Graduation Celebration

One of the highlights at our recent Enrich conference was honoring the 5 graduates of our Foundations for Christian Growth class. The course was a rigorous 13 weeks complete with attendance requirements, homework, extra books to read, and TESTS! Pastor Abram and I took the class as well so we’d be officially certified to teach future classes.

After we presented the certificates, each graduate shared what the class meant in their lives. Joy in receiving the certificates. Heartfelt thanks for teachers, interpreters and tutors who helped them succeed. Gratitude for everyone who gave generously to equip them as leaders. And most importantly, praises to God for helping them make it through a challenging course – “with great sacrifices come with great rewards”.

“I’m so thankful for the classes and graduation. What I liked most was how Mme June taught with the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and how through each lesson the Holy Spirit worked in me. I got so much out of each class. They increased my knowledge and strengthened my spirit. I greatly encourage others to take this course as well. It’s important for us leaders because God works in us through these classes. They equip us and give us solutions and answers. Thank you Ignite South Africa.” – Pastor David Moeti

Our next course begins June 30th and we’re excited that these testimonies encouraged so many to step out and sign-up.

Please pray for our recent FCG graduates, our next group of leaders taking the course, and for Abram and me as we prepare to teach. It’s such a joy to build-up leaders and to see God use them in incredible ways.

Lead by the Spirit

On May 25th, more than 100 leaders joined us for our second Enrich leadership conference of the year.

We continued our Kingdom Leading series digging deep into leading by the power of the Holy Spirit. June taught on our identity in Christ and how our spirits, souls and bodies are transformed by the Holy Spirit. I taught on the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of that transformation (Galatians 5:16-25), and how the Holy Spirit gifts us with power for building ourselves up and leading our churches (I Corinthians 12:1-12). June followed with teaching and prayer for baptism in the Holy Spirit, and Pastor Abram concluded with a powerful lesson on healing for our bodies and minds.

“but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23)

We need the Holy Spirit working in us to bear this fruit in our lives. Given our human natures, we need supernatural help to love the way God does, have supernatural joy and peace through difficult times, remain faithful through all circumstances, and have self-control when our flesh wants what it shouldn’t have. As followers of Christ, we will be recognized by our fruit.

“God has given me power to go out to the world to show His power and lead people to salvation. This conference has given me courage. I have learned that God wants us to be complete and filled always with His Spirit, and I have gained insight about God’s Spirit in me.” – Nakeli Masilo Shadrack

Treasures in Heaven

I hit the ground running when I arrived back in South Africa. We had just 2 weeks before an Enrich conference and then June heading to the US for 6 weeks. We were also blessed with 2 ministry guests who stayed with us for a week, getting to know Ignite and serving with us. I’d like you to “meet” them…

Alison and Doug are fellow missionaries with an organization called Love For the Sake of Love (http://www.loveforthesakeoflove.com/). I met Alison when she served as a summer intern with Thrive Africa 2 summers ago. Afterwards, she felt called to help launch a new ministry for college students. L4L’s heart is to help students discover Christ’s calling on their lives, and to mobilize them to use their gifts to serve others. They accomplish this through both local outreach and global mission trips. I know what a life-changing experience a mission trip can be, so I love that L4L’s heart is to facilitate serving opportunities for students.

While here, Alison and Doug spent time with our FlashPoint coaches, attended an FCG class getting to know some of our local pastors, and served at our Enrich conference. They also helped with a HUGE book project – sorting and inventorying the more than 1000 books we have in storage. Wow! I’m sure there will be treasures in heaven for that tedious project!!

And I’m soooo excited about it because it helps us make these much needed resources available to our coaches, pastors and church leaders. My heart is to have a small library someday where they can study for classes, access books and other materials, prepare for sermons, ask questions, etc.

It has been such a blessing to get to know these young leaders. I’ve been so impressed by their vision, leadership, focus on Christ, and heart for fellow college students. I recommend you check out their site for more information, especially if you have a heart for students, or a student of your own.

Leadership Lessons Learned

Despite numerous challenges, the walls of Jerusalem were completed in 52 days. Pretty amazing really! I love that the Bible says the people worked with all their heart – that God noticed and acknowledged it in His very own Word. This speaks highly of the people and also of Nehemiah’s ability to lead.

There are soooo many lessons we can learn from Nehemiah. I’m just going to brainstorm some that I gleaned from my self-study and from reading David L. McKenna’s book “Becoming Nehemiah – Leading with Significance.”

Character

Nehemiah was a man of great character. He demonstrated traits such as integrity, courage, confidence, self-sacrifice, loyalty, authenticity, and consistency. Character is key because it transfers into any leadership situation. Competencies, skills and experience don’t necessarily.

Nehemiah also had great compassion. He personally identified with the needs of the people. So often leaders are chosen based on vision, initiative, creativity or charisma, but unless these gifts are matched to the needs of the people, they can become what McKenna describes as “self-serving handicaps of personal ambition.”

Spiritual Maturity

Nehemiah demonstrated spiritual maturity in that he was fully devoted to God. He had confidence in the sovereignty of God. He prayed regularly in confession and worship, for wisdom, protection and guidance. He did not compromise his faith when faced with challenges. And his trust in the Lord was evident and a witness to others.

Leadership Traits

Nehemiah was a servant leader. He served the king as cupbearer, and excelled in menial tasks as he rose in responsibility and trust. He served his people as well. He felt their needs and responded, and was willing to do whatever he asked them to do.

Nehemiah also proved he could motivate, mobilize, and direct people, adapting his approach as needed. Mobilizing “employees” of the king would have been very different than mobilizing “volunteers” building the walls. If you’ve led both, you know what I’m talking about… With “volunteers” Nehemiah motivated people by their felt needs, mobilized them by their personal relationships, organized and energized them through manageable tasks, rewarded them by tangible results, and encouraged them by working the hardest of them all.

Nehemiah learned to serve under authority before leading others. That way, he knew the importance of authority – inherited and earned – and did not take it for granted. He also adapted well to new situations, challenges, and crisis, taking ownership of issue resolution.
Nehemiah succeeded, but he also failed. Leaders can (and should) learn from both.

Competencies and Practical Skills

Nehemiah also possessed the competencies and practical skills to get the work done. He observed, analyzed, planned, organized, and implemented in order to achieve measureable results. He was a quick learner who could see a broad field of vision, as well as attend to detail. Spiritual maturity is not a substitute for practical skills - Christian leaders need both.

There are so many rich lessons to learn from Nehemiah. Another important one is that he was just an ordinary man that God used to accomplish extraordinary things. Sometimes I forget that part.