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Naboom [ High School Hans Strijdom]
Identity
Challenges in the school most children struggle with their identity and get involves in different friendship circles where they are under alot of pessure to do bad things that make them break their morals and values.So how do we as a faith community help to prevent this,we as Jabulani Africa Ministries we go to this school and we do a whole theme on identity and i have seen so many children opening up to us,that they feel alone,depress,rejected. So basically we have become mentors to these children ,we became a place of safety for them were they can be themselves,where they can ask questions that their parents and teachers won’t answer.We make sure that we teach them that their identity is rooted in Jesus by using our testimonies of how we struggle with identity and how we found our identity in Jesus.Bullying
Bully in the school is a big concern,because of bullies children take their live commit suicide or get influnce by drugs and vaping because they want to fit in with the “cool kids”so that they don’t get bullied.Children don’t want to go to school because they are scared so they make exuses even harm themselves just to be absence from school. So now we ask how can we as a faith community help?We as Jam are taking part in the anti-bully program that Celebration church is presenting in the community in the month of May,so we will be going to schools and preaching the gospel of Jesus and sharing our testimonies that reach children stuck in depression,rejection ,drugs,abuse,bullying and suicidal attemps.This how we will take a step on faith trusting that God will reach these kids. Being bullied is something that kids don’t talk about really,I know this because I was bullied in school and I never wanted to tell my parents about because you feel ashamed and unworthy.Kids being bullied needs to know that they have a voice and that they can stand up for themselves,that they can talk to their parents about it or teachers every child has the right to feel safe in their school.Bullying other kids because your hurt is never thee answer,even those kids that are bullies need someone to talk too because theirs a root in everything maybe they are being bullied and by bullying others that the only way they feel safe.We are here to create a safe space for these kids that they know their hearts are important to God.Proverbs 11:2
“When pride comes, then disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
[ Humility open the doors to wisdom]
How does the church show humility in communities you may ask.
The church shows humility through serving in the community meeting peoples needs.
For example the one church we serve at on tuesdays “Die Bron” they make little food parcels
and give out to the homeless, the people that are in need that’s a act of humility and showing God’s heart that everyone is valuable to Him.
Serving people through just giving them hugs ,going to the one person that goes unseen to everyone. If I think how we as Jabulani Africa Ministries show our humility we show it through hosting people at our house always being an open door for people. We also go to the village Mavhusa and we would stay there a week or more living with the people eating their food ,learning their language. That’s how we live God’s heart out in humility.
How does this virtue of humility build bridges in community?
People in the village see us and that we will become like our Jesus to serve them and love on them, they see that we don’t think we are better or higher than them. They see that we make time to come to their houses and sit and have conversations with them. It build a sense of trust in their community and that we are consistent helps them to trust us.We as Jabulani Africa ministries has been working in a village called Mavhusa for years now. We have a base their in the village called “The Dream Center” so that we can meet the need of the children in the village that struggle with reading, writing in school so every year we choose only certain children that we really see needs the help and make them part of the program at the dream center now you may ask yourself “How can Jam be present their and at the same time be base in Mokopane?” We have chosen certain ladies in the village to become apart of the dream center staff so they help the kids during the week with homework, studies and also provide meals for the children and we are also meeting their need spiritually by doing bible stories with them after they are done with their homework they get to learn about Jesus and grow emotionally ,physically, mentally and spiritually so we don’t just feed their spirits but we also make sure they grow that’s how we meet their need. We also do outreaches their with short term teams from America and I have seen how teams change their hearts and humanity when they encounter the people in mavhusa especially when we do house visits in the village during the house visits we reach the mothers and grandmothers and we can proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and we see how the mama’s change their view of Jesus and they desire than a relationship with Jesus.Last year we gave the mama’s plants and left them with a message of growth towards Jesus a week ago we went back to mavhusa and the mama’s was so excited to show us the growth in their plants and the remember the message that we left with them “that the more you take care of the plant by watering it,putting it in the sun ligth ,its a reflection of how Jesus take cares of them but they need to spend time with Jesus so that he can water them also “. The mama’s became the change in their families and thats amazing.
When I think about the word missions, I see Jesus. Jesus use to go into places no one else would have gone in, he lived the word and the truth out as son of God. If you are called to be a missionary you have follow the example of Jesus how he use to teach people ,he was even teaching in the synagogue [Luke 4:16-37] ,Imitate me as I Imitate Christ.
