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More Together Than We Are Apart
By Steve Oliver
Clarens, South Africa
When one considers that a great percentage of the world’s unreached people are to be found among the poor, we come to the realisation that we are going to have to be extremely wise and innovative as to how we reach them with the gospel.
The poor, those who are powerless to determine their own destiny and meet their own needs, are certainly a people group God has opened to Newfrontiers as a movement, and has confirmed this on many occasions.
Manyatseng
In spite of the vast challenges that face us as we embrace the poor, there are wonderful instances of breakthrough taking place around the world among the poor from which we must take encouragement. One of these is in a small rural post-apartheid township in South Africa. Nestled close to the Maluti Mountains on the border of Lesotho, is the small township of Manyatseng.
58,000 inhabitants live in various forms of housing, both formal and informal. Unemployment is over 50%, an extremely high HIV/AIDS infection rate exists and there is not much to cheer about. Life in these circumstances is difficult and uncertain. It is hard to find a family among the community which is not under threat from alcoholism, drug abuse or marriage breakdown. Most families are single parent units where one or both parents have left the township to seek work in the larger cities of the nation.
Light comes to Manyatseng
Five years ago, Simon & Sina Miya moved from the Dihlabeng Church in Clarens to plant a church under these difficult circumstances. What has been born out of this brave move is truly breathtaking! Lesedi Church (The Light Church) has been transformed into a vibrant grace-filled community, which displays our values with flair and beauty. It is truly the church restored! From humble beginnings, Simon and his fellow elder, Thomas, have built a truly wonderful New Testament church, which celebrates Jesus and impacts this marginalised community in many different ways.
Partnership in Manyatseng
How has this been achieved in such difficult circumstances? The answer has been a great deal of determination on the part of this small team and a healthy partnership with others. Lesedi Church is part of an ever-growing apostolic sphere in the central parts of South Africa and Lesotho and, in addition, the church has a very precious relationship with a church in a small town in the south of England.
A few years ago, Kings Church Uckfield, led by Robert Thursfield, felt stirred to be involved in a situation of need. Having established a link through the overseeing apostolic ministry, Robert and the Uckfield church began building a relationship with Simon and Thomas which has proved extremely fruitful. What started off as a simple friendship has blossomed into a vibrant partnership to reach the lost and empower the poor.
When we asked Robert why he felt led to link with such an obscure little church literally in the middle of nowhere, he replied, ‘We have a firm conviction that a big part of God’s heart is for mission, as well as the injunction to “go into all the world”. Having understood the importance of our “Jerusalem”, where we work very hard at building the local church, we also believe that we have a responsibility to go far beyond that as well – particularly a responsibility in respect of the poor.’
Furthermore, we asked why the Uckfield Church linked with such a different form of church in rural Africa. Robert explained, ‘My heart has always been to go where others wouldn’t normally go. We have limited finances and not too much manpower support. When we came on the scene here in Manyatseng, there was very little resourcing of this church. They were manfully struggling on their own. I felt that it was there, where the need was substantial, that we could really make effective use of the limited resources we have and make a difference.’
And what a difference it has made! Lesedi Church has matured considerably through both ‘sensitive financial support’ and on-the-ground teaching and discipling. From a small group of 26, Lesedi Church has grown to over 100 in the last year alone. The church has some exciting prophetic words over it that includes a promise of ‘many churches’. With this back-drop, it is encouraging to see that they are having a substantial impact among the youth of the township. Added to this, they are also starting to play a vital role in the support, education and care for those affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Manyatseng goes to Uckfield!
But what about Kings Church in Uckfield? How has this partnership served them? ‘In respect of Kings Church Uckfield,’ Robert explains, ‘we have developed a good friendship with Simon and a real concern for the church in Manyatseng. Over the past few years, we have taken out six of our folk who returned saying that their lives have been changed. I think it has also added something to Kings Church. We are in a small Sussex town, but there is a real sense of what we’re involved in together. What we do in Uckfield can really help in South Africa. What they do in South Africa can help us in Uckfield. We see it in the light of us being a family, the family of God, and being the family of Newfrontiers. We have had Simon come across to us, as well as others from South Africa, and there has been a real cross-fertilisation.’
The relationship has continued to grow between these two churches over the past few years. Robert and Nicky Thursfield make the long journey to South Africa as often as possible, as well as other members of the church and the leadership team. The Lesedi Church has continued to grow and mature with a deep desire to be self-sustaining financially.
The team in Manyatseng are just about to launch a business based on the principles of ‘Business God’s Way’ (developed by Scott Marques in Zimbabwe), which will allow it to empower a few unemployed members of the church. They are also in the process of buying their own building from which they can serve the community. Will this then allow Kings Church Uckfield to continue it’s friendship with Lesedi Church but send it’s financial resources elsewhere? We watch with excitement!
Prophecy over Manyatseng
imon, Thomas and the Lesedi Church have just returned from a very successful Master Builders Conference in Clarens with fresh prophetic insight brought to them by David Devenish (Bedford, UK) – ‘You will send out many arrows into the surrounding towns, villages and cities. Young people have been provided for church planting, arrows going out in all directions.’ Praise God for those who join forces in taking the gospel to the poor. |
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