The Chicago Marathon this year will be on Sunday, October 10th, 2010. Pastor Jonas Masotla, our friend and ministry partner, is excited to be coming over from South Africa and running in the race. Pastor Jonas invites you to run with him and be part of this Africa Revolution team. He is a funny guy and promises to make you laugh right across the finish line… if you can keep up with him! While we are putting a team together, this is an unofficial team that is not running to raise funds, so there’s no sponsorship or anything like that involved. It’s more like an informal group of friends who share a common love for Africa… and we need a group of people to lead Pastor Jonas through the city so he doesn’t get lost. To find out more, email us at info@africarevolution.org

Or to sign up on the Chicago marathon site Click Here

by Dave Clark

Sunshine Gospel Ministries is a para-church ministry located in the inner-city on Chicago’s Southside. Our mission is to seek the renewal of the city through ministries of discipleship, mercy, and justice. I oversee the youth outreach programs. During the month of December we (the staff and the young people) began a “fundraising campaign” to raise money for the “Life House” that AR and Power House Church are collaborating to build in the township of Mamelodi, South Africa. When we began the campaign we explained to the kids where South Africa is located using maps and a globe, as well as some of the challenges of life in the townships there. We further discussed how abortions there are on the rise, and that recently babies have even been discovered in dumpsters. Our kids really understood the urgency of the matter, and that the Life House would be built to care for babies who otherwise might not have a chance. We then encouraged them to bring their spare change each time they come to Sunshine to give towards this worthy cause. We bought a clear container to fill with change so that they could see the progress/increase we had made each week. Every week during the month of December our kids brought pocket change and dollar bills for what they often referred to as “the kids in Africa.”

Dave and some of the fellas from Sunshine

One of our 3^rd grade students, Michelle, told her mother that she wanted to take her $5 allowance and put it in the “Life House jar” to help the kids. She proudly brought her allowance and placed it in the jar the next week. At the end of the month we had raised $75, primarily in loose change! Our desire is to see our kids develop a global vision, and to view the world through Kingdom lenses. We are grateful for the opportunity to give what we can towards the work that God is doing through our brothers and sisters in South Africa.

So we must ask the question, what kind of seed are we planting in our own lives?

On New Years day we drove into a small village outside of Bulembu called Malanda. It is a very poor village that sits in the beautiful hills of Swaziland. There we met an old gogo who they say is the oldest woman in Malanda. She cares for and raises her three young orphaned grandchildren whose parents have died and all three children are mentally disturbed.

As we approached her meager homestead we found her sitting under the shade of a small scrub tree. Her tiny, two room home was quite simple, built by only mud and sticks. Inside there is no floor, only hardened mud and the old tin roof has so many holes that when it rains (which it does quite frequently) there is hardly a place to stand in the home that’s dry.

But when she greeted us, there was no sorrow on her face. No self-pity. Only joy in our arrival. We had come to plant for her a small vegetable garden. We toiled in the overgrown weeds and found beneath it beautiful, rich soil. We planted good seeds, gave it water and now there grows something that will help feed her three orphaned grandchildren. But it was not just a sustainable garden we gave her, more important was the expression of love we gave by just showing up.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

So where will we sow seed this year? Will we only sow seed to feed our own needs and desires, or will we sow seed to the things of God? I’m not talking about spending more time in the church pew. Are we willing to look outside ourselves and sow something good into someone else’s life? As we give into the lives of others we reap from that something beautiful and life giving into our own life. This ancient law we can trust…

“Whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

I remember last New Years Eve at midnight we were praying in 2009 at the Powerhouse Church in the midst of an African thunder storm.  The rain beat down on the tin roof so hard we could hardly hear a thing.  Water dripped in through the roof cooling us off but not our prayers.  There was intensity in the house of the Lord that night that I have seldom felt; people rededicating themselves to the Lord and His service for a New Year.

So what came of 2009! I personally don’t enjoy the measure of success in ministry through bloated numbers and bullet point victories.  Life and ministry seem too complicated to so narrowly define success that way.  So forgive us for our style of report back.  While I share about the great things that came out of 09 I say in all honesty; nothing came easy.  We saw transformation but with much struggle.  It seemed like everything we put our hand to required constant prayer and diligent attention.

Internship Year 2008-2009

We completed our first official Internship year (now called Vision Year).   Our hopes were; that team members going to Africa would come home built up by their learning experience to be an asset to their local church and that the African church be impacted by what they brought to the table.  Both hopes were realized.