I love the way you said that a spiritual leader is a model of Christ because I agree with that being a spiritual leader doesn’t start in church its starts with you and your family .As a spiritual leader you are representing God like apostle Paul says in [1 Corinthians 11:1] “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”. You have to lead by example and you have to practice what you preach live out the values of Jesus and teach your family how to pray, fast, study the word God, learn them how to serve with humility because our creator step down from His throne to serve us and that shows that He is even more humble than we are. A healthy church and leadership starts with you as spiritual in Jesus and Jesus is a God of family and relationships.
Spiritual Formation Of a Leader’s Children
Spiritual formation involves exposure to God’s word from childhood .Foundations of children which quotes christian reseacher, George Barna[2003:7] research regarding all the facets of moral and spiritual development, whether related to worldview, beliefs or behaviour, shows that such development starts as early as age two. Studies shows that as young as the age of nine children are able to discern between right from wrong in a moral capacity, it also shows it is an equal outcome in their spiritual understanding. They also understand where and in who they are spiritual rooted in. In Gods word we see that He tells us that if we wanna enter the Kingdom of God we have to believe like a child.These are the strategies that a spiritual leader can use for her/his family. To teach their children while they are still at a young age to make prayer and reading God’s word through memory verses, bible stories and also teaching them how to pray part of their everyday life but also not just teaching also living it and being an example for them.To practice fasting once a week even if its just for 3-4 hours it will also teach them discipline and self-control. Taking their children to sunday school,and as they grow older to be part of the youth groups in church for their spiritual and emotional health .These practice is to make sure that spiritual transformation is taking place.This will teach them to immersed fully in teaching and ministry of Jesus Christ. Spiritual formation need not to be classifeid as a fuction of adulthood we see this in 2 timothy 3:15 indicates that spiritual formation involves exposre to God’s word from childhood.
However their are also potential dangers for families that are led by spiritual leaders and vocational ministers. The responsiblities and demands of ministry can lead to neglect of personal and family needs. Sometimes the children of spiritual leaders feels the undue pessure to meet high expectations, which can lead to resentment or rebellion. It can also lead to identity problems cause they feel rejection from their parents and they will feel the need to rebel to find a sense of belonging somewhere .The way a spiritual leader take cares for their own family will reflect and impact in other families in the church and community. A leaders that sets a positive example of how to follow God and to take care of his own family will influnce others to follow his example, after Jesus says in His word 1 corinthians 11:1-2 “Imitate me, just as I imatate Christ.I praise and appreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to the traditions ,just as I passed them on to you”.
My Personal Authentic story
When I gave my heart to Jesus in grade 9 my whole world view and purpose change into Jesus. Since than my desires for ministry has grown so much everyday.In grade 10 i was still seeking Jesus more to find myself in Him. Getting to live in His authentic story of my life.Through scripture Jesus brought me confirmation that i shouldnt fear the future [Isaiah 41:13] “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,Do not fear,i will help you.Knowing this brought so much peace to my heart that i dont have to worry about the future or be afraid that He is with me.As I was on my journey walking with Jesus I went through so much things depression, anxiety ,hurts, dissapointments but I kept on holding on to Jesus word and promises to me, where He tells me that He knows the plans that He has for me in [Jeremiah 29:11] ” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.He completely calm my anxious mind with His father’s heart and compassion [Philippians 4:6-7] “Be anxious for nothig but in everything by prayer and supplication,with thanksgiving,let your requests be known to God,and the peace of God,which surpasses all understanding,will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” I run back to Jesus everytime I got anxious about my ministry that He has called me in,so i got involve in my church and their kids ministries for 3 years but still in my heart i felt that empthy space that had to fill with something. As I was crying out to Jesus tell Him I really want to do missonary work and each one of my family members thinks I am crazy,He answer me through His word [Jeremiah 1:4]
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,before you were born i set you apart, I apppointed you as a prophet to the nations”.He reminded me that I shouldn’t say I am too young to go where He calls me and I said yes last year Jan 2023 without knowing where finances will come from.I completey move to Limpopo trusting Jesus to provide for me and He did and He still is.I am so glad I said yes because I am living in fullness in Him now.I am in full time missonary ministry and I love it so much cause Jesus is in my story and still writing my authentic story
Now my ministry involves kids,youth even older people and seeing each one of their prefections through the eyes of Jesus is amazing.
