Getting it Done

Did you know that the average life expectancy in South Africa is less than 50 years?  This is about 30 years lower than the average in the US which is approaching 80.  30 years can seem like an entire lifetime, especially in the eyes of a young person.

We believe that with knowledge comes power - the power to make good choices, to plan for the future, and to live longer, healthier lives purposed by God.  With such knowledge and power, this generation can soar above the statistics, beating the odds currently stacked against them.

On February 22, the top 6 student leaders from 21 local schools, gathered for our first Impact youth leadership conference of the year.  The theme for 2012 is “Get It Done” with the emphasis on achieving healthy lifestyles, making God-honoring choices, and being positive role models. 

The teachings equipped students in 3 areas:  presentation skills, information on the leading causes of death in SA, and assessing one’s health.  In between, the students broke into small groups to practice skills, discuss lessons learned, and assess their own health risk factors. 

The topics were tough, as were the assignments, but the students were absolutely pumped for the challenge!  It was awesome to see them working together excited to learn and lead (and live longer!).

With hotdogs and homework in hand, these young leaders left knowing they were uniquely gifted and purposed by God to be His change agents.  Their long-term project includes teaching their peers what they’ve learned and facilitating health fairs at their schools.  We’re excited to see what these creative, empowered young leaders come up with!

Please pray for them.

Return on Investment

For the past 2 weeks, we have been celebrating FlashPoint graduations. What an incredible year this has been!

FlashPoint is our Leadership Development and AIDS prevention program in the schools. Our bi-weekly classes teach about topics such as living for God’s purpose, purity, character, HIV and AIDs, drugs and alcohol, and other tough issues youth face.

Over the year, our students have worked hard and grown in incredible ways. It’s a blessing to see young people being shaped, stretched and used by God, discovering His purpose for their lives.

As we celebrate the thousands of graduating students, we also celebrate our coaches who have invested so much into their students as teachers, mentors, counselors and friends. Their impact is seen on the faces of their students – in their smiles, laughter, and tears. Their impact is heard in each testimony shared. And their impact will continue as these students live what they’ve learned.

Please join in praying for our FlashPoint graduates, that they continue to grow as leaders for Christ.

Making Melodies

This week I visited 2 school assemblies – what a hoot! Our FlashPoint coaches did such an amazing job!

Great singing, funny skits, powerful testimonies, such a special way of relating to the kids, all topped off with a wonderful talent for teaching God’s truths in ways young people can understand and get excited about. Kinda like a Triple Threat of ministry (if there is such a thing). And judging from kids responses, everyone had a great time!

Our assemblies are ½ day events for schools that do not currently have FlashPoint classes. It’s a way we can teach and inspire even more youth about God’s purpose for their lives. This year our goal is to reach 3500 kids.

We begin with a group assembly for all 7th- 9th graders filled with singing, testimonies and skits to teach valuable lessons. “Making Melodies In My Heart” was hilarious with the goofy motions. Even the teachers got into the action. Next Coach Thapelo shared about his struggles growing up poor and feeling like poverty would prevent him from achieving his goals and dreams. Thapelo shared how discovering God’s love, purpose and help changed his life, and how God will also help each young person become who they were created to be. The skit reinforced that lesson in a funny, memorable way. Afterwards, the kids divided into classrooms for a 2 hour lesson about Living on Purpose – one of our FlashPoint curriculums.

These assemblies have a great impact with the students, and the educators as well. We spoke with the principals and they were excited, thankful, and honored that Ignite South Africa came to their school.

Please join us in praying for our assembly schools – that these kids make godly decisions in their lives and that someday we’re able to expand with weekly classes for them.

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.

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.