4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Just hours before the President of South Africa came on to television and announced that we would no longer be able to meet in large groups (and would one week later be forced to lock ourselves in our homes), God had continued to write an amazing testimony of His hand at work in my life.
Four years ago when I was just visiting South Africa, I was invited to preach in a church for the first time in my life. I only found out days before preaching that it was in Nyanga – an area known as the “murder capital of South Africa” – in the 15th most violent city in the world.
Four years later, we now we live and minister in South Africa – and the Lord has opened up so many opportunities to declare the gospel here and to make disciples focused on following the Lord and doing the same.
Imagine my surprise and delight when I found out last month that this same church in Nyanga that I preached at 4 years ago was one of 18 churches from the Cape Flats region – a notorious region in South Africa that continues to remain poverty stricken with disturbing levels of gang activity – coming together for a 3 day equipping time that we were helping to lead with our partner church here.
First, we joined church leaders from across all of Cape Town along with these 18 Cape Flats churches for two days to worship the Lord together and to examine the Scriptures to discuss God’s heart and blueprint for a healthy church. Sadly, many churches have distorted the gospel and led the people astray from God’s truth, especially in the Cape Flats region.
Next, we had leaders and teams minister to each of these 18 churches that Sunday. I was asked to return to the church in Nyanga and preach there once again. It was incredible to see Him bring this connection and relationship back into my life. This time I was accompanied by my wife as well as a team of 12 others leaders that we partner with.
It was so special to preach to this congregation again and to see God continue to do a beautiful work in the hearts and minds of the congregation – even as this church sits right in the center of one of the darkest areas in the world. Many people responded to the preach seeking more of Him through repentance and prayer, including a number of the teenagers which was amazing. We saw God move in power and bring both physical and emotional healing during this time as well.
I also got to see and catch up with MT, one of the former gangsters I met at Drakenstein prison 4 years ago who is now faithfully serving the Lord and proclaiming the gospel back in the same neighborhoods where he used to be caught up in the gang lifestyle.
As we now endure a lockdown here in South Africa and are making many adjustments to the way we minister for the next few weeks, I’m so grateful that God allowed us to be part of His beautiful work in the Cape Flats just before the lockdown happened.
Thank you all for your prayers and continued support of what God is doing here in South Africa through our ministry. Your partnership is truly special and treasured.