Our team (pictured here) of five lived in intentional community for the year in South Africa, serving and learning together.  Empowering teaching of community members was a large part of our opportunity for this team.  Out of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship class the interns taught, we saw a handful of businesses start up including an exciting co-op with support from generous grants from the South African business sector.  We had really hoped for this important class to continue when we left, but we were hard pressed to train teachers able to continue teaching this much needed class.  However, in the new computer lab we established this year, the Basic computer class and Web Design class have really flourished with indigenous teachers training others. The Powerhouse Skills Development Center has seen hundreds of  students graduate and the process of full accreditation is almost complete (not a small task might I add.) We also sought to make  the Powerhouse Skills Development Center self sustaining.  Another beautiful thing that came out of the year was the establishing of the Scholarship program for Skills Development classes for students facing extreme hardship.  These funds benefited many Zimbabwean refugees seeking to make a better life for themselves and their families in South Africa under great hardship.

All these efforts and ministry objectives were due thanks to the highly motivated and skilled team we had this year whom served the Lord wholeheartedly.

Orphan & Widow Care

Another high light of the year was seeing our trips to Swaziland and Mozambique result in the establishing of the Life House Baby Rescue Home in Mamelodi. It was as though God was envisioning us by putting us in places to see so many orphaned babies and then realizing this was our next step in Orphan Care. More on that here.

Short Term Trips

Another tweak to our ministry came when we had the opportunity to host a few short term teams.  We typically don’t do these as we have seen them be ineffective, costly and damaging, but our AR team did an excellent job in preparing those coming to have a different perspective on their trip.  They came primarily as learners being envisioned with the Kingdom.  They came alongside the good things the local church was already doing; joining them in loving the community.  The local church lead the way as they worked side by side with the teams as they spent days rehabilitating widow’s homes, painting, fixing and putting up security walls.  They also spent a lot of time learning about the community & culture, the history of South Africa and God’s justice and compassion.  We saw the incredible opportunity to grow those coming by connecting African issues (e.g. refugees) to issues back home (e.g. undocumented immigrants) to understanding what does the Bible say about this (e.g. the foreigner and the alien.) We feel we are able to facilitate these kinds of learning experiences, over typical short term trips, for those wishing to come to Africa and so have broadened our role towards this.

Leadership

We had the opportunity to bring leadership training to local churches through a workshop on Biblical Eldership, the CCDA conference here in the U.S. and the gathering of excellent teaching materials for spiritual formation and discipleship.  Highlighting to us the importance of always empowering, supporting and investing in indigenous leadership in all that we do.

We took on new staff; Jason, Cara and Nick Mitchell are leading the charge on the ground in South Africa and Swaziland.  We continue to seek out more new staff, knowing we cannot do this with so few people.  Ministry is a team sport and we cannot do it alone. “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matt 9:37-38

Where do we go from here

So much more has happened in 2009 that I could not do justice in reporting on in this blog post.  But I do want to say, I think what really stands out to me is ALL THE PEOPLE that we have crossed paths with!  In the Gospel we see Jesus in His ministry intentionally focus on people.  Not programs, strategies and stuff etc, which are all important but the focus is and must always be people, people, people!!  We met amazing, beautiful remarkable people.  And so we want to say a huge, huge “Thank You” to everyone whom participated in God’s work through AR this past year.  From those of you who joined us hands on, to those who financially make this ministry possible.  We are grateful for you and your invaluable participation with us!!

As 2010 approaches, know that we have sharpened our focus as we have seen God work mightily and we are more aware then ever of our need for the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and fuel this ministry.  So pray with us, continue to be involved with us as together we WORSHIP God and seek to join God in His work of reconciling people to Himself and redeeming and transforming their communities for His Glory!

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

Last Thoughts:

I’d like to share this short video as a small Christmas reminder about what’s important at this time of giving,  Hope you like it!

*we wish to remind you, at this time of year end giving, that Africa Revolution is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization recognized by the IRS. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

This past month we put 2,500 miles of road behind us, and met many new faces we now call friends. Pastor Vincent and Pastor Jonas came from South Africa for 3 weeks, primarily to attend the CCDA conference in Cincinnati, as well as to share what God is doing in their churches and invite others into God’s work in Africa. We also felt that these guys, who give so much all the time, needed a time to receive and be fed, a time to be encouraged and celebrated. And that was accomplished, thanks be to God!
How do we sum up such a great month of adventure, learning and hilarity… both these guys are really funny!

