This is Reality in S.A.
Posted on July 24, 2008
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What is ministering in South Africa like? One aspect is better than 50 yard line seats at the Georgia Dome to watch the Atlanta Falcons (that relates to my likes most likely not the rest of the 6+ billion people on earth). On the other side it is heartwrentching as you pass by the numerous tents EVERY Saturday where funeral services are being held. I am not talking just one tent but several every Saturday in just the small area that I work in. It is unbelievable!
Today, death struck our own church. A young girl, I believe 25yrs old, by the name Thunyiswa passed away. We are comforted by the fact that she did make a profession of faith and can only hope that it was a genuine call upon the Lord for salvation. I am not sure the cause as for some reason getting a clear diagnosis here seems a little hard to come by but there are several fatal diseases that are prevailing throughout the country.
Lubabalo just got out of the hospital on Tuesday and I thank you for your prayers as this could have very well been him I am writing about, nonetheless it is heartbreaking to see such a young girl pass in a suffering manner. Her brother is a faithful attender at our church and I believe God is going to do something great with his life. I ask you to pray for the other family members of this girl that they would come to know the real Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Over the next couple of days I will be asked to spend time in prayer with the family in just “another rented tent” so please pray that I would be able to turn the LIGHT on in this dark tent.
The Song that God Wrote
Posted on July 19, 2008
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Wow! When God writes a song the lyrics are literally alive. I am not a music lover but when I do sing I want the words I sing to make sense and really impact my heart and mind as I (attempt to) sing them to the Lord. Here is a lousy illustration but let’s see if I can ties some things together with it - All throughout movies filmmakers play specific songs at specific times to really emphasize the moment - many times the words of the songs actually talk about what is happening/ed in the movie. Now all you carnal movie watchers have your favorite scenes with the corresponding music/songs in your minds (e.g. Eye of the Tiger and Rocky).
Now let’s go back to some Bible - Duteronomy 31 - here we read about God giving Moses a song to teach the children of Israel. I am not exactly sure of the lyrics unless they sang the exact words that are in the scripture but I definately believe that the song was definately taken from what God told Moses in this chapter concerning the Jews. Just for an overview I believe the song would have included something like - “I blessed you and provided everything I promised I would and you (Israel) have forsaken me AGAIN and now you will experience my wrath, evil is going to invade your life. Why you say? So that you will WAKE UP!!! and return back to me and worship me in the way I hold as acceptable. By the way this song is going to keep playing in your head to remind you of why you are so miserable.(because you have been hearing it since you were a babe! It is stuck in your head!!!) You are going to be miserable in your sin!”
I realize my summary is a far cry from what the real song stated but I believe that the message is clear. Now, what does this tell us today as New Testament Christians. Well, first that our God is unbelievably faithful to us. You see as God was giving this song to Moses God told Moses that “even now,” (v.21) the imaginations of the Jews was not pleasing to God. This is an amazing thought you see because, God knows our hearts yet still continues to love us and work amongst us. Even though God knew what was already in their hearts He still kept His promise and gave them the promise land. Secondly this song is a constant reminder of the attitude of God toward sin - HE ABSOLUTELY HATES IT! It (the song) told the Jews that their sin and all sin for that matter comes with a price - a very expensive one, blood and death. It was also given so that once they did sin, the song would ring out in their hearts and minds about the way to get back to God.
The leaders of Israel were commanded to have the song taught to the people even while they were still children so that by the time they were old, this song was as much a part of their make-up as their own names were. Why? So they would fear the Lord and if they did sin they would be reminded of what God expected and how to get things right with Him again. Let us as Christians remember the Lords song!!!
Sunday Highlights
Posted on July 7, 2008
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On Friday the young men and I passed out approximately 1,300 flyers to recruit for Sunday School. These young guys did a great job and are constantly looking for ways to help.
Many thanks to everyone that prayed for the launch of our Sunday School at Madiba Bay. There were a few major quirks that need to be worked out but overall it went well. We had 28 kids including the small ones in the nursery. This is school holiday so next week when the kids are back in school I believe that our attendance couple possibly double.
We also want to thank Ross Pyle and his family for helping us get started. They have dedicated a few weeks or so for helping get off the ground. The impact they make shows on the kids faces.
Keep the following in your prayers - Lubabalo (still in the hospital with spinal t.b. meningitis), Nokuzola (another teacher that needs prayer), and Sipho that his work schedule would get permanently fixed where he would be able to commit to a Sunday School class.
