Then came God's intervention:
Open Window, the venue where we hold our Sunday services, contacted us to let us know that we won't be able to use the venue for 4 weeks as they have student exam exhibitions and a charity event. Also during our planning week while we were praying we sensed that God is leading us into a time where foundations will be shaken that only that which is unshakable shall remain (Hebrews 12:27). So we knew this was from God and we knew this is something we need to embrace...
After praying into this the whole team felt that we should do community church, to break into different groups and go into 4 different communities : Doringkloof/Irene, Eldoraigne, Moreleta and Olievenhoutbosch. We are going to Pray for and Engage our communities - exactly what God is leading us into for 2014. This was a massive step of obedience (not just faith, because we knew that God has already spoken), because it goes against the traditional culture. It goes against our comfort zones...
What I was really trusting God for during this time is that peoples' hearts will be cut for their own communities. That hearts will be stirred for the people who live around them, the people they work with, the people we see every day. Often we can assign reaching lost people to an outreach event or a mission, but God has placed us where we live and where we work to be salt and light, to be ministers of reconciliation right there.
The first Sunday we had a family service at Centurion Academy where we braai'd together, fellowshipped together, played sports together and we also got into the Word together. This was a great kick start to the campaign and it was incredible to see the excitement among the people. Frans (a disciple from Olievenhoutbosch) also baptized John (also from Olievenhoutbosch) and it was a special moment to see the next generation of disciples standing up and obeying Jesus' command - Go and make disciples and baptize them...
The following 3 Sundays we went into the different communities. We got together at parks in Doringkloof and Olievenhoutbosch, at a high school in Eldoraigne and at a shopping centre in Moreleta. At the 4 different locations we broke into groups, got into the Word, ministered to each other, prayed together and then...
We went into the communities to prayer walk. Praying for the different communities as the Holy Spirit guides us. And then after each Sunday we would have practical application for the week eg. Engage 2 people in your community (just start a conversation, get to know people) and meet a need in your community.
The testimony for me is to see how God came and shifted hearts. Many people were a bit scared at first, but as they obeyed they saw how God wants to use them for His Kingdom, how He equips us to be ministers of the gospel. Peoples' eyes were opened for their neighbours - the one family has been living next to their neighbours for years and they looked like a happy family, until one of the parents moved our a couple of weeks ago. Their hearts were cut to not just exist, but to be involved, to live the life God has saved them to live...
As we stepped out in obedience we saw how God is just so faithful and I am really excited to see how people have tasted something of living a lifestyle of following Jesus - every day - and how that will have an impact in their communities, the city, the nation and beyond!!!
Here is a short video clip from the 4 different locations.
