FlashPoint

For the youth in South Africa, the odds seem against them.

•1 in 4 people have HIV/AIDS
•1 in 3 youth have lost a parent, and 1 in 5 have lost both
•1 in 5 youth have been raped or molested
•1 in 4 homes don’t have enough to eat, and 2 in 5 have no one employed
•2 in 3 youth don’t think they are smart enough to achieve their dreams
•1 in 10 don’t believe they will ever have a job

While the statistics are overwhelming, God’s potential and purpose for our youth is greater. That’s where FlashPoint comes in…

FlashPoint’s mission is to model, equip, and multiply godly leaders among our youth empowering them to lead with positive impact.

In partnership with South Africa’s Department of Education, FlashPoint mentors at-risk youth through leadership training, HIV/AIDS prevention, and life skills development which is accomplished through godly national men and women we call “coaches”.

Mr. Mokuena, Acting Director, TMed stated, ”Noting the influence that the programme has brought to our learners in the schools they have worked with…the District continues to allow [Ignite South Africa] a grace to work with the number of the schools that the institution can handle.” So once again we are blessed with district-wide approval to teach in the public schools in 2011 and beyond.

We are thrilled with this open door, and the confidence the school district has invested in our team. This year we will be teaching in 12 schools, reaching over 3500 learners in our biweekly classes. Additionally, we will hold quarterly youth leadership conferences and impact 13 additional schools through our Living on Purpose and Get Real Assemblies.

Our prayer is that each of our learners will experience the love of God and truth He has for their individual circumstances, and they will learn to trust Him to meet all of their needs.

Nehemiah Prayed

After Nehemiah heard the heart-breaking news about Jerusalem, he mourned, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. As I read this, I think about the countless hours I’ve spent in prayer – for Thrive Africa, for Ignite South Africa, for the precious people that God wants to reach with His love. I know that the Lord hears my prayers and that He’s in control of all things. I just need to keep my faith that things will work out according to his perfect plan and timing.

Nehemiah’s prayer began with worship of our great and awesome God. We use the words “great” and “awesome” so much that I think we’ve lost sense of what they really mean. Think about them. And think about how “great” and “awesome” God really is. Wow! Nehemiah expresses thanks for the covenant of love that God has with His people – a covenant that the Lord continues to uphold even as we fall short so often. And as Nehemiah prays, he’s confident that the Lord is present and listening attentively. Wow again! Our great and awesome God hears our prayers. Pretty humbling if you really think about it!

Nehemiah’s prayer continued with confession. Not only did he confess the corporate sins of Israel, but he included himself in it. It’s important for us to recognize the power that both individual and corporate sin can have over us. We all fall short of the glory of God, so as godly leaders we need to lead people in confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

Nehemiah also prayed for himself as a leader. He knew he needed the Lord’s guidance, wisdom, and favor as he went to King Artaxerxes for help. As Believers, I think we all know the importance of prayer as a spiritual discipline. It’s how we talk to and hear from God. It’s critical to maintaining a close relationship with him. But as godly leaders, it’s also one of the most powerful tools in our toolkit. And it’s one we should use first rather than last when making a critical decision or taking a decisive action. I must confess, often times I pray as a last resort, after everything I’ve tried to do on my own has failed. Not only does Nehemiah give us a model for prayer, but he also models godly leadership.

Please pray for us. Please pray for me. Please pray for yourself as a godly leader.

Holiday Vacation

Over Christmas and New Year’s June, Amanda and I took a much needed break. June had a relative in town so we enjoyed time in Cape Town and then on a safari. We’re thankful for friends who gave us a place to stay, helping to keep costs down.

Here are some of the vacation highlights:

- Walking along the beaches, marina, and shops in Simon’s Town
- Going to Boulder beach and swimming with the penguins
- Attending Christmas service at Hillsong Church
- Seeing Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain
- Sightseeing along the V&A Waterfront
- Seeing a bunch of rhinos and giraffes on our overnight safari

It was so nice to get away and to enjoy more of South Africa. Hope you enjoy the picture slideshow!

Christmas Blessings

I hope you had a blessed Christmas and New Year! I sure did!! One blessing for me was helping to deliver Christmas food parcels to our team of coaches – 16 young men and women so dedicated to mentoring young people through our school program.

While December is a time to celebrate Christ with family and friends, it can also be a hardship for our coaches. School is on break resulting in decreased wages, and most of our coaches provide the primary support for their immediate and even extended families. We so wanted to bless them during this season, but with beginning a new ministry, finances are tight on our end as well…

That’s when God showed up big-time, and through the generous support of others we raised enough money to provide each family with more than a month’s supply of food. Flour, sugar, beans, maize meal, rice, oil, canned fish, and sweet treats as well.

