Welcome to Team Whitlock--for the nations!

December Update...Issore Outreach around the corner!

2011-12-14T02:47:00.000-08:00

Top: Pastor Jack (our student now trusting God to do his DTS in January, though on outreach in Johannesburg right now) with two new Congolese friends we were able to encourage in the Lord--many Africans immigrate to Cape Town and then struggle to make a living

Left: Having some official "Fun Time" with the school after our Friday processing session

Happy Advent Season as we prepare once again to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Light of the World (Jn. 8:12). I am reminded of this verse as the local lady we have been training to facilitate simple church in her home in Overcome, Mama Mudi, shared this passage yesterday. Jesus speaks this truth so confidently to the religious leaders of the day, firm in his identity though many doubted him, and we as His Body are to also be the "light of the world" (Mt. 5:14), standing firm in this truth to drive out the darkness around us. Are we doing our part in the Church (which God, in His wisdom, commissioned for the task) to not shrink away but to believe that "He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world" (1Jn. 4:4)?

It was so great to see Mudi realize she can be a facilitator of opening up God's Word to the community, and she was so excited that she asked to be able to lead again next week. I was rejoicing as our whole goal in going to the community is to be able to train up a few men and women of peace and see them train others and multiply the simple church long after we are gone. There is still so much distrust among neighbors in the community and ongoing drug and gang-related violence, so that many youths are getting killed. Just before I shared at the local Church of the Nazarene we fellowship with in Overcome, one elder announced we would be praying for a member of the church who was directly affected by two youths getting shot that very morning (this last Sunday). Yet, our hope is so great as Christ's Body rise up in prayer and stand on His Word for their respective communities.

Top: Busi is always ready to go for another training hike in the beautiful Cape Peninsula Mountains! (We will be going up New Year's Eve day as a team to pray and give thanks to the Lord of all nations)

Bottom: Our South Sudan Outreach Team (see video)ready to go for our church planting mission among a neglected mountain people...

I (Bryan) had talked in our previous update about sending a video link of a recent edit of our Issore promo video, put together by our sister ministry Africom, which seeks to build better communication between our bases operating in Africa (a huge need). I believe it will give you more of an understanding of what our team will be doing in the upcoming 3-month outreach among the Lagot 'people of the mountain' (Acholi-speaking sub-tribe), as we partner with staff from YWAM Arua (north Uganda)...Here is the link on our YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R-nNdEYxqI&context=C399c644ADOEgsToPDskJwewUJzTGINyuQoz1_3IFB

[Note: I am not happy with the map I asked the team to insert, as Issore should be significantly to the East, though does accurately show its proximity to Uganda]

There is also a link to a short interview I did at the base I previously staffed at (YWAM Yei, South Sudan) while on our scouting trip in March this year, with the faithful primary school principal Lakuta:

http://ywamafricom.org/video/ywam-yei-south-sudan

PRAY with us for our final preparations as the school winds up, team-building times, finances for the two students to come in, and clarity on the Visas we need for Uganda and South Sudan.

We especially are asking prayers for Busi's health throughout, and God's grace upon her with the new, much more limiting diet (and for the whole team for that matter!)

Thandi and Busi are doing very well, and are able to take part in many of our school's activities (when it doesn't interfere with Busi's nap schedule:). She is such a curious little girl, always looking for something new to get her hands on! Thandi is getting more and more excited for the outreach ahead, and her first time to cross into Sudan, a nation (now two) God had put on her heart since 2003. She is also happy to spend our first Christmas here in Muizenberg with friends. This last weekend we hosted a multinational Thanksgiving/Christmas feast with four other couples, while Thandi and I introduced the concept of the White Elephant Party. It was a lot of fun.

Anyone that is interested to get online reading from YWAM around the world, the most recent issue is all about Reaching the Unreached (titled "First to the Last") and seeing Church Planting Movements take off in the Frontiers, which is exactly what our school is about, and our heart for this upcoming outreach as we partner with community development projects on the ground. Check out the articles at this link: http://internationalywamer.org/

Lastly, this was a very exciting news that you may have heard of back on November 11th concerning the coming together of the Church in Egypt like never before...[hope it is not too hard to read]...Keep praying for our brethren in the blessed land of Egypt!

MODERATOR’S NOTE: This was shared from a friend participating in this meeting in Egypt. If you remember, Global Prayer Digest focused on praying for the unreached peoples of Egypt last December! In that same month, over 100 prayerwalking teams also made their journeys throughout this land. January was the beginning of the “Arab Spring” starting here in this nation! What an amazing God we serve!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THESE NEWS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NETWORK

"I saw signs of the beginning of revival that I have never seen before!" an Egyptian evangelical leader told us yesterday.

On 11.11.11, Egypt had a historic prayer meeting that we attended. It was amazing and we were so privileged to be there. Egyptian leaders are telling us there has been a significant spiritual "shift" in their country and we are trying to make sense of it all. I was privileged to here together with friends from Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and USA for this historic event.

Here's the skinny:

- 71,000 attended the all-night prayer meeting in Cario.

- It was the largest Christian event in Egypt for over a thousand years

- It was held at the cave church on Cairo's largest garbage city, Mokattam. This church is called St Simeon the Tanner Coptic Orthodox Church.

- The gospel was proclaimed during the Prayer event and some people responded to the challenge call to follow Jesus.

- Prayers for healing were made at midnight and some people were healed of physical problems.

- Since the event, one Egyptian Christian leader told us "The heavens are clean! It is easy to pray!" He calls it the beginning of revival.

- Up to a month ago, there was absolutely no promotion for this event. No flyers. In fact, the organizer was still undecided on whether to host it on Friday or Saturday.

- It was an Egyptian event. Buses took people to this event from all over Egypt. Our small group of foreigners were the only foreigners were saw, except for one English girl who recognized me. [That was strange]

- In September 2009, a prayer meeting was held in Egypt where the leaders, including the main organizer of this event, heard God say that President Mubarak would receive "no grace" in 2011. They also heard God tell them that there would be bloodshed, persecution and the burning of churches. But if God's people would come, and hear His voice, and repent, then He would hear their prayers.

- The passage on repentance that was referenced in the 2009 prayer meeting was the Bible passage read at the beginning of the prayer service. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14

- On 9th October, 2011, when many Coptic Christians were killed in Cairo, Christian leaders met for 3 days of prayer. During this time, they announced their intention of a prayer event for Egypt, which culminated in this event.

- Muslims joined Christians for prayer at this event and they were told by the Priest that they did not have to change their religion but they needed to know that there is one Saviour, Isa [Jesus Christ].

- Since the prayer meeting a few days ago, Cairo has experienced highly unusual rain, clouds, lightning and thunder during a month which normally gets only .15 cms of rain.

- In a decision by Pope Shenouda III the day before the meeting, evangelical leaders were banned from the stage. Dr Rev Sameh Maurice, Pastor of Cairo's largest evangelical church called Kasr El Dobara, was scheduled to lead prayer on the main stage but instead stood and prayed among the participators without complaining. This was the church that sold us the tickets to attend the prayer meeting.

- Last Wednesday, Father Simon, who started the cave church [The Monastery of St Simeon the Tanner], had a vision of a bright light and a mountain that was lifted up and removed. He was told to prophesy and heard God say that "you will hear wonderful news this year!"

Our November Update..."Depth and Breadth"

2011-11-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

ISSORE (SOUTH SUDAN) TEAM ON A DAY OUT IN CAPE TOWN (we have Kelly from Florida and Dachung from Jos, Nigeria joining us for the 3-month outreach):

Praise die Yerid (Praise the Lord)and Happy Thanksgiving! I call this posting "Depth and Breadth" because of how rich our time with the SCPL (School of Church Planting & Leadership) has been in the past few weeks. That is one reason why this update has been so long in coming...

We start aptly with praise as ALL the needed lecture phase fees for the students came in just in time for last Friday’s 70% deadline. They are now trusting the Lord to bring inthe remaining 30% that some still owe, to be able to focus in on the outreaches to either Transkei (among the amaXhosa of Eastern Cape, South Africa) or with Thandi and I to Lobone, South Sudan. It is great to see the intiative they aretaking to raise funds and the strong desire they all have for putting intopractice what they are learning by the Spirit of God in school, both inclassroom times as well as otheractivities. [One picture shows an afternoon we were able to attend a Farming God's Way (definitely look up if you have time) seminar and actually plant a "well-watered garden" where you intentionally cover the seeds with as much organic material as possible]

This past week was so refreshing and encouraging to us as aschool as we were blessed to engage in the foundational subject of Spiritual Warfare, being reminded of the truth that we are born into war, and must know where our authority lies and how to use the weapons given to us to be the victors we are inChrist.The speaker was our second female speaker who brought with her a rich heritage (Mauritian father and Belgian mother, while raised in South Africa and Germany) and experience of missions around the globe. She got her Bachelors degree through YWAM's University of the Nations, and then went on to get her Master's degree in Muslim Shar'ia law, as she had much experience in Muslim nations. She has recently joined our base with the goal of pioneering a School of Government and International Studies by April next year. See the link from our base page: http://ywammuizenberg.org/training/school-of-government-and-international-studies

The week before we hosted a team of five gracious "folks" from Montana speaking on the importance of seeing our personal church within its regional context, being aware of what God is doing in other churches in the region and actually esteeming the ministries they have been called to partake in, as a crucial member of Christ's greater Body. The two Scriptures emphasized were Eph. 1:15&on and Philemon 4-7, which emphasize having "faith in Christ and love for all the saints." Two pastors and their wivesalong with a solo pastor who had to leave his family behind, they brought withthem a richness of experience in the Lord but boasted in none of it, only inthe greatness of God bringing His people together. We could tangibly sense all our students and staff being encouraged as we sat in their presence and helped them to get to different churches to share what God laid on their hearts concerning “mending the nets” and "equipping the saints" (Eph.4:12) thatHis Body may truly accomplish all that the Church is destined for. The main speaker, Pastor Chuck, had mentionedearly his desire for us to gather togethera group of pastors from around Cape Town and it was amazing to see it come together, with even other departments on our base helping to coordinate the effort. I loved seeing pastors from very different communities and church styles within the Cape interacting and listening to one another about what it means "to do church" (see last pic in front of our base).

A Funny Story: On the last day before the team returned to Montana myself and a few of the more adventurous students took the American team on the train into Cape Town city, and had a day where it really became "outreach." It was nice to take them out on a boat ride out in the harbour with a glorious view of Table Mountain and Lion's Head (after negotiating a group discount), but then we had to rush to find a local minibus taxi (negotiate the rate again) and make a mad dash to the central station to catch the 4pm train so that we didn't need to wait over an hour for the next train after a long day! I felt so bad having the team running to catch the train, but knowing it would be better for them to get home and rest, we went for it and they were game (despite being a few decades or so older than the average YWAMer:). We literally all got in the train a second before the doors automatically closed with our dear Sally just squeezing through. After I gave all the guys 'high-5s', only then did their team leader tell me that Sally actually only has one lung! And there I was pushing her to run for the train! But the husband made light of it saying, "Yah, we just call her 'old one-lunger'". I felt so bad, but thank God she had enjoyed herself and we had all made it safely, having much to talk about with our fellow passengers on the way back to Muizenberg.

This week we are blessed to have an American brother join usfor a few afternoon sessions on Language Acquisition. He lives nearby and has had a lot ofexperience working among a little known tribe in Mozambique with Wycliffe BibleTranslators (his blog is really worth checking out at http://lingamish.com/). Very simple dude, heseems well aware of the need to not take yourself too seriously whenrepresenting the Lord, but drawing people to the seriousness of who God is inChrist Jesus. I have attached his recent PDF called MISH--Make Important Stuff Happen (Wycliffers apparently love acronyms). I started reading it and it is quite enjoyable, even though it says don't believe all that is in the newsletters people send you! Here is some food for thought from his memoir called Chasing the Hippo:

The job title“missionary” is unpopular these days. The idea that one organization would send envoys to another country to convert the populace smacks of colonialism. But the reality is very complex, an organization like the one I belong to sends missionaries from more than 100 national organizations working in with more than 1,500 language communities. It's no longer clear who is converting whom. Instead, this is one of the most thrilling times in mission history: to be a part of a truly global movement to make God's Word accessible to everyone in a language they understand and a format they can use.

My official week for teaching on Cross-cultural studies in an African context is fast approaching (How to reach out to deeply animistic cultures with the gospel), and I am busy sorting through a number of resources I have been able to get my hands on! Organization is always the greatest struggle for me, but things are coming together!

PRAYER POINTS:
*Outreach preparation for our South Sudan team (including purchasing of flight tickets for a Dec.20th flight, communication with our hosts in Uganda, and preparation of the hearts of Issore people we are going to live with)

*Purchasing of the right travel insurance to go with our flights, in case of any emergency

*Smooth acquisition of Ugandan Visas for whole team, as well as clarity for permits needed to cross into the newly-independent South Sudan...Praise God Busi is booked for next week to get her required Yellow Fever vaccine!

*Unity, protection (health) and love amongst our outreach team of four (+ Busi)[team picture + updated Issore video to come in next update]

*Clear communication in my week of teaching from Dec. 5-9th, as well as collaboration with my co-staff Gerard (insights on African Traditional Religion) and a another Wycliffer coming to share on reaching Oral Cultures through storytelling, language learning, and, above all, respecting the specific culture

*Organization of our living arrangments in regards to our apartment being rented out during outreach (we do have a newlywed staff couple interested, but not for the whole three months--see pics from their wedding), and then finding a small home to stay in upon our return (with a yard that Busi can run around in!)

*Continued fruit in seeing people from Overcome community come for house church meetings, meeting the Lord in their brokenness (often they weep as they experience the freedom of living for a God whose grace triumphs over His judgment) as well as connecting more with the local Church of the Nazarene (we are doing Bible studies there now at 7:30 every Wednesday)

More team time (we live in a beautiful place)...

Busi getting ready to immerse into a new culture...

Below: Busi playing with Leila in her best dress at a recent friend's wedding (given by her great-Grandma Claire who just passed away--We love you and will miss you Grandma!)

The Modern Church's 'Jerusalem Council'

2011-10-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

What went on with the early church in Acts 15 (following the remarkable events of Chapters 10 and 11) directly relates to the modern day debate among the Church about the validity of Hindu/Muslim/etc. 'followers of Jesus/Christ' who remain within their given religion but secretly worship Jesus alone. The question the modern Church (the majority of which have never faced any kind of persecution for their faith) is asking is: Can these 'followers of Jesus' who keep all their cultural norms and look no different on the outside than unbelievers within their culture be considered true believers?

What of when Jesus says to his disciples, "Anyone who would come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me"? I would say the cross not only represents Jesus doing what we couldn't do ourselves, but the very willingness to face persecution for His Names' sake. Would you not agree? What is to be said then of these believers who may continue to call themselves Muslims, go to the mosque, read from al-Qur'an (although adding the Psalms and Gospels now) and do not face any persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ (no longer Mohammed)?

One MBB (Muslim-background Believer) from Iraq who still goes by his Muslim named Muhammad al-Hallaaj, in his simple and powerful autobiography More Than a Dream: Life With Jesus Christ, puts a pleading invitation to those of similar backgrounds as his:
I am convinced that God has a special plan to glorify himself uniquely in each person. Do you want to see the God of glory at work in your life? Ask, my dear brother and sister! For the Lord of glory says, "Ask in faith!" Ask the Lord of glory to show you the right path! I am not asking you to change your religion. No, my dear brother and sister, let the Muslim stay a Muslim, and the Christian stay a Christian, and the Sikh a Sikh and the Jew a Jew. Don't concern yourself with changing your religion; instead, seek to grow in your relationship with God (p.44).

The following are some quotes and insightful thoughts from a "Muslim Follower of Jesus," the author Mazhar Mallouhi, originally from Syria [he does not attend an official church but meets regularly with Sufi(mystical) Muslims and discusses about Jesus and is seeing them come to Christ in spirit and in truth]:

“Instead of calling people to another religion, Jesus called them to himself. Following him and his way was what mattered to him. Jesus’ primary concern was the establishment of the new life of the Kingdom of God, not the founding of a new religion. It is not about changing one’s religion…Religion consists of affiliation with a group, culture, ethic, dogma and structure of authority—clergy, book, orthodoxy…It is possible to change all of them without knowing God. If we stress these we may give the impression that these are the Christian faith” (112).

Arab Evangelical and Western Christians need to avoid the dogmatic judgmentalism of the early [Jewish] church who could not see past God’s work in their own religion and culture, and insisted that Gentiles adopt Jewish religious customs and practices in their following of Christ

“Mazhar personally avoids all such terminology and all theories of categorization, believing that spirituality cannot be systemized [such as the ‘C1-C6 Spectrum’], as God works differently in each person’s life. However, he does point out that these ‘insider movements’ do not exist to hide the identities of followers of Christ, but instead to enable them to go spiritually deeper within their own Islamic community. Interestingly, as most of the ‘pillars’ of Islamic practice are all adaptations of previous Jewish and Christian forms, many Muslim followers of Christ are adapting the pillars of their Islamic faith to enhance their faith in Christ” (119).

“Christ changed my understanding of God. I love the story of the woman caught in adultery, as this totally changed my thinking about God. Dostoevsky planted the understanding for this in my mind. Christ did not look at her to accuse her, but looked at the ground so as not to shame her. He participated in her shame [huge for an ‘honor-shame culture’]. The experience of God through Christ gave me joy and peace—it covered me—the whole world changed for me. God is not an angry God, but a loving Father, suffering with his son on the cross and suffering with me in this world” (176).

“It is about following our beautiful Lord who loves all traditions and cultures. This is the problem with some large Arab evangelical churches. They bring young followers of Christ from a Muslim background into Christianity, more than to Christ. And this is tragic” (179).

Our October Update from Cape Town

2011-10-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Partners in Christ,

This is just a "short" update to let you know we are now entering into the 5th week of the new Church Planting and Leadership School on our base after a powerful week where we merged with the School of Biblical Studies to go deeper into the book of Acts and the character of Paul through God's grace....for those with little time you can scroll down for some summary prayer points for Thandi and I...

