to bring people, who might not have done so otherwise, back to the church
with his "alternative Christianity".
The service was also attended by suspended minister and good friend of Louw,
Ds Laurie Gaum, Ds Johann Symington, director of communications of the NG
Kerk, and Afrikaans singer Jannie du Toit.