Go and bear much fruit!

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others” 2 Tim 2:2

 



From left: David, Amanda, Eric, Zoe, Hope and Chico 



These guys have come to the end of their training period here in Camp Eden and are ready for the field. Please pray for them.

 

Hope and David from Nigeria were sent here for training by Emem, who is the J-Life Nigeria leader. They are going back to join him and the team in country. They will help with promotion and training and also recruiting and training other trainers to send to other regions. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, with an estimated population of 170 Million.

 

Eric is returning to the team in Rwanda. His roles include training, translating and promoting. Because he is a lawyer, he is also facilitating the J-Life Rwanda registration process.

 

Chico (Mozambique), Amanda (South Sudan), Desire (Gabon, not in picture) and Zoe (Liberia) are going back to their respective countries as J-Life initiators.  
This is how you can be praying for them:  

• As they build a team, pray that God will provide them with others to join their teams. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9: 37-38
• Pray for open doors as they meet pastors and denominational leaders. Col 4:3
• Pray that they will be able to raise the required support.

 

Please keep them in your prayers especially over the next 3 months as they find they feet and adjust their lives. Thank you for joining with us in impacting youth in Africa.

Commitment to a cause

Just a browse of the social media, will prove that people are aware of all, maybe most, of the social ills. Things that need to change. There are pages, and hashtags for :

Equal Education, Access to Clean Water, Justice for All, Affordable Health Care, #HumanRights, #EarthHour, #StopRape, Democracy, @GenderEquality #HumanTraffickin, Child Soldiers #ModernDaySlavey #PoliceBrutality etc.

We don’t need more visionaries to change our communities, we need people who are committed to a cause. Hit and run only highlights issues, we need more than that if we are to cause true and lasting transformation.

Unfortunately we are cultivating a culture of just highlighting and hoping those in charge will act. We don’t have to put our money where our mouths are, all we do is raise the issue. To get world leaders to agree on peace, to make education accessible to all, save our planet, etc. all we need to do is sign a petition. Add your signature. Add your voice.  

We copy and paste a status to show we care, change our avatar and add our #voice.  

We are not required to invest or sacrifice our time or resources. In some cases we may be required to donate our time, talents and resources. Donate - not sacrifice.

If we are to see change, it will cost more than a donation, it may cost us our lives. Nelson Mandela can tell you that the long walk to freedom was not a walk in the park. There was a price to pay, a sacrifice to be made. He said “It is an ideal for which I am willing to die”. We need to be committed to a cause, not just pay lip service or tweet about.

Choose causes close to your heart, and dedicate your life to fighting the injustices. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army said, “While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight. While little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight. While men go into prison in and out, in and out, I’ll fight. While there yet remains one soul without the light of God, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end”. Find something that you are willing do more that just tweet or Facebook about.

I love the book of Nehemiah, because it shows how Nehemiah combines prayer with action to achieve his goal.

“Commitment does not guarantee the rightness of a cause, but it does determine the likelihood of any cause making a difference. Committed people make history. They live in alignment with their deeply held beliefs…they are in tension with the world around them because they have an agenda for change”. (Steve Addison in Movements that change the world)

Final thought:

You cannot call yourself a change agent or social entrepreneur if you are not willing to pay the price. All you really are is a “Daydreamer”.

J-Life Summit 2013

We meet together as the J-Life Africa family from all over this beautiful continent once a year at our Summit here on Camp Eden. J-Life Country leaders, some of their team as well as board members represent their countries. This is a time of refreshing, catching up with one another, fellowship, accountability and setting goals. We also have ministry partners from Africa and other continents join us in this time - what a blessing for us and them as we share together.


J-Life 2013 Summit Delegates

There was a lot to celebrate as we are currently ahead of our target number of youth leaders we want to train by 2016. God has opened doors for us, more than we dreamt of. For this we praise God.
However, we are also experiencing road blocks in the passing on of our training. It seems the leaders we are training are not training others as projected by our target. This is a great concern to us and we spent a lot of time sharing ideas on how to change this. Please pray that we will find reliable men and women who will pass it on.


