Capricorn Church Leadership Meeting

Success!

The meeting of potential 2012 leaders and volunteers in January was a success! Severo and Meagan led a time of worship, I led a session on Discipleship – the why and how of how Jesus modeled ministry while He was on earth. Then there was lots of time of fellowship and Severo cast his vision for 2012 – that being a Discipleship focus and one where the congregation is serving one another not sitting and being served. It was brilliant!

I’m praising the Lord for His model of multiplication-ministry and responsibility, which is shared by all. Thank you for praying and understanding that this is hard, slow, baby-step ministry.

Fruit Salad Congregation

(photo from: http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Desserts/Very-Vanilla-Fruit-Salad.aspx)

On Sunday at our little church-plant, our guest preacher (a missionary from the UK that is a member of our church) likened our church to Fruit Salad. The melting pot of nations that our church has become is beautiful, but we're starting to see how difficult it is to merge culture, traditions, religious views and leadership styles. As I've said before, our church is made up of people from The Congo, Malawi, UK, USA, Zimbabwe, multiple South African cultures and languages... and more.

This Saturday - our church is having our annual Leadership Meeting. Ministries haven't officially begun yet. Cell Groups, Youth Fridays, Ladies Ministry, etc - all wait until this Leadership Meeting before starting a new year. Pastor Severo will cast his vision for the year and he's asked me to lead a session on Discipleship. We've invited around 30 people to this meeting. Last year we had about 4 people faithfully serving on leadership. This year, we're hoping to have trustworthy people alongside us to carry the weight of this enormous task. It's not like we haven't tried to build leaders and delegate in the past - we've never had faithful, follow-through people beside us. Trying to strip poverty-mentality and poverty-spirituality is difficult!

So, I'm asking you to commit this meeting to prayer and pray continually for the leadership of our church-plant. I'll keep you posted!

wanna follow?

So many of you have been commenting on the blog lately ... THANK YOU for following what's going on here. More importantly, thank you for your prayers and interest in ministry on the front-lines here in South Africa.

To accommodate a new interest in updates and to help me get connected with you guys more, I've made the big jump ... Twitter. I know, you never thought the day would come. Facebook is still OUT for me. Twitter will help me give you guys more updated reports day-to-day. So, join me. Pray with me.

Follow @trulymeldill

powerful girl resources

I'm always on the look-out for Teen Ministry Articles and Resources. Found these. Thought you'd like to know what's going on in the world of girls ... some interesting stuff!

Speaking Pink

www.speakingpink.com

Girl Effect

http://www.girleffect.org/learn/more-resources

1000 gifts - living thanksgiving

Just finished reading 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

(http://onethousandgifts.com/)

What a challenge to live in thanksgiving and joy constantly.

Here's a challenge I'm going to try to live up to!

One the 1000 Gifts - A Holy Experience Blog, I found this beautiful 2012 mission:

Capture God's gifts either in journal or by photograph: The Joy Dare. Here's January's suggestions: A Holy Experience - Jan 2012

Join me in a year of thanksgiving.

DEC 2011 South Africa Update:

Dear Prayer Partners, 

This month has been exactly what I've needed. Living Hope ended work mid-December and the church closed 'regular' ministry as well. I've rested and read and recouped for 2 full weeks. I'm back at work now, but with a new perspective and much needed reflection. 

Here are some highlights from December:

. Finished a week of Holiday Club with the children and teens of Capricorn - the equivalent to VBS in difficult conditions. 

. Got to spend time with some children of Capricorn Community Church as I took them shopping for gifts for their parents. 

. Christmas: in the heat of summer, very un-commercialized Christmas season, Church on Christmas morning - Meagan preached! Enjoyed meals with a few South African families who invited me over. 

. REST! Days where I didn't set an alarm clock or have an agenda. Lots of time at the beach... and yes, I'm a little pink even with multiple applications of sun-screen.

. Time to pray and reflect and commit 2012 to the Lord! This year is going to continue with challenges and things to overcome, but we have a God who has already overcome!

To see pictures and more details, scroll the blog ...

As I sought the Lord and dug into His Word over the break, I realized that I want to model Christ even more this year. This means getting my will and my mind in line with how Jesus modeled. Jesus' life was described in Luke 2:52 as this:"Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." I want to do likewise. This verse is my mantra this year!

1. I want God's wisdom. I don't know how to live here without Him. 

2. I'm continuing my goal in stature - to run (not walk) a 5K this year (I got side-tracked by health issues last year). I want to grow in health!

3. And I need the favor of God and man here in South Africa! 

So pray with me as I ask for wisdom, health and favor. Thank you for your support and for keeping up with this journey. I really do feel and see answers to your prayers! 

honesty isn't embarrassing if used appropriately

After writing an honest email to a friend, I got a response from her that reminded me that living life as an 'open book' can encourage much more than the possibility of personal embarrassment. Often we put our 'masks' on and hide our real inner-struggles and feelings of faith-failure because as Christians, we're supposed to be positive and following Christ - the one who never disappoints. Yet, when we're in trial and disappointment and true inner-struggle, we don't share and allow others to see what a deep, honest relationship with Christ looks like. Christians are not perfect. We're not even close to it. If you're really trying to follow Christ, you're actually more aware of how messed-up you are than those who are living apart from Christ. The humility that comes from really knowing who you are under the Grace of Christ brings light to why we really need Him.

So, in light of my honesty being encouraging to one, I decided I'd let you all in on what the last few weeks have taught me. I'm coming out of the pit and beginning to get some perspective ... but for those that are where I was, take courage! The only way God will get glory from your story is if you share it. Here are bits of the email and scripture I shared:

..................

Manna.

Oh that funny, confusing provision from the Lord.

Exodus 16.

I'm learning that the people called it, 'What is this?' Each day I'm saying to God, "What is this? Is this your will? Is this really your provision? Is this your idea of good?"

The people could only gather enough for a day.

God wants me to gather only enough strength for the day. He wants me to wake up each day and see what He's provided - NOT TRYING TO GATHER MORE THAN I NEED. Our personal provisions and ideas of what we need are not His. When we try to do it on our own, worms and disaster and nastiness comes. Our sin and selfishness are revealed.

6 weeks ago as I was deep in a pit, I was reminded that I have to want to be healed and have to want my sight restored.

Mark 10:46 and following ....

The man didn't have sight.

I've lost my Jesus-vision.

The man heard Jesus.

I'm hearing him but I can't see his work around me.

The people were pushing the man aside.

I feel like I've been brushed aside by those around me and no one cares.

Jesus stopped.

I'm asking Jesus to stop and listen to me. Heal me.

The people payed attention to the man once his cry was heard by Jesus.

I want people to encourage me to continue to seek Jesus and everyone be pointed toward His goals.

Jesus rhetorically asked the blind man what he wanted. Jesus knew. Jesus wanted to hear it from His mouth.

The blind man spoke. He wanted to be healed.

Jesus fully healed him.

I want to be restored - I want my optimistic Jesus-lenses again. I want to see God active. I want to continue to follow, but I need Jesus to stop moving ahead and truly heal me from my woundedness.

But, I must call out to him. I must want to be healed. I must not give up. I must have faith. My faith must heal me.