a good day
PREFACE: If you could listen to Mumford and Sons-Timshel-while you read this, it would greatly enhance your reading pleasure...seriously.
Timshel<<click here to listen
We have been meeting with two guys in a place called Bhobhoyi for the past 7 weeks. We meet to read the Bible together and talk about how we can become more obedient to His word. One of the guys we meet with is kind of a church goer, kinda not. When we met him he was in a "trial period" with God. He had tried some of his cultural things, ancestor worship, animal sacrifice, etc... and wasn't seeing any thing positive happen in his life. So he tried God...he's trying God. The other guy is not a church goer at all. His family goes to the Zionist church, but he doesn't attend. He wasn't really against God, but not really for Him either...neutral sort of.
Watching them read the bible and hearing their responses-what their learning, what they are doing in response to what they are learning, has been one of the coolest things I've ever seen or done in my life. Derek and I don't teach or tell them our opinion, we leave that part up to God-we figure He can do a better job than either of us. I'm watching them learn what it means to love from the One that created it.
One of the questions we ask when we meet is "is their any needs of each others we can meet this week, and if not, is there a need or stress in our community we can meet?" Today they told Derek and I they had been visiting a boy and his family that used to meet with us. The boy is 16 years old and his mother is really sick. He isn't going to school because he moved to Bhobhoyi after the school year had begun. They asked us if we would visit the family with them. Of course.
We walked into a little one room flat. It had a bed squeezed in one corner, a wardrobe in the other and a little burner in the other. The boy is living their with his mother and two siblings. They must have a mattress they pull out at night and sleep on the floor. Another neighbor was their visiting as well. During our conversation the neighbor told us that the boy is going to have to get a job and provide for the family sense the mother can no longer work. She reminded him that he had the brains and the physical ability to work and care for his mother. The boy stood their and shook his head and my heart broke...he's 16! 16! He needs to be in school and playing soccer and laughing with his friends... But that's not his reality. His story is the story of so many 16 somethings here...I hate that. I hate it.
But the two guys we were there visiting with piped up. They just said "we're here to encourage you, we're here to say hello and to sit and talk with you and visit you. This isn't the last time we'll be here, we'll keep coming." The boy smiled and shook his head again.
It was one of those moments.
Where everything stops for just a second. It's so bad, but it's so good. These guys we meet with have nothing to give. They have no money, no answers, not even a prayer (not yet, not yet, we're still in Genesis)...but they were there. They are just two twenty somethings holding arms with a 16 year old kid going through a hard time, a really hard time.
Tonight I was doing the dishes and that song came on, Timshel by Mumford and Sons...and my eyes welled up with tears-
Cold is the water
It freezes your already cold mind
Already cold, cold mind
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand
And you are the mother
The mother of your baby child
The one to whom you gave life
And you have your choices
And these are what make man great
His ladder to the stars
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand
And I will tell the night
Whisper, "Lose your sight"
But I can't move the mountains for you
Today reminds me why I'm here...what could South Africa look like if a few more people would crack their bible and begin asking, what will I do about what I just read? Would they stand with their neighbors, with nothing to give but to remind them they aren't alone? We stand with you, for no gain of our own. What would the world look like...now I'm getting a little extreme and sappy, but really??
We show up every Thursday morning to read the bible with a couple of guys from Bhobhoyi and our only hope is that He does too.
2 things
The text from this post comes from an update I put on "The City" which we use at Shoal Creek. You can check out the post here.
Two things that I figured you all would be interested in!
1. Business Leaders Meeting:
We met on Friday night in Richard’s Bay (3 hours North of Margate) with a group of Business Leaders. This group came together around the idea that they would be creating funding necessary to move Church Planters around in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province. They will also be helping to mobilize leaders through training and coaching when necessary. One of the main things that they will be doing is helping to create ministry opportunity for Church Planter’s through HIV/AIDS training. Mercy Alliance has been able to offer project based funding alongside the TAN Foundation and local Business Leaders to get the Business Leader hub off the ground. As a SA team, we are looking at starting 5 total hubs of Business Leaders who have the same heart throughout the country. It was cool to see some local initiative to fund the work that is beginning to happen! They still have a bit to raise, but I don’t think it will be hard as there’s not much left to go for their start-up budget.