After a great introductory week that gave us a freshperspective on the definition and goals of Discipleship, we have nowfinalized our students to seven. 7 Kingdom-minded students from 7different nations! We have our married couple from Germany and Norway, an American girl from Florida (who still works seasonally for Disney), and therest men from Nigeria, DRC-Congo, South Africa, and Brasil (who is married witha very clever 11-year old daughter who helps him with his English).

By the beginning of Week 2 (after we had inaugural prayer hike to thetop of Muizenberg Mountain--see pic w/somestudents missing) we had all the students together in class, and it was a weeknot to be missed. It was amazing to have an Afrikaaner South Africanshare about Church Planting principles him and his family learned while workingamong the previously unreached Yao people ofnorthern Mozambique. What I loved most was that he didn't point to all their eventual successes andsay, "Do it like we did," but pointed us to infinitely creativeSpirit of God to "adoptBiblical principles and adaptmethods" for the specific people group God calls you to. As he putit from the beginning, "We went up to Mozambique to find out we didn'tknow much of anything at all." He also emphasized that when we speakof Church Planting Movements and Simple Church fellowships (often in the home),this does not mean we go and try to change established churches to make surethey are more interactive and planting other churches. It is all aboutseeing churches planted where they are not. Then last week we were blessedwith another South African who spoke powerfully on the critical connectionbetween living and pursuing the Kingdom of God and understandinga Biblical Worldview, especially in an African context.

It has been such a blessing to interact with and pose challenges to thefaith of these students who are so hungry to get out to the unengaged peoplesof our world. We can see God having them wrestle with truths they thoughtthey had previously "covered" and taking them deeper into their understandingof what His vision for the Church is and how they can draw more people from alldifferent nations into this. Already on our local outreaches to OvercomeHeights community of ever-growing shacks, we have been invited into anotherhome (other than that of Mama Mudi's) of a Xhosa couple who openly share abouttheir struggle to live as a "good Christian" while keeping theirtraditional customs alive. I know some of the students look forward totaking them through the teaching on "The 3 Levels of Authority" we wentover in class, and how this opens up so much freedom for the Church tooperate without compromising the fundamental truths of God's Word to us [I haveattached a short document for those interested from the non-negotiable (1)"Commands of NT (Christ)", (2) Apostolic Practices and (3) HumanCustoms and Traditions. It is quite amazing to see how so many of modernchurches place the greatest emphasis on Human Traditions in running theirservices, and should be challenging to us all...When we plant churches of anykind, we must make sure we are not planting our own cultures with it.]

One of the students that has been most challenged but also mostresponsive to the teaching and new environment is our brother from eastern Congo, PastorJack (pictured solo in the pink shirt). Coming straight from missionarywork in Tanzania for fiveyears, he came down to Cape Townto work with a close friend of his who also has been trained at YWAMMuizenberg. However, his friend realized the Church Planting school wasbeginning and felt it best for him to come for more training. Though heis not entirely confident in his English yet, we have a staff member who is his1-on-1 from Burkina Fasowho also speaks French, and he also speaks some Kiswahili with me, a beautifullanguage:) And it hasn't stopped him from sharing how much God ischallenging his view of church as well as reaching people of traditionalAfrican religions who often live in fear of the spirits. Please join usin praying for this dear pastor, so humble and hungry to learn more, ingathering a support team around him for the long-term apostolic calling theLord has on his life.

PRAYER POINTS:

-- In our next all-staff meeting (now well over 100 staff spreadout over the southern peninsula of Cape Town) thisweek, our YWAM Muizenberg community will have the privilege to take partin a traditional Nigerian baby-naming ceremony, exactly 8 days after the birthof the couple's boy....

PRAY we would continue tobuild a staff community that truly embraces different cultural traditions and glorifies our Lord Jesus to the lost around us as well.

-- Last Thursday night we had base worship like we do every Thursdaynight, but it was truly unique to have a Somali believer in ourmidst for the very first time! I have tried building r/ships with Somalissince coming to Cape Town(many run small shops in the townships), but often they remained veryclosed. Only recently I have been seeing increasing openness inthe Somali people,both men and women (esp. one family), in the Sundaymarket in Muizenberg. Just last week the family bought Thandi and Icokes, chips+candy for Busi (which I later ate:), and gave a winter cap to Busias a gift. The sister also offered to bring me her book of Somali-englishPhrases, since she saw me working on my Somali greetings. I came wantingto bless them and show the love of Christ, but we went away so blessed!

PRAY for increasing opportunities to share Christ within their traditionally Muslim culture...esp.Mohammed and Miriam

-- PRAY forthe students of CPL school, especially for finances to start coming in forlecture fees. Each student needs at least equivalent of $1000, and somestill have none. PRAY also for finalization of local outreach locationthat will be other option from the South Sudanoutreach Thandi and I will lead

-- PRAY forcontinued openness in Overcome outreach every Monday and Friday among a peopleliving amongst a lot of violence and addiction...also for wisdom among us staffleaders on how to be most strategic and keeping students safe (we have some DTSstudents joining us)

-- PRAY for my preparation in each for a week on Animism and Reaching God's People from an Anthropological Approach at end of November

THANKS!
--

Bryan and Thandeka Whitlock

Pioneering across South Sudan (and the many challenges)...

2011-09-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks I have been amazed to learn how much YWAM is at the frontlines of Frontiers ministry and planting churches among the unreached and unengaged peoples of the world (precisely what our current school aims for!). What follows are recent updates from YWAMers pioneering Kingdom ministries just around the new nation of South Sudan:

Our team visiting Natalie and Paremmi 2008 as they began to pioneer YWAM in Malakal, South Sudan. They now have a primary school running near the base.

There is a YWAM family who has been pioneering a ministry in Malakal, South Sudan for the past few years. Malakal is the capital city of of Upper Nile state, located on the banks of the White Nile river near to the border with northern Sudan. Here are some excerpts from their recent update...

"...The border between northern Sudan and southern Sudan is still closed to goods. In the past, Malakal received virtually all food and supplies from Khartoum and the stores are more and more empty. It happened recently that we could not find bread in the city because there was no flour. Prices of staple foods have increased by 500% (flour, sugar, oil, milk, etc). The fish and meat, which are produced locally have doubled in price. Thank you for praying that the city can be supplied from the south if the border with the north continues to be closed...

Nathalie will start training for people to do ministry with children. At present in churches, the children are to sit with adults or be left on their own outside. In October, we will begin meeting twice a month to train people to work with children in the churches...

The rainy season is nearing completion and we can work on the development of the school we will start. We must finish the construction of latrines and prepare a site where we can assemble the large tent we will use to begin the school. Nathalie would also like to find someone who can help and it is a real challenge. We need someone who is committed to the Lord and who speaks English...

Finally, thank you for praying for our health. The children and ourselves are doing well and we are aware of the grace and protection we enjoy. Thank you again for your prayers!"

We also have a YWAM team, many of whom I know from my days staffing at the original Yei base, now pioneering and building solid relationships with the people and government in the strategic town of Wau (northern Bahr al-Ghazal). This is a large town which is also quite close to the disputed border with the North.

Clashes erupted in Sudan's Blue Nile state early Friday, making the area the latest and most critical to descend into fighting between the Sudanese government and rebel forces — and bringing the prospect of an all-out Sudanese civil war ever closer to reality. Together with the still unresolved conflict in Darfur and recent war in the Nuba Mountains, the ring of Sudan's rebellions now stretches from the western border with Chad to its eastern border with Ethiopia. Sudan's old civil war appears to be roaring back to life. And chances are, it is only getting started.

The storm clouds had been building for months. Rebel forces in parts of Blue Nile fought as part of the South Sudan rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), during the decades-long civil war, but the optimistically-named 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement brokered by the U.S. did little to resolve the area's plight. While the South Sudan leaders of the SPLM who negotiated the peace deal won their homeland its independence, the agreement got their allies across the border in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile almost nothing.

The Sudanese military's latest target, judging by the attack on his house on Friday, is Blue Nile's elected governor Malik Agar. (Agar is also the head of the SPLM-North Party and commander of its remaining forces in Blue Nile State.) In the first day of fighting, the Sudanese military quickly grabbed control of the state capital, Damazin, and the Sudanese air force is reportedly already bombing SPLM-held towns. Agar, unharmed, is in the southern part of the state mobilizing his troops; his forces are still heavily armed from his days with South Sudan's SPLM.
(PHOTOS: Independence for Southern Sudan.)

When the Nuba Mountains reverted to war in June, the most pressing question in Sudan was: Is Blue Nile next? When I asked Agar that question one month ago in South Sudan's capital, Juba, he didn't explicitly reply in the affirmative, but he gave plenty of cues that he thought so. The heavyset graying general looked tired from trying to balance war-room strategizing with his fruitless shuttle diplomacy aimed at negotiating a ceasefire for his deputy Abdulaziz al-Hilu, who was leading the SPLM's Nuba Mountains fight. Agar predicted Sudan would "disintegrate more." He made sure I had his email address, just in case his phone line stopped working.

It's still not clear who exactly fired the first shot in the new Blue Nile conflict. But both the SPLM in Blue Nile and the Sudanese government in Khartoum had been preparing for this scenario for weeks, and in the past few days the buildup escalated even further, with the two militaries edging physically closer and closer to each other. "It doesn't really matter who started it, it was going to start anyway," says one diplomat closely following the events.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2091688,00.html#ixzz1XZJkdLjz

Moving forward in faith in Wau, South Sudan

God is using Africans to pioneer exciting new ministries through Africa! Here is an update from the team in Wau, South Sudan...

"...It has been long since we sent out our update to all of you. It has been a little challenging with a number of other things that needed our attention and the challenges of internet here in Wau. We would like to let you all know our staff at the moment, we are three on the ground. That is James from South Sudan, Sosan from Uganda and Josephine from Uganda. We shall be having others joining us next month from both Uganda and South Sudan. Others will join next year from other parts of the world. Here are some of the ministries we are beginning now...

Church seminars
School visitations
Prison ministry
Street children
Radio ministry
Discipleship Training School (DTS)

We are praying for support to put up a fence and carry on with the building on our land so that we ca that we may run our DTS there next year. Here are the next two phases...

Fence- Putting up fence half way around our land will cost $32,000 USD. The land is so big, we will only fence half of it now. Without a fence we can not stay at the place because of insecurity.
Buildings- A simple kitchen, toilet, dining hall and three building will cost $25,000 USD.

This is where we hope to start our DTS next year in March if the we complete the buildings and have fences for security. Please put us in your prayers for all this to come together so that we can carry on with what the Lord has called us to do in this part of the world. You can pray, you can come or you can support us financially. All your support is highly appreciated.

We greatly thank those who have been standing with us in prayers and financial support and those who have visited us on the ground. We are especially thankful to the person who gave the gift toward our borehole (well). We will now have clean water not only for us but for the community. This is an act of healing to the nation and development..."

Both the ministry of YWAM Wau and the staff pioneering the new work are in need of people to pray for them and support them financially. If you would like to support this work, donations can be sent to: YWAM Strategic Frontiers, PO BOX 60579, Colorado Springs, CO 80960. Please make checks payable to "YWAM" and do not write "Sudan" anywhere on the check. Enclose a note that states "Sudan- Wau", "Sudan- Josephine" , "Sudan- James" or "Sudan- Sosan". Or you can go to www.ywamsf.org to make a donation online.

The Yei base I formerly staffed at in southern Sudan is now running the first official DTS in the new nation of South Sudan! They have been blessed with 8 students, one from the blessed nation of Canada and the rest from various tribes around South Sudan. My friend who was just teaching there on the Nature and Character of God last week wrote to me: “We have 2 students from Magwi, 1 from Terekeka (a Mundari) where you took an outreach with my wife. There is one student from Canada and the rest are from Yei.”

(Some) of what God is doing through YWAM Muizenberg...

2011-09-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

Truly it has been exciting to get back in the fold of what God is doing just in this key city of Cape Town, and how we as YWAM get to join in with the transformation in people's lives. I always feel privileged when I think about living in such a beautiful city, but also in such a culturally diverse and strategic city to train up different nations of people and reach out to the nations.

One of the main areas staff and students from our base minister in is a settlement affectionately known as "Masi". Initially known as Site 5, the township was renamed Masiphumelele by its residents, which is a Xhosa word meaning "We will succeed". Most of the early residents emigrated from the traditional Xhosa homelands of Ciskei and Transkei in the Eastern Cape, though today you also get many people from other African nations coming to Cape Town for work and a better quality of life. The problem is where they settle down is an even lesser quality of life, living in shacks of sheet metal and cardboard and repeatedly faced with the realities of crime and freak accidents, such as a massive house fire that blew out of control this last May and destroyed hundreds of homes.

YWAM has been receiving teams here over the years and working alongside Floyd and Sally McClung's All-Nations organisation in establishing simple house churches that gets to the core of people's heart and needs. Recently, we have a team that God has enabled to rent a large place that a major druglord used to operate out of, and are now using the grounds redemptively to see people be healed and truly receive the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. They describe as nothing other than "revival" that God is doing in their midst and in this needy community, so full of poverty, thievery and drunkenness. It is amazing to hear these testimonies and possibly return there to take part in the harvest.

TOP PICTURE: Taking part in one of our staff member's ministry at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It is amazing to see the hunger of these "secular" students to bring God's Word and presence into EVERY area of their lives. This was a time of worship, and I was thoroughly blessed:

Here are a few fun pics of Busi getting out with her best friend Leila at a local petting zoo. The turkey startled her quite a bit, but she recovered!

BOTTOM PICTURE: The beginning of our house church in Overcome at Mama Mudi's place...it was great time to get to know each other, and our hearts to see the impoverished community transformed by the hope that is always at work in Christ Jesus:

ONGOING PRAYER POINTS:

-->Praise God for our flat is still in good condition though rent and monthly electricity have gone up significantly--that God will provide and continue to enable us to bless others in the ministry of His Kingdom

-->Regular house meeting in Overcome township every Monday afternoon (picture shows the beginning, but trusting God for more to join in)

-->Preparations and students God has called for the upcoming School of Church Planting and Leadership (Sept. 26)

-->Continued support for the work in Lobone and Issore, as well as all across the new Republic of South Sudan...that the government leaders will work with people, both local and foreigners, to see the nation develop with the Word of God as the firm foundation stone...God may grant them wisdom and sense of accountability to Him and the people He has raised them to serve

Update on Issore (South Sudan) Outreach Location...

2011-08-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

OUTREACH LOCATION (REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN):
From what I have heard recently from our contacts in YWAM Arua (NW Uganda), things are progressing great in Lobone and Issore outreach locations (SE Sudan). The plot of land is beautiful and the buildings are for the most part complete in Lobone, at the base of the mountains. God has already expanded Bosco and William's ministry immensely [these were the two guys I was sitting between in the video clip now posted on our Youtube site] and they are really having an impact on both communities. They have begun the Bee-keeping project and have taught and distributed about 30 bee hives to people in Issore (the collective term for a number of Acholi-speaking villages marginalized up in the mountains). They are hoping to start having an established plot and housing in Issore starting January and aretrusting God for the finances to do this. The attached document gives some more details and pictures of the progress, giving God all the glory.

Thanks to the support of a family team from the states (2 brothers and their father), the plot in Lobone now has a rain catchment system and a bio-sand filter in place, and Issore has a ram pump working, bringing the water up the main hill so the people have access to better water. As Carl said (one of the brothers heading it up and whom we met with on the scouting trip earlier this year), "It was amazing to be working with the people and see God use the physical things to impact the spiritual."

Truly, this is a huge answer to prayer for Thandi and I to take in a church planting team later this year from the September school and be able to take the people deeper in the spiritual realm, knowing Christ as the highest authority and being able to prayerfully bring an understanding that His Body (the church) has a mission to drive out the darkness of this world and bring in the saving Light.

What is also really exciting is the fact that this water technology that has been installed is quite simple, and the local people have been there all along, approving of the projects and working alongside the missionaries to install them. Therefore, one of the basic elements for sustainable development is already actively in place, namely the taking of ownership on part of the local populace and training of the them to keep maintenance up.

PICTURE: Bosco and William Omal helping to install a new RAM water pump near one of the villages we will be working with by this coming January

IN SOUTH AFRICA:
On the homefront, Busi and I went for house visits to re-establish our relationships with families and individuals in Overcome township. We had met with the ladies in Grace Salon for devotions and praying for our Muslim neighbors during this time of increased devotion in Ramadhan, and then Thandi stayed on to take out her braids and begin a new hairstyle while I took Busi in the frontpack to catch some mid-day shuteye. By the time we had walked through Capricorn and got to the house of Cynthia (our former Woman of Peace in the last school's local outreach), Busi had awoken and was soon making friends with the grandson who is just a few months older than her! We ended up visiting four more homes until the mother (Thandi) called to inquire of our wellbeing and whereabouts, but I know it meant alot to the people to pray together and simply re-establish contact.

Some seeming fruit is the organizing with Auntie Cynthia of a number of her domestic abuse case clients desiring to meet together for prayer and fellowship (including some Muslims), so please keep Thandi and I in prayer to see this simple ministry pioneered and maintained through the school with the incoming students. On that note, please be praying for the upcoming School of Church Planting and Leadership which begins Sept. 26th, that God may bring the right students for just this time and place and for where we will be reaching out to in Jesus' Name. Amen!

