Students find faith, hope, love, healing, and vision for life in Diepsloot

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Kids in Diepsloot
A glimpse of life in Diepsloot

Had a great time a few days ago sharing with students at a school in Diepsloot.  I was involved in personally counseling the students as well as sharing with a classroom of about fifty students who all hopefully walked away with a larger vision of life, God, and what they could do to make an impact in their society.  

For those not aware, Diepsloot is home to about 250,000 people; many of them live in 3m-by-2m shacks assembled from scrap metal, wood, plastic and cardboard. Some families lack access to basic services such as running water, sewage and rubbish removal and find themselves living in the midst of violence and uncertainty.

Life for youngsters in Diepsloot is obviously not a bowl of cherries.  Some have endured things which others in more “sheltered” environments can only imagine.

It’s within this setting that I was able to participate in personal counseling and was able to share my experiences and ongoing life with God to a classroom full of hungry minds and hearts.  I encouraged the students to be all that God created them to be, first off by beginning a relationship with Him if they haven’t already.  All prayed and asked Jesus to be with them and to be filled with filled with God’s Spirit.

Happy students putting love in action after listening to the message.

Next I encouraged them that as God’s children, they can live a life as Jesus lived — one that impacts others with love, faith, and the power of God working through them in any situation.  This power was demonstrated on the spot when some came forward for prayer against various pains and ailments — and all experienced God’s healing touch.

I believe that a life connected to the very heart and life of God provides the hope, power, and vision for life these kids need to face and overcome the situations they find themselves confronted with on a daily basis.  I trust these sparks and flames of truth will burn even brighter in their lives as they step out to embrace and follow the God who will never leave nor forsake them — the God who is their hope, comforter, provider, counselor, and source of love and power.

Diepsloot students

Students in Diepsloot find faith, hope, love -- and the vision that they too can make a difference.

Tendons healed, nephew saved, pain gone!

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Was at a Petrol Station yesterday and saw a man (Siphewe – left of photo) limping with a crutch and a brace on his leg. After some hesitation the thought came to me, “if you really believe God will heal him when you pray, wouldn’t you just go without hesitation?” So at that I went over and asked him what was wrong with his leg.

No more crutch! Siphewe's (left) tendons were healed, and his nephew (middle) accepted Christ as a result.

He explained the ligaments in his ankles were practically torn and thus he walked with constant pain. I mentioned Jesus can heal him and then knelt down and laid my hands on his ankles, after which he said he said the pain was gone, except for an area where one vein was still bothering him. Laid hands again and he said the pain was gone.

I encouraged him to test out his leg and he realized he could walk now without pain, and without the need for his crutch. Upon experiencing healing in his leg he asked for prayer for some other situations in his life — which I was happy to do as well.

As his family was waiting for him he got in to the bakkie (pickup truck for you non-South African’s ;) — and they drove away … however just a minute later they turned around and his sister was motioning me to come to them, and she was quite excited about how Siphewe’s leg was now healed. (Actually at this time I prayed one more time for a lingering pain in part of his leg — at which time he said it felt like electricity going through his veins, and the pain disappeared.)

She was all excited about what happened and asked me to pray for her two children (in the middle of the photo) — for protection, and other general requests. I also prayed for her son who at that moment accepted Christ in his life.

As we parted I couldn’t stop thanking God for how wonderful it is to be his hands and feet, bringing the health and healing which Jesus provided for all — both physical and spiritual … and of course the most wonderful of all — helping people begin a relationship with God Himself.

Not long after this an attendant at the petrol station introduced me to his colleague who had pain in her womb and head. After rebuking the pain and commanding healing in her womb and head, all pain was gone.

Again I left with a deep sense of deep joy in thinking about all that Jesus made possible for us to walk in as a child of God.

Broken bodies and spirits – healed and restored

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Faith in the name of Jesus brings life and healing (Acts 3:16).  Here’s a few testimonies along these lines we’ve experienced over the past few weeks.  I’m sharing these with the hope they’ll be an encouragement for others to walk in and expect the same.  “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

1)  A man was lying on the floor clutching his heart, seemingly having a heart attack or something of that nature.  People were clamoring to organize a trip to the hospital.  I stooped down, laid my hands on his chest and proclaimed the healing Jesus already provided.  The man said a presence of peace replaced the fear that was gripping his mind.  Soon after his heart was no longer in pain, and no trip to the hospital was necessary.

2) A 70 year old man was hospitalized with blood blots in his lungs and legs.  Two days after prayer (and I’m sure others were praying as well), we received notice the clots had dissolved.

3) In a shopping Center my son and I were walking and noticed a woman on crutches just about to get in to the backseat of a car.  Knowing that love always leads to do to others what we’d like done to us, we went to pray for this woman’s healing.  After prayer she tried out her legs and said she previously hadn’t been able to step up stairs like she was just now doing.  Others observing from the car compelled her to come in as they were waiting for her, but we trust the healing was done.

4) Prayed for a man who had Tarsal tunnel syndrome (he said it felt like walking with the pain of constant pins and needles in his feet) – after prayer the pain was gone and he was healed.  He had another ailment in his arm, which I don’t remember the name of — but after prayer this was also healed.

5) A girl had problems with her jaw — it was separated and often “clicked” — after prayer, completely restored (and no more clicking).

