Thanksgiving

Our friends in the United States of America have a beautiful tradition of dedicating the 3rd Thursday in November as "Thanksgiving Day". And yes, just like every beautiful tradition, it gets over taken by other secondary activities i.e. Food, Football, Baseball, shopping etc.

As a family this year we are importing this practice. In November 2018 we certainly have a lot to be thankful for.

We are thankful for a healthy pregnancy.
We are thankful to the Lord for the birth and health of our son Ntando.
We are thankful for the healing and comfort from the Lord.
We are thankful that even in difficult moments the Lord is with us.
We are thankful for the fellowship of our community and family.

The last few months have been a mixture of emotions for us. Our joy of expecting our son was constantly interrupted by our grief. We had to revisit our loss, and we marvel at the healing that has taken place. We were able to have conversations about our fears and trust that the Lord will take us through. We are grateful that we serve a God who is always with us. We knew His presence and protection throughout this journey.

We are thankful to have a healthy baby. And believe me, everyday is like a milestone in our house. We have learnt to appreciate life, every minute is a blessing.

Ndumiso's first year of school has gone really well. The teachers are happy with his progress and he is doing well in class. He turned 5 on the 23rd of November and he performed in a school concert on the night of his birthday. He is enjoying having a younger brother and is very protective of him.

Some of the ministry update...

Youth Workers

In September/October we had our third and final intensive training with the Youth Workers. As part of this intensive they received training on how to organise and run a mission trip as a disciplemaking tool. They then went on a mission trip to Tsakane and served the local church and community.

Short Term Internship

From June to July we had 3 young people join us for our Short Term Internship (known as the 6 Weeks Programme). Participants get the J-Life disciple-makers training as well as hands on ministry as they run a camp for kids, holiday bible club and help as cabin counsellors at a sports camp for teenagers.

This is what Yadah one of the interns this year had to say about the programme:

My highlight from the 6-week internship was how God was freely able to use me in other people's lives. The entire internship taught me to love Christ and love people. He really highlighted the fact that life is not just about yourself and what you go through but that there are others that need to experience that same love that you are running after. Sometimes the only way people will experience the love of God is through you, therefore, it is not good to neglect the people that you encounter on a daily basis. It really challenged my priorities in life. Before I did the internship my mind was career based, but the internship highlighted a burden for vulnerable people which made me decide to not only pursue a career but also to be a person that makes a difference in the lives of people wherever I am.


Visiting Team

I, Jann, continue to enjoy serving J-Life Africa by helping our country leaders prepare and host teams. Our visiting teams are from partnering churches and/or organisations, and a crucial part of supporting and advancing the work of mobilising disciplemaking movements in Africa. We hosted two groups here at Camp Eden, one from Wylie, Texas and another from Urban Saints in the UK.
Cameroon and Zambia are due to have visiting teams early in the new year. Please pray that these will bear much fruit for everyone involved.

Regional Director

I, Bhuti, have continued to grow in my understanding of this role, also in supporting and holding my brothers accountable. This year Zimbabwe was added as another country I will be responsible for. Munya Takawira is the Country Leader for Zimbabwe. In this role I am coaching Chico, J-Life Mozambique and Munya of J-life Zimbabwe. Please pray for wisdom.  

Thank you for supporting our family and ministry. Please continue to lift us up in your prayers and let us know if you have any specific prayer request.

Ministry Updates, July

Home Front

June was busy month for the Kheswas. Bhuti took on his fifth Comrades Marathon this year and finished in a time of 10h17m. If you are not familiar with the Comrades, it's an ultra marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. This year the course distance was 90km (56 miles). Bhuti had an injury in the last 6 weeks leading up to the race but was able to recover from that and participate. He and his brother enjoyed spending the time together as they travelled down and spent the weekend there.

Unfortunately, with the cold weather comes colds and flu. I (Jann) had a bout of bronchitis and was booked off for about 10 days. I have fully recovered now for which I am grateful. Ndumiso has had his share of sniffing but nothing serious. Towards the end of the school term we were invited to visit with his teachers to see the progress he's made. Most of them said "He's a busy boy" but very eager to learn and really enjoying the environment. We are very grateful for the privilege of having him attend the Silveroaks Montessori and the excellent foundation it is giving him.

