Praying for our nation...

This morning we had an amazing prayer time at the Union Buildings.

Due to the ANC youth league march going on at the Union Buildings this morning we decided to meet at a coffee shop nearby and decide from there whether or not to go to the Union Buildings.

We decided to go...

We entered through the bottom gate and walked to our normal prayer spot. Philippians 4:7 sais "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This is literally what we experienced. Such a peace flowing from being in the presence of God.

Amidst reports of apparent violence we experienced such a peace as we prayed for our country, our leaders and the churches in South Africa. While we were there even more police forces came in aswell as special forces. We tried to approach some of the police officers to pray for them, but they were not open to it. We could really sence the anxiety in their hearts.

We prayed that the church would rise up in this nation and take her rightful place, bringing the peace of God into every area. God has got His hand over this nation and we need to trust Him. And the way we walk, talk and think must reflect this trust that we have in an Almighty God which will overflow into a peace that transcends all understanding...

Look at our beautiful city =)

Family baptisms

It is so amazing to see people's lives being transformed as they meet with Jesus. How they just start to obey Him wholeheartedly and how it echoes into every area of their lives.

This month we have had quite a few people being baptized out of theit obedience to Jesus.

I know that God honours obedience in the lives of believers so I am very excited to see what God is going to do in and through their lives.

I had the privelage of baptizing George, a student at Centurion Academy. God has spoken to him on the area of baptism for a while and he was at a place where he still wanted to make "sure" it is the right things to do. During this journey the Holy Spirit just pressed on his heart to do it in a step of obedience.

I would like to encourage you, if you are unclear on the message of baptism, to listen to this powerfull sermon explaining the doctrine of baptisms and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

http://everynationpretoria.org/centurion/sermons/2011/10/baptisms-harry-griesel/

Kirstin's testimony

Kirstin is part of the youth that comes together on Sundays. She is currently a Gr12 student at Cornwall Hill College in Centurion. Here is a testimony she shared with us regarding her studies for next year...

In about August/September i began the waiting process as Stellenbosch University began to let people know about whether they've been accepted into residence for next year or not, and since then i began to get stressed about whether or not i would get in and what residence i would end up in etc. At the beginning of September a friend of mine got into res, so in the back of my head i began to worry a little bit more about whether or not i would get in and all that.

Now lot of things have definately gone my way this year with regards to getting into all of the varsities that i applied to pretty easily, the fact that my marks at school have been really good and i made first team hockey and was made a prefect (the list goes on)... so i figured that this was a trial that God was putting me under. I heard him say "just trust me", and people around me kept saying don't stress about it, it'll work out... just be patient. So towards the end of September i guess i started putting my trust in God, and i prayed about it, asking him for an answer of sorts (no matter if i got in or not).

I was reading a scripture on trust (i can't remember the exact day), and it was all about how sometimes we just need to put our trust in God to do whatever is part of his plan, not necessarily to trust him to do what we want (because it might not be right for us). After i read that scripture i prayed again for God to help me not worry about the whole res thing and to help me trust him more to do whatever is right for me.

Literally 10 minutes later i was checking my e-mails, when i recieved the e-mail saying "It gives me pleasure to inform you that your application for accommodation
for 2012 has been approved conditionally."...

God really did answer my prayers!! I couldn't believe it. I was so happy and so grateful.

There's more....

The next week I found out that I made it into Harmonie, the same residence that Serena (Louise's sister) is in and the same one that Louise (ons of her friends from youth) got into. I know that God has some fantastic plan for us there next year, and i am so grateful that he has placed me somewehere next year where i'll be close to a friend who has gone through all of the home-sickness etc. that i'll probably go through next year, as well as a close friend who will be experiencing the ups and down of first year with me :)

End Year Celebration...

At the end of every year we celebrate what has been happening in church with a HUGE party!!!

This year we dressed up and really had a great night of fun, celebrations and memories.

It's a time where we reflect on what has been and celebrate what God has done throughout the year and also to celebrate the people who really make church possible - the volunteers.

There were around 200 leaders and volunteers attending and we celebrated the evening with them, honouring them for their commitment and sacrifice in order to see God's Kingdom grow...