J-Life is currently in 20 of the 54 African countries. All these are at different stages of growth and development.

Chico, J-Life Mozambique Initiator

Chico is a young Mozambican who is in training as the country initiator into Mozambique. We are very excited about the prospects of the work starting up there. One of our trainers had done some training in the country already, but we are looking forward to watch what God will do with someone permanently on the ground. Please do pray for Chico as he heads back at the end of March to impact his country for Christ.





Another huge blessing during this year's Summit was the prayer team. Michael and Pam Hudson came out to pray with and for us. They led devotions and prayer in the morning, as we prayed for our families, communities, countries and continents. They spent hours in prayer, interceding and covering us in prayer. Moreover they spent time praying for and with the leaders. Everybody left the summit ready to go do ministry, bold, because we know we are covered in prayer.

When you know you are covered in prayer, you are free from worries, and you're able to focus on the mission. When I (Bhuti) served in Tanzania for example, John, Tara and Jann used to sms in the morning letting me know they are praying for me. That freed me from worrying about malaria and other things. I just concentrated on what God called me to do there for that time.(That does not mean I became careless, No. I still used mosquito repellent, put on closed shoes and slept under a mosquito net every night. I just never wasted energy worrying).

Please keep us in your prayers. If you would like to be pray for us regularly and specifically, drop us an email and we'll get our monthly prayer calendar to you. The email address is jann@jife.org.za

Til next time.. Be blessed and a blessing

Jan-Feb News

Today is already the 5th day in February! We hope that the year has got off to a good start for you. Thank you to all of you who have been faithful supporters of ours over the years. We really do value and appreciate your partnership with us.
To those new partners who have just come on board – Welcome! Thank you for agreeing to join our ministry team in different ways. We hope to be a blessing to you as you are a blessing to us.

12 Jan 2013 saw 24 young leaders from 7 different countries came together at Camp Eden for Youth Ministry Training. In true J-Life style we kicked off the year with Bush Camp, which is always great fun. After a few days in the bush all the trainees returned to Camp Eden. The very next morning 11 trainees left for River Valley in Margate. This is the second training base for South Africa and we are all very excited. God is growing the movement and we look forward to what He’s planned for Margate.

This weekend, the South African trainees leave to start their ministry in 10 churches in 4 provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape). Please pray that the Lord will give them wisdon to implement what they have been learning.

Over the past few weeks we have been extremely blessed by donations pouring in to help us buy a car. This started at VAC Camp in December when at the end of camp the teenagers gave nearly R7000. We were very excited to collect our Toyota Tazz this past week!!! Thank you to everyone who gave generously. It’s still a bit hard to believe. Thanks especially to Jeff and Rose Flynn.

This year, one of our main goals is to do much better at communicating with you, our ministry partners. With this in mind we will be sending you a monthly prayer calendar so that you can be in prayer with us for the things happening in each month. We look forward to hearing some comments or feedback. Please also do send us any prayer requests you have.

Below are some of our plans for the next 2-3 months. Please do pray with us that we will be good stewards of all the resources God has entrusted to us so that we accomplish all that we believe He has set out for us to do

• Work with International trainees at Camp Eden (Jan-March)
• Promotions for new GC2 groups
• Start 3 new GC2 groups – one each for the East Rand, North West and Limpopo
• Set up of tutor system for the kids on the farm
• Promotional visit in Port Elizabeth and surrounds
• Set up of ergo nextgen, a schools ministry platform

Some personal thoughts…
From Jann: I’ve really been challenged to live a disciplined life this year in order to have a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Distractions from within and without constantly compete for my time and energies. At the same time I’m learning to rely more on the Holy Spirit instead of my own abilities. A fine line, I must admit and some days are better than others. But I’m excited to be on this journey. Please feel free to send me any advice, encouragement, etc

2012…from the rearview mirror

Can you believe it? The year is over. As we spend time on holiday, reflecting on the past year, seeing what God has done in and through us, we feel so privileged to be part of what God is doing. We are also grateful to God for you, family and friends, for your support and prayers. You all have been a blessing to us through generous giving, encouragement and prayers. Siyabonga Inkosi inibusise.   