Ministry Front

Our Gap Year Interns and Short Term Interns

At the beginning of June, our 7 youth workers returned to Camp Eden for their second training intensive. It was amazing to witness the growth that has occurred as they serve in their respective churches. They shared the highs and lows of serving as a youth ministry intern. Nothing grows a young person more than active involvement at the local church and intentional guidance of a Youth Pastor/Mentor or Overseer. The 3 weeks training intensive allowed us to journey further with each of them.

Some of the highlights were:

Teaching on counselling

Sifiso training the J-Life Trainees and some of his leaders

Sifiso Nkosi, one of the J-Life interns from 2009 who is currently a Therapist at a school and Youth Pastor, was really excited with this opportunity to equip this year’s group. It was good to have him share from his experiences, both in youth ministry and as a therapist in a school. He covered basic counselling skills the interns can use as they disciple young people. They definitely benefitted from their time with him.

Kids Camp 2018

Kids Camp 2018

Each year the group of interns plan and run a camp for underprivileged kids as part of their practical ministry training. This year, for the first time, we had to actively raise money for the camp and we saw God provide wonderfully.  The group did a great job of putting the weekend together after receiving training from Scripture Union on Camping Ministry. We had 82 excited kids here from 4 different communities in the Heidelberg/Balfour area and they all had an awesome time.

This year, for the first time we have a young Congolese lady from Joburg join us on our Short term intensive, Yadah. When Bhuti and Thabo were fetching kids for camp, they were told by Juanita of Shalom home that she had invited kids from another group since she had been given space for more kids than she could send. (This was an oversight on our part as we had forgotten to change that on the letter to her. We were surprised when she said there were 22 kids!) Juanita was having car trouble and wasn't able to collect the other group so Bhuti followed her to where the kids were waiting with their pastor. Their pastor is Gilbert from the DRC who works as a car guard at the church Bhuti and I attend. He pastors a group of Congolese living in Heidelberg. The kids do speak English but are native French speakers. Two teenage girls came along with them to help with translation but God had already provided that since Yadah is here! Isn't He just incredible!!!

Short Term Internship

Yadah, Bhuti, Ndumiso, Ramontho and Wesley.

This year we have 3 young adults in our Short Term Internship. This is a 6 Weeks programme for young people who want to grow as a disciple as well as be equipped to make disciples. They are from completely different backgrounds. Yadah is a South African of Congolese descent, Ramontho is South African and Wes is an American. This makes for a very diverse small community. We are all learning a lot from each other. They are halfway through their programme. This week they are serving at sports camp as counsellors. PLEASE pray that will grow as followers of Christ and be equipped to make disciples.

Latest Update

On the Home front

Hi Friends and Family, thank you very much for your continued support for our family and ministry. Our hearts are full of praise to God, for His goodness towards us. We are grateful for His provision and protection. We are grateful also for you who stand with us, pray for our family and ministry. We were blessed with an opening for Ndumiso in the school we originally registered him at (he was on their waiting list). He is loving it and learning a lot. We are excited for the busy season of investing in the lives of young leaders. Please pray for us as we disciple and guide these youngsters to become all God intended them to be.

Training the Church to Make Disciples

On the 14^th of April, I got to do training with the Leadership of various ministries (e.g. Sunday school, Youth Ministry, woman’s ministry, outreach team, senior leadership of the church etc.) at Evander. This was to be an introductory training to launch the 4 Module training journey with the church. Over the next 18 months I will be training these leaders as well as coaching them to implement a disciple making strategy for their respective ministries. As part of this journey participants are required to pass this training to the second generation of leaders within their ministries.  Please pray for this journey. We will be doing the first module over two Saturdays, 23 June and 30 June.

Youth Workers

Our Youth Workers return tonight for their second intensive training of the year, which starts tomorrow 1^st June until the 22^nd June. This is a time for them to reflect on almost half the year and receive more training. It’s always good to see the growth that’s taken place and hear what they’ve been doing and challenged with. Please do pray that we wouldn’t be simply going through the paces but will have meaningful times of helping each other be more like Christ, reflecting his priorities for us as individuals and the ministries we and people we serve.

Short Term Internship

From the 10^th June we will welcome 4 more interns on our 6 Weeks programme, their first 12 days will overlap with the year-long interns. The focus of this internship is on becoming a disciple and making disciples. Together they will put together and run a camp for underprivileged kids from surrounding communities. Besides this, they will be part of Sports Camp for teenagers as camp counsellors and assist in running a Holiday Bible Club in a nearby community. Please pray that these interns will have a teachable spirit and that the program will have an impact in their heart.

