Purpose and Design - Objective Truths to Encourage With

My investigation, into the purposed function of the Christian faith in our day and age, has me traveling all over. Previously, in the Netherlands, the believers greatly encouraged me in my efforts to travel, share, and learn about the reality and relevance of Christianity.

So I set off for Vietnam, and have been living and working here for more than four months. At the least it brought me to appreciate the abundant luxuries and numerous blessings I grew up with. Surrounded by godlessness, my current reflections relate to my growing knowledge and understanding of the purpose of life, and, a life of purpose. Teleology, the belief that purpose and design are a part of and apparent in nature, is a great help in coping with the frustrations of a fallen world.

When striking out to be a bearer of truth, opposition will never be far off, ready to counter your every move. As fellow believers we can encourage and cheer each other on, on the journey of revealing the truth to the world. This is one of the things I have found that the global Church has been purposed for today. I'd like to share an experience of this.

As we raised our mugs of Czech beer to celebrate unity, my newfound friends and I jumped at the chance to talk about living as a foreigner. These two bright-eyed Americans were answers to my prayers for intellectual stimulation, one a medical student and the other a well read businessman.

From our evaluations we noted that the Asian society have not been exposed to Christian morals or ethics, leaving much need for redemption. Affairs in Vietnam centre around fulfilling basic needs, one of which is gaining status at all cost, but without losing face. Put bluntly: lying, cheating, or stealing is overlooked, as long as you don't get caught - and if you do, have a envelope ready. This type of corruption, where rules and regulations are blatantly ignored if it suits the situation, is largely expected. All forms of boundaries are bended or reshaped for personal gain. Two steps forward and three steps back on the cultivation road if you asked me. The conduct seem to highlight the results of a godless society, and the wide acknowledgement that it is a result of a lack of choice exposes the need to knowing the truth and be set free by it.

My American friend finds himself in this business and political atmosphere. Ironically actually, for not only is he set on practising business affairs with honesty and integrity, but his passion lies towards justice and equality.  "Do to others what you would have them do to you" eccos straight through every aspect of life. The things that impassions you will lead you to the heart of the brokenness of that very thing, requiring of you to shine the light of truth on it.

Of this my friend told of some tough times. Lack of critical thinking or critical questioning as a means of improvement results in blind mindless conduct. In business, though, they uncannily defraud and shamelessly corrupt affairs, for personal gain, regardless of the moral cost.

When asked whether he liked living and serving in Vietnam, since he has lived here for 5 years, he hesitantly replied "Sometimes". Propelled by his passion, his path will continue to meet opposition, purposed to have the truth be proclaimed. Unarmed and vulnerable he will need to continue to trust in the Creator and Purposer of all life.

And so should we. His burden is one of love, and his purpose is one of divine revelation. One in a million, in this part of the world at least, but one nonetheless. At this I understood something of shared burdens. His burden and passion have different expressions than mine, but the force that drives it is the same. As fellow Christians, we could listen and encourage him in that moment, as an act of acknowledgement that his love for God propels his life forward. In that moment of shared love for our King and Creator, we all acted according to the designed purpose and divine revelation.

Commissioned to observe the Bride's choices - a prayer for the future

The end of the Trek affirmed my new nature. I have been spoiled for going back to business as usual. God answered so many prayers, but it all boils down to one:

"May the Lord grow you and and destroy you for ordinary living"

I would like to share my story, how newness turns to ordinary and God ignites new life. I decided to leave Dietetics and Senekal October of 2010. Believing that God called me to serve the global Church, Mist | Ministry Support would be this place of this service, or so I thought.

I started serving ministries or communities part time while finishing off in Senekal. Mobilizing their communication capacity and discipling others to go and serve the church. I dreamed of networking and mutual support within the Body. This was my initial aim, but God had greater plans. That Desember as the doors to my old life was closed I received a vision.

In my dream God told me to go and see what the Bride is choosing.

This commission had me asking two questions:
1. How would I be able to see wrongs and not engage?
2. Does God know how big and far and wide His Bride is today, and where I would have to go to get a true image of what She is choosing?

Needless to say, I accepted this loving invitation to follow Jesus and obey His next action. Part time, full time - I have been seeing and serving the Church in many different forms. Mobilizing, strengthening, encouraging, and doing local evangelizing work with and for the upbuilding of the church. Oh, how blessed these two and a half years of walking in obedience.

Mist was and continues a valuable mobilization tool for missional serving and living. Interaction with e-church and the network of missional minded believers continue to challenge. Serving through communication and technology optimization at Benoni was a cover for learning to live in the local family of God. The introduction to the global church and body through InContext Ministries and Opened Doors and the trials the persecuted believers go through activated a love and burden for supporting and loving them. OM's Freedom Climb opened the reality of the world of slave trade and prostitution, and I was left stunned, shocked, shaken, and ignited

My passion for the global church were fanned into flames when Mist's doors were closing for me due to insufficient funds (a problem still today). This obvious nudge made me take the next and obvious step and I applied for research in church communications. With the opportunity to take an exam and be admitted in 2014 I praised God for the new venture. And God surprised me with the Trek. A five month trek with Operation Mobilization through SA, Namibia , Zambia , Malawi, and Mozambique. We were visiting and mobilizing local churches. I was discipled in different aspects of following Jesus and Kingdom living and I discovered and were set free from lifelong lies. More then getting to know God, was the relational discovery of God with His Church. Seeing what He's busy with in the Church, and how he uses the vessels humbled before Him. Walking in submission, I seek to be part of this mission God is on.

