Bradley’s Notes – Celebrating a year on the road

Just last week I was looking through a collection of photos whose timestamp was dated back to a year ago. I couldn’t believe that I had been on a mission trip for a full year! How time flies when you are on a journey to the promised land. Walking down memory lane I discovered that some of my most memorable moments I have spent with my newfound family in Christ. I would like to pick up from where I left off and would like to share what the Lord has been doing for me lately. 

East London

After spending some time on the South Coast, we all gathered at Pastor Danny’s church called Lighthouse Ministries in the heart of the Wesbank neighbourhood. It was there that I would meet Stefan and his family together with Tjaart and the Du Preez not forgetting the De beers and the Cronje’s with whom I travelled with on our way to East London. Marc was also one of the people who joined us on the East London reunion as well as Juan and his wife Marisa who later joined us for a brief period.

It was at that time that the Book of Acts came alive. We fellowshiped and ate together sharing our lives as we communed together. Our journey took us to Frere Hospital where I met an old friend whom I had last seen in my early childhood days. Ironically, I prayed for his mother and a week later I heard that his mother had fully recovered.

I must admit that a lot did happen during our stay in East London. The most significant being the two Boerie days where we served the community with some hotdog rolls while we shared the gospel with them. The power of unity was for me a valuable lesson learnt as I watched how the different ligaments of one body coordinated in unison. Amazing.

Jeffrey’s bay

Well after a month spent in East London, Jeffreys Bay became our next destination. It was hard to say goodbye to my family in Christ yet there was a feeling that we had really bonded as a family and that against all odds, we had grown spiritually.

Jeffrey’s Bay led us to meet our other family members in Christ, Uncle Jan and Auntie Ruth as well as Uncle Jaku and Auntie Judika. Our time invested in fellowship helped us to share our experiences as well as learn from each other. 

I managed to take a walk with the cross during my time there and found my way into the townships where I must admit that I had a real taste of persecution which almost cost me my life. As though that wasn’t enough I had come across a group of children who almost single-handedly hijacked my cross while my focus was on sharing the gospel with this one gentleman who was working away with his wood and making shelves as I spoke. It was fortunate enough that it looked more like a prank rather than theft as I ran a distance after the three little children who just smiled as I approached them to recover my cross. Anyway, that is a day in the life of a disciple fishing for men. Most of the stuff you witness in a day is not even on the script and will blow your imagination away.

I have to say that I enjoyed fishing with Tian and Ruhan. It was awesome that we caught some fish for supper on one good day. I almost found myself walking a thin line when I almost lost my life while attempting to swim in the ocean. Luckily for me, God saved me and I was able to come out alive. 

It was also good to catch up with Linderie who is sister to Tian. I happened to go to the Mighty Men within that week of her visit. Indeed, my stay in Jeffreys Bay was quite a roller-coaster ride yet in it I learnt a lot of lessons.

George

Soon after spending time in the small surfing town of Jeffrey’s Bay which was just a stone’s away from the Indian Ocean, we moved on to George where we took part in a Kickstart event. I spent the greater part of my birthday on the road and eventually arrived at the Du Preez home where we would spend three weeks. 

During the Kickstart event, Yaluza got born again. It’s amazing the freedom that he experienced at the time of his conversion. That week, I met Kevin, Quintin and Juan also joined the team to host the Kickstart event. It was amazing how we moved together as one-inch Christ that weekend regardless of the low turnout at the venue.

Henri, Yolandi and I got an opportunity to share and speak on Eden FM radio. It was quite a great opportunity to share our testimonies and what God has done in our lives. Ironically we had met one of the presenters of the Sunday show while walking with the cross one day in George.

Life at Carmel

After our stay at the Du Preez, we found our way to a caravan park stationed in Victoria Bay called Carmel. It was a great feeling to hear be at a place where we could live in community with fellow brethren that have been serving the Lord in different parts of the world  

I recall in one instance, sharing my testimony to a church group that had been visiting Carmel. It was such an interesting encounter because I had woken up that morning intending to Take a walk and find one or two books to read when I bumped into a group of ladies who had been sitting in one of the lounges. Before long, God arranged an opportunity for me to speak and share my testimony.

While I was pondering on what I would say, the Lord put it in my heart not to prepare anything but to rather speak what I have been sent to say. So I arrived a few minutes late which was unlike me but Shared my lengthy story of what God had done through me. I believe that the Holy Spirit guided me that day. It was so amazing that you can meet people in a short space of time and relate to them. 