Sunday Services Update
Posted on July 1, 2008
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Sunday morning went well. Our crowd was down a bit seeing that the kids have school holiday for two weeks. Unfortunately they think that means holiday from church also. Literally, we had just a handful of our normal group of children. God helped me as I spoke to the people out of James chapter one on living faith.
In the evening I continued through the book of Ruth and looked at how Naomi returned to Bethelehem after hearing that God was blessing his people and that the famine had ended. We love God and we are close by during the good times but many during trying times depart and go to where they think they will have it better, for Naomi and family it was Moab. Unfortunately they learned the hard way that no place is like home (near God). After husband and sons all died Naomi said I am going back and guess what God received her again and blessed her again. God is amazing in all His ways!!!
Sipho also preached a short message in the evening. He has really turned into a preaching machine. Honestly, I believe God has gifted him with the ability to preach. After the messages we baptized one young man named Lusizo.
I ask you to pray for Lubabalo Sitole. Most of you know him in name at least by now. He has been a tremendous help since the beginning of this church plant. He leads the singing for us, does translation work, and will soon be a Sunday school teacher. At the moment it looks like his T.B. spinal meningitis has come back. He is not doing well at the moment. The first time he battled it he spent several months in the hospital lying in bed. The doctors didn’t think he would make it. Now it seems to have returned. He was suppose to have check ups every six months which didn’t happen. Just pray that he would get the tests done that he needs and the appropriate treatment thereafter. It is very serious if it is in fact T.B. spinal meningitis again.
LOOOOOOOONG OVERDUE!
Posted on June 28, 2008
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Sunday the 6th of July we will be kicking off our Sunday School. It has been long time in the making and it is finally going to happen. Our teachers finished up decorating this past week and now they will finally put into practice what they have been learning the past couple of weeks.
Please pray for this day and for our continuation of the Sunday School. Pray especially for the teachers that they would do their best for Christ. We really need your prayers. Thank you.
Preach the Word!!!
Posted on June 24, 2008
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This is an excerpt from an article written by John Piper taken from his blog. www.desiringgod.org
A little encouragement to keep preaching God’s World.
Preaching Is Heralding and Exulting
He gathers a group of people and says, “Here ye, hear ye, be it known to you today that by royal order of his highness, the king, there will henceforth be granted to this town an imperial watch of one hundred soldiers to protect you from the rebel bands who plunder the king’s subjects.”
And a cheer goes up among the people. (Those are the amen’s of the congregation.)
And he continues, “Furthermore be it known to you that the cost for this protection shall be born not by taxation but by the beneficence of the king from his royal treasury!”
Again cheers! (Amen!)
“Moreover, the king would have you know that he loves you, his loyal subjects, and will use all his royal counsel and power to defend you and supply your wants.”
Again cheers. (Amen! Amen!)
“And lastly he sends through me his royal blessing. Blessed be the people whose trust is in the king!”
Cheers. (Amen!)
Preaching is more than teaching. It is, exultation in the Word. “Preach the Word,” means “exult in the Word.” That is, announce it and revel in it. Speak it as amazing news. Speak it from a heart that is moved by it.
Two Reasons Why This Kind of Speaking Is So Crucial
There are two reasons why this kind of speaking in the church is so crucial. One is that the subject matter is infinitely important. There is no other organization on earth that deals in matters of eternal life and eternal death—matters about God and his Son and his Spirit, matters about salvation and judgment, matters about the life that pleases God or displeases him. In other words, no other group of people, besides the church, gathers regularly to deal in such tremendously important realities. This means that there is a form of speech that is fitting as part of that gathering that fits the greatness of that truth—namely, preaching. So the first reason for preaching is that the nature of the truth calls for something more than mere explanation or discussion or conversation.
The other reason why preaching is so crucial is that our hearts yearn for the truth to come to us in ways that highlight the worth of the truth. In other words, not only does the magnificence of the truth call for a heartfelt heralding and passionate exultation, but our hearts call for this too. Our hearts will not be drawn out to worship if someone just dissects and analyzes the worth and glory of God but does not exult in it before us. Our hearts long for true preaching. Some of us don’t even know that is what we are missing. Like children who grew up in homes where mom and dad never exulted in anything. They never rejoiced or praised or verbally admired and treasured anything. They were always flat and unenthused (except when they got angry). You couldn’t tell if anything really moved them deeply and positively. So the kids grow up not knowing what they are missing. That is what many people in the church are like who have never tasted true preaching.
The Warmest Welcome!!!
Posted on June 17, 2008
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Wednesday night I got a great welcome from the church, people gave letters and I was met with smiling faces. It was good to be back.