PRAYER POINTS AT THIS TIME:

-->Praise God for our flat is still in good condition though rent and monthly electricity have gone up significantly--that God will provide and continue to enable us to bless others in the ministry of His Kingdom

-->Regular house meeting in Overcome township every Monday afternoon

-->Preparations and students God has called for the upcoming School of Church Planting and Leadership (Sept. 26)

-->Continued support for the work in Lobone and Issore, as well as all across the new Republic of South Sudan...that the government leaders will work with people, both local and foreigners, to see the nation develop with the Word of God as the firm foundation stone...God may grant them wisdom and sense of accountability to Him and the people He has raised them to serve

Drought in Horn of Africa the Worst Since 1992...Our return to ministry in Cape Town

2011-07-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Entering a full month into a terrible drought that has sparked widespread famine across Somalia, eastern Ethiopia and Northeastern Kenya, it seems to be another refugee crisis with no feasible end in sight and children dying at an alarming daily rate. Recent figures put the number of Somalis fleeing into neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya at 3,000 people EVERYDAY (forgot to mention that key part in last email update)!

Let us continue to pray for the aid groups to be able to gain access to the most suffering peoples in al-Shabaab controlled Somalia, and for them to encounter the Lord Jesus as their Savior and Lord, the only One who suffered for all mankind to know their purpose (i.e. to enter into r/ship with Him)....John 12:32
I have put a link at the bottom of this post about a bit of what YWAM is doing in the region to meet the needs of the famine victims and bring true hope[just copy and paste into your browser, as I cannot get the link to work]:

http://ywam.org/News-Stories/news/YWAM-Acts-in-Somalia-Food-Crisis

PRAYER REQUEST: Hair Salon Ministry in Capricorn Township
On our part, Thandi and I are really looking forward to getting back into daily life and ministry in Kaapstad (Cape Town) this week, and especially the weekly fellowship we have with ladies from all over central-southern Africa in a shipping container painted pink for "Grace's Hair Salon." The first picture shows Grace (an Angolan national) holding Busi earlier this year during one of our Bible study/fellowship times. We hope to see them all together again this coming MOnday and then every Wednesday like we had before. Looking forward to giving updates on how they are growing in the Lord, and also on how we can connect more in reaching their husbands...

Also on the homefront, Thandi and I will be joining an Islamic teaching/reaching seminar at our base put on by a Nigerian colleague to grow in our understanding and heart for reaching these dear brothers and sisters. What an opportunity at just the right time!

Also had to make a point to post a pic to show we were able to celebrate Busi's 1st birthday with all of my father's family in Maryland and she was lovin all the attention!

We just opened a joint YouTube account under the username BryanThandi and hope you can check it out to see some videos we posted, including the short promo many of you saw on the work ahead in Issore, South Sudan and Busi’s 1-year slideshow…
The latest one shows Busi jumping into a pool and running around (plz excuse the wife's amateur videography:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeuhC0OMUpA

South Sudan's First Independence Day....

2011-07-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

The day has finally arrived and all the various peoples across southern Sudan and in the worldwide diaspora are celebrating the official breakaway of South Sudan from its oppressive northern counterpart. Once Africa's largest nation now splits in two, though anyone keen on studying the history of the nation and the government's primary strategy of divide and rule will quickly tell you that other marginalized peoples in the nation hold similar seccessionist aspirations.

Thandi and I were blessed to at least celebrate this big day with two southern Sudanese friends here in Bellingham, and sought to be very intentional in praying on behalf of the leaders of this young, undeveloped nation. While we observed other American friends present and asking questions about the way forward for Juba (the South's capital), we intervened in the debate over the importance of a clear constitution, accountability within the government, diversification of the national budget, investment in education, etc. and declared the supreme importance of joining with God's eternal purposes for this great land and its glorious peoples by submitting the way forward in prayer and trusting He will raise up the right leaders who recognize they are only there by God's sovereignty and their authority is given only by Him, whereby they will be held accountable to Him as they are commissioned to steward the land and its resources--and for the revelation that HUMANS are by far the most important resource in building a nation and ushering in true, creative development. And for all the people, no matter their background, to know the Lord's desire for relationship with them, that He may lavish His love and purpose upon them, receiving the call He has on their very valuable lives.

I also wanted to share some of my thoughts on how this popular vote for secession in South Sudan relates to all the revolutions that the masses have initiated across the Arab world, and particularly about what is going on in Libya right now. Soon to come....inshallah

URGENT PRAYER for Nuba Peoples, South Kordofan, Sudan Sunday, June 26th!!!

2011-06-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

We as the global church have both a great responsibility and incomparable privilege in partnership with the power of the Holy Spirit to intercede for the growth of our Lord Jesus' upside-down Kingdom. We know the ways by which God draws people and entire nations to Himself often is foolish to the world, but proves to be transformative and brings wisdom and true life in the end (1 Corinthians 1:27).

However, sometimes the battle rages much more in certain areas and places where the forces of evil have been given authority, and we as the Church must really take time to listen and intercede in speaking out Christ's hope and life in the face of terror and certain death.

We are in such a time as this right now in joining together in prayer to see change in a highly persecuted and violent part of the world, where the Church has faced numerous obstacles over the centuries and yet still stands and draws people in by Jesus' presence. I am talking about the Nuba Mountains, a disputed region between north and South Sudan. Although not historically part of southern Sudan, the Nuba Mountains has long been marginalized by more dominant tribes, and for more than two decades have been special target of the northern Government of Sudan military. The Nuba are not a single tribe, but a grouping of many African sub-tribes with distinct cultural differences and at least fifty distinct dialects. A proud and ancient grouping of peoples, the Nuba peoples have gradually been squeezed into more inhospitable terrain or forced to eke out a living in the slums surrounding Khartoum.

You may have heard of the escalation of fighting between north and south on the disputed border regions of Sudan leading up to the South's official declaration of independence July 9th, butnot about Nuba mountains (which are actually in the north and have undergoneimmense persecution and forced Muslim conversion throughout the war before)being targeted once again as churches are burned down and people fleeing violence. During the last phase of war (roughly 1983-2005) the Nuba peoples were heavily persecuted and about half turned to Islam while the other half stayed strong in Christ in the midst of unspeakable persecution. Now the North is making it clear it desires to fully subjugate them as apart of the official North...Please take time to read this letter from the Bishop of Episcopal Church of Sudan in Kaduguli, Nuba Mountains:

THE TIME IS NOW TO TURN AROUND THIS TIDE OF KILLING AND TERROR, AND EXPECT TO SEE A CHANGE IN THE REPORTS COMING FROM THIS LAND OF PROMISE!!!!

From the office ofthe Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli, Sudan: A Call To Prayer and Fasting to End the Nuba Genocide, and for the Peace of all Sudan!

To all my brothersand sisters in Christ, On behalf of my people in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan weare asking all Sudanese Christians wherever they are, and the Church throughoutthe world to join with us in a day of prayer and fasting on June 26,2011.

Once again we arefacing the nightmare of genocide of our people in a final attempt to erase ourc ulture and society from the face of the earth. It is not a war between armiesthat is being fought in our land, but the utter destruction of our way of lifeand our history, as demonstrated by the genocide of our neighbors and relativesin Darfur. This is a war of domination and eradication, at it's core it is awar of terror by the government of Sudan against their people.

As we approach the July 9 day of independence for the new South Sudan, President Bashir has declared for all the world to hear that Sharia (Islamic law) will be the law of the land for the North, refusing to recognize the legitimate presence of the Christian minority. It is a declaration of their determination to also end theremembrance of our Christian heritage that dates back two thousand years to thestory of the Ethiopian eunuch (who was from modern day Sudan).

At this moment,there is a meeting in Ethiopia with the different parties of Sudan, the African Union and other international parties seeking to find a true path of peace thatrecognizes our right to survive and thrive as a people, both Muslim andChristian alike, with equality and justice for all. Please pray and fast withus as you are able for a solution to this crisis.

Rt.Revd Andudu AdamElnail Bishop Of the Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli, Sudan

Below are a few recent articles that shed some light on what has happened lately:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13882924
http://www.tnr.com/article/world/90653/sudan-darfur-kordofan-genocide
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2078615,00.html

Our Heart and Vision for working with the people of South Sudan:

2011-05-07T22:51:00.000-07:00

Our Calling:
We are called as a family to reach out to the least, the last and the lost, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, revealing that they too can be reconciled to God and have the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Two Burdens Coming together for the same great nation: SUDAN ('Land of the Black People')

God has individually given Thandi and I a burden for the people of Sudan since 2003, four years before we even met one another. Thandi was in her DTS (Discipleship Training School) in South Africa and I was studying geopolitics for my undergraduate degree at Central Wash. University. For me, it was during an essay assignment on a marginalized group of people that led me to hone in on the collective group of Christians across the semi-autonomous southern region.

Regarding the people of South Sudan and their needs, they are a diverse array of peoples with immense needs that will continue for many years to come, even if independence is officially granted in July. The basic necessities of life, water, food and shelter, are constantly under threat due to ongoing instability and internal displacement as the leaders continue to struggle for power and a say in the future of this nation.

We are now also praying and trusting God for the right team to join us, ministering under the auspices and authority of Youth With a Mission (YWAM), but actively building strategic partnerships with other organizations as well. We believe the foundational principles of YWAM as an international and interdenominational organism which puts the Great Commission as number one priority to be Biblical and holding the DNA to actively disciple a nation and its peoples. There is already a Sudanese couple desiring to pioneer a discipleship center in the area we are pursuing, though there is still need for additional team members to see the vision realized and cover the many ministries (ex. street children).

Our Heart and Vision: From South Sudan into the Horn of Africa
The ultimate goal is not to make Christians of the southern Sudanese, but to unlock their minds to see God has equipped them through Christ Jesus to build their nation in righteousness and purpose. In other words, to see the full gospel operate in their daily lives so that the Kingdom of God is uniquely shown among the tribes and then sent out to see other lost tribes/peoples come to a saving relationship with their Lord Jesus that solidifies their identity. We believe the Church in South Sudan has a key inheritance among the surrounding nations, with a particular calling to unlock the keys to redemption among the Somali and other sub-tribes in the little-reached Horn of Africa....and we want to be apart of seeing that come to be!

What we are Doing in South Africa to Prepare for Living and Ministering in South Sudan:

-unreached people group research
-maintaining contact with Sudanese friends/church
-leading teams into the specific region of Sudan, focusing on reaching a marginalized sub-tribe with the full gospel of community development and spiritual maturity through simple church plants
-attending Leading by the Spirit seminars and other local courses (ie SBS) to strengthen our call into pioneering new ministries (Crucial topics incl. spiritual warfare, leading prayer among divisive ethnic groups, and perseverance)
-working with the Prayer Dept. on base to lead community intercession times on Sudan and the Horn of Africa region
-praying for family life and education in South Sudan; seeking out resources for family ministry
-conducting door-to-door ministry and Bible studies in local townships, centering on Jesus’ 7 Major Commands (Repentance, Faith, Love, Pray, Give, Communion and Making Disciples) which we will later implement and build upon in Sudan
-teaching on the Big Picture, a great tool for Oral cultures, to get the gospel across in pictures and helping all peoples to see their place in God’s Story

Updated Video and Pics of Busisiwe wethu...

2011-05-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

Here is Busi's first introduction to a horse over Easter Weekend with extended family (my sister's in-laws):

(Please excuse the ridiculous noises coming from the father/cameraman)

And then we decided she needed to really see some snow...It was our first time using this backpack given to us by my Aunt and Uncle, and though she didn't know what world we had entered into and was crying hysterically at the start, once we got going on the snowshoes she was asleep until we stopped in the lovely mountain sun for lunch!

Busi's first touchdown in USA...

2011-04-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, she has warmed up to her grandparent's home and is lovin all the attention:

Otherwise, the three of us are enjoying our visit to the USA, even though it took us a good while to adapt to the cold climate (where is spring?) and getting Busi adjusted to a new time zone and stuffy noses combined with teething!
We have been so blessed to see many of our supporters, and are trusting God to lead us to share with many more to increase our prayer base and get out word of this exciting time to serve the Lord and bring His Word as the foundation of a new nation (Republic of South Sudan).

Here are a few pics of our time during Easter with new friends (horses) and family (Busi's cousins):

Visiting the Logut people of Issore (Acholi Mountains), South Sudan

2011-03-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

Below are a few photos that gives you an idea of the people we were able to reach, hear their felt needs, and minister into some of their unfelt needs. We are now praying about long-term partnership into this area...

Some of the children in Lobone town (you can tell those in school and those not), at the base of the Acholi mountains, once a Sudan People's Liberation Army stronghold
The foundations have started for a YWAM base in Lobone to receive teams and give support to the development work among the Logut in the mountains just north:
Some the Logut women who came up to greet us as we took a much-needed break on the way up to the first (of seven) villages of Issore
Myself with the head (only) primary schoolteacher in the village of Kamayokongo (Acholi for 'Grab the alcohol') with the soccer field behind us (which also served as our sleeping grounds); the school had just gotten burned to the ground from a recent bushfire that got out of control

Christmas with family in Maputo, Mozambique...

2011-01-21T02:52:00.000-08:00

Proudly South African

2010-11-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

I am not sure about those of you in the isolated world of America, but I believe the majority of the world has borne witness to the professionalism and smoothness with which South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I was especially convinced of this after observing the embarrassment that the 2010 Commonwealth Games proved to be for India a few months ago. Honestly, I was amazed at how well everything went throughout the month-long tournament and hosting of tens of thousands of foreigners infiltrating a country only twenty years out of one of the most oppressive governments in the world.

I can say today that being married to a South African and having a South African/American little girl, I am truly blessed and proud to be identified with South Africa. As nearly all the products that are locally made in this great nation have written on them, I am "Proudly South African." While this 'buy local' marketing campaign and logo is great to support local production, I recently learned it can sometimes be deceiving. Over a dinner discussion with a Kenyan family and friends, a passionate topic came up. Kenya not being recognized for the things they produce and export to South Africa--namely, their unique blend of Arabica coffee from the fertile highlands. South Africa carries out what is called Rebranding of certain products that are not South African, but package them as if they were. Thus, you buy Kenyan coffee in the local grocery but there is nothing on the package to indicate it actually comes from Kenya! The closest I have seen is a rebranded coffee called Kenna:) So this is the reality of global trade and manipulation of markets.

While the months leading up to the World Cup were at times quite tense within the host cities, such as when the police forcefully confiscated my new camera after innocently taking a photo of a truck accident outside our apartment in a Cape Town suburb far from the city, the event itself was truly a remarkable experience.

Now the debate rages on in Cape Town, where the money is put into rugby and cricket, whether their World Cup stadium down near the water will survive, with the dimensions only sufficient for soccer and not the former two sports! Yet, South Africa has proved its vitality and ingenuinity in spite of very diverse cultures that have earned it the nickname "Rainbow Nation."

Busisiwe shows her support for her father's homeland as well--Go Mariners!
Merry Christmas from all of us here in the sunny southern hemisphere and Happy 2011!!!

Issues/Prayer Surrounding Upcoming Referendum Vote for SUDAN

2010-11-22T02:25:00.000-08:00

Long before voter registration officially opened last week Monday, al-junabiin (Southern Sudanese) have been quite vocal about their intentions to secede from their northern counterpart, based in the much more developed Khartoum. Yet, the issue is not so much now whether they will truly split or not but what will happen after the referendum set for January 9th. What are all the issues that must be considered for true development to take place in the south, even if it does become the newest nation-state on earth? Chief among these issues is the ongoing, unresolved debate of the three major disputed territories of Abyei, Nuba mountains, and Blue Nile province and where their citizens will live.

Wolfram Lacher, a researcher on Sudan and the Horn of Africa, discusses contentious issues related to the referendum and possible solutions (the full article can be found at http://blogs.ssrc.org/sudan/2010/10/06/negotiating-southern-independence/):

The negotiations are structured into four areas, each of which is covered by a working group comprising representatives of both parties: Citizenship; Security; Economic, Financial and Natural Resources; as well as International Treaties and Legal Issues. Key negotiating points include an arrangement to divide up oil export revenues; the rights and duties of citizens across the common border (including rights of residence, work, trade and land use); the currency and national debt; water; and security arrangements. In addition, two issues that are not part of the negotiations in this context are nevertheless of major importance for future north-south relations: the delineation of the common border, and the status of Abyei.

He argues that the Abyei referendum might lead to violence. Abyei is an area in Sudan with “special administrative status,”

The preparations for the Abyei referendum have experienced even more delays than the independence referendum, and the criteria for voter eligibility are fiercely contested. As a result, doubts are growing whether the vote will be held on time, and the Abyei dispute is increasingly becoming a negotiating point. In September, the NCP suggested that the Abyei referendum should be cancelled and the area should be turned into a demilitarised zone whose residents would have dual nationality. The SPLM has rejected the proposal, not least because it would represent a departure from one of the key components of the CPA, and therefore could ultimately raise questions about the independence referendum itself. Nevertheless, a negotiated solution would offer an opportunity to defuse the Abyei dispute. The Abyei referendum would be very likely to lead to violence in the region. The conflict not only has a national dimension (related to the oilfields located in Abyei) but is particularly explosive at the local level, where the rights to residency and land use of two groups are at stake – the Ngok Dinka (a key constituency for the SPLM) and the Misseriya (a Baggara tribe).

Another contentious area, though wholly within the southern border, is that of Unity State and the town of Bentiu (where Thandi and I believe God is leading us to) where a large amount of the nations oil is being drilled and exported north via the only pipeline. With that said and to think about, a lot of words have been coming out of the three intercession times I led for Sudan and the upcoming referendum at different bases here in South Africa. The first one that came through was the need for the believers to truly WORSHIP the living God in the midst of this, and find their true purpose and peace of heart in Him, no matter what ends up happening around them (though they still must be involved in making history). The most recent prayer session here at Muizenberg saw God's heart for reconciliation shining through, though also with the word 'split' with it, leading to remembrance of the divided kingdom of Israel into Judea and Samaria.
Other words we have been receiving for Sudan and God's people there are...

