For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.—Ephesians 6:12-13

Today the Powerhouse exercised the authority Christians are given in Jesus. The entire church engaged in a prayer walk to and from the Mamelodi West Cemetery, claiming the township in the name of Jesus and declaring victory over the many ways Satan has people’s hearts in bondage here. Silently, each talking to the Lord, we walked the road and back, passing men gambling on the street corners, customers already gathered outside local shabeens (drinking taverns), houses known to belong to sangomas (witch doctors) and a long row of “hostels,” a completely dilapidated remnant from Apartheid days where people still live. We were about 150-200 people walking en masse, each to himself or herself declaring authoritatively that Jesus be the Lord of this place, casting out evil by the blood of Jesus, declaring the shabeens be shut down—essentially warring against the spiritual forces that have such strongholds on the lives of people in desperate need of God’s love… The solidarity was awesome.

The prayer walk culminated in arriving at the cemetery, which Pastor Vincent in his sermon on 2 Kings 2:19-22 had deemed “the most popular church in Mamelodi” as people flock there to worship their ancestors and consult ancestral spirits. Ancestral worship is very prevalent here in South Africa and is deep-rooted within African culture in general. The Powerhouse stood at the entrance of the cemetery and, with impressive authority and passion in prayer, broke the bonds of ancestral spirits and declared that this place no longer be a place of worship—in effect, shutting down “the church” that the cemetery seems to be for non-Christians and sometimes Christians alike.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.—1 John 4:4

We returned to the church after and sang and worshiped with joy. Whether we see those fruits of our prayers or not, we know that a war has been waged this day for Jesus in Mamelodi, and we already know the war will end in victory.

For the AR team, as learners in a foreign land, today’s prayer walk was a powerful experience and a reminder to us of the authority our prayers have in the spiritual realm. We are still very much learning to pray with the courage and authority Jesus instructed His disciples to possess. Admittedly, we are babes compared to the prayer warriors at the Powerhouse, but as we are learning more about the Holy Spirit’s power, we are gaining courage and confidence in fighting and rebuking powers of darkness.

As a side note, throughout today’s walk, I was reminded of Robyn Richter’s words about the effect of our prayers in the spiritual realm. Click on “The Power of Prayer” audio link from our ABC Ministry blog post to hear about when she and others encircled a squatter camp in Swaziland in prayer.

Filed under: General by Rebecca on January 25th, 2009. Tags: march, power, Powerhouse, prayer, spiritual realm | 1 Comment

"Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’" —Jeremiah 9:23-24

One of the first projects that we’re tackling at the Powerhouse is to help make the church’s feeding scheme more of a regular, sustained ministry. The feeding scheme started three years ago when Nate was here on his first trip. Tired of talking but not acting, Vincent announced one Sunday, "On Wednesday, we’re going to feed the poor," challenging his congregation to follow Christ’s command. No mind that there was no food to feed the poor on Wednesday… By Tuesday, the plan still stood, but still no food. Nate was riding around with Vincent late Tuesday afternoon when Vincent got a call on his cell phone from the Pick-n-Pay, the local grocery store, to tell him that they had loads of food that had just expired but still edible—could the Powerhouse use it? Needless to say the church fed the poor on Wednesday. Praise God.

This past Sunday at church a similar thing happened. Vincent preached on the Parable of the Lost Sheep , but extended the parable beyond just the account of the shepherd risking the 99 to rescue the one and focused on the why —why would the shepherd rescue the one? Vincent creatively related to the church why that sheep has value in the eyes of the shepherd, just as why one person has value in the eyes of God—why salvation is not just the start in God’s eyes. It was neat to hear how Vincent drilled into our hearts the message of our importance as individuals, while encouraging us to share that same message with others in the community. Why is this a message a township church needs to hear? We are learning that the blacks in the township have consistently heard the lies of Apartheid (even in the post-Apartheid era)—you are nothing, you are inferior, your poverty will keep you down, you will amount to nothing; and we realize every Sunday that many of the children we interact with don’t have parents to tell them they are loved and to remind them they are important. Truly, we are finding that sharing the message of love in the name of Jesus—you are of value, you are important, you are here for a purpose, you are loved—is perhaps the most important thing we will "do" this year as we relate to people. Something seemingly small, but hugely needed.

The next thing we knew, Vincent was announcing AR ’s intention, along with the leadership of the church, to grow the scale of the feeding scheme—in effect, to start a food pantry with a fridge and deep freezer to store breads and meats, industrial shelving to store canned goods, wholesale bags of mealie (corn) meal on hand, etc. so that the church can regularly feed the poor, while supplementing any random donation phone calls from the Pick-n-Pay. Next, Vincent announced the idea the church elders had for providing laundry care for the children who live in shacks behind the church. These children may have received donated uniforms for school but they have no way of taking care of them and essentially wear them until they are totally worn out…and, as a result, these kids stop going to school. The Powerhouse could help them by washing/drying, ironing, folding and returning their clothes each week, and in doing so, share the love of God with them by humbly serving them as Jesus would. Whether Vincent planned it, or if it was the Holy Spirit moving him to challenge his congregation, Vincent turned the sermon to the practical and busted out," "Who’s on board? Who will help?"