After a day or two went by I received news that the bus that the church group had been travelling in was involved in a tragic accident, causing several fatalities as well as injuries. I was hurt inside that such a thing could happen to people I had been fellowshipping with, all of whom I had met only briefly. It was within that moment that God reminded me of His eternal purpose and Promise. Nothing can separate us from the love of the Father. Romans 8 verse 38. No angel, no person, no principality, nor even powers, not things both in the past or in the present, no not even life or death. Nothing! So I want to take this opportunity to pay my respects to those who were involved in that tragic accident.

It was also during my stay at Carmel that I met several more missionaries as well as ordinary people who had just crossed my radar as a result of my being nearby. The Sunday soup gatherings were a highlight for the week as the Carmel community would reflect on the events of the week and look forward to the coming week.

A fellow brother by the name of Quinten visited us at Carmel. His journey with his white Nissan Champ bakkie was a true testament to Mathew 28 in which Jesus instructs us to go and make disciples of all the nations. 

It was also painful to see the Du Preez leave for Namibia during our stay at Carmel. I enjoyed my stay with them while they were staying in George and their reunion with the Cronjes is something worth looking forward to. All the same, I wish them all the best of luck in their travels.

I often say that I wish I could fit everyone into my short story and share all the events that took place in more detail, but I am limited in my human capacity. I enjoyed my year of walking with Christ in the mission field. An ordinary man like myself walking with Christ in the Kingdom with my fellow brethren. Special mention to all the families I have been with. 

I would also like to make a special mention to all the communities I have been to since day one when I left Johannesburg. I share my love for all of you as Apostle Paul would often write. To the Carmel community, I am glad I was able to meet you. I enjoyed playing some songs on your piano. To those who provided us with love, words of encouragement and prayers we are all humbled and grateful for being in your midst.

One last word of encouragement is that of unity and being God wants you to be. But never look back when you get hold of that plough. Until next time it’s good tidings. Thank you

Bradley’s Notes – Life on the south coast

How it all started

It is a good feeling to be sharing another testimony brothers and sisters in Christ, of what God has been doing for me and my family in Christ during our stay on the South coast. Life as a disciple is difficult, yet we fall into the struggles, we dust ourselves off and move forward. As I meditated on the scriptures one morning, the Lord reminded me that I should continue to follow Him even when it seems like I am uncertain of where I am going. Here I was thinking like a mere man and putting God under a human scale thinking that was the best approach. I was proven wrong. I hope in the remainder of this article, to unpack the events leading up to the time of writing this article and I hope that something can be taken out of it.

The trials in Hibberdene 

I was full of mixed emotions when I had to leave Kosi bay for Durban. My heart was filled with joy on arriving at the YMCA taxi rank in Durban and after walking through a crowded inner city, I was finally standing outside a KFC restaurant where the De beers had come to fetch me. The highlight of that day was when we took a tour of uShaka Marine world where there was plenty to see. It was both educational and entertaining to see the beauty of God’s creation underwater up close and to appreciate His heart in allowing us to take care of what He gave to us as mankind.

Later that day, we returned to Hibberdene where we would be staying. Staying just a stone’s throw away from the beachfront. This allowed me to share the gospel with several people from all walks of life. Even as I moved within the small town I met several people who shared their testimonies with me. A lot of people who I had spoken to, were hurting inside, having lost incomes, relationships and other comforts that this life could offer. 

It was at that point that I realised I was no different. I had been struggling with negative thoughts of my own that constantly visited my mind time and again. I was feeling depressed and I didn’t know how to cope. There were times when I resolved to run away but honestly that was ungodly and somehow I had to rely on God to show me the way through the Holy Spirit. I admit it was a difficult time, one that opened up more questions than clear-cut answers, Then I remembered, I had to trust in the Lord and that these trials would soon come to pass.

Life in Uvongo

Our stay in Hibberdene later was preceded by a trip to Manaba Beach where the De beers and I stayed for the first time in a place other than a caravan park. Unfortunately for me, I had carried my burdens from Hibberdene and I hope that God would make a way to trade my yoke for the one Christ had which was lighter. 

One day I chose to walk with the cross. Walking with the cross on my shoulder, I began to share my testimony with several people as I walk in places that were new to me. It was through that cross that I met the ordinary man and women staying within and around the Margate community.