2. KZN Coalition:
On Saturday, we met with 20 representatives from different ministries throughout KwaZulu-Natal Province. It was a great time to hear some stories of what God is up to and where He is working. For us, it is great to see so many people getting on board and working to make this thing happen. It takes a lot of people to make a movement happen! We look forward to contributing to the coalition by helping in the way of Curricula Design and Mapping as we all work together to create disciples of Jesus in SA!
South Coast CPM
The text below is from a post that I put on "The City" through Shoal Creek. Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out on The City.
We’ve been given access through an organization called World Changers to do a follow up course alongside of their teachers. This means that we go with the teacher (who we’re mentoring in CPM) to find people of peace. This is a huge breakthrough as it gives us access to close to 1000 people who live in the South Coast region of South Africa.
World Changers targets the unemployed population in local rural/township areas. They give them a 4 week ‘Life Skills’ training to help them find work and change the way they see their current situation. They’ve had great success within the program, but are looking to plant the Gospel alongside what they currently do. If what we are doing on the South Coast turns out to be successful, we could see other parts of KwaZulu Natal Province affected by this type of POP finding/Gospel planting begin to happen.
Please pray for 2 potential POP in a rural area called Bhoboyi. They have started going through a discovery process and God has really opened up a lot for them through the scriptures. The other day one said, “Wow, Jesus will be with me until the end of the age? For me that means that I should start to realize that he is there all the time…not just when I’m down or think I need him most.”
I couldn’t have done it without you, but I also can’t do it with you
Things have been super busy here in South Africa. We've been moving around a little less...meaning a little less driving long distances, but more short distances. We've been building a strong relationship with a group of people in an area very close to us...only 15 minutes away! This has been a huge success for us and the relationship is proving to be one that we feel led to invest in very strongly. It is a group of younger people who are passionate about reaching their community, KwaNzimakwe.
Most of them have come together through a program led by the team there called 'Life Skills.' This is a program that targets the unemployed portion of urban/rural communities along the eastern coast of SA. It gives them more skills, helps them develop a vision, and uplifts the community that they live in through challenging the students to action. It has had amazing results in the Durban area and here along the South Coast where we live.
Along with that team, we've been opened up to relationship with approximately 1000 people who've been through Life Skills along the South Coast. This is a huge opportunity for us to begin looking for People of Peace! People who will open up the community to us and be an entrance for the Gospel to change the community. When I say this gives 'us' the opportunity, I'm referring to more than just Shea and I. We've been facilitating discovery for the KwaNzimakwe team to begin looking for People of Peace to start some Discovery Groups.
Last week we saw some of our very first generational growth when a group of leaders went out and led their own Discovery Groups! This is a huge win!
Yesterday when I was driving through town, I had a thought that I couldn't shake. I've been trying to come up with a 'mantra' for our time here being catalytic in movement of making disciples. I finally came up with it and I like it quite a bit!
When I leave SA, I want people to say to me, "I couldn't have done it without you, but I also can't do it with you." This sounds weird right?! Shea and I are here to EQUIP people with a process through facilitating discovery...a process that we believe has the potential to transform communities from the inside out, but we can't DO that process. This also eludes to the fact that they will continue to do it long after we're gone. That process looks different in every community all over the world where it is being done. The leaders in the communities that we work in have to own the process...and even more than that, it has to become more than a process, but needs to be a way of life! When this happens, they adjust it to their context and culture. We're not here to impose Western Culture or Western Christianity.
This group of people has been doing an amazing job and we couldn't be more happy about what God is doing! Please keep praying with us as we continue to go where He leads!
snow…really…this is South Africa
We have been preparing for this week for awhile now.
We would bring in some of the guys that we work with from the old Transkei region to mentor, coach, and train a bit to help facilitate further discovery of this thing called CPM.