Team changes

Since last year we have been undergoing a series of staff changes. Our latest additions to the team are Nicholas and Ashley Stock and their little Samuel. Nicholas has been working with us since January and Ashley joined at the end of April after having been on maternity leave. We are grateful for them and the value they add. Please do pray for them as they are discovering their place, learning how the community functions and fundraising to meet personal and ministry needs.

Additional Prayer Points

• Open doors to new churches
• Wisdom for discipling and coaching our youth workers
• Good health for our family

First Training Intensive

Ezasedladleni

A big thank you to our friends and family who support, encourage and keep us in their prayers. The year started well for us, with good health and lots of ministry opportunities. We had a good break over the Christmas holiday and were refreshed to start with a new bunch of trainees. Ndumiso started attending a play school and is taking a long time getting used to going to school but he loves it when he is there. This week he has been home nursing bronchitis, doctors orders. He is doing better. Please pray for complete healing and no recurrence.  

On the 10th of January we started training with our 2018 intake of Youth Workers and Bethel Semester Abroad students. This training intensive is 6 weeks long and lasted until 20 February. The participants spent 6 weeks learning to be disciples, live like disciples and make disciples. It is such an honour and privilege for us to disciple and equip them to make disciples. We aim to model and instil the character and priorities of Jesus for life and ministry. Having these two groups with us at the same time gave us such rich, inspiring and diverse community.

Youth Workers

In our year long ministry training and personal discipleship programme we have 7 interns for 2018. We partner with their local churches to disciple and train them. J-Life provides ministry training and coaching to these young adults for a disciple making life-style in 3 training intensives throughout the year. Between the training intensives they serve as interns at their local churches. Back in their church they will be discipled and disciple others as they grow in the spiritual walk with God.


Bethel Semester Abroad

This year we are hosting a third group for the Bethel Semester Abroad programme. These are college students from Bethel College in Indiana, USA. J-Life and Camp Eden acts as home base for them, from which they get to experience a variety of different ministry and cultural settings. They spent the first 5 weeks of their 3 months stay being trained alongside the Youth Worker. Because they are college students they spend some of the time studying and writing assignments.


Scripture Union

We took the 7 Youth Workers down to Underberg for a week of training with Scripture Union. Over the years we have had SU's trainers come up here and train our Youth Worker for Schools and Childrens Ministry. This year we joined them at their #CountMeIn volunteers training. Along with Scripture Union volunteers, our Youth Workers were trained in Children and Schools ministry. Scripture Union has a rich history of being active in schools as well as running excellent Holiday Bible Clubs. The training given will enable our interns to run School Christian Groups and present life skills lessons in schools. They also have the tools to plan and run a Holiday Bible Club for kids in their community.

Schools Ministry

The trainees got to put to practice their teaching skills in 2 High Schools where they got to teach Grade 8 and 9 classes. The lifeskills lessons they presented are part of what ErgoNowLead offers to churches as a means of impacting schools in their communities. For more info visit their website here

GC2 Group

We started a journey with Pastors and ministry leaders from Siyathemba to train and coach them for disciple making. This is particularly exciting to me as I get to train in my home town. Over the years it has been difficult to start a GC2 Group (Great Commission and Great Commandment) in my home town. We just completed our first of 4 Modules with these key leaders and we will embark on the journey of coaching for implementation over the next 3-4 months. Please pray that all those who have been trained will be able to implement disciple making strategy at their church. Please pray for a paradigm shift in methods and message.

Ministry News

To all our friends and ministry partners, we are grateful for your friendship and partnership throughout this year. When we reflect on everything God has allowed us to be part of in 2017, we know that it would not have been possible without your role. We stand and serve because through you God has provided the support we need to do all He called us to. The principle of ‘Ubuntu’ teaches us umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. This means we do not exist as an island, we are created for relationship and community.

The Gap Year programme

Trainees and staff on the end of year hike.

The Gap Year programme is always one of our biggest highlights of the year because we spend most of our time with these young people. Every year in January we receive a group of young people, eager to receive training and go serve. As the staff, we spend time getting to know each of them, helping on their journey of becoming the men and woman God intends them to be. This is done through devotions, ministry training and personal discipleship. It is such a joy to witness the growth that takes place during their time with us. We know that this is only a part of their discipleship journey, so we always encourage the trainees to find someone to disciple them further at the end of their year with us. Our biggest lesson this year is to acknowledge that we only play a part in a work that God is doing. God has been doing work in the lives of the trainees before we met them, and he will “carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). We have to be faithful and do our best in the time they are entrusted to us.