 I recall one lady who called me out from a distance, as she stood at the balcony of her two-story home observing passersby while gazing. I stopped at her tall gate to share the gospel with her and left her with a scripture on John 3 verses 3 to 6 which I later also shared with a lot of people along the way. The expression on her face showed me the impact the Cross and the word of God had on people. The gospel was like medicine mending the brokenness created by sin.

That was not the end of the road for me and the cross as I began exploring public areas such as the taxi rank where I shared the gospel with one driver in the middle of the intersection with several cars lining up behind him to move forward. Even when you have just under three minutes to share the gospel,  the Holy Spirit will lead you into what has to be said at that very moment.

When I managed to get to the beach after sharing the gospel with two other ladies sitting outside a bottle store drinking some liquor, I met a man who reminded me of my father. He had a small toy store standing next to the beachfront. He had a cheerful smile, one expression he maintained in greeting everyone who passed by his shop. I enjoyed the conversation that I had with him while we exchanged notes on how the Lord was working in our lives. Interestingly enough he became a common feature in my stay on the south coast as I continuously bumped into him in different places other than his shop.

Reconnecting with the Cronje family 

It was a blessing to finally stay in proximity with the Cronje family whom I had last seen in Kosi bay. Our reunion brought back memories of our fellowship group in Johannesburg. It was quite special not only to enjoy the best of both families cooking expertise but also the love that we have shared for one another over the years in fellowship.

I would also like at this point in time to treasure the effort that Tian’s parents made to visit us and share their words of encouragement and wisdom. Those are moments in life that one can never exchange for any large sum of money.

In addition, I also want to thank the Lord for bringing Zack and Maya to Himself recently. The promise in the third chapter of John was fulfilled by their obedience. Having to witness this brings joy to my heart as each of them was baptised here in Uvongo.

I must point out that I have walked with the cross with Henri on several occasions on this journey and testify of how God has protected us while in transit. When you least expected He gave us a surprise as well as taught us valuable principles as we went. 

The Uvongo market 

My story would be incomplete If I omit the time spent at the Uvongo marketplace as well as the weekend doing some community work on an outreach mission in and around Margate.

Spending Saturdays at the Uvongo marketplace has opened up several gospel opportunities for us as a whole. It is amazing how God used the marketplace as a rendezvous point for several divine appointments. We met several people most notably a bus driver we met during our stay in Drakensville (talk about a small world) and also those who are also labouring amongst us within the community. 

I observed how this has enabled us to grow in confidence, especially in approaching those whose doctrines are different from our own and I believe that we will continue to learn as the Holy Spirit guides us into the knowledge of the Truth as more opportunities like these arise.

As I look at the recent past, I am thankful for the Lord allowing us to share a meal with the Margate community. In my personal opinion,  it was worthwhile to spend some time sharing the gospel with the underprivileged members of our community. I thank the Lord for opening their hearts in receiving us openly. I also want to take my hat off for the obedience shown by Tian, Elmi, Yolandi, Caylene and not forgetting one-year-old Ellie whose presence made a difference. It is not about how much we give but checking our hearts for how we give. 

I hope that this article will motivate a lot of us. Due to a lack of words, I shared what stood out for me so far in this part of the journey. I would like to give a special mention to members of the Margate Baptist church who extended an invitation and I have learnt a lot from their ministry.

Until next time 

God bless 

Bradley’s Notes – A trip to Kosi bay

As I reflect on the trip that took me to Kosi bay and the events that took place there, I would like to give thanks to the Lord for preparing those that made this trip possible for their act of obedience. During my stay with the Cronje family, I caught a glimpse of what God has been doing in and around us, whether we see it or not.

The journey and stay in Kosi bay

In all honesty, Kosi bay did not even ring a bell in my head until a few months ago. When a brother of mine in Christ (Henri Cronje) invited me to visit him there, I gladly accepted. On paper, it looked unreachable from where I was staying, especially if one wanted to get there within a day’s travel. I guess the first lesson I learned was that nothing is impossible with God. So there I was in Bergeville saying goodbye to the De Beer family, who had accompanied me to the taxi rank where I got a taxi to Durban. It was an emotional parting moment leaving the De Beers, but eventually, I was on my way, and before you knew it, I was sitting in Durban, waiting to get another to Manguzi, which was in Kosi bay. Finally, after nearly five and a half hours, I arrived at Manguzi in Kosi bay and was welcomed by the Cronje family. I was impressed by Henri’s effort in learning the isiZulu language. Being old friends that hadn’t seen each other in some months from Johannesburg, we decided to catch up on the events that had been happening in our lives since then.