Where we live, Margate, it has been raining nonstop for the past 2 days. It's kinda like the scene from Forrest Gump where it just keeps raining and raining.
"We had every kind of rain there is, we had sheets of rain, we had little bitty stingy rain, we had"...you get the picture. Last night we hear on the news that there is snow in the Eastern Cape...Okay, so I've heard of snow on the mountain tops and even some frost every once in awhile...but snow that is enough to shut down some of the major highways...that's crazy! I think this is one area where I could be of service. I could even open an access ministry on teaching people how to drive in the snow...one thing a good ole Missouri boy can do!
South Africa is kind of like that though...almost like a box of chocolates...you just never know what you're going to get!
defining people of peace
Headed to Durban today to meet with a team that longs to bring healing and transformation to South Africa through discipleship and excited about how we may be able to add strength to their efforts.
We are also meeting and speaking with a small church mostly made up of brand new Christians who are longing to carry His message into where they do life. We are really excited to have the opportunity to work alongside of them and invest into their lives.
Found such encouragement through Him and His word this morning...
"13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us." Acts 16:13-15
"30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household." Acts 16:30-34
Just a little reminder that He is at work in the hearts and lives of those around me. Trusting Him to lead us to these kind of people, these 'people of peace' people who are open to discovering who He is, and eager for their families and friends and neighbors to do the same.
Praying for existing teams and individuals we are working with...Mr. Vumile, Ms. Vava, Mr. Bongile, Mr. Derrick... that they would be provided opportunity for relationships like these...that families and entire villages and communities would be transformed from the inside out.
Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho off to Qumbu we go
Today we are driving through Transkei to Mr. Vumile's home town (or should I say Village) of Qumbu. He has invited us along with our friend & partner Raymond to come train his simple house church of about 15 people in CPM principals. We are so very excited to provide the support and tools for Mr. Vumile to lead his community in reaching those that are far from Christ within their village and to be the church body within their rural African community.
God has begun doing some exciting things within this area. We see a team of African leaders developing around Umthatha, all who have a passion for bringing their friends and neighbors into a life-transforming relationship with Him. It's beautiful-each of them have their own contribution to communities that also provide them access to other influencial leaders in these areas.
As we go this week we are praying:
-for clear communication and open receptive hearts and minds for the folks we are going to build relationship with and train
-we are thanking God for the team of African leaders He has begun constructing in the Eastern Cape and praying for their unity and relationships this week as they spend a bit of time together connecting with Him and finding ways of reaching their communities together
build deep to build wide
What a pointless structure...sure it's something to admire as a great work of art, but it's mostly useless. Scaffolding is meant to help build something-to leave something that is much sturdier and far more secure behind. The point isn't the scaffolding but the structure.
"The mission society is like scaffolding that is used to build a building, and the scaffolding is designed to be moved elsewhere eventually. As long as it is there, one cannot really see what the building looks like. Sadly, the kind of scaffolding that some mission societies erect and maintain is the kind that actually holds the building up. Removing it could jeopardize the structure!
Have you ever seen a building or bridge made with poured concrete? The builders put wooden or metal trusses under the bridge, and then pour concrete over the top to form the road over the bridge. Suppose for a moment that the engineers and the construction people built such a structure with concrete so weak that they couldn't take out the framework used to hold it up. That is sometimes why mission societies hold on the way they do, because the structure they built is tied to the mission. And if one were to "take down" the mission scaffolding, the fear is that the entire structure would collapse. It may take a heap of Christian grace to acknowledge when this is the case and to do something about it."
We had an incredible week with Mr. Derrick and his wonderful family. He has built beautiful 'buildings' all over eSikhaleni. But he's in the business for a little renovating. We have committed to working alongside him and each of his teams and church body to plant the gospel through eSikhaleni and Zululand. Mr. Derrick has this inspiring drive and passion to see the church BE the church within their communities. To reach those in his neighborhood, places of business and surrounding communities that are so far from living out of their relationship with their creator.