Regional Director Role

By far my (Bhuti) biggest growth this year came from learning and taking on this new challenge of becoming regional director. In this role I come alongside Chico, country leader of Mozambique, to help him as he mobilises disciple making movements in that country. Chico has spearheaded J-Life work in his country since 2013. Over the years he has built a team of regional trainers (Movement Builder Multipliers) who are doing a sterling job of equipping the church to make disciples. 

Engaging with a peer on discipleship and coaching challenged me a lot. Not only did we discuss strategies and review plans and goals, we also spoke about glorifying God in how we live and lead our families; we prayed and studied the Word together. That is where the growth came from, going beyond curriculum to engaging authentically as followers of Christ. Please pray for our planned visit to Mozambique in 2018.

J-Life South Africa Summit

J-Life SA Summit: Josh, Jess and Gail left before the picture was taken

In November, the J-Life South Africa team met in Cape Town for our national summit. It was a huge blessing to be under one roof as we are based in different provinces and hardly come together.

J-Life Africa STM Co-ordinator

Jann flanked by Kelita and Joe in Zambia

A new role I (Jann) have taken on this year is that of helping our leaders across the continent plan, prepare and host a short term mission from partner churches. It has been really meaningful to use the skills and experience I’ve gained from hosting mission teams on Camp Eden and make them available to others in our team. I am also learning as I grow into this role. Each country is different, with its own capabilities and challenges, which keeps things interesting.

I had the privilege of being in Zambia for a short time during the STM from Grace Community with Joe, our country leader there. It was wonderful to see all the months of planning come together. Joe has a great team and they added much value to the team from Grace. Meeting Kelita, Joe’s wife and  working alongside them was a highlight. It was also good to spend time with friends from the USA and make some new ones.

Merry Christmas

Have a blessed Christmas celebrating the birth of our Saviour with friends and family. We pray that 2018 will be a year of greater impact for his Kingdom.

Ndumiso turned 4 in November

March-April Ministry News

Home Front

Family is a great blessing! We often reflect on just how blessed we are in this regard. Our extended
J-Life family is and has been going through many changes this year. Some Hello's, some Good-byes and quite a few See you Later's. Through these changes we are reminded to keep listening to the Father and remain obedient to his calling.

We often only acknowledge God when big things happen but he is equally present in the day to day happenings - his presence is constant, he keeps us healthy and always provides for our needs. We are grateful.

Youth Worker update

Our Youth Workers have been back in their communities where they are serving in their churches. This is always challenging and stretching for the trainees. When they hit the ground they soon realise that serving and leading is a lot harder than they imagined. Below two of our Youth Workers share a lesson and highlights.

“My biggest lesson has to be the one about serving. Just as there is no such thing as a non-functioning member of the human body, so there ought to be no such thing as a non-functioning member of the body of Christ. This is helping me to find my place of service through my spiritual gifts, natural talents and ministry skills. As I am learning this, I am also sharing it with the young people I am discipling.” Tumelo, Faith Mission Outreach, Heidelberg.

"After I came back from Camp Eden, the practical block ahead of me posed many challenges that I didn't feel I could overcome. Things like planning and managing our Friday night youth event and finding someone to mentor. But by the grace of God I managed to overcome them one by one. 
The biggest highlight of it all is that I have been able to learn and grow myself spiritually and mentally in an environment where the church staff and members are willing to guide and nurture me along the way. I've been able to build new relationships and learn a few new things about myself through this first prac block. For that I am truly grateful to God." 
Londiwe, Randpark Ridge United, JHB

Training Pastors and Youth Pastors to make disciples

Over the past two months we spent a lot of time knocking on Pastors and Youth Pastors doors to arrange training in different areas. We are doing this through 1 Day disciplemaking seminars that serve as an introduction to our training material. J-Life has learnt that seminars are good for information, NOT so much for transformation. Our goal is to run as many disciplemaking seminars as possible, and to use this platform to identify Pastors and Youth Pastors who want more. We plan to take those who want more than just information through our GC² Groups for training, coaching and discipling for implementation.
We have trained two groups of youth leaders, one in Finetown and the other in KwaThema. We are at different stages of planning these seminars in other towns.