As evangelist and mobilizer I have been spoiled for going back to mere ordinary living. And I'm ecstatic about it, looking forward to what lies ahead. Unfortunately some doors are closing. Yet, I'm looking to the next one to open, and holding onto the promise that God continues the work He started.

I want to research church communication regarding relevance in our time and among countries and cultures. I want to serve the church with my passion and burden for the lost and young in faith. I want to encourage and mobilize ministries and believers as I travel and meet. I want to tell the stories of being transformed and of other's transformation through and for God. Above all I want to follow God completely, and if convinced or convicted, to act accordingly.

I do not know yet what lies ahead. Maybe continue with Mist, serve a local church, go to Europe and learn how to care, go to Asia or the Middle East and teach English on an secret mission, or just stay in South Africa. Maybe I'll be able to still do research through all of this. It's all depending on God to provide. I pray for guidance, provisions, wisdom, but above all faithfulness to the call God has charged me with.

Let our prayers continue to raise up for all the saints and our hearts be set on following Jesus. I would like to invest in any Kingdom venture as long as my hands are available to serve and God approves, so feel free to let me know of anywhere that I can serve.

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9 (NET)

How Bellville taught me about church planting

Cape Town Bellville station - markets

O, what an excitingly interesting place. I dearly enjoyed visiting the Somalian Muslim people of Bellville. With two men at my side we set off to find people of peace. People who we believe God already prepared for receiving the love He wants to show to them. We entered the Belleville market and not being presumptuous or expectant to find anything specific other than seeing God's glory.

Being warned about the aggression of the Somalians we were on the lookout for reasons for concern. To our surprise the first stall we entered we found a couple who were openhearted and quite loving people. We were welcomed into their stall for the next two hours. During this time they took turns to go for prayer, but continued making us as comfortable as possible, answering our questions and even introducing us to a few of their friends, who allowed us to pray for them. They indicated a clear openness towards Christians by way of friendship, telling of some of their friends who became Christan. This couple seems to be good news for entering the Somalian community in Bellville area. We prayed for them before we left, and will continue praying for them.

Many other eyes further on in the market exposed souls of hurt, lust, anger, hate, and coldness - everything we were told to expect. This was also prominent in many of the other conversations.

This experience just highlighted the importance of finding the people and houses of peace if we were to plant churches in communities. People and houses where they openheartedly invite you into their homes and network of friends and families. Luke 10:1-11 became personal to me for the first time in the Bellville Somalian Muslim community.

If you would like to know more about serving among the diaspora people, please hook up with diaspora hope

Generational influence - The need for Wisdom

Generational differences have been on my mind for a while now, partly because of my openness to influence, but mostly because of its obviousness. Around the world the technological ground breakers are indicating generational change as they are advancing swiftly in the integration of technology into every part of our lives.  Many still need to engage with the multitude of options to experience it's richness. As an early adapter I seldom hesitate at the sign of adventure. In this I found great excitement about the truth and challenges regarding change in what these ground breakers are bringing to the proverbial table.

I'd like to share a thought from the Learning Community, a group taking the change of technology into account regarding the telling of the Good News. As tweeted by @jackiejvr at a recent Learning Community, "This is the 1st generation that grows up without needing authority to unlock knowledge. Instead, authority should learn to impact wisdom."

This thought is also conveyed by David Kinnaman in his book "You lost me". This book on why young Christians are leaving the church and rethinking faith explained some of my experienced discomforts while growing up. The book placed me within the Millennial or Mosaic generation, those born between 1984 and 2002. I may have been born into the Mosaic generation but were clinging to and believing in the practices of the Boomer generation as demonstrated by my father. Respectful, high morals and values, excellent work ethics; all characteristics contrasting to that which those of my own generation chooses to describe themselves with.

Exploring live at a save distance from the authority of my father, I seldom if ever ventured out to participate along with my own generation. Granted, this gave me insight into the thoughts of previous generations. Yet, once of the leash of this safety, I found my footing and joined my peers. The younger generation are born as technological natives, set on finding, building, and thriving on authentic relationships. Some brave ones break away to find their own voices much earlier. Some need to be moved by pain - when staying hurts more than going.

After reading "Who moved my cheese" by Dr Spencer Johnson, I had a good laugh at myself, was shook back into action and embraced the technology as well as the change. It was here that I found the need for mentorship, authority and especially wisdom.

Who to follow in Twitter:
@ekerk @stephanjoubert @groblerpaul