They were so overjoyed at the consideration and generosity. Over and over they thanked the Lord for His provision and for those who gave to bless them at Christmas. Our coaches also loved introducing us to their families and having their family pictures taken. It was a great day and a great way to celebrate the true meaning of the season.

Enriching Leaders

In South Africa, 90% of our local pastors lack formal training and the resources they need to lead effectively. Our heart is to stand in that gap, equipping leaders to lead with passion, power and purpose.

Introducing Enrich

Enrich’s mission is to educate, equip, and edify local church leaders enabling them to fulfill God’s calling on their lives. The ways we will carry this out include:



• Quarterly leadership conferences that teach Biblical truths, Christ-like character, and the application of Godly leadership principles.
• Bi-monthly workshops for local pastors and their spouses comprised of in-depth teaching, application, and an exchange of ideas for leading effectively within their churches.
• One-on-one mentoring to build relationships with local pastors and provide them with guidance and support.

Our first conference is scheduled for February 2011, and our theme for the year is “Kingdom Leading – leading according to God’s principles.”

Please join us in praying for a successful, impactful, and enriching conference.

Nehemiah Wept

I read a great book recently - "Becomming Nehemiah - Leading with Significance" by David L. McKenna. As I read this and the book of Nehemiah, I journaled along the way. Over the next weeks, I'll be sharing things I have learned...maybe others can relate.

In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah finds out some heart-breaking news – that his Jewish people, who had survived their exile in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem, now suffered greatly. Their walls were still crumbled around them and their gates were burned, leaving them exposed and unprotected from enemies. They were afraid, ashamed, weary, and demoralized. And I’m sure all these feelings meant their faith had taken a hit as well. When Nehemiah heard all this, he sat down and wept.

I can relate. I’ve wept as well over the past 2 years with Thrive. I’ve wept for fallen leaders, grievous sins, and the unintended consequences that have ricocheted through the ministry ever since. I’ve wept for those the Lord called to sacrifice everything to stand in the gap and lead through the most difficult times ever faced. And I wept in shock and frustration when we learned of the ultimate decision to close.

Compared to Jerusalem who had been in exile, I felt like we had been through the opposite - 2 years of being under siege. Restricted in many ways from moving forward with plans as ministry and personal matters were untangled. As I went out for my early morning runs, past the tornado-damaged cabins and burned conference center, my heart broke and my soul mourned for the situation. I earnestly prayed for an end to the siege, even giving God advice for how it should happen. And I poured out my frustrations to Him on more than one occasion. The Lord wants to share our hearts – our joys and our tears. It isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s just being authentic and affected and human.

So I know how Nehemiah felt when he heard the news and experienced the pain of his people. But like with Nehemiah, it raised up in me a desire to help, to be part of the solution, to come alongside the other faithful servants God was using to rebuild the ministry and restore it for His glory. Lucky for me I didn’t know exactly what that meant – eventually helping to launch a new ministry. In His infinite wisdom (and mercy) the Lord only revealed enough steps at a time to keep me moving.

Despite challenges, our programs thrived and had huge impact this year. This confirms to me that God is with us and His calling on my life hasn’t changed. The Lord still has a divine love and vision for Qwa Qwa, and an important mission to be carried out. So I thank God for replacing my tears and fears with expectancy and hope for the future. And I thank Him for igniting Ignite South Africa.

On a Mission

For the past 9 months or so we’ve been attending church at Freedom Ministries in Harrismith. Now that we’re living in town it’s easier to attend regularly and get involved in various activities.

Pastors Mark and Jess Horton are great! They love the Lord, have amazing testimonies, and are so committed to teaching God’s truth in a welcoming, nurturing environment. They’re also dedicated to helping people in the community, and challenging the body of Christ to do the same. I love that Freedom is a missional church – it’s also what I love about Kensington back at home.

This weekend was an example. We held a church “fete” (fair) to raise money to help families in need during the Christmas season. The planning team did an amazing job, and it was so much fun working alongside each other for a great cause.

We had a “braai” (barbecue) going that drew a hungry crowd. We sold handmade jewelry, cards, and treats, along with toys, clothing and books. There were also fun activities for the kids. June discovered her talent for face-painting, while I’m hoping the picture of me “testing out” the jumping castle doesn’t make it to facebook…Eish!

It was a great day for a great cause. What a blessing to serve with friends and meet new ones!