As an Every Nation family we are passionate about nations. Passionate about different cultures and we are passionate about world missions - seeing nations and cultures coming to know the love of Christ.
The International Food Evening is an event where the congregations can share in this heart for nations, invite their friends and hear from the missions team what God has done and what is lying ahead. From all the different congregations the connect groups were assigned to host certain food stalls, all of them having a different country with food that is traditional to that country. It was an incredibly fun evening where the people really went all out.
During this evening we gave feedback from the World Partners Ministry (our vehicle as Every Nations Pretoria for missions) and also announce the exciting news of the Every Nation Southern African churches now combining all the different World Partner Ministries to dream together about transforming Africa - the Africa Dream Partnership.
On the 25th of February De Wet and Miemie Spies left for South Sudan to head up the church plant there. During the evening we had a Skype call with the team in South Sudan. It is so encouraging to see the work that God is doing in the continent of Africa!!!
Last year I mentioned that things were going really well in Olievenhoutbosch - far beyond our expectations.
Now it is a new year... and no way we could have predicted or even dreamed of this. What we are currently experiencing in Olievenhoutbosch is absolutely phenomenal. All we can say is that God is truly in control of what is happening in this community.
There is really too much to put into one blog, so I will use this one to give a short update of everything that is currently happening in Olievenhoutbosch.
Discipleship Groups
We are really seeing incredible break-through in the discipleship groups. There was a point where I was wondering whether we are really making an impact, but we can see glimpses of what God is busy doing. By just continually laying the foundation of Christ, continually pointing them to God, to Jesus, we can see that it is having an impact in the community.
Above is a new group with Philemon and Adolf. Philemon invited Adolf and the guy working in the shop next door will also be joining soon!
Left is Christo. We are really trusting that God will raise him from that wheelchair! From this group Oliphant approaced us and said that we should also come to his house, because he needs Jesus.
Primary School
This is Philena Primary School. We went to see the principal of the school in order to build relationship and to see where we can serve them. The principal was so welcoming and open to us coming into the school.
They had a vegetable garden project, but no one was taking ownership. We are now busy setting up a proposal of what we can come and offer to the school eg. vegetable garden, after school classes, values through sport etc.
THF Youth Development
Really by chance we got to meet with Themba Maluleke from the THF Youth Development programme. The work that they are doing is incredible. They run an after school centre where kids can learn about Christ, grow into their full potential and live with hope! We will specifically be looking at how we can work together in the area of discipleship. He has 13 volunteers working at the centre whom he is mentoring, and our heart is to send them into the schools in Olievenhoutbosch to go and make disciples!
Disability Centre
We also met with Dina (through Christo) who runs the disability centre. She also expressed the desire that we will disciple the volunteers and lay the foundation of Christ in their lives.
Mpho
This man is a warrior! His story is really incredible and I'll let him tell it soon enough. He is really passionate about Jesus, a natural leader in his community. We are praying together to see why God made our paths cross and how we are to work together.
We are just so in awe of what God is doing. It really is incredible. God is building His church in Olievenhoutbosch and He is adding the right people. As the Word says, "Where the Son of man is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself."
As an Every Nation family we are passionate about nations. Passionate about different cultures and we are passionate about world missions - seeing nations and cultures coming to know the love of Christ.