AR organized this whirlwind trip which started off in Chicago with us scouting out the Chicago Marathon for next years first AR marathon team (more on that soon!) Pastor Jonas (our future marathon team Captain), a marathon runner par excellence, loved seeing the runners coming in at the end with such determination and commitment. In Chicago we also met with and visited various ministries, hoping both to learn from them as well as partner with them in ministry. Time was spent with old and new friends whom we were telling for the first time about The Life House Baby Rescue Home of the Powerhouse Church. In Michigan we celebrated Pastor Vincent’s Birthday and challenged the students of Spartan Christian Fellowship at Michigan State University. The CCDA conference was inspiring and deeply challenging. The highlights included getting to meet with Jim Wallis (Sojourners) and Dr. John Perkins (CCDA Founder.) We especially wanted to thank folks from Crossroads Church who hosted and cared for us so well! It was also good to be at the conference with 2 of our board members; Emily Parker and Dave Clark. Abram Dolho flew all the way from South Africa to join our team just for the conference.

Together with the Clendenins (08-09 Interns) and Katherine Donahoe, (09 Vision Trip) whom also attended the conference, we made our way down to Durham, N.C. In N.C. Nate and Becky gave us the new Mamelodi- AR Photo Exhibit that will be available for viewing in various locations in the coming months. Pastor Vincent and Pastor Jonas had opportunities to share at Chapel Hill Bible Church, Grace Community Church and in various other settings. From there we made our way to Atlanta via Ashville N.C. on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where we experienced a little car trouble. Let’s just say our minivan had a near death experience and was healed through prayer and the laying on of hands by Pastor Larry (a God-sent mechanic found in the middle of the mountains!) Once in Atlanta Jenn Ginn threw a wonderful soiree with Atlanta friends and a B/Day celebration for Pastor Jonas. In ATL we visited The World of Coca Cola, the MLK Historic Site and Atlanta Westside Church where the pastors shared in word and song.

That was our time in a nutshell. But it is difficult to share the weighty conversations we had along the road about wealth and poverty, dependence on God in leadership, community transformation, spiritual warfare, and the power of the Gospel to heal deep wounds.

As AR invests in African leadership, we pray that you get a vision for how vitally important it is to empower and support these leaders. God has given them a vision for their community. They want to see their people redeemed and see God’s Kingdom come. Let’s continue to really support and love them. As the leader goes, so goes the church. As the church goes, so goes the community.

Thanks to everyone that housed us, fed us, supported us and dreamed with us about the Kingdom. We invite you into greater places of partnership with us… let’s take this to the next level for the King and His Kingdom.

Nestled in the mountains of Swaziland

If you really want to be a part of what God is up to you need to know about Bulembu.

Bulembu is a small town in Swaziland, a country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. It is the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa and is known as the most peaceful country on the continent. It is also one of the most desperate. The AIDS/HIV rate is 43%, the highest in the world. With only a population of 1.15 million people there are over 60,000 orphaned children in the country, which is predicted to grow to 100,000 by next year.

So now imagine this. This little town called Bulembu up in the beautiful mountains of Swaziland had nearly been abandoned since the mine shut down there in 2001. But then some guys came along a few years ago and said something like “Hey, I think we can do something with this place.” So they purchase the whole town with this really cool plan. They decide it would be a great place to care for orphaned children. So that’s what they did.

Directing a volunteer work crew in Bulembu

Orphaned babies now living in Bulembu

There’s so much more that’s happening there though. Through their non profit organization they have developed other self sustaining industries in the community that provides hundreds of jobs. This includes the timber industry and sawmill, the bees they raise to sell the honey, the fresh spring water they bottle and sell and also the local lodge and restaurant for their guests. All this in only a few years.

Right now there are little over 100 children in the program and over the next 10 years their vision is to be caring for over 2,000 children and providing many more jobs for the local Swazi people.

Empty houses soon to be homes for orphans

Now, I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss what God is up to. This place is truly a city of light in a dark world. It’s kind of like the Jerusalem of Africa, a true place of miracles. The children living there have been rescued from complete abandonment and have been given a future a hope and real opportunity. As they grow older they will truly have something of value to contribute to their country and to the world.

You see we can make a difference. When we trust God we can believe in great big things like Bulembu. The impossible is happening in this town, right now. And God has provided for each step of the way. As they move in faith, God meets them right there.

He will do that for you too. Just trust Him, then do something.

We will be working in Bulembu in various ways. Mentoring, teaching, building, and sharing the love of Jesus. The Lord has commanded us to bring “justice to the fatherless” -Isaiah 1:17. If you feel the Lord leading you to do something about the great needs of orphans in the world, don’t miss it. We can help you with your calling. Contact us and find out how you can be a part of caring for the fatherless child.