A trip to the ocean

I was excited when Henri said we would see the Indian ocean up close. After travelling down a sandy road that moved around a thick evergreen forest rich in vegetation, we arrived at the beachfront overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean. The scenery there was eye-catching, especially for someone who has spent his entire life inland like me. Unfortunately, a few moments after sitting on the sands of the beach, there came a group of people who we later found to be traditional healers (sangomas) about to perform an initiation ritual next to us. Enough to scare the onlooking locals away who dared not come near the water after seeing what was about to happen. As we spoke to those who witnessed this, it was apparent that many people lived in fear of these principalities rooted in the community.

While at the beach, we took a moment to pray that the Spirit of truth (through Christ) would be revealed in due time to those in the bondage of worshipping false gods. Indeed, this scene was intimidating, but I was reminded that our light needs to shine in the darkness.

A walk with the cross

While in Kosi bay, Henri and I decided to go to Manguzi town and buy a few things there. We took this opportunity to walk on foot and share the gospel with as many people as possible while on the move.

Taking turns carrying the cross, we met many people along the way. We met some of Henri’s neighbours, Jeremiah and his mother, Brenda, who were taking a walk and also introduced us to Tristen and his friend, who lived just a stone’s throw away from their home. We manage to share our testimonies with them on our journey with Christ before restarting our journey once more.

As we continued our journey, we met three elderly ladies finding their way to the fields to plant something there. We managed to share the gospel with these ladies and even prayed for healing for one of them whose leg seemed to have a protruding vein. Since language was a barrier, I translated the conversation as Henri spoke to the three old ladies.

Issuing out the gospel pamphlets proved to be a valuable tool in sharing the good news. Henri translated them to isiZulu, which was more relatable to the locals than the English. As we moved closer to the town, we met a man who seemed possessed by an unclean spirit. Understanding what he was attempting to do or say was a challenge. Through Christ, who was with us in Spirit, we denounced this unclean spirit in Jesus’s name, and the man departed from us. Regardless of these setbacks, we arrived in Manguzi towards town, where we met Mr Assani, a man who was apparently from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I spoke to him briefly in French and later in English when Henri joined in. We invited him to the Full gospel church, where he later introduced himself and shared his testimony with the congregation. Our journey on foot to Manguzi was filled with an interesting turn of events, and yet in the midst of all this, we shared our testimonies with different people along the way.

Our visit to the church and the orphanage

My story would be incomplete if I did not mention the Vilakazi family and their growing ministry in Shegeza, which they have named the Full gospel church. According to Henri, he met this family through a member of their congregation who lives a stone’s throw away from the Cronje’s. After attending several Sunday services in their church, I was humbled by the way God was using ordinary people from the Kosi bay area, like the Vilakazi family, to disciple others within the community to live as Jesus did. Despite the challenges affecting the community, they were a living testimony of how we can use limited resources to share the gospel. On one Saturday, while at Kosi bay, I joined the Cronje and Vilakazi family on a visit to an orphanage. Sharing our testimonies and spending time with the underprivileged children from the orphanage reminded me of how God will care for His children even when their earthly parents have abandoned them. It was evident that the heart God has for His children is far-reaching and extends to places we had never thought would be humanly possible to reach. All credit goes to God, who prepared the men and women to carry out His will on earth through projects such as this orphanage.

Goodbye to the Kosi bay community

Although my visit to Kosi bay was only three weeks, I took things from this community that will leave a lasting impression. The love and time shared will be something to cherish for a long time. Hats off to Kosi bay. I would also like to thank the Cronje family, who welcomed me to their home and shared good fellowship during my stay in Kosi bay. The Vilakazi family shared their cooking skills with us on Saturday and showed an example of how to show hospitality to family members in Christ. Due to a lack of words to express my gratitude, I am regrettably unable to mention everyone or everything that happened. I believe God has put everything together even when I least expect anything to happen.

I salute you, brothers and sisters, who have stepped out in faith. As always, let us continue to share our positive experiences about Christ regardless of the challenges that may come our way.

Let’s keep running the race.

Be blessed

Bradley’s Notes – Serving in the community

As we continue running the race

As I reflect on the events during our stay in Hazyview, I begin to see why we need to fully commit ourselves to what Jesus commissioned us to do. The De Beer family and I were blessed to teach the children and the youth of Bongolweni about the gospel through a church ministry located there. A trip to Sabie (a town near Hazyview) produced some divine appointments as I managed to share the gospel with the community. At the time of writing, we have found our way to Drakensville after attending a Kickstart in Newcastle.