Each night we were there we joined him and the church he leads at their "Easter week tent revival". Each night Mr. Derrick shared a bit of his vision for what their community could look like if the gospel was at the heart of life in Esikhaleni. He motivated his church body to "be" the church in stead of "doing" church. He even gave a brief training for how they are going to get there.
Mr. Derrick has a dream of planting 35 million simple churches over the next 7 years throughout South Africa. You may be laughing, and you wouldn't be the first. Each time he shares his dream and vision the room erupts into laughter. But Mr. Derrick doesn't mind because he has a plan. This year he is heavily investing in 12 people. The next year he's going to help each of them invest in 12 people and the year after that he'll help those 12 invest in 12 more... Mr. Derrick understands the principals of multiplication and understands even more that he could never build a building big enough to hold, let alone attract 35 million people to himself--beautiful isn't it?
Scaffolding was made to support a structure so it could be moved to help build the next building. It was never meant to be the building. There is no way for it to function the way a building ought to. Plotting, planning and praying as we support Mr. Derrick and his enthusiastic endeavors to bring a bit of heaven to earth throughout South Africa.
This way to Zulu Land
We are spending this week in Zulu Land with new friend and partner Mr. Derrick-what a name, huh?
We met Derrick at a leadership conference earlier this month and his passion for his community is evident from the moment you meet him. He is easily excitable and has a beautiful grasp of vision mixed with hope for the area in which he lives. Mr. Derrick has started a handful of Discovery Groups in the last month and is eager to see more of his friends and neighbors begin the journey of discovering who God is...
We're headed about 3.5 hours north of us to see what he has going and offer to serve him and his team in any way we can.
Won't you spend a little time this week joining us in praying for Derrick and his team there, for his friends, neighbors and community....
This week we are praying for:
-eyes for specific needs within the community that may uplift the community and provide opportunity for relationship between Mr. Derrick and his team and other community leaders and/or people of influence that are open to discovering who God is
-our relationship with Mr. Derrick and his family and team, that we might have hearts that serve them in a way that sharpens, strengthens and adds value to their team
-as always, a community with a growing hunger and desire to know God...really know Him, in a way that changes the way people think and live
We are incredibly privileged to be here-to see, smell and taste what God is doing in the hearts and lives of the people here, thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement.
Update from Bukwini…& Shakira (these hips don’t lie)
We spent last week in Bukwini working alongside Mr. Vumile, a Farming God’s Way expert, and other community leaders. Oh, what a week it was! For the past few months Vumile and his lovely wife Patience have been traveling to Bukwini from their Transkei home in Qumbu in order to serve the families on the Bukwini Child Sponsorship List. Each of these families are caring for one or more orphaned children in this village. We are working toward each of them having a self sustaining garden in order to feed their families. Some of the people on the list have worked diligently in their gardens and have already produced a nice crop. One mama produced 20 liters of spinach alone! Others have put little to no effort into caring for their gardens which was such a disappointment to Vumile who has invested much time and hard work into making each garden a success. He isn’t giving up though. He has found two people who he has trained up in Farming God’s Way in the village and will be sending them back to walk alongside the families that are struggling.
We have a long standing relationship with community leader Mr. Njinjoni and his family who is playing an active role in the Child Sponsorship as well. Together Njinjoni and Vumile have worked to help others realize the importance of working together as a community. If I heard Vumile say it once, I heard it a thousand times, “One hour per day in your garden equals a lifetime of prosperity” and “You must work together, no one can do it alone.” If you spend five minutes with him you’ll quickly realize that he has a deep passion for farming and for people...with little patience for people who aren’t willing to do something for themselves. He will be going back to Bukwini for the next several months to work alongside the current leaders in the gardens of the village.
At the end of the month, we (Raymond, Shea, and I) will be going to Qumbu (Vumile’s home town) to train him in Church Planting principles. We all hope to see Farming God’s Way as an access tool into the community to plant Discovery Groups within Bukwini.
If you want to be a part of what is happening in Bukwini there is a trip scheduled to happen sometime in late-August 2011. You would get the opportunity to help plant gardens, work alongside Vumile, meet the people of Bukwini, and use a long drop for the very first time.
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