-Daniel 2:31-45Pray in God’s Kingdom; His kingdom stands firm forever. Just as the image had a different materials, there was one stronger than all the others (in Neb’s dream). God’s Kingdom stands and is everlasting; pray in God’s glory over Sudan (speak it out)
-Dan. 2:20-22; 4:34,35God wants to restore people’s Identity and speak Destiny into them; He wants to raise up Daniels (Dan 1:8 “He resolved not to defile himself”)
-2 Cor. 7:14 “If my people who are called by my Name confess their sins, I will heal their land”
-Picture of Jesus walking on the streets of Sudan; a jar of water is poured out on the dry ground and spreads across it, and the water=God’s people
- Jeremiah 33v3 – “Call to me” God says
- Bringing back restoration.
- Jeremiah 29v10-14
- Isaiah 44v2 “I am your creator you where in my care even before you were born”
- Colossians 3:12-15
- No unity without forgiveness
- Feeling of hopelessness for change (Broken clock); people may try to force the change against God’s will
-God’s heart is for reconciliation among the peoples and is already moving through various ministries
[Reconciliation involves a changed relationship because our trespasses are not counted against us, by God’s grace—must first be reconciled to God before we can be reconciled to others (2 Cor5:18-19)]
-Prayed against spirit of fear, violence and retaliation
-Peace of Christ in hearts, not just around society—brings true freedom
-Only God can solve the dispute
-Isa. 2:4-5harvesting tools for reaping unreached in north (turned from weapons of war to farming tools)
-God will raise up peacemakers from both north and south
-Sense of trying to see something, but still veiled/hazy
-Just speak what God has already done—His faithfulness
-Received the word ‘Split’- maybe by man’s choice but not reflecting God’s will—shows God’s love to let them choose (Picture of divided kingdom of Judea (south) and Samaria (north))
-Faith, hope and love—-cannot love God if you don’t love your brother; may God bring this revelation to a number of Muslim brethren truly seeking after God’s heart, who will be reconcilers with southerners

I hope we are encouraged of all that God is already doing in this divided, yet great, nation, and the great destiny upon its diversity of peoples! Let's keep lifting them all before the Lord's throne of grace...

A picture I took of a Shilluk man showing his support for SPLM on CPA Celebration day Jan. 9th 2008 in Malakal, Upper Nile state, South Sudan

Reaching Out to the Muslims in this generation

2010-11-20T08:01:00.000-08:00

This past week I had the privilege of teaching on a subject that the Lord is giving me an increasing passion for as I make more Muslim friends and read up more on all the ways they are kept bound in a system that says God is distant and quick to judge.
This was my first time to teach in a week seminar format, though I felt I needed to incorporate some who have been in ministry reaching out to Muslims and sharing the truth about Jesus CHrist to them, and so I invited a Nigerian brother studying for his doctorate to come and share his insights. It was especially insightful because he came out of a strong Muslim background where the community is quick to kill anyone who comes to follow the truth of Jesus. What is amazing and what I incorporated into my teachings is the fact that Jesus is referred to in the Qur'an as Isa al-Masih ('Jesus the Messiah') 11 times, in addition to being given the titles KallamtaAllah ('Word of God') and RohoyuAllah ('Spirit from God'). I also incorporated some of the video testimonies known as More Than Dreams, which are miraculous stories of Jesus appearing to Muslims around the world and saving them from a very oppressive system.

It was a great learning experience for me to teach over a period of time and see the students grow in their compassion for Muslim peoples and truly believing God will lead them by His grace to speak into the lives of many while on their outreach.

The team photo are the students going for the 3-month outreach from England, USA, Germany, South Africa and South Korea. We also have a Brasilian student, but he needs to get back to serve his church in Brasil.

Lastly, we had to share that we already received news that Busi's South African passport is in for pick-up! Now it only remains to aquire the Unabridged Birth Certificate so that we can put in the application for her US Passport before traveling next April/May. Shukran Rabi Yeshua al-Masih (Thank you Lord Jesus)!

And thank you all for your continued support in our lives and the overall mission God has called us to as a family. Enjoy the family pic (when Busi came to visit me after my first day of teaching).

SUFFERING FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE

2010-10-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

During the week of the Lausanne Congress here in Cape Town, Thandi and I were able to go with a few students to a nearby Anglican church which was hosting a series of Biblical topics covered by some of the incoming global church leaders. We decided to attend a few sessions in the "Healing" tract and it was great. The speaker was a pastor from Singapore who has planted a number of churches in this key city with 'healing rooms' that have naturally grown around the services, thus meeting the people's needs in very real ways. But he came across in a very down-to-earth way and wanted to communicate God's heart to bring all forms of healing/salvation (look up Sozo in the greek) through His church (i.e. all His people). The simplicity and humility of this anointed man was quite disarming and it was a very captivating lecture with some good hands-on application at the end where we prayed for each other and released God's presence in us to the person suffering from some sickness/pain, and a few people got healed of years old problems!
As the pastor instructed us, "Don't start telling God what to do; he already knows what to do! Just engage the Spirit, visualize God healing them and release His presence."

But what stuck out for me the most was when he highlighted different understandings of SUFFERING. He spoke about the suffering of the Bible and the early church who said "We must endure many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God" and how this continues to this day in countries where believers are persecuted for their faith. But what about open countries that have not faced physical persecution for some time? This is where many buy into the fallacy that a sickness or disease falls under the category of suffering for Jesus' Name. If we are honest, we sometimes see an illness we are going through as God's will for us to make us more holy and dependent upon Him. But where does it speak about this in the Bible? I have heard many people speculate about Paul's "thorn in the flesh" being some kind of illness he had to battle through. But if you follow his life after conversion, it was clear he had many enemies and it was likely a group of religious people (some say the Circumcision Party) who doggedly pursued him and tried to discredit everything he said and did. This was truly suffering for the sake of the gospel going forth and the Name of Jesus being lifted high in all nations as God has intended from the beginning.

It is God's will to heal His people and the suffering we are called to partake in is only that kind that surely comes when we exalt him before any other thing in this world. As it says from Jesus' own mouth in Mark 10:45, "The Son of Man (Jesus/God) did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." His death and new life was (1) for the purpose of God's glory in heaven, to Whom every knee shall bow, and (2) for the purpose of bringing his abundant life (Jn. 10:10). Granted, we cannot walk in this abundant life until we have entered into His death (Gal. 2:20), which is our part in suffering for His Name's sake, but then we are not to accept plaguing illnesses as part of God's plan for us.

Lastly, it was very encouraging to hear that even when we pray for healing and it doesn't seem to happen for the person, we mustn't give up and say it must be God's will. You move on to pray for the next person God speaks to you about. Those who receive the gift of healing usually receive it just like any other gift from God--by a passion and asking of fellowship for it for the glory of God. As Paul instructs, "Eagerly desire the greater gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31).

I hope you are encouraged as I was to press deeper into God's rich storehouse of gifts and see a little more of heaven come down to earth and bring the full salvation (physical and spiritual) God intends for all nations to receive from Him.

Church Planting School Among the Unreached 2010 Underway...

2010-10-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

We just finished up our first week of Introduction and Imparting the Vision of Muizenberg's fifth School of Cross-Cultural Strategic Missions (aka Church Planting school). We have a total of seven students from five different nations, and it has been great to see the hunger and passion for making Christ known that they have brought with them. I will soon be getting a class photo posted and they themselves are preparing media to let people know what they will be doing and who they will be targeting on their outreach. In the meantime, I am responsible to lead them in local outreach where we had started a simple house church network amidst a nearby informal settlement called Overcome.

I (Bryan) have written previously about the fruit seen thus far and our vision for a CPM (Church Planting Movement) among the people, who have settled there from all over South Africa. Just last week, Robario, Simon (the other staff in Church Planting school with me) and I had the privilege to lead two Zulu brothers to receive Jesus into their hearts and begin a fresh life led by His grace. The DTS will be doing follow-up with this home and the area, while our CP school will head into a new part of the community to seek out a man/woman of peace that further spread the power of the gospel among these desperate souls. The fields are definitely ripe for the harvest as people are crying to God for breakthroughs!

The pictures below are from a major soccer/netball clinic we helped out at towards the end of World Cup, when all the children were on school break. This big event had over 1000 kids and was held at Fish Hoek High School. The last picture shows me and a Brazilian volunteer from Samaritan's Feet posing after refereeing a tight match:

Interceding for Sudan

2010-09-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

As the date for the end of the referendum power-sharing government between North and South Sudan rapidly approaches (set for Jan.9, 2011), there is a lot of skepticism and debate going around about what will be best for the nation of Sudan as well as the surrounding region. In sharing its borders with nine different African countries who have all borne witness to its nearly 50-year long civil war, it is no wonder that Africa is engaged in seeing the coming vote progress smoothly and with beneficial results. The main question on everyone's mind is: Will the South remain united to the North or will it secede to become the youngest nation in the world? And immediately following that: Will its secession bring any real change for the betterment of Sudan's citizens, both northerners and southerners?

Thandi and I were privileged to have the opportunity to lead a time of intercession for Sudan at the much larger YWAM Worcester base this previous week. It was really amazing to be able to put into practice some of the skills we learned in our Leading by the Spirit seminar right after completing it! The questions we posed to our multicultural prayer participants were as follows:
-What is God's heart towards the referendum and where the people of Sudan are at right now?
-What is the truth about the current situation?

This still kept it very broad but we wanted to make sure we heard from God first what was on His heart to pray for that morning, instead of immediately narrowing it down to Government, the Church, etc. It is amazing to first see how the people engaged with the Spirit at 8am, so much that various leaders came up to us after praying for us as a couple and expressed their surprise. But we had been praying the night before specifically for this. Secondly, we got to witness God bringing together many parts of His love and plans for Sudan through many different nations. There was a major focus on activating PRAISE for Yahweh alone, as the one true Redeemer and Lover of the peoples of Sudan. There was also a clear calling for Sudan believers to rise up as warriors and be sent out to the unreached, forsaking all to see the lost come to Christ.

Overall, it was a blessed time that we could see many wanted to carry on with, though the time slot didn't allow for it. However, we will be following up with them as a base before we head out on our trip next year to spy the land once again and renew contacts and make new ones. We also one girl come up who we shared her burning heart for the Sudanese, and we prayed for God's leading of her and her own personal intercession as she cried freely for the Sudanese. It was wonderful to be seeing in the spirit some of the devil's grip being inevitably loosened as we proclaimed God's supreme greatness and spoke it His heart over Sudan.

We are currently compiling a document of all the words we have received for Sudan in our various intercession times and seeking the Prayer/Worship Department's advice on how to continue to hold this nation before God's gracious throne. This next Monday I also have the opportunity to lead our base in intercession for Somalia, which is today operating like three nations in one, and will be excited to see what God speaks over the destiny of this fragmented nation and its precious peoples.

Celebrating our 1st Anniversary and then the birth of our daughter 2 days later!

2010-08-11T10:16:00.001-07:00

World Cup in South Africa June 14-July 11 2010

2010-07-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

The welcome we received at Cliff and Beryl's place in Port Elizabeth: all of our country's home flags (I was also supporting Mexico with the T-shirt)

At one of the two matches we were able to watch at beautiful Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in PE (Eastern Cape Province)

Showing love for USA at False Bay train station before heading to the FIFA Fan Park in downtown Cape Town (this was the game where US got ripped off against Slovenia)

Off to see some matches in Port Elizabeth; feelin' da Football Fever!

2010-06-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here is an URGENT PRAYER REQUEST for getting the Word out to those who haven't heard her in Cape Town!

Dear Friends,
I ask you to pray for favor and permission to put Korean Bibles in the Southern Sun Hotel rooms for the North Koreans. Republic of Korea is a communist nation so closed to them ever hearing the good news. They just played Brazil and will come to Capetown for a game and they need the love of Jesus. Pray for favor with the hotel, that the team reads the Bibles and God moves on their behalf. It is the most closed nation to the gospel but God can come in miraculously! Please pray fervently! Pray for favor and that they see and read the Bibles! We just got Korean Bibles yesterday! South Korea is one of the biggest missionary and outreach nations for the gospel in the World now and we pray North Korea opens up for the gospel!!!

This is from a YWAM couple that is affiliated with our base and taken real initiative to get materials in several languages including Arabic, to reach out to unreached peoples that have flooded into South Africa for the World Cup. Cape Town is already a very cosmopolitan city with many nationalities, but this has been huge in bringing the gospel to those who have never heard!

While I have had the chance to go into Cape Town and share Christ through just striking up conversations with fellow fans, I have been mostly involved in local kids clubs and soccer/netball clinics for the children/teens on holiday over the World Cup duration. It has been very beneficial especially in the community my Brazilian brother and I have already been going into to start house fellowships (ie Overcome), just to be able to be more known and trusted with residents in the area as we have fun with the kids and show them Christ's full love and acceptance.

Now, I prepare to head East with three brothers (South African, English and Brazilian) to feel the World Cup fever in another host city--namely Port Elizabeth on the south coast in lovely Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. We were able to get tickets for two matches a couple days apart, and are pumped. Part of the time will be spent celebrating the Brazilian (Adelson, my co-worker in Frontier Missions Department) getting married in August to his delightful Belgian bride. While it will be difficult for Thandi to be apart for 4 days straight, she will be spending most nights with the wife of another who just had her first baby girl--so good preparation for our own due on our 1st Anniversary, July 25th!

We thank you dearly for your prayers in the pregnancy, and for our work here for the Kingdom of God coming down in Cape Town and spreading like the fire it is into the nations!

Opening Day Match at Base: Mexico vs. Bafana Bafana (South Africa)

MORE PICS TO COME!

New Pics of the family in Johannesburg

2010-05-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

The two pregnant sisters sizing it up (Nonhlanhla on right is due a month before Thandi)

Our nephew, Nkosinathi ('God with us'), better known as Nathi, will eat anything and everything he can scrounge up, but is a delight

At the wedding--all the sisters but one [We only made one afternoon of the three-day event, and was a little bummed we missed out on the slaughtering of the ox]

The stormy weather on our drive back closing in on Cape Town made for some instant and glorious waterfalls....man, I love waterfalls!

Praying for Sudan's National Elections April 11th...

2010-04-09T01:56:00.000-07:00

Thandi (6 months pregnant) with Nelli, her sister

Showing our love for America & Africa!

Yes, the time is here. Really, I can't believe how fast time is moving, both in personal/family life and global events. This Sunday the stage has been set for Sudan to vote for all seats of government in the disjointed nation for the first time in two decades, in spite of protests and allegations of rigging and the impossibilities of fairness. But even the UN's pleas to postpone the elections have not been heeded, and the show must go on. While the importance of this vote pales in comparison to the referendum vote set for January 2011 to determine the future of North-South relations in southerners' minds, it still is being widely watched internationally.
A major development is that of the primary opposition party, the Umma party, claiming they will boycott elections, which would most definitely put the ongoing President Omar al-Bashir firmly in control of claiming the victory.

What is the role of believers in such elections as these, where it looks almost certainly that nothing much will change? Do we just accept it as inevitable or push in believing God's justice to shine through from the spiritual into the physical realm? These are some of the questions Thandi and I have been wrestling with as we pray for this nation of special inheritance for us. Please pray with us in this transitional period for Sudan, and especially for its citizens to seek out God for their role in bringing godly change to their nation.

In more personal news of return from outreach in Kenya and preparations for the baby come, you can view the email update I send out. If you keep up on this blog but do not receive the email updates, please let me know ASAP so that I can add you!
Blessings from the Whitlock family (Thandi, Bryan and baby to come) in South Africa...

Oh yes, thanks to all your responses of commitment to be praying for us before we headed to Kenya. We are now organizing this and will get back to you.

Bull Fighting in Western Province, Kenya...good times

2010-01-17T05:39:00.000-08:00

The Bishop hosting our team is the one in the maroon shirt running away from the charging (though defeated) black bull at the end of the clip. He was scared out of his mind.

Sorry to have not gotten up the video earlier, but it was due to network problems at the local internet cafe. We have since had a significant change in our trip itiniary, and have added a third primary location to this mission. We are now finishing up a refreshing week at the Lewa Children's Home/Baraka Dairy Farm outside of Eldoret. It has been so good just to spread the love of the Father to these abandoned children and orphans (currently about 60 of them, including some infants). Each night we have been able to use their prayer times (very Catholic) to share dramas that exemplify the character and nature of God, and even invited them to accept Jesus into their hearts last night. Three of the older boys (around 11) stayed after for prayer, and did just that. Glory to the God of our salvation! Tomorrow, we head further north to Kitale briefly before continuing on to Lodwar and Lokichoggio in Turkanaland. Look forward to sharing more after we arrive in this semi-arid land, known for its dust and hot wind. Mungu awabariki! (God bless you all!)

The other two pictures are of our more recent time up in Lokichoggio, Northwest corner of Kenya. Thandi is playing with our hosts' children, and then a boy killing time in Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Final Update [Important One] before arriving in Kenya for Christmas Goat Stew!

2009-12-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

[Picture we got hiking near Table Mountain before my camera was stolen...but, thank God, I got another one coming]

Hamjambo wote (Hi everyone),
Greetings in our Lord Jesus. I really appreciate all of you that replied back to the last update and are making the effort to keep in touch. I know it is not easy, but it is so incredibly encouraging. I believe, at least in our first location, that we will be able to give out weekly updates as we report back to the base. But before we get there.....

There is much joy at this time for isipho wa Nkulunkulu khakhulu (a great gift of God).... Thandi and I just found out last week that she is now 8 weeks pregnant with our first child. While it was at first quite shocking news to us, we have individually and corporately sought God and known His peace about this child He is giving us. While we also don’t feel ready at this time to be parents, we do trust Him who is over all and in all (Rom. 11).
God has been challenging me to be more organized, so that He can show His power and care more in my life together with Thandeka. Therefore, I am asking you to see about supporting us in prayer for one day each week, with the end goal of having someone praying for us every calendar day of every month. So, if you are able to sort through your schedule, please respond to us at this email or iqembuwhitlock@gmail.com to tell us when you are able to pray. We really need this, though I will not likely get back to you about it until after this outreach and the students are graduated. Thanks so much...Siyabonga khakhulu!