The final leg of our stay in Hazyview 

One day while in Hazyview town, I was distributing gospel reading material when I decided to stop to the sound of some local gospel music. I found myself in front of a beauty salon, and as I walked towards it, I noticed everyone except one man was busy carrying out their daily tasks. I approached the man who was standing outside and told him about the gospel. After a fruitful conversation with this man, I was invited back the following day, where my audience grew. I had an opportunity to leave a Bible and receive an invitation to present the gospel to a local church. 

Finding our way to the church was challenging, but eventually, we arrived at our destination thanks to one of the congregants who volunteered to wait for us along the main road and point us in the right direction. 

The three of us (Tian, Nanke and myself) found ourselves speaking in front of a church before presenting them with some Bibles. The following weeks resulted in us presenting the gospel to a Sunday school class in that same church and playing a game with the youth group to allow them to self-reflect on their walk with Christ.

In retrospect, I believe this was part of a learning process that allowed me to see deeper into why and what we, as disciples, were called to do. 

A trip to Sabie

My story would be incomplete if I didn’t mention my short trip to Sabie. Sabie is a small town whose most distinguished landmark is a beautiful waterfall under a bridge connecting the central business district to the residential area.

After engaging in one or two conversations with the locals, I discovered that this was a community where everyone knew each other. I met two men running a fruit business from their pickup truck there. For a reason known only to themselves, they believed those preaching the gospel were only there for financial gain. I suppose those sentiments were also shared by other members of the community who also felt that the church was ripping them off of their hard-earned savings and that those who had been entrusted to preach the gospel were only content in sitting in the church and had no desire to take the gospel beyond the church building.

With that being said, I became concerned about the message that we, as disciples of Christ, are preaching. Is this what we have been commissioned to do? There, I began to see the broader picture of why Jesus became angry upon entering the temple courts in Matthew 21:12.

As the day progressed, I found myself walking toward a sports bar, where I managed to share the gospel with several people standing outside. I thank God for the Holy Spirit because there is always a time when you feel words becoming insufficient to express yourself. To know that God is with you at all times has helped me to stay composed even when I am faced with contradictory opinions from others.

A final goodbye to Hazyview 

After making friends in such a small space of time, it was time to move on. My thanks go out to those who God has prepared along our journey to assist us in our work for the Kingdom of God.

Until we hear from each other. 

Be blessed 

Bradley’s notes – Growing and learning

Divine appointments

At the time of writing my first post, I found myself excited by the prospect of having to represent God and His Kingdom. An opportunity to face a new challenge. So there came Hazyview, after having spent time in Bela-Bela. I guess that our starting point was walking with the red cross, and although it got the onlookers’ attention from all walks of life, in my view, it symbolized the presence of Christ and opened doors for what would be potentially divine appointments in the future.

That gave me the strength to wake up the following day and spend a little more time in this tourist town of Hazyview, famous for its wildlife. I initially didn’t know where to start, but all I knew was that God was there (which Is all that mattered), and the Holy Spirit would show me where I needed to be. Close to where we are currently camped, I was privileged to meet some of God’s children.

An example is one street vendor who sells fruit while avoiding the incoming traffic from the different sides of a usually busy road. One day, I stopped to chat with him about the Kingdom of heaven, and immediately he recalled that he had seen us walking with the cross the previous day. As we talked about what God was doing in our lives, I became aware that God is omnipresent. Wherever we may be, He is there. I left him with a Gospel of John in Zulu, which he promised to read once he got home.

As I turned to move towards a public area where small groups of people were relaxing, I took that opportunity to get an audience who would listen to the gospel of the Kingdom of heaven. Even when words were insufficient to express my message, the Holy Spirit gave me the courage to speak boldly. I got some negative comments from some people but kept my focus on the good news.

This process of getting to know some of God’s children later led me into barbershops, market stalls, restaurants and different parts of the busy town. There, God revealed to me the growing need for Bibles and gospel literature. While distributing this material, I began to develop a relationship with the community, something that I noted Jesus and his disciples do while sharing their teachings.

These are challenging times, and the good news is sometimes difficult to digest, especially with the economic challenges hitting most of us. There will be times when nothing seems to be happening, but I wanted to reassure the Hazyview community that we have been sent into this world to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is here on earth and also that we need to start making it our number priority before it is too late.

