From Our Coaches

One of the many highlights with our Ignite Mission Team was the opportunity for them to meet our FlashPoint coaches, get to know them, and hear straight from their hearts. I thought it would be cool for you to hear from them as well.

We asked everyone to share their highlights from the year thus far, and here is what they had to say.

Thabang: Seeing kids giving their lives to Christ.

Pheelo: Reading testimonies from the kids and seeing how their efforts are really making a difference.

Joseph: Seeing learners become more open in sharing and seeking help about their personal struggles.

Thapelo: Having an opportunity to teach leadership lessons to his fellow coaches, and that Ignite is building him up as a leader so he can build others.

Pheko: Seeing growth in his learners, and seeing lives changed as kids apply what they learn.

Thulo: The impact Assemblies are having in new schools including many new commitments to Christ.

Amanda: Seeing the growth and boldness of each of the coaches.

Jill: Seeing the coaches use their gifts in mighty ways and also be willing to step out as God calls them to.

June: The huge step of faith each took as we made the transition from Thrive Africa to Ignite South Africa.

Dan: Learning so much from the leadership lessons, and being equipped as a leader and teacher.

Busisiwe: How the coaches work together as a team, and how they allow themselves to be stretched by God.

Amos: Being invited to speak to a 12^th grade class over the holiday break.

Constance: Teamwork among the coaches, and also opportunities to learn new skills and roles.

Dimakatso: Seeing how she is making a difference with her learners.

Nnini: Seeing learners being changed, and also growing as a leader herself including teaching leadership lessons to her fellow coaches.

Disebo: Having an impact and building friendships with the learners.

Sibongile: Teaching grade 9 where kids are older than she’s used to; at first she was intimidated, but now they know and like her, and the class is going so well.

The team was excited to meet our incredible coaching team – their passion for God and raising up young leaders is so evident! Please pray with us for each of our coaches and the impact they are having for Christ.

Cultivating

This has been an incredible time of ministry with our Ignite Mission team. It has been such a blessing to serve together sharing the hope of Christ. As we ministered, the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 kept coming to mind. Gardening involves more than just scattering seeds. It also requires cultivating the soil so that the seeds can flourish. Evangelism is similar with our hearts being like the soil that needs tending. As we cultivated relationships, we also cultivated the soil in which the seeds of God’s Word were planted.

Each person we met had a unique story, a unique need – each relationship we built was divinely appointed by God. Just like soil, our hearts are cultivated in stages, and I loved how the Lord used each team member to do that cultivating based on their own gifts and testimonies.

We met hardened hearts that were softened through kindness, serving, and thought-provoking questions. We encountered rocky soil where we helped to counsel and comfort. We encountered the weeds of traditional, ancestral beliefs and sprayed them with “Round-up” from God’s Word. We encountered strong Believers with fertile soil whom we simply encouraged.

Sharing God’s Word may seem intimidating; something best left to pastors and evangelists. But it’s definitely something we all can do, and are called to do. As we built relationships, God used us to tend the soil of many hearts – sowing the seeds of His truth that will reap a harvest in His perfect timing. And as this happened, the Lord ministered to us as well, tending the soil of our hearts - removing rocks and weeds, and planting His truths down deeper.

I’m excited for the great harvest this will bring in the lives of each of us!

Catalysts

Acts 9 is a pretty amazing story of Paul’s conversion and launch into ministry. And where would we be if Paul has not been obedient to God’s calling on his life?

Paul’s testimony is so dramatic it’s easy to overlook the role of Ananias – the one who obeyed God, went to Paul, and prayed with him to receive the Holy Spirit. Ananias was the catalyst who launched Paul into an amazing ministry. Both men had life-changing and life-giving roles to play purposed by God.

This weekend we welcomed our Ignite Mission Team – 3 wonderful ladies excited to share the love and hope of Christ! Jaime began our first day of Relationship Evangelism by teaching us how Ananias’ seemingly small act of obedience had a significant and eternal impact. Our prayer for the next 2 weeks is to be used by God in similar ways.

As we go where God sends us, build relationships, serve and pray, the Lord is sure to do incredible things in and through us. We have great expectations for this trip.

• To be stretched by God and become bolder in fulfilling the Great Commission.
• To serve people in need as the hands and feet of Christ.
• To hear clearly from God as we step out of our comfort zone and rely solely on Him.
• To sharpen and encourage each other, as we each have unique gifts to share and roles to play.
• To be the catalysts that God uses to encourage, edify, and equip others.
• To expect the unexpected, after all God has more in store for us that we’ll ever know.

While we have great expectations for this trip, we’re sure the Lord will exceed them by far.

Please pray for us. And please ask yourself, how does God want to use me today?