pick her up from her house (6:30am) and we go to the beach or the
mountains to sit and pray and read our Bibles. This time has been so
fruitful. Recently I've felt so hopeless in ministry and like I'm
getting no where with the Capricorn teens. I committed each and every
concern and heartache to the Lord this week, and He showed up!
On Monday, Shagmie and I did Teens Club together. We didn't really
have much planned, I was frustrated that we didn't have a plan and
expected it to be a flop. This was the week coming off of Holiday
Club- we were all tired, had been with the same kids, doing what felt
like the same things, and we needed a break. But, the show must go on
and the Lord placed us in Capricorn for a reason, so we pushed on.
Shagmie took over the group of 10 teens talked to the them about The
Great Commission and their responsibility to be disciples and make
disciples. He had it under control, I was anxious to do some
intentional ministry, so I left the Living Hope building and went to
the house of a teen that I knew was sick. She came to church with a
swollen gum, had been fighting the pain for about a week previously,
and it was just getting worse. She'd been to the doctor/dentist,
gotten 3 prescriptions, but her mom either didn't have time to fill
them or no money to do so. This 11th grade girl was in so much pain on
Sunday, I knew she'd miss school. I ran into her mom on the street as
I was headed her direction. The mom was so glad to see me and quickly
ushered me into their home where her daughter was lying on the couch
cringing in pain. I sat with her daughter and loved on her for awhile,
told her I'd pray for her and would check on her later in the week. As
I went back to Club, Shagmie was still speaking to the teens and then
gave the floor over to me. I challenged the teens to use Club time as
a place to bring a friend that they know needs Jesus. I told them that
Club time in the afternoons needed to grow and reach the community. I
asked them all to bring a friend the next time we meet (Wed).
Wednesday rolls around and for some reason, I'm the only one available
to do Teens Club in Capricorn (there are normally 3 of us). I was
anxious, nervous and didn't really have a plan for the day because I
didn't know I'd be leading- but all those anxious thoughts were paired
with the reality that we'd been averaging 8 teens per day, so I felt
adequate to lead that small group. As time came to begin clubs, I saw
so many new faces walk through the door. We began playing games and
hanging out and got to know the new teens. Much to my surprise, I had
22 teens sitting around me ready to participate in Club! I felt so
strongly that I needed to share the Gospel, so I began asking the
group who God was to them. I got all sorts of typical answers: our
Savior, Father, Friend. I then clearly explained that God sent Jesus
as a perfect, sinless child. Jesus grew up, ministered to his
community and lived a life of ministry. When God knew that his people
were a sinful breed and needed to be punished, he asked Jesus to
become that punishment and that sacrifice for everyone who has done
wrong. Jesus went to the cross, died the most gruesome death and was
buried. The eternal power of God raised Him from the tomb 3 days
later- showing us all His power and His plan to raise us all one day
with Him.
I asked the teens if they knew that story and if they believed it. All
said yes. So I talked about the power that raised Jesus lives inside
of all who have accepted and believe in Christ. I asked them if they
actively use that power in their lives- if they speak about Jesus and
what He's done for them. Almost all said 'no, we don't.'
One of the new guys said, "I see all of you daily. I see you come to
Living Hope, sit under Godly teaching and then go out into the streets
and live like you don't know God." He continued to rebuke the group,
being SO honest about the hypocrisy that lives in us and challenged
our 'regular club attendees' to quit living in disregard of God's
power in them. I agreed with everything this guy was saying. I pulled
him aside afterward, asked him if he was a Christian- he told me NO.
He wasn't ready to follow Christ. I told him I wanted him to come back
and be with us at Club. He actually showed up for Friday Youth at the
Capricorn Church! I'm constantly aware of his perception of our youth
and I'm trying to minister to him the best I can- knowing his
bitterness and reluctance to follow Christ.
Thursday was another great day: The organization SAMARITAN'S FEET
asked Living Hope if we knew of a community that needed shoes. Avril
jumped at the opportunity for Living Hope to hand out new shoes to our
children and let them hear the Gospel. She chose the Overcome
community (right next to Capricorn) for the Samaritan's Feet ministry.
The Capricorn/Overcome team met up with the Samaritan's Feet guys,
also had the help of some YWAM guys, got trained on how the
distribution worked, and then went to Overcome to set up and begin the
madness. There were stations: registration, feet sizing, story/Gospel
presentation, foot washing, and shoe distribution.
I was nominated to be leader of the 'story time.' I was pumped about
this because my heart has been for the community to hear the Gospel
and plant seeds of Jesus in the children and teens. We handed out 140
pairs of shoes and shared the story of Jesus washing His disciples'
feet and the Gospel with each child! I told them that every time they
look at their new pair of shoes, they must remember that Jesus loves
them and that He wants to have a relationship with them. It was such a
great day!
That same day, I went to the Mountain View Outreach (another community
Living Hope works in). A team from Faith Promise (in America) was here
this week ministering to Mountain View. They let the kids/teens put on
a program for their parents and heard testimonies and a message from a
local pastor. I got to hangout with a bunch of kids that I got to know
at the Bush Camp and see the community come together to praise Jesus
and hear the Message of Hope! God is moving!
I'm seeing the fruit and blessing of committing my early morning to
God. I'm seeing that He honors that small sacrifice. I'm anxious to
see how He continues to show up and answer the prayers of His people!
Pray with me – South Africa needs Jesus!
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