Obviously a main prayer at this time is for Thandi and the baby. We are discussing options of her being with us the first month and then me taking her back to Nairobi to fly back and be with her family in Johannesburg, while I reconnect with the team to head north to the more dangerous but promised north. We know it will be difficult to be apart, but that bus/lorry ride/walk up will likely be too bumpy for her. Thank you for lifting us up in prayers. It is a great surprise to us, but after much prayer and discussion, we have peace from God that this timing is right and this will draw us further down the path He has called us to walk.

Outside of our immediate family concern and the DTS, Thandi and I have felt led to lend our projector to a Brazilian-Belgian couple who are going to YWAM Swaziland to pioneer the SBS (School of Biblical Studies) there for the next three months. It will prove very valuable to them as they conduct much of their teaching via Powerpoint, and can more effectively pass on the inductive Bible study method--i.e. Observation, INterpretation (meaning to the original hearer & reader, etc.) and Application--to the native Swazi students who will stay on to staff. It is so powerful because the students must arrive at a personal application of the Word, which is exactly as God intended for us. This drills into us who we are in Christ, to be more than conquerors in this world of evil and despair!

We will be getting reimbursed for the time they use it (since the bulb costs nearly as much as the projector itself), but are so glad to see it put to use rather than sitting in our closest for the next two months while we are on outreach. We look forward to taking it with us for ministering in the towns and villages of Sudan once we hear God on that.

Final Week: Team Dynamics and Preparation

2009-12-12T03:30:00.000-08:00

Bwana Yesu asifiwe! Bwana asifiwe tena kanisa wa Mungu! (Praise the Lord Jesus! Praise the Lord again CHurch of God!)...

Soon I shall be re-entering into a land very dear to my heart--KENYA. However, this time will be the first with my wife at my side! HOw sweet it is to have someone constant in your life to refine you and teach you to love better.
While it was a bit of a process narrowing down why God was challenging Thandi and I to lead an outreach team to Kenya while still so young in marriage, we are more excited than ever to jump in with the team. A big part of this, of course, is the strong team dynamic we have built up thus far with the students. Truly, we cannot give out what we ourselves have not first received. And how much more powerful is our giving when done in unity! As it says in Psalm 133, it is there that the Almighty God of all creation commands a blessing--and, oh, how we want to be a blessing to all peoples and nations (tribes) he puts in our path!

This week has been filled with many practical activities to prepare the teams for various forms of culture shock and be on our guard for deceptions from the enemy. We shall go into battle triumphant because of who we are in Christ! (Ephesians 2...Actually, all of Ephesians drills this into the believer).

God bless all of you in unforeseen ways this Christmas!

Now in the 9th Week of DTS...God is growing us incredibly as a Body!

2009-11-24T00:50:00.000-08:00

The Lord has been speaking to me a lot about what it means to "enter His rest" while still being actively engaged in His redemptive work. This may also relate to the topic of "actively waiting on God." King David is a prime example of this waiting on God for deliverance while still taking action to rule the kingdom given him, and even before being crowned king when he was being pursued by his worldly-minded predecessor, King Saul. Hebrews 4:1-3 also relates very specifically to this theme of resting in the promises of God. This has been incredibly relevant to Thandi and I in this time… As verse 2 says: “For we have also had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” In other words, we, as Christians, can receive all kinds of prophetic words and promises of God to us, but unless we actively believe that these promises will come to pass, they will remain covered for another individual or generation to uncover and birth into the physical world. As one of the guest speakers prayed out and imparted to us at the recent Nations 2 Nations Conference in Jeffrey’s Bay, “We shall no longer be prisoner to our potential!” The key to unlocking this prayer and ourselves being the answer to this prayer is stepping into God’s promises in faith, continually speaking them out, no matter the circumstances, in faith.

As the following commentary for Heb. 4:1-3 unravels (though in quite old and wordy English) for us the depths of this passages’ meaning, we see just why the gathering of those who believe in God’s promises (the Church) is so crucial:

"…not being mixed with faith in them that heard it; the Gospel is as food, and faith is the hand that receives it, and takes it, and tastes of it, and eats it, and concocts and digests it; and when this is the case, it is profitable and nourishing; but when it is otherwise, it is not. The Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, and five of Beza's ancient copies, and as many of Stephens's, with others, read, "they were not mixed" referring it not to the word, but to persons; and so read the Arabic and Ethiopic versions: and the sense is, that the generality of the Israelites did not join themselves in faith, in believing in God, to Caleb and Joshua; who hearkened to the Lord, and received and obeyed his word; and so the word became useless to them: there ought to be an union or conjunction of the saints, and the bond of this union is love; and the thing in which they unite is faith, believing in Christ, and the doctrine of faith, which is but one; and though the word may be profitable to others who are not in the communion of the saints; yet forsaking the assembly of the saints, and not constantly attending with them, or not mixing with them continually in public worship, is one reason of the unprofitable hearing of the word when it is preached to them."

This also reminds me of Swahili proverb (mthali) that says Mwomba Mungu hachoki (He who seeks God never tires). The implication is that God continuously fuels (gives grace to) the person who seeks Him consistently. This encourages me greatly and should encourage every believer of the risen Christ that we need not fall into the trap of striving to live righteously and being a ‘good’ or even ‘obedient’ Christian.

The photos above show the final evening of our Nations 2 Nations week in Jeffreys Bay, an 8-hour drive east of Cape Town. We joined with several other DTSs from around the country and region, including Swaziland (a small kingdom and independent nation on the border of Mozambique), and received much impartation of God's heart for ALL nations, including our own. I was struck once again with just how deep God's love is for all peoples (ethne) and His strong desire for their cultural practices to be redeemed so that He may be known personally by them!

Preping for Outreach to Western Kenya...

2009-10-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hamjambo watu wangu (Greetings my people)...

Esh, it feels good to get back to speaking the East African language of Kiswahili (a trade language that formed from the Arabs mixing with the local Bantu dialects). Though Thandi and I didn't really see it coming, we are seeing God challenging us to take a team to a nation that has become apart of me in many ways.

Thandi and I are growing increasingly excited/expectant about leading one of the four 10-week outreaches our school will be taking. The locations we settled upon after much group prayer and then prayer together as leaders are Thailand, India, Kenya and South Africa/Swaziland. We will be leading the Kenya team after feeling a call to that country because of increased contacts with some brothers in the refugee camps near the Somali border. However, we have since found out that that region is still very insecure at this time, especially for a team of foreigners to go in, largely because the Somali jihadist group known as al-Shabbab (‘the youth’ in Arabic) have been known to cross the border to recruit and have also kidnapped/killed Westerners. I have long known the danger for Westerners in and around southern Somalia, but still believe there will be a time God calls us to go there and pray over the land and people.

For outreach, we are planning to target Kakamega first (just north of Kisimu), and then up past Lodwar and maybe to Loki:

Our team makeup is one American (me), one German, one Swede, one Kenyan and three South Africans, thus 7 in total. While there is still some time before we head off (around Christmastime), we shall have many times to intentionally meet and wait on God to see that His heart purpose is accomplished for us as a team. We are particularly praying into the possibility of travelling up the western edge of Kenya and up to the border of Sudan, maybe even working in another major refugee camp called Kakuma, where many of the Sudanese Lost Boys found refuge in before being placed in the USA and other countries. We will keep you posted on what God speaks to us as a team about this, and the reality is likely that we will have to gauge where we are at in the battle once in Kenya.

This past week has been some amazing teaching on God’s grace that is so much bigger than any effort man can make on his own strength to live a righteous life. What really stuck out for me was the costliness of sin and that sin is the most powerful force in this world either than the incarnate Christ. The reality is the believer is declared righteous (Romans 4:24) upon placing their faith in Christ, and this will always be the case. We will be overwhelmed by sin (destructive habits) unless we place our trust in the Lord who created us for life in Him, for there is no other.
This coming week everyone is excited to be travelling to another YWAM campus in the Eastern Cape province, about an 8-hour drive east along the coast in a small surfing town called Jeffrey’s Bay. The reason for going is to join with several other DTSs and missionaries to celebrate God’s heart for the nations in an annual event called Nations 2 Nations (n2n.org), which seeks to celebrate nations and how God redeems elements of every tribe and people group to worship Him in our diversity. Thandi has been to one of these events before, but I am not sure what to fully expect. I do know we are sleeping in tents, and will have plenty of time for fellowship around volleyball, food and cultural expressions.

September Muizenberg DTS Well Under Way...

2009-10-06T02:57:00.000-07:00

A rough glance at the students and classroom:

We are now on our 3rd week of the Discipleship Training School (DTS) here at our home base in South Africa, discussing all about relationships. This is a topic that digs up a lot of things in people's past and makes students aware of areas that still need healing before they can move on in their journey with Christ Jesus. We are 28 students and 3 full-time staff from 11 different nations.

Two of our students, Jo from Switzerland and Mashadi from South Africa, were baptized in the 2nd week of school in the nearby Atlantic Ocean:

Meditated on John 6 this morning, after assigning the students their first memory verse, but God led me in worship to meditate specifically on Hebrews 9:14; this was after a theme of unworthiness was coming through in the class… “how much more will the blood of Christ…purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God”… It is when I am seeking to live rightly on my own strength and I fail that I believe in the lie that I am unworthy to be called God’s child (John 1:12). What makes me worthy is that faith in Christ, who alone holds the authority to make His followers worthy of God’s grace and favor. We are free from dead works therefore…
If we do not believe God has made us new, how can we have any authority or persevering passion to make His character and redemptive work known to others?

Thandi and I have been privileged to lead one of the small groups with two other newly-married couples, and it has been completely new for me. Just speaking for myself as a new husband, this group has aided me in changing my way of thinking about life together with my wife, altering my mindset to look to the interests of my wife before my own. It is no longer just me following hard after Christ’s heart for the tribes, but God, in His overriding wisdom, has seen fit to unite me wholeheartedly to another human being whom He has designed to fulfill me and His calling on my life. And the same, I know, goes for Thandeka. I know that our union will at least double my effectiveness in long-term missions building and discipling believers in South Sudan and beyond.

In other news, we found out that our DRC (Congolese) neighbor we had just met a few days prior (when he came by to check on our place after I had severely burned some popcorn--I used the wrong oil) had his wife in the hospital after a C-section was performed on her to deliver the baby girl. While the baby was healthy, the wife got a bad infection and had been in the hospital for nearly two weeks.
We have since visited them and helped out with supper to see the mother and baby back home and healthy. What an answer to prayer! I hope to get a photo of this family soon enough. They are quite literally the only other tenants in our building we have met that are under 50 years old.

Praying for the Roots of Africa's Conflicts

2009-09-24T02:44:00.000-07:00

Victims of the LRA attacks have said that they will often attack on Sunday mornings, as the villagers are gathering to churches like the Roman Catholic one below (I took the photo in South Sudan while staffing there; it was during this time that the LRA had crossed into Sudan for the first time then)

In an article entitled "Fear level rises as LRA rebels return", the public once again becomes aware of one of the longest and most gruesome ongoing conflicts in the world. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8259039.stm]

It is so sad to receive news (which is very often quite late in this part of the world) once again of the notoriously scattered and decentralized Lord's Resistance Army now regathering its forces in the Central African Republic, terrorizing rural villages all the way from its original headquarters in north Uganda.

Let us keep in prayer to halt this spiritual carnage of the enemy that has manifested itself in the physical for many generations now. I believe a major part in getting to the roots of Africa's conflicts has to do with addressing the false worldview and culture of fear/submission the majority of peoples grow up in. It is well known that Joseph Kony and his field commanders in the LRA and other 'rebels without a cause' receive power to allude national armies and continue in their destructive agenda from demons and forces of darkness. There is a covenant they knowingly make with the demonic world which enables the devil to use them to "steal, kill and destroy" in exchange for access to supernatural powers. People, including Christians, still live in fear of these demonic powers to this day, despite being preached to about Jesus overcoming the power of the evil one. These terrible conflicts continue to rage on in large part because Christians in rural Africa largely are not aware of their authority in Christ Jesus. How else can you explain church services being repeatedly broken up and many believers being killed without knowing why? As believers, all over the world, we must know we are daily in an intense spiritual battle, and yet the Spirit is always waiting, willing to show His power as the Lord of Hosts leading on His angelic infantry...
Let us intercede on behalf of these defenseless ones who have only received a partial Gospel, boldly approaching the throne of grace, uniting our prayers with the Great Intercessor, Jesus Himself. For there is no power greater on the face of this earth than the living out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:4). Let us pray for light of this Truth to be shed in the darkness of these regions, for wherever true light shines, the darkness must flee...Let us pray for the Lord's warriors to rise up in their authority in Christ Jesus, the Victorious One, to cut at the root the schemes of the evil one.

More reflections on this later...

Praying for Possible Outreach to Penetrate the Unreached in the Horn of Africa...

2009-09-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I came across this online article that gives a great history of the ongoing civil conflict in what the outside world knows as Somalia since its disintegration in 1991. It is entitled "Somalia: Who is Fighting Whom"
http://allafrica.com/stories/200909020835.html
As you can see from the basic map above, in recent years Somalia, though just as ethnically united as ever, has split up along ideological lines into three fairly distinct regions. Without a doubt, the remaining Somalia of the south is still the most chaotic and violent, with a continued outflow of refugees over the border into neighboring Kenya. It is in this region of NE Kenya that the UNHCR has seen it necessary to set up a network of camps to meet the basic needs of the increasing refugees. It is also this region that Thandeka and I are praying about taking a portion of the next DTS to in December of this year. While 90% of the refugees are Somali nationals, there are also a number of Ethiopians and Sudanese mixed in who I know meet together for fellowship and Bible study on a regular basis.

This is an exciting possibility for us as a new couple, especially since it is on the doorstep of our long-term vision of discipling southern Sudanese to reach the unreached specifically in the Horn of Africa region. We are expecting 30 students, including 2 married couples and a Kenyan brother, which will be one of the largest YWAM Muizenberg has had in many years! We are full of expectation for what God has in store for us as a Body and through individual revelation of WHo He is.

It is such a blessing to have family where you are at...

2009-08-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

As many have been asking, the next DTS at our base (we run four a year back-to-back) that Thandi and I will be staffing commences on 27th September, and will follow the theme of Identity and Freedom in CHrist alone based off of Galatians 5. We have really enjoyed the time away from base to get settled in, but will now start full-time with staff training next Monday.

THe photos above are of Merlyn and Mario Milhomem, a Brazilian couple who were the first ones we officially hosted in our new flat! The four of us sitting down on the sofa is in our nice and spacious living room. [We even had all the September schools staff over for a dinner because we seem to have the most space, which Thandi loves.] They are also newlyweds and co-lead a base in Goiania, central Brazil. [You can see their own blog at http://merlynandmariomilhomem.blogspot.com/ with many more pictures of Africa than ours, even though they have just been here a month:] I knew Mario from when I first came to Muizenberg in 2006, whereby we both were the first students in the newly-pioneered School of Cross-Cultural Strategic Missions (SCCSM). While I am not still directly involved in that school, it will be running again at the same time as the Discipleship School Thandi and I will be staffing, and I am very grateful for the foundational principles and training I received to be better equipped to pioneer ministries in a frontiers context, reaching out to undiscipled and even unengaged people groups. But now I am getting off the point of this specific blog. Forgive me.

As the title hints at, we were so blessed by our local YWAM family and local friends this past Saturday night when one of them organized a Housewarming Party for Thandi and I. We were thrilled to have so many come that it was literally a challenge to move from one person to the next, fellowshipping together. We were blessed not only with their presence and prayers, but many also came with desserts and house items we were still very much in need of. We thank the Lord for HIs faithfulness in our lives through those He has placed around us, both near and far off.

The Zimbabwean brother touching the custom-fit coffee table/dresser he fashioned to give our new apartment some homemade African style. He sells his items at the local Sunday flea market alongside many other Africans. The majority of shopkeepers here, however, are Cape Coloureds with a Muslim background which we are seeking to reach through building relationships, doing face painting, etc. Every Sunday a group of us go from the base for the whole day. Amazingly, almost every Sunday is indeed sunny here![You can see our car, Esmeralda, in the background, which, at that time, was suffering with a complete pancha (flat tire) from something I drove over.]

The month of Ramadan is upon us--Praying for Muslims

2009-08-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

Let's be in prayer for our Muslim brothers and sisters to KNOW the Author of man's salvation in this month:

Dates for Ramadan 2009 (or 1430) are 22 August - 20 September.
The first evening of Ramadan
In many places around the world Muslims will be looking to the heavens this evening. They will be interested in knowing if they will be able to see the crescent moon. If it is visible this will be the signal for the beginning of the month of Ramadan. (In most countries religious authorities will make a proclamation concerning the beginning of Ramadan). No fasting will take place till tomorrow morning. Muslims will rise early to eat their breakfast before the day begins. Afterwards they will not have anything else to eat or drink till nightfall. This will be their daily experience during the next 30 days.

Fasting - Ramazan
Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of the religion of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship. Abstinence from earthly pleasures and curbing evil intentions and desires is regarded as an act of obedience and submission to God as well as an atonement for sins, errors, and mistakes. Called Ramadan (or Ramazan), Muslims fast during this holy month from the moment when it first starts to get light until sunset. Muslims fast as an act of faith and worship towards Allah, seeking to suppress their desires and increase their spiritual piety. Fasting together as a worldwide community - Ummah - affirms the brotherhood and equality of man before Allah.

The Meaning of Ramadan [pretty interesting origins to pray into]
The name Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word ramida or ar-ramad, denoting intense scorching heat and dryness, especially the ground. From the same word there is ramdaa, meaning ’sunbaked sand’ and the famous proverb Kal Mustajeer minar ramadaa binnar – ‘to jump out of the frying pan into the fire.’ Some say it is so called because Ramadan scorches out the sins with good deeds, as the sun burns the ground.

Getting Settled in.....

2009-08-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Well, due to popular demand, here are a few photos from the big day in Johannesburg. I will also get some of our amazing honeymoon in Mauritius, though neither of us are feeling well right now and so the last thing we want to do is get on the computer.

