Please pray for Prof Steve de Gruchy and his family

Further to the original post below I received this message from Dr Ross Olivier in Pietermaritzburg:

Dear All

I have just been informed that Steve's body was found this morning. A memorial service will be held in the Anglican Cathedral in Pietermaritzburg at 15h00 on Saturday.

Please continue to pray. Grace, Ross

This morning the following very disturbing news arrived in my inbox.

Please could I ask you to pray for Steve and his family?

Steve is one of South Africa's most prominent theologians - many of us know Steve (and his dad John de Gruchy) well. I have spent a lot of time with him at the Theological Society of Southern Africa meetings over the last decade or so. He has helped many younger theologians, myself included, along the way. This is truly sad! You can read the IOL news story here.

Here's Jenny's email.

On Sunday morning Steve and his son were going down the Mooi River on tubes, at a section on the Balcombs' place where the river was flowing strongly after the abundant rains, which have fallen in the area. Just before some rapids Steve came off his tube - his son looked back and Steve waved him on indicating that he was okay. Steve's son cleared the rapids fine, retrieved his Dad's tube and then waited for his Dad at the bottom but Steve never arrived. Him and his Mom spent about 6 hours looking for Steve and then hiked back through very difficult terrain. There was no cell reception in the gorge. Others then joined the search but couldn't find Steve. There have been search parties all of yesterday, and today police helicopters were scanning the area and police divers were going to start searching in the turbulent waters.

Please pray for this family - especially for Marion, Steve's wife and their children, and also for John and Isabel de Gruchy - Steve's parents.

The Natal Witness reported on this tragedy this morning.

This is an incredible blow for the School of Religion and Theology at UKZN - Steve is Head of School at the moment.

We are in a state of shock.

Blessings,

Jenny Sprong