Trainees 2012

At the beginning of this month (Dec 2012), this year’s group of trainees met for a time of debrief and evaluation. Bhuti and Skip and Tina Smith accompanied the students down to the Berg for their final time together this year. During the hike the students shared their highlights of the year and lessons they’ve learnt. It is a tremendous privilege to observe the growth that takes place in their lives through the year.

Missions groups



During the second half of this year we hosted a group from Charity Baptist in North Carolina, USA. The group was mostly teens and we had a great time taking them into Siyathemba to do Lifeskills lessons in 2 different primary schools there. It was good to watch them becoming more confident in sharing themselves with the kids in the classrooms as well as with each other.

 




 

In August we hosted a team of 60 from St Mary’s Longfleet in Poole, UK. This was quite a challenge for us as we’ve never had a missions group this big before. For 6 days during their stay a smaller group stayed at Camp Eden, while the other groups moved to Lanseria and White River to works at orphanages there. The team that stayed with us were able to a variety of things that included a course on relationships in iSifiso Sethu High School in Siyathemba, kids ministry and the Alpha course in Ratanda Extension 23 and building a ‘Survivor-type’ challenge on the campsite. Many of the teens on the mission belong to a dance ministry of the church and the impact the trip made on them will be my lasting memory.

GC² training

This has been a great journey for us. As we train and coach youth leaders for implementation. And we not just using the word ‘journey’ to sound cool, it really is a journey (Four Module, four session over a year to a year and half). We are currently training two groups. Our first group was made up of youth leaders all from township churches. All these guys have found it difficult to implement the training as it is a new concept in their church culture. We have slowed down the process so we can help them find a way to introduce and implement the training.

Our other group is made up of youth leaders and pastors from the Presbyterian churches in Jo’burg. There is a dire need among these churches for trained leadership.  We have had great discussions around Jesus’s life and its impact on ministry during our times together. As most of these churches are in the beginning stages of youth ministry the going is slow but we pray that we are helping to lay a healthy foundation.

VAC Camp

What an amazing five days! Well, each year I usually lose about 10 days before and during VACJ God really moved in a powerful way amongst everyone on camp. Bhuti and I had the awesome opportunity of being part of the team of camp speakers. I initially thought the idea of me speaking at VAC ludicrous but became convinced that this was what I needed to do. Getting up on stage and facing 350 people was definitely daunting but in the end I did have fun. And got some good responses from those who were listening.

 At the end of camp a collection was taken to help us buy a car. It came to nearly R7 000! Thanks to everyone who gave so generously. Thanks to the rest of the VAC Crew for their obedience in all things – big and small.

 Promotion

We spent a lot of our time establishing new relationships with church leaders and promoting J-Life, with the hopes of increasing our network and impact. We made inroads in the North West and Limpopo provinces, where we have not done a lot of training. In both these provinces we have potential GC2 groups to start in the New Year.
Margate

At the beginning of November we had the pleasure of visiting the site where training will start in 2013 and helping Donovan Olding conduct interviews with potential trainees. The training will run from River Valley Nature Reserve along the iVongo River, another example of God’s beautiful creation.

Note: On 2013 we will blog better (It's our new years resolution). Please drop us an email if you would like to receive our newsletter and prayer request calender. email: thekheswas@gmail.com or jann@jlife.org.za or bhuti@jlife.org.za

Added on 23 Jan 2013: Expect our January edition soon. Exciting things are already happening as we are in our second week of training in both our training centres, Camp Eden (where we are based) and Rivervalley (Margate).  

 

Run for Bibles

I will never forget the first time I got to snorkel. It came by chance really. We were just hanging out at the beach as a family. Not far from us was a couple who were snorkeling. Upon seeing that I was curious they invited me to try. I made all the black man excuses about "us" and "swimming". They convinced me that on the rock pools one doesn't need to be a good swimmer to snorkel. I took the goggles and put my head under. I discovered a whole new side to the creation, I was in awe of the Creator. I just wanted to stay there but I had to come up for air.