Although this past month was very stressful and tense at times, the Lord enabled Thandi and I to keep perspective up to the wedding day and as we now begin our new life together. The wedding day was indeed beautiful, noticeably warmer than the previous winter days. We both want to thank our churches, mine back home in Bellingham, WA and hers in Lenasia (with her pastor masterfully orchestrating the ceremony), for their ongoing prayers through this union of two very different families and cultures. It was a privilege to host my family (parents+sister+niece) as well as my best man, who all were very flexible throughout. It was great to have them first in Cape Town to see where we have been working out of and enjoy some of the natural beauty.

News on Sudan and....Wedding Preparations

2009-07-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

SEEKING TO BRING SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL STUDIES TO SUDAN:
Over the past few years in YWAM Sudan, numerous staff members have gained a heart to bring the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) to Sudan. This nine-month YWAM school equips students to study the Bible inductively and draw out eternal truths for themselves and their people. There is a huge need for this in Sudan due to the lack of discipleship in the churches and wrong teachings being spread. One of the staff in southern Sudan has completed an SBS in Uganda. We now have three members of staff in northern Sudan who would like to travel to Egypt to take part in this course. The hope is that we could start at least one SBS in Sudan in the next few years and maybe two. The one in northern Sudan would need to be done completely in Arabic as that is what the people read and write, while in southern Sudan it would need to be done in English.

The cost for travel and the nine-month school in Egypt is around $2000 US. These Sudanese students would take part in the school in Egypt with the plan of starting in the school in Sudan in the future. Pray that God would make a way for these three to take part in the school. Also ask God to use the SBS as a tool to build up the Body of Christ in Sudan so they can be a greater blessing to their people. If you would like to give to this project, donations can be sent to: Sudanese Strategic Alliance, PO BOX 60579, Colorado Springs, CO 80960. Please make checks payable to "YWAM" and do not write "Sudan" anywhere on the check. Enclose a note that states "Sudan- SBS" so we can know what the money is designated for. Or you can go online to www.ywamcolorado.com to make a donation.

Some of you from my homechurch may remember me sharing about the SBS and part of my heart in helping introduce it to the church in Sudan when I shared about my vision back in September 2008 (I emphasize some of you). Thandeka and I both felt led during our separate outreaches to do the SBS-Core Course offered at YWAM Muizenberg last year, and it was a great experience full of revelations from the Lord. We actually just had our nine-month school graduate last week.
Let us pray together for these Sudanese students to complete this course, and for how God will coordinate YWAMers from all over to pioneer this school in Sudan.

++++++++++++++++++++
News and Current Issues
++++++++++++++++++++
1. South Sudan fighting sparks fears of wider conflict

NASIR, Sudan (AFP) — Thick lines of sweat run down the face of Peter Gatwech as he clutches the dressing around the bullet hole in his belly. "I was hit by the guns of the soldiers when we were fighting," said the 24-year old cattle keeper from the Jikany branch of the Nuer people, his voice quivering with pain. The young man is one of 33 wounded from the latest round of vicious fighting in southern Sudan who have received treatment in the hospital in Nasir, an impoverished town of mud and thatch huts in Upper Nile state.

"They were sending supplies to the Luo, and we had to stop them," he added, referring to a rival Nuer people whose lands border Jikany territory. Gatwech was with several hundred armed Jikany men who launched an attack in mid-June on a river convoy of 30 barges carrying United Nations food aid, killing at least 40 of the 150 southern soldiers acting as its escort. At least three boats were sunk and over 700 tons of grain and other supplies for the UN's World Food Program were looted.

For the complete article, please visit: AFP

This is the latest in a series of deadly incidents throughout southern Sudan. Some observers say it is just tribal rivalries boiling over again. Others accuse the Government of Sudan of arming certain groups to create instability ahead of elections next year. Most of these conflicts are taking place in a region of Sudan where most people call themselves Christians. Pray that pastors and churches will take a leading role in living out forgiveness and reconciliation.

Sudanese Strategic Alliance
sudanese@ywamsf.org
www.ywamsudan.org

The above update was for last week. On the homefront here in South Africa, Thandi and I (along with lovely Rebecca, one of her bridesmaids from Switzerland) are excited to be receiving my best man, Joel (fresh, or rather dirty, off a backpacking trip around South America), and my two parents and sister. My supportive sister, Kristin, will also be coming with her adorable daughter, Emma, who will also be our little flower girl. It is a challenge getting accomodation and furniture all sorted with our new place, but the Lord is in control and we surrender each day to Him.
I look forward to updating you all after the wedding and honeymoon! God bless you to be a blessing wherever you are--He has a great purpose in it.

Football is Life......

2009-06-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Well, not really, but I can sure feel the fever of it here in Cape Town as preparations for hosting World Cup continue on. And, if I was still in Jozi, you can be sure it would be intensified by 10x!
The Lord has been blessing me to take part in two of my favorite things of late:
(1) Football (soccer) and (2) in a cross-cultural context

Above is a photo of me with some of the Congolese brothers living communally in Muizenberg. It is the final day of the tournament, but we did not make it since we were forced to forfeit a morning game due to lack of players in time.

The second one is at the soccer fields just outside the informal settlement (township) of Masiphumulele (meaning 'Together we succeed'). I played with a church team from there our base has partnered with a bit for ministry. The community has a great battle with alcoholism and has recently seen a lot of rioting and burning of people's homes as the population is stretched to the limit. The township is haphazardly built right up against the federal land of Table Mountain National Park.

Psalm 2:8 (ESV)-- Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Umdlalo khakhulu [Big Game]: USA vs. Brazil TOnight!

2009-06-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well, the mighty US of A has shocked the football (soccer) world in advancing to the finals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations CUp, here in lovely South Africa...
After two brutal defeats against Italy (3-1) and Brazil (3-0) in the first round, our boys in red, white and blue showed the stamina of America and fought back to beat Egypt (the champions of Africa) incredibly 3-0, and then, even more incredibly, Espana (the champions of Europe and coming in ranked No.1 in the world) 2-0.
Unfortunately, it seems the team of referees have had to meet a certain quota in issuing red cards to Team USA (they have had one nearly every match), pulling it out when a cautionary yellow card was plenty to still keep control of the match and for the degree of foul committed. As a result, the US goes into the match with the Samba Kings (Brazil) missing one of their starting mid-fielders on a lame foul at the end of last match. But America will not let that be an excuse!

It has been great surrounded by soccer fans here in South Africa (South Africans themselves have to the best fans in the world w/their costumes and vuvuzelas, i.e. local plastic trumpets that are incredibly loud and in the process of being banned--fat chance, for they cheer on any nation with equal fervor; they simply love to be at the game!). I know the World Cup will be about 10x the excitement next year, even if I won't be able to see a match live. It will still be great orchestrating ministry with teams coming from many nations, and seeing matches on big screens in public squares.
For more on Confed. Cup (like what it is) visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8088226.stm

In other news, Thandeka is still back at home in Joburg, finalizing preparations for the wedding (though I talk with her nearly every night, and are helping things along). I have signed a year-lease for our apartment, and she will be coming to Cape Town briefly on July 5th to help set up the place and receive my family before driving back up for the wedding. Exciting times filled with many changes, and I thank God for His limitless grace!

ENJOYING FULL IMMERSION BACK IN THE SOUTHERN CAPE COMMUNITY...

2009-06-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Here is Ricardo at the near-local community clinic in the process of getting all his rings and forms of bondage removed; (2) Just some of the wires/rings bloodily removed

It has been hectic (I need to find the Zulu equivalent of these fitting word) since arriving in Muizenberg, realizing all that must still be arranged before the family arrives while also desiring to reconnect with brothers of various walks/dispositions in the community, and finalizing where Thandi and I will be placed in the Discipleship Training Department on staff. On top of this, I have been spending time in the nearby township of Capricorn, a very impoverished and drug-addicted community from which the majority of criminals operating in Muizenberg come from.

One of the brothers I have renewed contact with is Jason Gbagaza, the one Sudanese in the area studying across town at George Whitfield Bible College, and who has also been crippled with polio from a young age. He was a guy my team met with a bit in preparation for our outreach last year to Malakal, even though he is from a vastly different region of South Sudan than we were heading. He still knew some Juba Arabic songs (the nearly universally accepted trade language in the south) and is simply a wise man of God all around, no matter what culture you are speaking and ministering into. He really understands the truth that Jesus is supracultural (above all kingdoms and societies of man), but nevertheless glorified through the diversity of them. Therefore, I will continue to seek him out when our schedules allow, to share together and pray for the needs around us and the plans of God in Sudan long-term. He is also in the process (though a little longer-term) of paying the dowry for his wife-to-be, and the price is incredibly double that of mine! IN his native Azande culture (on the border regions of Sudan/Dem. Rep. of Congo), he must also carry the cost of all relatives coming in, feeding them for days and then sending them back to their villages. He doesn't know how he will do it, but he knows God was faithful in the past and continues to be for all those who call on His victorous Name.

Since last Friday when our base met for worship and then went out in groups to various surrounding communities in the southern Cape peninsula to evangelize, my heart has grown for the nearby township of Capricorn. This began basically as a squatter camp with illegal cable connections and such, and now has addresses painted outside the brick (and various other materials) homes, though the conditions remain dire, with drugs at the core.
Early in the week I prodded along Pastor Fabule (from Nigeria) and Gershom (Zambia) to follow-up on the urgent medical attention one of the boys from Capricorn needs for his witchcraft-covered fingers. This boy, Ricardo, is actually a young man, but has so abused his body that he is still quite small. It has really been a lesson in the commitment and sacrifice required for working and seeking to make any kind of impact in drug-addicted communities whose whole motive in life is to get the next high and escape the pain of reality. One of the major strategies must be to reach whole families (and not only one individual at a time), for this is the intial area of influence (along with gangs) in these young boy's lives.
We have visited the home of Ricardo (w/many far-reaching relatives under one roof) several times now, sharing the Gospel, praying and helping with small things. They know what we stand for, and so can still come upon them hiding the whiskey if we come by at an unexpected time. This is an unfortunate reality in these broken communities where jobs are scarce and many spiritual strongholds are firmly in place.

The pictures of Ricardo show him at the clinic Gershom and I took him to for the remaining rings and bonds to be removed. This took a couple days/trips due to Ricardo running off after we left him. This was a real struggle where we had at least 8 staff helping us hold him down to see every last form of physical bondage removed (with it, a spiritual power as well). It was great to hear Ricardo thanking the doctors/nurses and afterwards and yelling "Hallelujah! I will never again put rings on!" just after he had been screaming for us to stop the pain. I told him repeatedly that there must be pain to endure for freedom to come, and it also allowed the message of Christ to hit home, what He has already freely done for us. He has gained the victory over sin for us, and we need not bow to these forces of evil!
So now Ricardo is back with the family, noticeably happier, though we'll be needing to take him Monday again to get his gauze changed and wounds cleaned. But the struggle is not over. This last time he even succeeded in running away when he found out the clinic wanted to transfer him to the hospital for observation and further questioning. This was orders of the psychiatrist, who said the drugs and oppression has made him not fully sane. Please join us in praying for him to see full deliverance. He also does not clean himself properly and routinely eats things off the ground and out of waste bins. As he said before gettng the rings removed, "I don't know myself, but I want to know myself again." Our prayer is that he would be free to discover who he really is and called to be in Christ Jesus, our Redeemer and good Shepherd. Ricardo is only one boy among many in this community who don't know themselves, coming out of broken families and without direction in life. The temptation to engage in drugs (and particularly crystal meth, known locally by the street name 'tik') is just too much. But we know change is coming, thanks be God!

On another note, I was asked earlier in the week to be apart of a big youth gathering on National Youth Day June 16th, where I will sit in as one of the only foreign judges on the panel. This day commemorates the courage and spirit of South African youth who rebelled non-violently against apartheid in the townships (particularly in Soweto) back in the 80s and were killed. Many of the best gospel choirs and dance groups from all around Cape Town will be performing, including some of the guys I attended my School of Biblical Studies (SBS) with last year here at the base. But you can be sure in my first time as a judge I will not be showing any partiality:)

Ricardo back home after the multiple operations on his hands and ears; there were also cloth bonds on his ankles and torso we broke in Jesus' Name

All is Well (and Hectic) in EGoli (Johannesburg)

2009-05-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I am writing a brief update to let you know I have made it safely back to beautiful South Africa, the Rainbow Nation! Despite a little bout with the swine flu on the way (not really), I was still able to meet up with a former colleague in Frankfurt before continuing onto my lovely bride-to-be.

It has now been almost a week, and a very hectic one indeed. After much bargaining, God has blessed Thandi and I with a bright green '97 Nissan Sentra in fairly good condition. It has been essential for all the running around to arrange wedding details, and we are so grateful to all the support we received to enable us to buy one. We must now be good stewards to be able to resale after our two years with the YWAM Muizenberg base.

After some work to be done on the vehicle to make it roadworthy for the long trip south, I will drive alone to Cape Town to begin staffing at the base once again and setting up living arrangements for us after the wedding. I also will be able to receive my family and best man in Cape Town in early July before we make the drive back up to Jozi ('Egoli' in Zulu, which means 'place of gold') for the wedding.

We appreciate your prayers for my drive south and I will for sure update further with pictures upon arrival at the base. Thandi sends her love and appreciates prayers for not stressing too much! (She is really doing well, actually, and we even drove to the countryside venue this last Saturday to confirm our booking.)

God bless you all and love to hear any comments!

"Be the duck"....

2009-04-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

My Dad and his paddling buddy racing in the African Queen (check out the pitiful African design)

I thought it was about time I had a little more catchy title to one of these blogposts. The waters of Lake Whatcom have warmed up enough that I was finally able to get out with my father on his new double surf-ski (racing kayak) made in and sent from South Africa, appropriately dubbed the "African Queen" by him and his paddling buddy here in Bellingham. It's pretty cool that my dad will be able to paddle the Great White shark-infested waters of False Bay and around Cape Town when the fam comes over for the wedding. In fact, where I will return to staff and live in YWAM Muizenberg, the little seaside town of Fish Hoek which serves as headquarters for world-class surf-skiers is only a couple train stations away.

Paddling really increased my respect for my father in how easy he makes it look. After only about 5 minutes of going at it, striving to keep in sync with his strokes, I was dog-tired! But I persevered (with his encouragement), and we had a great 1-hour paddle, without dumping in the lake once! Even so, I was glad to have the wet-suit because I was constantly getting splashed and sitting in a good-sized puddle. I am thrilled to get so much use out of the suit, which I bought off Ebay for the sole purpose of surfing when I get back to the Cape's frigid waters.

Ok, so how does all this relate to the title of this post? I'll tell you. When we did hit some rough waters and some waves coming at us from the side, my dad instinctively called back to me, "Be the duck!" After some initial confusion, I caught the sense of what he was saying (though I was a bit surprised my Dad was so down with all the hip paddling lingo). When you observe a duck floating on the water, when a wave comes, they simply roll with them and don't struggle to keep their balance or head above the water. The same rule must hold true with us.

I thank the good Lord for the great day we had, and will be writing next from the beautiful and promising nation of South Africa!

South Africa Elections 2009

2009-04-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

So I am all set to head back to South Africa on May 3 (though won't reach Jozi until the 5th, after a brief 13-hour layover in Frankfurt where I will be able to catch up with a former colleague in the Church Planting school who is now a full-time Youth Pastor). I have been blessed to see so many of you in this extended time back, and so grateful you could see what I see in my lovely fiance Thandeka as well:) The wedding invitation is still open to all (if you are really looking for a place to let go and dance into the night) in Lenasia, Johannesburg on July 25!

Second, yesterday marked the 4th democratic national election for the Republic of South Africa, and a very interesting one indeed since many of the first-time voters (and there are a lot) are the first generation not to have been raised at the height of apartheid and separate development policies that plagued the land for so long, and thus are not as necessarily inclined to support hands-down the liberating African National Congress party. The main opposition party is hewn from this ruling party and goes by the name of Cope (Congress of the People). I am not sure about the latter's leader, but know ANC's Zuma has been on trial for a number of charges and is thus very questionable (though he still holds a lot of loyalty). SO I encourage you all to check out hte results in the next couple of days, and keep praying for the nation to go forward into the destiny God has for it (incl. hosting the World Cup next year!)
South Sudan, still a semi-autonomous region in larger Sudan, will hold elections later this year, but many of the educated Sudanese of the diaspora are skeptical of there being any real change. THe real testing time will be at the end of the CPA interim government period in 2011. But be in prayer anyways, asking God for gracious intervention and progress to see His purposes envisioned by the leaders of this great land of promise!

Further Prayer Requests:
Thandi is currently visiting family in neighboring Mozambique (where she was born) and paying respects at her grandfather's grave (who passed away some years back, but she had not been able to go until now). Thank you for your prayers for her safety (as she is traveling alone), and to meet up with all God has for her.

I will be with Thandi and the family in Johannesburg for the first week or so, hoping to buy a used car with a good resale value, and then make my way down to Cape Town to begin working at the YWAM Muizenberg base once again and searching for a place we can stay for the next two years. I will be on general staff, but when Thandi comes after the wedding, we will both be in the Discipleship Training Department and focusing on the upcoming school.

Canyoneering in Zion/Death Valley National Parks

2009-04-12T22:20:00.000-07:00

Firstly, let me praise God on this fine Easter Day filled with the everlasting hope of our Lord Jesus! He continues to prove himself faithful to me in very real ways...
After putting in my church bulletin a prayer request last week for favor with the SOuth African Consulate in LA to receive my 2-year Visa before my departure date on May 3, I came home on Friday just in time to receive a Fed-Ex with passport enclosed and everything as I prayed it to be! He is risen and alive indeed! I just pray to remain in His will, for my life truly belongs to Him.

So, as the title indicates, my father and I just returned with a great group of men from a week-long canyoneering/backpacking trip in Utah, Nevada and California. I knew it was going to be a physically stimulating trip as well as give me some quality time out in the wilderness with the Dad, but was not expecting to be so refined in so short a time by the godly men we went with. Below are a few pics from the trip, and I hope to post some more on Facebook soon.

