New Life in Christ

July 25, 2007
One of the blessings of my life here in Cape Town is the greater involvement I have with other missionaries who have come to share their lives with people in need so that they can experience how wide and how deep is the love of Christ. While I lead sewing and computer classes for women who live with HIV and AIDS,I also write stories for Living Hope for their monthly newsletter and for friends who are in like-minded ministries. One such ministry is All Nations which puts its emphasis on home groups or home churches where small groups of people can be discipled to live for Christ. All Nations also puts a lot of emphasis on the justice of God and they look for practical ways to help poor people. In early February, there was a fire in Red Hill. In our first sewing class we had one student from Red Hill, Gladys, who graduated and gave her testimony at the ceremony. The fire did not destroy her house but it wiped out more than 80 shacks nearby. At the time, All Nations was engaged in a Church planting leadership seminar that required the students to match three months of classroom with three of hands on work. Immediately a group focused on Red Hill and began to work on home repair. Now six months later, people like Mavis,(here seen in the photo) most of the homes have been rebuilt or repaired. As well new cottage enterprises have started. Women knit and some of the men are engaged in making beds and cupboards. Local businesses have donated flowers and vegetables for gardens. In the cold of winter, my heart is warmed to see the difference in Red Hill. This has opened the hearts of the residents and five home groups meet weekly. Gladys told me what love the Christians showed all of them. Given its past history and present challenges with poverty and HIV and AIDS, it is this practical, powerful love of Jesus Christ demonstrated by believers that will make a difference. I am also editing a book about revival movements in Cape Town and I am humbled at the prayer commitment of Christians here. Those of us who have come from overseas join with others here who have laid a foundation of prayer and service, and we work together in this place to which God has called us.
Every day God shows me that it is His will for me to be here and I am glad and thankful for this.