That's what this week feels like, coming up for air. We realised the last time we updated the blog was March and a lot has happened in our lives and ministry since then.

On the family front we are doing well. We are grateful to God for good health and provision. We are so blessed to belong to the J-Life community and the Heidelberg Methodist Church. In our grieving we have had tremendous support from these communities, friends and family. We have particularly been blessed to be part of a grief share group where we have been able to process our grief. We have received comfort, healing (a continual process), learnt new things about our faith as well as reminders of God's love and sovereignty.

We are also blessed with opportunities to train and disciple the next generation (Psalm78: 3-4, 6). We continue to journey with our Youth Worker Trainees for 2016. They were back on the training site for additional training between 2^nd and 24^th June. We also hosted our 7^th annual 6 Weeks Internship from 13^th June to 24^th July.

Our Gap Year and 6 Weeks students

Here is what some our trainees are learning...

During our time at J-Life we were trained on SU (Scripture Union) content and I found a great interest in what SU does. After returning from our six week intensive at J-Life, I connected with SU here and went on their camp and staff retreat. This opened opportunities for me to do schools ministry with SU staff at Riverton Primary in Bishop Lavis. I grew from this experience which resulted in me doing ministry in Parkhurst Primary in my own neighbourhood, Mitchells Plain. I am excited to see what the Lord will be doing in the rest of this year and the rest of my life. - Zrano, Christ The Redeemer, Mitchells Plain, Cape Town (front left in pic). 

J-Life partners with Scripture Union South Africa to give our students training in schools, kids and camping ministry. For more information read here. 

From Gavin, on having and being a mentor:
I like having a mentor as it's nice just having someone mature to walk with who can give sound advice and teachings in all aspect of life.

I like bring able to  mentor someone as it builds a great bond between you and the person as well as you get to help them grow and give them tips and advice. It also adds a good sense of responsibility. Gavin is a youth intern at Benoni Baptist Church (back row, second from right in pic)

As part of their year with J-Life the trainees are require to find someone to disciple (Mentor) them and to disciple (mentor) at least two teenagers.

With J-Life I was awakened to the basis of Disciplemaking. I had no idea of the different types of lost people to disciple (religious and secular lost).  The stages one has to go through in discipling people from unbelief to maturity. And that although you can force it- by those who are daring, it is not recommended to be discipling someone when you don’t have someone discipling you.

Andile from Gamalake, Margate was part of the 6 Weeks Internship (back row, far left in pic)

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 

Insights into ministry from Tyler, a youth intern at Rosebank Union:
Ministry is never as you picture it. Mostly because we are trying to define it and put parameters to it. Having had the privilege of working in ministry I can tell you that it can be as mundane as being at church every Sunday and sometimes you don't even want to be there, and yet sometimes you are bouncing off the walls busy with your church's holiday club and loving every second of it. It can even be relaxing with friends and trying to help them out in a Godly way.Ministry is a living breathing thing that is constantly changing and constantly forces you to re-evaluate your mental stand point. So all in all, my opinion is that ministry is one of the greatest gifts that the Lord has given us in order to help one another. It is also one of the best avenues that we can traverse in order to try and bring the glory of God's kingdom here on earth. (Tyler is right in the middle of the back row)

  

My lessons in spiritual growth have really been lessons in trust; letting go of my will for my life and submitting to God's. Seeking after Him in prayer, in His word and intentionally spending private moments with Him. I have learnt to put myself in His hands so that He can mould me though I understand that this process is more than just about resting in Him. My part is to pursue love and righteousness. My part is to pursue Him above all in all that I do in my everyday life - Hlengiwe, an intern at Randpark Ridge United (2nd from left in pic)

Prayer Points: 

- Open Doors for Promotion

• Recruiting interns for 2017
• Access to Pastors fraternal
• Recruiting for GC2 groups

- Wisdom for coaching and discipling the interns

- Traveling mercies for Bhuti as he visits the interns at their churches and marketing trips. 

Upcoming Events:
- UK mission group in August
- Gap Year students third intensive
- STeM 29 Sept -08 Oct