When writing this article, I reached out to several people in and around Hazyview. I believe that starting something small such as providing reading material, allows the community to learn who Jesus is and what the Kingdom of heaven is all about. As humans, I am fully aware of our limitations, yet doing something is the first act of showing your faith.

Spiritual battles 

My story would be incomplete if I said that everything was a bed of roses. I had moments when I heard of the beliefs in deep ritualistic ideology being unpacked right before me. I have met several community members who have distorted the true gospel and have made it a feeding ground to satisfy an appetite for fleshly needs. In those instances, I have had to be firm about my stance on these mixed messages and how it is doing more damage than good to the body. At this point, I want to point out how important it is to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not speak out of our thinking.

I am also growing spiritually and will be the first to admit that carrying your cross and following Jesus will come at a cost. But I will hold on to the words “obedience is better than sacrifice”.

I pray that those privileged to read this article are blessed by its content. I encourage everyone to be a part of this journey that God Is travelling with each of us. I also want to give special mention to the men and women who have given up everything to serve God in this life and the eternal life to come. 

Be blessed 

Bradley’s answer to the call

If someone had asked me five years ago where I would be today, my answer would have never pointed in the direction of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, I was celebrating my birthday in March at a Kickstart event (organised by believers whom I had often joined on Thursday evenings for fellowship) to become active members of preaching the gospel.
Fast forward to the 4th of June, everything changed from going to a day job to working for the Kingdom of God full time. Just as the disciples dropped their nets after deciding to join Christ in becoming fishers of men, Jesus also called me to do likewise by stepping up and actively following Him.

How it all happened
Arriving home from the Kickstart, I received the unpleasant news that I was no longer allowed to live there. Management had evicted me for attending the Kickstart seminar.

Monday after I got evicted, Tian called me to ask if I could meet him and Elmi. He then asked me if I could join him and his family on a journey to become fishers of men. In the first instance, the offer humbled me, and I felt it was the right thing to do. So Tian suggested that we pray for God to reveal the way forward. I had already made up my mind, but the events that followed showed me that the Lord has a way of sending messages to his children that only they can understand.
I had a dream later that night, and in this dream, I was at a caravan park. At the caravan park, I found myself accompanied by a man called Jean Pierre who had nominated me as best man at his wedding last year. In that same dream, I decided to ask him why God was not allowing me to go with Tian on this journey. To my surprise, he just stood in silence without a word. After leaving the scene, approaching the end of my dream Tian and Elmi appeared, and Elmi was in the middle of showing me a verse in the Bible she was reading when suddenly I woke up. At that point, my conclusion was to wait until I received confirmation, and I was at peace with whatever the outcome.
Later the next day, I talked to Tian about the dream. Tian said the last thing Elmi read was Hebrews 12, verses 1 to 3. I mentioned that it was not yet time to go and that I should wait, at least for now. About two weeks passed, and while I was reading through my WhatsApp messages on my phone (a habit I usually did after work), I read through the last article on this blog. After going through the article, it made sense to me that even in silence, God speaks. All the events around me were asking me to go, from the books I read to the movie (Mountain top) I watched and now this article. It was there at that moment that I heard His voice calling out.
My purpose is to be on the mission field fighting for the Kingdom of God, yet here I was fighting to build another man’s kingdom. It was time I took up my cross and followed Jesus. So, I decided to call Tian and tell him that I was coming with him and his family. He gladly accepted, and then our preparations began.
After reading Radical by David Platt, which Tian was listening to in his car one day, I got the conviction that God called me a long time ago to be a fisher of men. For the more significant part of my life, up to that point, I was trapped in a comfort zone. All the signs were so clear, yet my mind still stood in doubt. I thank God I took up that call because the word states that a man without faith will find it difficult to please God.

Putting it all into action
So after travelling to Bela Bela for a two-week stay, I realised my place was in the Kingdom of God all along. Leaving a comfort zone into the unknown was challenging, yet I felt the joy of working for my Creator. I am content with what the Lord has given me. I appreciated the way Rudi and Riesie opened their home for us. For me, that was a turning point because it was an act of obedience. I have managed to preach the gospel to several people in Bela Bela, and I thank God for planting seeds in the hearts of those who heard the good news.
At the time of writing this article, we have relocated to Hazyview. The atmosphere here is a breath of fresh air, and I believe the Holy Spirit will guide us in the direction we must go. I hope that those who have the opportunity to read this article will be encouraged by my testimony so far. The harvest is plenty, yet few of us are willing to labour in the field. So I encourage readers to be obedient to God’s word.
May the peace of the Lord be with you.