6) While at a township in the Cape area a friend and I heard about a woman who was confined to bed due to pain all over her body.  We went to her home (a shack with a tin roof) and found her lying still and in fact, in extreme pain.  We proceeded to pray and the pain left and she was healed.

7) When leaving this woman a man called us over to his home (another shack) to pray for his mother — also in bed with pain.  Turns out she was having trouble breathing (due to Asthma complications) and had pain throughout her legs which were also swollen.  After prayer she could breath normally and she had no more pain in her legs.  After her son and the family present witnessed this, I shared that the same Jesus who healed their mother could also be present with them at all times.  They all proceeded to receive Jesus and asked Him to be present with them always.  I find that after people witness such an obvious demonstration of Jesus’ power, they no longer need to be convinced as to the reality and presence of God — they’re usually eager to experience Him in their own lives.

“And He (Jesus) cast out the spirits with a word, and healed ALL who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16–17)

 

Discipleship class for youth at Morletapark Church

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In the midst (or rather beginnings) of house hunting here in South Africa we were invited to share on the topic of discipleship at a youth group at the Dutch Reformed Church in Morletapark, Pretoria.

Since we enjoy taking every opportunity to share — we went and had a great time with a group of sixteen year olds.  They had many interesting questions and we were able to share quite a few testimonies…

So great to inspire and challenge young people to be all God has called us to be…

Jessica enjoying the flight

Arrived in South Africa!

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Yes, it’s true!  We made it to South Africa!

After many dreams and indications that God wanted us to make the jump — we jumped and relocated the mission from Poland to S.A.!  Well, actually, we’re in the process of relocation — we’re in house-hunting mode (please pray for that :)…  We know the perfect place is waiting to be found :)

Once the dust settles here (after finding a house, etc) we’ll have more time to actually update this website and keep the testimonies flowing in :)

In the meanwhile, here’s a few photos of the trip!

 

Frank Jenner – impact of one man’s faithfulness

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This is the encouraging, true story of Frank Jenner, the “little white haired man” who was faithful to share his faith.  If you’re a Christian, this will inspire you.

Challenging the students to think deep

Challenging High School students to change the World!

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I’ve been keeping very busy the last couple of weeks – speaking with students in various high school English classes. My goal is to get them thinking deeper about life, their goals and visions — as well as what they can do to make a positive impact on the world and society in general (and of course to get them to improve their English in the process. :)

In the class we try to get to the bottom of human behavior and what it means to truly live a “great” life. [singlepic id=185 w=320 h=240 float=right]Inevitably they, of themselves, begin to identify certain qualities such as love, unselfishness, belief, and having a vision to help others — as common denominators for greatness.

It’s very rewarding for me to see some lights turning on in minds and hearts where previously, in many cases, there wasn’t much happening between the synaptical connections :)

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Those who are interested I also invite to a free English conversation course so we can continue the discussion. Topics of life, changing the world, and faith pop up and make for deeper discussion.

As a result of these presentations for the students I was asked to speak during a teacher trainer seminar for teachers all over Warsaw which will take place in June … another opportunity to change the world :)

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Reaching out in Korea

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I just returned from a one week trip to Korea.  I was invited there by some Korean Christians we’re doing some projects with here in Warsaw.  (I’m helping teach Bible Courses for Korean and other students.)

It was quite a busy trip and I hit the ground running after getting off the plane :)  They gave me the grand tour of their student ministries and I had the opportunity to speak, encourage, and share in a few of these meetings.  I also spoke in the main church which was coordinating all these events.  It was quite an experience and I was able to participate in baptizing about ten new believers.

It’s amazing — no matter where we go in the world we have family members (God’s children; our brothers and sisters) there to meet us :)  It’s going to be a great reunion in Heaven!

Children’s Hospital and Convalescent Homes – Christmas 2010

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Many people celebrate Christmas with joy, family and friends.  For others Christmas is a time of sadness and loneliness due to their particular circumstances.  Because of this, Christmas is an important time for us as we seek to reach out in special ways to those who may need an extra touch of love, hope, and friendship — and especially, an introduction to God’s eternal and personal love through Jesus, which is the whole message and meaning of Christmas.

Below you’ll find a few photos from a children’s hospital and a convalescent home that we went to during Christmas.

Click on the first photo to enlarge, then use your arrow keys to scroll to the next one.

Children’s Hospital:

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Convalescent Home:

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Video – Has science rendered faith in God obsolete? No. Dr. JP Moreland.

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In this video, Dr. JP Moreland shows how science does not render faith in God obsolete, but to the contrary shows how faith in God is a logical conclusion when looking at the evidence. 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Some say faith is similar to a belief in Santa Claus — something only sustained by emotionally needy individuals but which can not stand up to scientific scrutiny. Dr. JP Moreland shows otherwise.

Dr. Moreland shows how the claim that science is the only way to know reality is a self refuting statement. He goes on to point out scientific facts which point to an intelligent designer of the universe: 1) The universe began to exist at a certain point in time. 2) The exceedingly precise fine-tuning of the universe within multiple and varied physical factors (charge of an electron, mass of a proton, strength of gravity, rate at which galaxies are expanding from each other) — without which life could not exist. 3) Discovery of biological information which is a scientific precedent for determining intelligent life as per SETI investigations. 4) The existence of the mind and consciousness which is inexplicable if one holds to evolution when considering Mechanical Philosophy.