Onto the American Southwest manana!!!

2009-04-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

MOSAIC CANYON, DEATH VALLEY

Hey Everybody,

I have started a number of blog entries since my last one, but have failed to finish any one topic since they all seem to keep building on top of another with more recent events (such as the events rapidly escalating around the indictment of Sudan Pres. Omar al-Bashir). But is it our role as Christians to always be in the reactionary seat towards world events, or are we to speak out in the midst of them and partner with God in prayer to see change realized? I hope all can answer the latter....
And, yet, I struggle to put out intended posts in a timely fashion. Lord, help me. Thankfully, my lack of discipline in this does not bring the end of the world.

Anyhow, I am gonna get up this post because I will be out of the B'ham hometown for a week as I head down with my father and a gang of his buddies to brave the elements in the canyons of Zion National Park, Escalante and possibly even Death Valley, California (if the weather turns rough in southern Utah--it has definitely been a long, cold winter).

I plan on posting some photos of my canyoneering debut adventure when we return, and hope you will enjoy...and don't worry, I will exercise much caution so as not to put my bride-to-be in an awkward solo position at the altar. Speaking of Thandeka, isimomo sami (my beautiful girl), I want to wish her a relaxing, stress-free 27th b-day today!

Days of Prayer/Fasting for the Nation of Sudan

2009-03-01T22:41:00.000-08:00

View of Malakal, south Sudan from central masjid (mosque), Mar.'08

I received this urgent call to prayer from YWAM contacts in Sudan working in various Christian iniatives in the country. Please read the following and pray as the Spirit leads. This truly is a crucial time for the nation.
After the photo is also recent news from Malakal, the key city I took our Church Planting/Intercession team to for three months last year....

1. Call to prayer and fasting- March 2nd-4th

We received this call to prayer and fasting a couple of days ago. People within Sudan and throughout the world are joining together to pray for this critical season in Sudan...

"Today Pre-Trial Chamber I announced that it would issue on Wednesday 4 March 2009 its decision concerning the Prosecution application of 14 July 2008 for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against President Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. The decision will be made public by the normal way of a press release and publication on the Court’s website.

In Esther 4:12-17 we read that a national crisis was to happen and Esther called for a fast and the Sovereign God of the universe intervened.

Esther 4:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

We appeal to the Sudanese nation and friends of Sudan to stand with us in the gap at this time to intercede for deliverance and peace. This is the time that we call a fast of three days in which you can participate in seeking His face for our nation.

Please pray with us for:

-Khartoum city. Isaiah 62: 6-7 "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem (O Sudanese); they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem (Sudan) and makes her the praise of the earth."
-The president, ministers, premiers, members of Parliament, provincial authorities, mayors, advisors, ambassadors and government officials. When you know the names of these people, pray for them by name. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Proverbs21:1) "Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." (Proverbs 25:5) Pray for the salvation of the leaders of Sudan...
-The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the north-south civil war in 2005. Please pray for the will of God and His kingdom to come as it is in heaven so it be on the earth regarding the CPA...
-The Darfur situation. Ephesians 1:18 "I pray that also the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." Pray for that their eyes may be enlightened to see Jesus and their inheritance in Him. Pray for protection over the families, communities and cities in this time. They are our brothers and sisters. Pray for unity of the different faction leaders in Darfur and for peace and reconciliation among them.
-The country of Sudan as a whole. John17: 11b, 15 "… Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name You gave Me- so that they may be one as We are one. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."
-Foreigners in the country. John14: 27 "Peace I leave with you: my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Please also pray for their protection and safety as they continue faithfully in their work.

2. Fighting in Malakal

KHARTOUM (AFP) — Fighting in the key southern city of Malakal this week has killed some 50 people and left another 100 wounded, a UN official said on Friday.

"According to our estimates, drawn from on-the-ground observations and different sources, the violence has resulted in about 50 deaths and 100 wounded" among both combatants and the civilian population, the official said. Fighting erupted on Tuesday between former rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), which now runs south Sudan, and supporters of Gabriel Tang, a former militia leader who fought alongside the Sudanese army in the 1983-2005 civil war. The clashes lasted a day, and an official said the situation was "fairly quiet" on Friday.

Tang supporters, or Tangginyang, have been incorporated into Khartoum's regular forces, joining a mixed north-south unit patrolling areas that are still sensitive four years after the end of a war that caused two million deaths. Tang has been based in Khartoum since 2006, after clashes between his men and the former SPLA soldiers left more than 100 dead in Malakal. He returned this week to the town near the border between the northern and southern regions of Sudan.

Thankfully a family from YWAM trying to pioneer work in Malakal are currently in Khartoum. The town has repeatedly seen fighting since the signing of the peace agreement in 2005. The violence could spark a wider conflict in the country. Pray for the peace of this city and this central region of Sudan. Also ask God to comfort the families of those you died and those who have been wounded.

African Nations Must not look to Obama for their Salvation

2009-01-31T23:29:00.000-08:00

Reflecting recently on the ongoing civil feuds within several African nations at present, the seemingly endless fighting that begs for long-term solutions so that peace and the enduring spirit of the citizens can prevail, I have not lost any conviction that this peace lies solely within the peoples of these countries seeking God's will for their nation. African countries (such as Kenya) cannot continue to look to America as their Redeemer, especially so now with President Barack ("bless" in Arabic) Obama and what he has no doubt done for the black mindset in all the African diaspora. The inauguration was a very moving and well-done event, for sure, but Obama will not be different than any other U.S. President in the area of seeking first the interests of America in foreign policy.

These thoughts (and they are by no means mine alone) have led me to remember the beginning of Steven Curtis Chapman's song Heaven in the Real World, where you hear a pastor saying over the din of news reports of violence and death:

"I feel demoralized by the decay I see around me...our hope is not in who governs us, what laws are passed, or what great things we do as a nation--our hope is in reality of Christ Jesus entering the hearts and minds of people."

When I read such articles as "Africa: Obama's Three Objectives for the Continent" and the more recent "Africa: Obama Inauguration Sparks Celebrations in Washington" (http://allafrica.com/stories/200901230892.html), I get wary about underdeveloped countries still very much infiltrated with corrupt officials at the top placing hopes for change in their own countries because of a minority like Obama making it to the most powerful/influential office in the world. I am excited to see what new policies he carries forth onto the international scene, esp. in helping bring an end to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, but know that he will be no foreign nation's Savior [not even for his father's land of Kenya]. For a true Savior not only saves from the immediate trouble, but has future plans of joy and glory already in place.

Many Thanks/Siyabonga Khakhulu for our Engagement Reception at BPC, Bellingham!

2009-01-11T20:30:00.001-08:00

Thandeka and I were overwhelmed with the loving support we received in abundance last night at our engagement reception. More than that, the evidence that God's glory was at the centre of it all. Held at my home church, Birchwood Presbyterian (http://bpchurch.org/), it was far more than we had expected. Much family and friends rallied together in the effort to keep it at a minimal cost, while still maintaining a high-class feel.

LEFT: Thandi and my everloving sister (as she always signs off herself in the numerous cards she has given me over the years), Kristin, showing off their near matching dresses before the big event. I am so blessed to have both of these strong women of God in my life.

We especially want to thank Steve and Julie Clarke for teaming up to make it a very entertaining and beautiful night, along with Steve Moore for providing centre piece arrangements and classy ID cards for each delectable dessert dish (which my church family generously provided in great variety).

From Janice Bethman helping to string up lights at the last-minute and the Kettmans making the coffee happen to late-comers happily putting up more tables and my Uncle Clifford coming all the way from Maryland to single-handedly clean up ALL the dishes, it was a night of African and American cultures fusing to the glory of God. And I believe that to the core of my heart. Not to mention the fact that I looked very 'smart' (as African English speakers commonly say it). I owe that to my brother-in-law, Jamey (from Team Blakely), giving me a pin-stripe suit right beforehand to make sure I at least looked like I knew what I was doing.

We realize many of you that support us could not make it, but we still cherish your prayers for our new life together as one, to be a witness to the nations of what God had in mind when he created the family. The challenges that are inherent in cross-cultural marriages gives that much more room for the Lord Jesus to shine through in what we cannot do on our own strength, and we are praying the traditional wedding will really honor Thandeka's family and give glory to the Lover of all cultures.

We really look forward to keeping in good communication with all of you, and pray the Lord's blessing (not what you think is 'blessings') in this new year to the glory of Our Father!

The Search for an Unbreakable Identity Among Marginalized Peoples

2008-11-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Wow, I had meant to post this blip even before Thanksgiving came around! (As you can see by the date). I hope everyone's Christmas celebration was as great as mine was, being back home with family, and seeing heavy snowflakes falling listlessly out the window. And a Happy New Years!

Well, I admit I struggle to produce anything in a timely manner when not forced to (such as term papers in college). Man alive, I would stress myself needlessly with those reports simply because I put them off to the very last moment. But let us get back to my original topic of discussion...

After finishing a temporary job with a construction company last November in the nearby Lummi Indian Reservation, I could see many similarities with the pre-formed nation of South Sudan. The people of the latter are right now at a critical juncture whereby the various tribes must somehow come together for a functional identity that they can find dignity and purpose in. As I have worked in the Lummi Nation I have witnessed in part this ongoing struggle for identity, in which many have seemed to give up hope on it.

As one top Sudanese scholar Francis M. Deng notes in the introduction to his epic 1995 work on the problem of identity in Sudan War of Visions, "what people think they are counts more than what they objectively are [in culture, ethnic heritage, etc]." I believe this establishment of an identity is crucial in the foundation of any nation for it to see prosperity and fulfilling purpose into the future. In South Sudan, the majority have fought for their right to their land and way of life, free from Arab/Islamic domination. Consequently, many have become Christians for political reasons as the strongest way to gain foreign support in their fight for freedom from their northern, predominantly Muslim, oppressors. Yet, this chosen identity, while temporarily unifying the southerners, will not lead to true development and sustainable communities within South Sudan unless it is unless the people are continuing on a path of complete dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. I have heard many Sudanese acknowledging it is God who has brought them the peace of the 2005 CPA (http://www.unmis.org/English/cpa.htm) to stop the mass killing in the south, but are wondering if His work is now done for them and they have to fight the corruption of their own government on their own.

My increasing passion and focus is in being apart of long-term community development in remote areas of Sudan. For this to arise anywhere, it must have a firm framework of working Biblical principles that are wholly relevant to the immediate culture at hand. So much of why the Gospel of Jesus has not taken deeper root in Africa is because the people were initially told to completely divorce themselves of their culture. But this essentially cuts them off from their own people, and increase barriers to seeing Jesus as He truly is--the bringer of freedom and abudant life to ALL nations! I am one who is convinced that the African church in general, and the Sudanese in particular, have many invaluable lessons to impart to their brethren in the west about true community. But they will not see development that really benefits them unless they continue in complete dependence on Jesus, not using Him as a means of identity to get worldly benefits but knowing Him as the One they want to emulate in their everyday lives. I believe the same goes for any other marginalized people group, such as many of the Native American communities. A lot of the strongholds such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and so on in these areas will remain imbedded unless the people, in prayers free of any cultural bias, take the focus off themselves and open their hearts and minds to the Creator's healing and reconciliation offered through Jesus. Jesus is at the heart of true community.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes with great wisdom in his simple, brilliantly reflected work on Life Together: "The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community." I love this--it is so deeply true and yet so profoundly simple. Truth is simple. It's just seeking to live in it as flawed humans is where it gets complicated. This is why believers in Christ are more accurately called disciples, those who follow after Him who is Truth and Righteousness. This leads to community development where we know God is the Author and Sustainer.

p.s. I don't claim to be any kind of expert on what I just wrote, but am seeking to live it everyday and trusting God to break down strongholds. I welcome any thoughts or criticisms. I plan on myself doing further study on Bonhoeffer's work, as well as just getting back to where God has called me to implement these truths. My point should be that we are ALL marginalized peoples in need of a deepening dependence and knowledge of Jesus to move forward with purpose.

ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NOTE (yet could still be applied to the topic of development)... I came across this fantastic article on a new motorcycle law that came into Nigeria New Year's Day entitled 'Nigeria bikers' vegetable helmets'--http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7813418.stm
Many in the north have been indicted for wearing calabashes (dried-out pumpkins) to pass as helmets. What I found so interesting is just how pervasive the fatalistic belief is in juju, the local term for witchcraft. I would love to hear your thoughts........

Prayer Request for Pioneering a Christian Training Center/School in South Sudan, Unity State

2008-10-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

Teaching on Sin, Forgiveness and Reconciliation among other topics during a seminar in the Nuer village of Ruoth Nyibol near Bentiu back in 2006

Me with some of my Bentiu brothers (many of them I met in other parts of the country and then we got together during our scouting trip to Bentiu and greater Unity State), March 2006

Salaam takuun naskulu ta kanisa.... (Is it peace with you all people of the Church?)
I realize it has been awhile since I last updated this blog, but I have been getting into the mold of American working life. As I said before, I am really grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to work in this time, though I don't plan on going on much longer as my lovely fiancee will be arriving this weekend. Excitement does not begin to describe how I feel about this, and I am really looking forward to the relaxing time spent with family and taking Thandeka to all the places of my youth.

I wanted to make it known to everyone a hopeful new development in the geographically centralized area I have been sharing about in my long-term vision for Sudan. That is, Bentiu, Western Upper Nile Province (though now Unity State) in the northern part of the roughly demarcated South Sudan. This predominantly Nuer (the second largest tribe in South Sudan) area is not only strategically politically and economically for the nation as a whole (which has consequently put its inhabitants in much danger with fighting over oil reservoirs, etc.), but also for the Lord's Kingdom of internal transformation going forth into everyday society. The people here are very churched since missionaries first went in the early 20th century, though discipleship is a nearly unknown concept, as I found out back in 2006 when myself and two Sudanese brothers went on a YWAM scouting trip down the river Nile for six (6) full days from Juba, then hiked (and swam) overland for a full day, and finally came into Bentiu by catching a 3- hour ride with a UN worker. Of course, the town itself is easily accessible with its airstrip, but we were a little tight on cash at that time, and part of the purpose of our journey was to: (1) Travel (and suffer) as the locals do, and (2) meet with County Commissioners and church leaders along the way to share about what YWAM does and put on a few short seminars. Overall, a very trying but great journey, and on our way out we were able to catch a ride with an NPA food aid plane with no seats, saving us a good number of days.

Now, one of those brothers who is actually from a village near to Bentiu, but fled the area as a young boy back in the early 1980s when the Northern Islamic government (GOS) was daily dropping bombs and sending in slave raiding parties. He fled to neighboring Ethiopia until the Communist regime there changed hands in 1991, whereby he and his fellow "Lost Boys" were forced to flee again, back across crocodile-infested waters and eventually finding refuge in the northern Kenya refugee camp, Kakuma. As I shared in my email update, this Nuer brother, William Keah Chuong, was one that I discipled and learned from when I staffed at the Yei Sudan YWAM base in 2005-06. Since then he has been studying medicine in Kenya and Uganda, and has now just contacted me to say that he is back in Bentiu where he and his new wife are planning to plant a YWAM base. Now, I have been in touch with him (in fact this is the brother that was supposed to go along with our team up to Malakal, which is about a day's journey east of Bentiu by river, but backed out because his cousin was shot dead in Juba) and I have shared about my heart to start a training center that begins in Bentiu area and sends out Sudanese missionaries to surrounding communities and eventually nations, but I never realized his heart was in this as well. Obviously it is though, since he is now in the process of acquiring land for the site. Here are some of the numbers, though the borehole (well) cost seems a bit steep:
1. Boreholes for the base to be drilled and preped
2. Money to secure the full payment which amount to 4500$/borehole and 7500$ land complete payment and 2500$ for children ministry tukuls and the kitchen.
(Tukuls are a Sudanese generic term for the mud huts most sleep in, known as dwil in Nuer)

William emphasized to me the increasing number of street children/orphans coming out of war-shattered homes in the town, and express how crucial it is to have a ministry geared specifically towards them. There is another friend of mine that does just that and is also based in Bentiu, so I am putting them in touch to be able to hear each other's ideas and learn about the best way to address the felt as well as unfelt needs of this easily corrupted generation.

I have shared about this area and pioneering a base here, with the possibility of local chiefs and one MP friend from Khartoum being able to give us land through the government, but that was in a village some distance from the rapidly growing town of Bentiu (meaning "place of regret" in the local Nuer--will need to do some serious spiritual mapping with that name, and get to the source of some strongholds). Hence, the need to buy land from the local authorities partitioning it off. But please join me in prayer for this vision and the beginning of its physical infrastructure. I will be checking into how I can be sending some of my support money up to William once I find out more about where he is at in the process, knowing full well that these things take LONG in Africa in general, and particularly in the New Sudan. As they so often say in the local Arabic... "Bukura, inshallah" (Tomorrow, God willing). In other words, tomorrow maybe something will happen, most likely not until badbukura (day after tomorrow:)

Yet, in the spirit of new things in Christ Jesus, this is something Thandeka and I will be praying into and see how best to be commissioned off from our base in Cape Town to help pioneer a work with or nearby to William and his wife.

Shukran biAlla (thanks be to God)

Salaam naskulu ta kanisa.... I realize it has been awhile since I last updated this blog, but I have been getting into the mold of American working life. As I said before, I am really grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to work in this time, though I don't plan on going on much longer as my lovely fiancee will be arriving this weekend. Excitement does not begin to describe how I feel about this, and I am really looking forward to the relaxing time spent with family and taking Thandeka to all the places of my youth.

Back "Home" and Enjoying the Time....

2008-09-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

SOME PICS OF OUR X-C JOURNEY; below: MY DAD AND I WITH A WOODEN INDIAN IN WYOMING; top: KANSAS SUNRISE

God has been so good to me (after all His abundant grace is available to all at any time) since arriving back on the West (and, of course, the best) Coast safely with the parents. It was amazing to see the unique beauty of Yellowstone for the first time (I will have to post some photos of the geothermal pools) as well as seeing some old college friends along the way.