Cara with some children in Bulembu

Nicolas giving the children's center a fresh coat of paint

Nicolas in an abandoned mine shaft

Jason and Cara hiking in the mountains of Bulembu

Nick and a small boy named Gift working on a baby room

We have started the renovation of the baby rescue and we are making tremendous progress! We have painted nearly every room and have installed new tile in all three baby rooms. The wall being built around the courtyard has also begun and we have cleared debris from the yard as well. We have also found a name for the baby rescue, it will be called Life House. You see, all through the township there are posters advertising abortions and many women feel like this is the only alternative to an unwanted pregnancy. But we want to give them an alternative and show them that there is a safe place for their babies to go where they will be cared for. After a meeting with the social services office we found out that they only receive about one baby a year into their office but they find a dead baby nearly every week in the trash bins. So we are not only providing a safe place for the babies to live, we are beginning a pro-life campaign across the community to combat the murderers of our children.

An experience last week showed me that even one life is valuable. I was standing in the parking area of the church talking with Humphrey, the co-founder of Powerhouse Church, and I heard terrible screaming and wailing coming from a house next door. I walked toward the fence to investigate and a man came running around the corner carrying the body of a limp baby boy. I opened the gate for him and he handed the baby to me and said the boy had been electrocuted. I immediately laid him on the ground and began breathing into his lifeless body and tried to get his heart beating again. Pastor Vincent came running and he and Humphrey began praying with all their might as I continued to give him CPR. There was a couple of times when the baby seemed to gasp for air and we felt sure he was going to start breathing. But quickly I realized I couldn’t get his heart going so we loaded him into the car and rushed him to the hospital. Friends, let me tell you, this is not a place you want to be sick. As I ran with the boy into the tiny hospital I rushed passed a crowded hallway full of people waiting to be seen. The emergency operating room had half a dozen people sitting on the beds all with different ailments and they slid over on the bed so I could lay the baby down. I continued breathing and giving him compressions until the doctor came. And even though he did everything he could the baby could not be revived, the doctor said he was brain dead.

I was deeply heartbroken, we were all heartbroken. We did everything we knew how to do. I tried as hard as I could, I prayed as hard as I knew how but ultimately it was God’s choice to keep him. His precious, heartbroken mother couldn’t have been more than 18 years old. The beautiful little boy was only about 10 or 11 months old.

It was a humbling experience, to say the least. But it showed us the value of even one baby’s life. And there are thousands being murdered by abortion doctors every month in this township.  So we are even more committed to bringing an end to the killing.

Nick and Cara working on a baby room

But we need your help. The Life House will not only provide a safe place for babies but it will also be a beacon of light in a dark place. A place for women to be accepted, loved, and where they will be given a life choice rather than the alternative. Many will be brought to Christ through this campaign. It is a campaign of action and not cheap talk. The world has heard enough of our talking. The time for action is at hand. This is your chance to make a real impact on the world. The total renovation of the house will only cost about $3,000 and we are seeking out people in the community to donate cribs and other baby items. If you would like to get involved and really make a difference get in touch with us as soon as possible.

What we do for the world…remains through eternity.

Swaziland- We had just walked through the “Welcome Center” where orphans arriving for the first time are transitioned into the Bulembu family. The few staff guiding us just beamed with love while we saw the kids. There was this excitement in the air as they ended the tour of their new rehabbed building. Moved and somewhat emotional I confess I walked away from the group to get some space. Looking into the distance, down the hill at all the orphan homes I wondered what our role was in all this. How are we to serve the King in this part of His vineyard? What does God want to do with Africa Revolution in places of need like this? As the questions kept coming to my mind I heard these few words overpower them all; Raise up an Army!

I confess doubt mixed in with the excitement of those words. Yes if I were one of the 12 disciples I would have been Thomas. I understand that there are many folks willing to hear about God’s Kingdom in Africa and few willing to support the work financially but there are even fewer willing to GO! But like all of those called to walk in faith to accomplish Kingdom things, I fear, and see my own inadequacy first. Believe me, ministry is not all courage and boldness, and like the Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” (1Cor1:3)

But the words were unmistakable and in my minds eye, I could see this army marching up the road towards me. And besides, I’ve been in this long enough to know this isn’t really about me doing it, it’s an invitation to watch God do it from up close.