On Sunday Night I preached and it was back to my ministry of humiliation. I thought things went alright considering I’m getting back into the swing of things. Today, the humiliation continues - after spending the whole day with a few men from the church one turns to me and tells me flat out “pastor you have got to do something about your xhosa or people are not going to keep coming back to the church” ouch!!! Yeah that was a big smack down on any confidence I had in the language, even though I already knew what he stated. I’ve still got a long ways to go!!!
Dakar, Senegal
Posted on June 11, 2008
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What a crazy trip but I am finally in S.A. again. On the way we stopped in Dakar, Senegal as usual to refuel only this time we stayed much longer due to a problem with the plane, a problem that existed long before we landed in Senegal. Anyways we weren’t going anywhere that day due to “the problem” (which I am still unsure about). Delta had us transported to a local (2 hrs away) hotel only to return again at 1 am the next morning!
Everyone has there own wretched travel problems so I’ll stop bleeding your ears with mine. Otherwise, I saw unbelievable needs as we passed through city/village after city/village in Senegal and saw only Mosques. The country has beautiful scenary in it’s coastlines, and rolling planes but the spiritual state of it’s people is sickening. 94% of the nearly 13 million Senegalese people living there are Muslim. It is just another land filled with darkness. Is there a shortage of LIGHT in the world? - No - it is still the LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Have LIGHT prices gone up? No - It is still freely given by grace through faith. Since there is plenty of it and it is free we are only short one thing before Senegal begins to receive the LIGHT - somebody willing to deny themselves in this vapor of a life by spending their life in a Muslim country preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ - living as if there really is an eternity to be spent with the one who died for all.
ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY!!!
Posted on May 18, 2008
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They say if you score a touchdown try not to to over celebrate, act like you’ve been there before. Well that’s football and I am talking about world missions, church planting, and individual lives being transformed and I am not sure if it’s even possible to over celebrate when God works in your life. We just want to give you a quick summation of what happened today at Madiba Bay during our anniversary meeting. God is amazing!!!
We went expecting, after working and praying and God did a awesome job in every facet of the service. He helped me preach on the parable of the marriage of the King’s son in Matthew 22 (I give extra praise for this because the language is a continual battle). I am not sure how many professions of faith we had at this point but there were several that came forward. I will try to update later on actual professions of faith. We baptized three teenage young men!!! We also had our largest crowd thus far with 126 in attendance. It was a packed house to say the least. All to God’s glory! I am not a great missionary, not even a good one, I am just a servant of the Great God of Heaven doing my reasonable service.
I want to say special thanks to Lubabalo, Nokuzola, Lubabalo, Melumzi, Sivuyile, Ziyanda, Zanele, and Asanda for working so hard and helping prepare for such a wonderful day. Thank you!!!
Also a great big thanks to my wonderful, beautful wife for all of her hard work!!!
I uploaded a video of our song service you can view by clicking on the following link.
Phambili, Njani, Emveni Koko (Means Before, How, and After)
Posted on May 10, 2008
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Yesterday we started our young men meetings at the church. We met from 3:30 until 5:30 discussing how to give a testimony. We talked about those three words above - before, how, and after. What was life like before Christ, how did He come into my life, and how did He change my life after I received Him. We went over some great material I got off of navpress.com on how to give a testimony. We had a great time as everyone gave their testimony of salvation to someone else. Next week we will step it up a notch as we all stand in front and give our testimonies publicly.
We also had a time of fun and games as the Kaiser Chiefs and the Sundowns (Names of South African soccer teams) went at it in a Bible Trivia bash. The Kaiser Chiefs are up 17-12 (soccer would be much better if that did actually score this much) and we will continue the second half next week. Everything we do involves the Bible - whether we play or just converse we are doing it around the Bible. Psalms 33:9 says - “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” This same powerful Word is what is going to revolutionize the lives of these young men. We had 15 young men in attendance ranging from 13 -29 years of age.
They are not only giving their testimony next week but also have the opportunity to earn a Bible by memorizing the entire 15th Psalm, (5 verses). It is a great Psalm on character and that is what we desperately want in the lives of these young men. Our churches future lies in these meetings. We ask you to pray for all of these young men. Overall I couldn’t have dreamed it coming together any better. There was an enormous amount of potential in that room and the attention, and participation was excellent. I look forward to what lies ahead.
I just want to say thanks to Lubabalo, and Mzikayise for helping lead the meeting along with Melumzi and Sivuyile for helping setup.
Also and above all thanks be to God for giving us these men to work with.
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