I had been asking God for work at least in this time before Thandeka arrives in November, and He has answered by way of Sukadem Construction based in the Lummi Reservation where I am helping to clear land for a big development going in. It feels so good to be working hard, earning money for lobola, and coming back to rest after a full day. I always cherish the opportunity to enter into the lives of co-workers in whatever way God opens up in His great wisdom.

That all said, I very much miss Africa and isimomo sami ('my beautiful girl' in Zulu) Thandeka. Yet, I am so grateful for this time apart once more, and believe God has ordained it as a wilderness time for me to learn more deeply what it means to depend on Him alone for my everyday purpose and reason for getting up and moving forward. I am excited for all the new things He will speak into my heart and mind in this season of reflection and sharing what is already in my heart for community development work in South Sudan. Lastly, I am excited about the new things God is doing in my home church in Bellingham, asking God what my role is in this time.

Well, that's all for now (if any of you do keep up with my adventures via this blog), and I hope next time I shall be led to share some deeper truths God is showing me, if He so wills it. Blessings to all........Nkhulunkhulu ubusise

Leaving Tomorrow Morning Bright & Early for X-Country Trip w/the Rents

2008-08-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

Thandeka and I fresh after our return from respective outreaches in Sudan and N. Uganda back in March: GOOD NEWS!!!!! I hardly believe it, but God is able and has done it through your prayers--Thandeka, from her first interview with the US Consulate, has already been approved to get her Visa to the states. So, now, we are looking for a semi-afforable flight for mid-November, and planning for our time together to be filled with a formal Engagement Party of sorts and some American pre-marital counseling before heading back to South Africa together next year. Mungu ni mwananifu... (God is faithful!)

Myself with my blessed parents enjoying time with extended family in Ocean City, Maryland (Note the 21ft-kayak we shall haul back across our beautiful nation)

An earlier family picture with baby Emma, my sister, Kristin, and brother-in-law, Jayme

My Niece Emma Lynn, 9 months old

2008-08-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

I film as Emma tries a lemon and goes for more... VERY FUNNY

YWAM Drakensberg Property (Thandi playing with the family who is pioneering the base) & More of the Drakensberg Mountains

2008-08-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

Oh, and she didn't Yes, but "Of course I will"...

2008-08-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

The mood drastically changed with the ring now on her finger (though it was a struggle to get on her finger, swollen from the crisp mountain air), the clouds opened up and the sun shone down on us both:)

If you look closely you can see the path winding through the thick grass to the rocks where I proposed not quite halfway up...it was a lovely day in the shadow of Champagne Castle (the mesa-like peak and, further south, Mafadi Peak, South Africa's highest

Yes, it is true, I am engaged...God is good...

2008-07-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

Next to the only blossoming pink flowers in the whole Drakensberg (meaning 'Dragon Mountains' in Afrikaans, and also called Ukhahlamba in the local Zulu language roughly meaning 'Battlement of Spears') during this bleak winter on the highveldt, I popped the big question--actually I had to ask twice because she was laughing from surprise the first time.

But, anyhow, it is done and now only remains for talks about the lobola (brideprice) next year before the wedding can take place. We have begun the process of trying to get her US Visa for Thandi to visit my family and see where I come from before we head back to South Africa together and join back up with YWAM Muizenberg.

Some Pics of Daily Life Around Maputo, Mozambique

2008-07-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

Time of Prayer & Reflection in Preparation for Future Ministry

2008-07-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

Our base took part in a very prophetic international prayer/fasting day on May 8th about being apart of the Fourth Wave of Missions. This wave is to cover much more ground than the previous three since the founding of modern missions with William Carey in 1796 by involving all nations—God’s people being sent from all nations to all nations.
I found myself reflecting as I praised God for His sovereign redemption plan among the nations that in order for me to consistently walk in awareness of the Spirit and the fear of the Lord, I need to stir in myself the spirit of prayer for initiations greater than myself. This is what carries me through each week with an eternal perspective, and I found God telling me I am not engaging in these fruitful times with Him nearly enough for what He wants me to be apart of.

The Three Waves of Missions thus far:
1) 1796 – William Carey, “the father of modern missions”, went to the fringes/coasts of unreached lands
2) 1885 – Hudson Taylor, of China Interior Mission, reached the interior of unreached lands
3) 1974 – Lausanne Covenant, where unreached peoples were quantified and goals set to reach all

And here is the gist of the 4th:
4) 2000 – “From the nations to the nations” with a focus on youth being raised up in all nations of the world, rich and poor, to be ministers of Christ’s hope and transformation; also emphasis on UNITY of the Body through such initiatives as Call2All
Call2All in Africa will have its first major campaign in Uganda, “the pearl of Africa” as Sir Winston Churchill coined it. It will focus on what God wants to do IN Africa & what God wants to do FROM Africa
-the streams of Prayer and Missions, formerly in their own domains within the Body, are now flowing as one mighty river, with prayer as the furnace to move with the Holy Spirit in fulfilling our Lord’s Great Commission
-It is only through continued steadfast prayer that we will go to the nations, and others will receive the nations in the spirit of Christ Jesus

The YWAM Initiative Call2All is at the centre of this 4th wave, working together with church leaders and youth from around the world. Read more at www.call2all.com Their goals are:
Form a cohesive network to work in synergy to reach the unreached and work towards completing the Great Commission
Help ministers around the world cross-pollinate and share best methods and practices with each other, especially as regards Africa.
To use a common global map to identify the greatest needs and win the least reached.
To prayerfully commit to goals in evangelism, church planting, reaching the unreached (or marginalized/neglected people groups), sending oral Bible teams and adopting omega zones [Omega Zone is a division made according to an area of the world which is unreached; not a geographic country but a division of some of the lease reached countries.]
Those reflections were back in May, and now, just last Saturday in Pretoria (the administrative capital of South Africa), I just attended a unique conference centered on the South African church’s involvement in Sudan with the theme “Building God’s Kingdom together in Sudan”. I even had a chance to go in front of these other organizations and share about the recent church planting mission I led to Malakal in Upper Nile State and encouraged us all to partner for true development in this nation of great promise. It was really great to network with some already very involved in South Sudan and pray together for strategies in the future.
My Vision:
The heart of the ministry/vision in Sudan is training up leaders to train others in God's heart for the nations from a center in Sudan that can be partnered with the YWAM Muizenberg base I have been involved with in Cape Town, South Africa. Such teaching will really bring transformation in a country where tribalism is intensifying with the south's newfound political freedoms and lack of discipleship in how best to utilize their resources for long-term growth and sustainability. Before returning to work in South Sudan I am also praying about doing a short-term Community Development training at the beginning of next year, which I will post you on as the time draws nearer and I know more about it.

Prayer Requests for Zimbabwe

2008-06-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

As time draws near to depart for the beautiful land and people of Zimbabwe, I admittedly have felt an increasing sense of uneasiness about a smooth entry into this nation of political turmoil and fear. Any officials under Mugabe will be very suspicious of me being a foreign journalist at this crucial time before the final election runoff where Mugabe will do everything he can to keep shameful information from leaking out to the international community. Because of this I have requested the brother I am visiting me to write an official looking letter of invitation to stay with his family and work with the community. Thank you all for prayers for safety and God’s favor, but even more that I may be a vessel for God’s encouragement to come and bring the people great hope and eternal perspective in the midst of suffering. In addition, please pray for my connection in Bulawayo on the way to Mutare. I have been advised by leadership here not to do any ministry explicitly with the YWAM base there because of the authorities shutting down many NGOs with international connections. Pray for that base to continue on in the same perseverance our Lord exemplified on his journey to the cross for a much greater purpose than His own life.
Our Lord Jesus still has a great call upon the nation and people of Zimbabwe, the former "bread basket of Africa". I look forward to sharing the results of the trip with you when I return to Jo'burg around 4-5 July (Pray also for that return and possible stop at World Vision base at border to check on projects my home church are investing in for the Kingdom)

Picture at bottom: A very recent, yet nearly expired Zimbabwe fifty million dollar bill (the rate is so fickle that I cannot find any way to find out how much that is in USD; not much though) I acquired from a Shona brother here at the base: issued in April 2008 and expiring on June 30, 2008

Hiking Beautiful Table Mountain (on one of those rare sunny days)

2008-06-07T05:25:00.001-07:00

A view of Lion's Head and the cable car from the top. Not exactly my favorite hike because of the sheer number of tourists and close proximity to Cape Town, but still gorgeous with some of the world's most unique vegetation--known as the Fynbos as a collective, it is the world's smallest (endemic to the Western Cape) and arguably richest of the six floral kingdoms.

Trying to find the way up, but also just enjoying getting out of the classroom

Visiting Refugees in Cape Town church

2008-06-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Top: Two brothers (not by blood) originally from Malawi and DRC(Congo) displaced from their new lives with dreams for a better future seemingly shattered
Bottom: Thomas, a Burundian who has been in exile since the age of 1 in various African countries, and I discussing in the tent set up by a local church of Cape Town in response to the recent outbreak of violence towards African refugees in South Africa

2008-06-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Left: Thandeka and yours truly at the YWAM Muizenberg base, going out for my birthday last month

Right:

Some YWAMers going to a SIM missions video presentation of "God Grew Tired of Us" about the lives of some of the Sudanese Lost Boys who settled in America and are now seeking to help rebuild their nation; the Sudanese brother to my left, Jason, is attending a local Bible College in Muizenberg and we meet regularly to pray for God's will to be done in Sudan

Trip to Zimbabwe & Prayer Report on Xenophobia

2008-06-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

Sawubona abantu bonke (I see all of you OR Hello everybody),

Wow, I can’t believe June is already here. But that is the way life seems to go when you are in the right place and doing what God has called you to in a particular season. I apologize and warn you in advance that this update may be a bit lengthy because I have been writing you for the past two weeks.
I know it may sound cliché, but I am discovering just how much of a privilege I have to study the Word of God freely and intensely in these three months back in South Africa. The three month Biblical Studies Core Course (SBS) began in early April and will finish on June 27th. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it all the way to the end since I already made plans to visit a brother in eastern Zimbabwe on June 20th. So I am now working overtime to try and get all the assigned books done beforehand, including the hefty Deuteronomy (which should be interesting). I have also had the incredible privilege to study the word alongside my girlfriend, a South African Zulu named Thandeka, who I met last year as we both were on staff, her the DTS and myself the Church Planting course. So I have also included a picture of her, and hope to share more with you later about how our visions line up.

I thank God for confirming in my heart and mind that this is a crucial school to be apart of to be able to help introduce to South Sudan, where there is such great need to be guided by truth as they seek the way ahead for themselves and their nation. I believe this is more what Sudan, being a nation starting at the base foundation level, needs right now to develop aright and be able to know how to usher in God’s Kingdom in every sphere of society as they come into their own with continued peace and stability. This is not to say that my involvement in the Church Planting school was a waste, for I learned many valuable things about cross-cultural leadership, particularly in the latter three months on outreach, but that I don’t see it fitting into the growth of the church of Sudan into full maturity at this point in its history. Church leaders grow immediately suspicious when you tell them you are apart of a church planting school, and with good reason. They have been taught by missionaries more than anything to beware of false doctrines seeping into the Body of Christ in their community, and are more interested at building their own congregations. On the other hand, I do believe church planting has a place in every nation at all times because the gospel of Christ must go out. I guess what I am saying is that I don’t sense the call to bring in teams of foreigners to plant the churches, but work alongside and train up those ministers from within to plant these churches among the unreached. I have discussed with my school leader, who has become a very unique and dear friend of mine, and still very much intend to keep in touch with him as he looks to develop the training here with a focus for neighboring Mozambique over the next few years.

Immediately after the school ends, even before graduation, I will head for a short outreach to Zimbabwe to visit a past student named Believe (who I wrote about before our outreach to Sudan) and observe some of the small-scale farming schemes he is implementing near the eastern city of Mutare (to possibly help introduce in central Sudan). Please pray for my safe arrival across the border, for no problems getting the tourist Visa. I will be crossing into Zim on a night bus on June 21st, and hope to be there a couple weeks before heading back to South Africa to fly out back to the states for some months in August. The world, and South Africa in particular, is still waiting anxiously for the official results of the recent elections that everyone predicted would be controversial and drawn-out, and has proven to be.
The final election run-off is set for June 27th, and let us join for prayer in that going smoothly with minimal corrupt police interference/beatings so that the people may truly be able to choose their leadership for a better future. The Zimbabweans I have come to know have an incredible spirit in the midst of so much suffering at the hands of their negligent government, and we just need to pray they don’t lose hope in such a time as this, but know the God of redemption is still working in their midst. I also hope to stop by the border town of Beitbridge on the way back, where my home church, Birchwood Presbyterian, has a number of children they are supporting through World Vision and plans to help with a water project.

My Zim brother has also asked me to help pioneer a sports ministry with the youth, so I am looking to secure some more soccer balls and maybe even a basketball before departing. It has been great to keep up my skills and love for the game here in Muizenberg, where I play with a group of guys from various African countries (primarily DRC and Angola) every Mon. and Wed. I tell you, I get really disappointed if I have to miss one of these small-side sessions. I love the brotherhood that develops among athletes that train hard to develop their skills, and it is exciting to see the relationships that form out of just getting together to take a break from the daily grind. I shall be leaving Cape Town on June 20th which just happens to be World Refugee Day, a day I have come to celebrate every year since being in Africa because of all the lives of refugees God has brought me into. Here in Cape Town you can always find a great number of Zimbabwean refugees that have fled the economic, and now more political, depravity of their once thriving nation. They have to come all the way to Cape Town because it is only this Home Affairs office that deals with foreign ID cards for them to find work to support their families. I have had the opportunity with my school to go a few times to bring food to where these guys put up camp near the loading docks of Table Bay, and it is alarming just how hungry these people are. The Zimbabwean YWAMer from our base who heads up the ministry always has to make sure to walk to where the women are sitting under concrete shelters, or the ravenous men will inhale all the food. Sometimes you find the women telling you they haven’t eaten for a week. Which brings me to my next, and final, subject (I promise you).

The past couple weeks has seen tensions rise all across South Africa’s townships where several different African nations are represented. Many of you should have seen in the news by now the ‘xenophobia’ that has swept across the urban areas of the entire country like a plague of locusts. Refugees I have talked to (one who saw his own neighbor killed) who have been in foreign nations their entire lives say they have never seen anything like this. While on the surface it appears this is simply the poorest of the poor releasing all their anger and frustration over the years, where there are very tight living quarters and scare jobs available, it is important to get to the root of why so many Africans immigrate to this economic powerhouse in the region. It always seems to come back to poor leadership and distribution of natural resources in their home countries. Somalia, for a very stark example, has been without an effective central government since 1991 when the President was in fact the lead warlord among many and was taken out of power. Control for the government has been fought over between the clans of Somalis since then. Currently, the youth military wing, al-Shabab (meaning literally “the youth” in Arabic), has been causing all kinds of insecurity and UN reports that an average of 20,000 people are fleeing the capital Mogadishu every month. The internationally recognized interim President still cannot take the Parliament seat in the capital because of the repeated attempts on his life by Muslim extremists seeking to build the greater Somalia, including eastern Ethiopia, Northeastern Kenya, and Djbouti, by force.

Several of the African foreigners are now being helped by their governments back to their countries of residence, but this is not possible for Zimbabweans (among others) because of the political and economic turmoil their nation remains in. I had the chance last week to drive some students from our base to go and encourage some of these displaced foreigners where they have taken refuge in a megachurch of sorts called His People. They have responded to this crisis in an incredible way, setting up two large tents to house the men on one side of the church, and the women’s quarters on the other side (which I didn’t see). I have attached a few photos with some of the guys I had a chance to listen to and pray for, and also practice my Swahili with since most were from Burundi and eastern Congo. It’s hard to put into words what you hear from these people’s stories, but I can tell you it makes you want to be a journalist to get across all the stories to the world. Yet, at the same time, how much of a difference would that really make because of the sheer number of them, each with their own unique journeys of suffering? I realized the supreme importance of moving in simple love that God has shown to us, and being patient for when it is our place to give it out. One particular brother from Burundi named Thomas, who had been elected as a leader to represent Burundians when he arrived at the camp (and has been a refugee in various countries since the age of 1), asked me how he can encourage all these other brothers if he is not receiving encouragement himself. It was a plea for me to give him any kind of spiritual food that would nourish him to carry out his task to God’s glory. We had a wonderful talk together, lying on some mattresses and speaking some Kiswahili, and ended up both praying for one another in the end. I seriously didn’t want to leave, but had to get the others back to the base (it was 11pm). I hope to go back again, though am praying the temporary refuge will not have to be there for too long.

The big scare for South Africa now is the very real possibility that these temporary, makeshift shelters for the fleeing foreigners will become permanent segregated settlements sponsored by the UNHCR (IDP camps, if you will, like we see in Northern Uganda), thus reverting back to the apartheid of old. Any new foreigners then entering the country after this wave of violence settles down would settle in these camps, segregated from the native Africans. The truth is, as many South African friends grudgingly tell me, apartheid has not altogether vanished but is still very much apart of South African society and inherent in the people’s psyche. While Johannesburg has been most heavily affected w/ about 50 deaths, (and the parts of the city where foreigners are the majority native South Africans still fear to go), the several townships scattered around the Cape Flats have also been affected.
We have been praying a lot as a base and in our school against this wave of violence and hatred, but can see there is really need of a long-term solution. Seems like now there will be segregation of refugee populations around South Africa with the talk of UNHCR coming in to help the displaced. I know many here in Cape Town have too much fear to go back to their home communities, even though the locals are giving them their possessions back. Some have seen their friend’s eyes cut out or limbs hacked off or burned alive. I ask you to join this nation in prayer for a long-term solution to this outbreak, and also for the Lord to comfort and minister to the many displaced foreigners (literally tens of thousands). Thank you all for remaining strong in prayer and may the God of Creation and all nations continue to reveal His unfathomable character to you in your own place of ministry.

For His glory,
Bryan