Lead THE Cause

We took 2 of our youth workers and 4 young leaders they serve with at Ignite Youth, Acts Family Church to #fierceltc17. Lead THE Cause (LTC) is an equipping event for high school students that transforms young believers into leaders and life-long disciples.  Go.Live.Dare. ran this powerful event at Every Nation Rosebank. It was by far one of the most practical conferences and teens were given tools to share the gospel.

If you are around Durban or Cape Town, this event is coming your way. Check it out here. This event combines small and large group evangelism training and includes opportunities to engage unbelievers in different contexts.

Prayer Items

Please pray that God will provide us with people to join our support team as intercessors. If this is something you or someone you know would like to be part of, please contact us.

5-7 May – Training 2 groups of Clergy and lay leaders from Diocese of Johannesburg, Diocese of Pretoria, Diocese of Christ the King, Diocese of the Highveld
Please pray that this will spark a movement of disciplemaking in the Anglican Church.

8-12 May - Waterstone College Grade 9 Tour focused on serving in communities
Please pray for the hearts of the students as they learn about serving others, that it will become a lifelong attitude

13 May- One day Disciplemaking Seminar
Please pray that this will open doors to churches in Tsakane, Duduza and KwaThema townships.

17-21 May - Connecting with Youth pastors and training in the South Coast, KZN.
Please pray for safe travels for our family

22-26 May – J-Life Southern Africa Summit
Please pray for safe travels for all delegates and that it will be a great time of refuelling

8-30 June – Second Training intensive for the Youth Workers
Please pray for their ministries as they are away for 3 weeks

18 June - 29 July – 6 Weeks Internship
Please pray for more South African students to sign up

Jan-Feb Ministry News

The Home front

Our family is doing well and continue to enjoy being part of the J-Life family at Camp Eden. We are constantly learning what it means to be parents to Ndumiso who is now a busy 3 year old. He has recently taken to climbing which has both pro’s and con’s for living on a farm. We are extremely blessed to have him grow up in this environment and he loves it!

Jesus commissioned us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:18-20). As a family we are currently fulfilling this call through discipling J-Life trainees and training them to “make disciples who make disciples”.

The Youth Worker program

We have just completed our first of 3 training intensives in the Youth Worker Program. The participants spent 6 weeks learning to be disciples, live like disciples and make disciples. It is such an honour and privilege for us to disciple and equip them to make disciples. We aim to model and instil the character and priorities of Jesus for life and ministry. Over the 6 weeks we spent time doing that through lectures, spending time in community, small group studies, morning prayer, exercise and serving together. 

Scripture Union

We had 3 trainers from SU who spent a week equipping our interns for School and Children’s Ministry.  Scripture Union has a rich history of being active in schools as well as running excellent Holiday Bible Clubs. The training given will enable our interns to run Christian groups and present life skills lessons in schools. They also have the tools to plan and run a Holiday Bible Club for kids in their community.

The interns were given an opportunity to practice what they learnt during their time with Scripture Union Trainers. We visited 2 different high schools in the area where they presented life skills lessons to Grades 7, 8 and 9 classes.

Observation Visits

Part of our learning comes from others who are in the trenches of youth ministry. This intensive we visited JAM Youth at Selcourt Methodist, Springs. We were able to chat to Enoch (J-Life 2015) about their strategy to reach and disciple the youth of Springs and the surrounding suburbs.

We also visited Encouter Youth, a ministry of Everynation Rosebank and got to learn from Mark and Debbie Tittley, veteran youth workers.

Thank you to both groups for the investment into our interns and sharing how you reach and disciple teens in your communities.

Regional Directors Meetings

I (Bhuti) attended the J-Life Africa regional directors meetings held here at Camp Eden, 7-11 Feb. This was to learn more about my interim role as regional director. In this role I will be looking after our J-Life Mozambique Country Leader, Chico.
We spent time planning together for the regional summits which will take place in four host countries across the continent.
We are excited to see what the Lord is doing and is about to do in our beloved Africa.    

Please join us in prayer for…

-financial provision for our family (We currently need to raise more support in order to meet our monthly budget for living and ministry expenses).

-for the trainees to grow as disciples and to make disciples

-for our team as we disciple the trainees

-open doors to conduct training in new areas (expand our influence)

-a movement of disciple-making across the continent