I’m not sure how He is going to raise this army but I do know that God is putting Africa in people’s hearts across the world. He is looking for people who will go and give all of themselves for the broken and the needy, people willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He’s not just looking for world travelers or the adventuresome type. He’s looking for nervous, trembling Joe Schmos who are simply willing to be obedient.

Join this Army, the Kingdom needs you!

“To obey is better than sacrifice, I don’t need your money I want your life.”

–Song by Keith Green

Hlengani (Butiki) Chauke the day he received Jesus

His name is Hlengani Chauke, but most people call him Butiki. He is very poor. He owns nothing really. And most likely, he never will. He will probably never do much to change the world, or make much of an impact. He has few friends, and very little family. The world does not know him, nor do they care much about him. Nor do they really care whether he lives or dies. So what is he worth? Is he really worth anything to anyone?

He is one of the many untouchables of the world. Though he is a man with a broken heart and a lost soul the world is not willing to reach out to touch him. He’s just not worth it. But what about to God. Is he worth anything to the Father? Would God send someone to touch his life?

Lost and broken is how we found this man when we met him. We were bringing a weekly delivery of food to his blind mother who can no longer take care of herself. She was once a traditional healer practicing witchcraft and calling upon spirits from the dead but had since given that up and received Jesus. Mostly, that is. What I mean is, she kept many of the items she used to call upon the spirits because her son, Butiki, would not let her throw them out. He feared bad things might come upon them. But the many times the Church had delivered food they had never seen Butiki there at the house. But this time would be different.

You see I first met this blind woman several months ago as we were delivering food to her then also. When I walked into her home the terrible smell was so strong that it hit me in the face. She had not been cared for well and was terribly dirty and reeked of odor. Her home was dark and the green walls were covered in dirt and grime and cobwebs. So the Africa Revolution Team, seeing the desperate need, organized a group from the United States to clean her home out and repaint the inside. Every room that is, except for her bedroom that you see her sitting in here. In that room is where she kept the traditional healing items.

His blind mother sitting in her room

So this time as I visited I was amazed at how different it looked and how much cleaner her home was. And there was Butiki, telling us how thankful he was that we had done so much to help his mother. But there was a deep anguish in his eyes. It was undeniable. So we asked him what was on his heart.

As we stood with him in one of the tiny bedrooms of the home, Butiki told us of his depression and brokenness. He told us how he had left his home several months earlier to take his own life. He told us of how he walked to the train station where he would stand in front of an oncoming train to die. He had made sure to take with him his identification papers in his back pocket so his wife could identify him. But as he stood on the train tracks watching the train barrel toward him, he heard a voice calling him by his birth name that no one called him by. The voice cried out “Get out of the way, Hlengani” and then he was shoved off the tracks as he heard the voice say again “Get out of the way, Hlengani.” He looked back in amazement to see who the person was who cared enough for him that they would do such a thing, but the person was gone. They had disappeared.

Now you and I know what happened, but he did not. He wondered how such a thing could happen to him? He asked different people but no one could give him an answer, until today. We told him the beautiful message of the Gospel of Jesus.

“The Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”  Isaiah 61

We told him how God cared for him and sent His angel to protect him. We told him how is life had a purpose and how the creator of all things cared whether he lived or died. As tears streamed down his face he prayed with us to receive Jesus into his heart. It was the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen.

You see the Bible says in 1 Samuel “the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Do we judge and condemn too soon to death those who the Lord wants to save? The rejected and undesirable of the world may have been forgotten by man but they have not been forgotten by God the Father whose desire is for the hearts of every man and woman, no matter what their status in society.

But who is willing to go for them?

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” – Psalm 68:5

We have been moved this year as we reflect on how God has used us to fulfill His promises. Many times throughout scripture God speaks with strong language about loving widows, caring for them and His deep concern for their plight. Widows in Africa are not much different from those who find themselves the object of God’s compassion in scripture- they are oftentimes destitute and lonely. They cannot care for themselves and are many times taken advantage of by those around them. I strongly believe it is the role of God’s people to step in and care for them. It’s our role to figure out what they need and support them with dignity and respect.

Last Saturday a team from Campus Outreach- Georgia, joined our Powerhouse team and together we worked side by side restoring the homes of three widows whom we dearly love. Two blind widows live in one house and the other by herself, both needed some major fixing, clean up and paint jobs. The team worked hard together. Singing as they worked and putting all their love into action they finished strong. The old ladies were so grateful, the young people energized, and God was glorified. It was a great day for the Kingdom!

Thanks to everyone who rocked it.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

^“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22