At least 20 or 30 hands went up. Wow. "I’ll donate an iron." "I can bring an ironing board." "I’ll provide soap." "I’ll be happy to fix any broken washing machines or irons people have." "I’ll do the laundry." "I’ll bring an ironing board." "I have a washing machine to donate." It was incredible. The church was coming together to be what a church should be, to do what Christ-followers are called to do: respond to need. We were all moved. After, Vincent invited people up to pray for what had just happened, that God would use us as His hands and feet and that people would come to know the love of Jesus through these intentions.

It was refreshing to see a church act—not call another meeting to discuss more—but act, and specifically, to care lavishly for the poor. And to see Vincent, again as he did when the feeding scheme first started, step out on faith before his church and essentially say, "Lord, this is what you have called us to do. Let’s do it," without having the necessary resources but trusting God that He would provide.

We’ve said it before, but it continues to be our privilege to be here alongside the Powerhouse, learning about what it looks like to trust God and to put the gospel into practice. Admittedly, Nate and I are working out in our heads what that will look like back home, where suburbia does an excellent job of hiding need and injustices our neighbors face. But one thing I believe, if all churches would respond as the Powerhouse does, Christians would change the world.

To listen to Vincent’s sermon, click the play button below.

"God will not give you a mission without a provision."—Vincent Nyathi

Filed under: General by Rebecca on August 26th, 2008. Tags: AR, church, feeding scheme, laundry service, Powerhouse | 7 Comments

Today I went to the dentist. Of course an explanation was required to the hygienist and receptionist why I wouldn’t be able to schedule a next visit in six months, and the reason—"I’m moving to Africa for a year"—I found, was met with excitement, their wanting to know more, my sharing a Mamelodi Stories business card, questions, more explaining, their pledging to follow along on the blog, etc. Overall, fairly uplifting support.

When the time came for my dentist to appear on the scene and do her thing, poking and prodding and inspecting, the hygienist excitedly shared my news. My dentist was excited, too, and asked similar questions; but interestingly, the feedback that she offered, I began to discern, was almost immediately and entirely that of pity for the continent of Africa. The situation is so sad there, I was sure to see some horrific things… as if the continent was a God-forsaken place.

Later, when I was switched to a different chair for a preventive procedure my dentist graciously squeezed in knowing I was due to leave Durham the day after tomorrow, she offered more feedback, again, reflecting on how hard it will likely be for us, how sad it will be, etc: "So little food, so little medical care, so little education there…" Alluding to what we’ve heard before: it’s just a mess. I was frustrated I couldn’t respond (the novacaine having set in and four hands and all sorts of metal obstructing any attempt at a response). I would have wanted to respond, "But there’s another side of the story. Yes, the situation in Africa is tremendous. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are some amazing things going on there, too, in spite of circumstances we in America are completely immune to and do not have to face." I would have wanted to tell her more about the Powerhouse Church. I would have wanted to tell her more about Mamelodi Stories, how Nate and I have set out to produce something different with than what some covering Africa do—to show not just the hardship, but to show the triumph of the human spirit over immense tragedy and the manifestation of God-given hope and love in the midst of this tremendous suffering.

Here’s food for thought:

The continent of Africa has more orphans than any other continent in the world. The United Nations and UNICEF estimate that by the year 2010 there will be approximately 42 million orphans in Africa (that number I cannot comprehend), half of those due to HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a tremendous impact on South Africa, in particular. The country has the highest number of HIV-positive people in the world (5.5 million), and the prevalence rate among adults is more than 18.8 percent. Over the past few years, life expectancy has declined by nearly 20 years, infant mortality has risen and the number of men and women in their 30s and 40s has decreased, yielding the highest number of children left without one or both parents in any African country.

So, in one sense, my dentist is right in thinking that these problems are not going away anytime soon, despite global efforts that have been made to curb this tragedy. The HIV/AIDS and poverty crises are massive, and it will take the attention of the world to respond.

BUT, in Africa, I would argue, no one else is better positioned to help the widow and the orphan than the local church! And as part of our work with Africa Revolution with various local churches uniquely poised to help as the centers of community, Nate and I will attempt to document the harsh situations facing the people with whom we will live and interact as they struggle with disease and poverty, yet as they find hope through faith. I don’t doubt that it will be very hard on a daily basis to witness the realities of suffering in a third-world place, but I’m convinced that we will return to the U.S. with great admiration—not pity—for the people of Africa.

My first response to my dentist’s pessimistic outlook on the situation in Africa was to think to myself "I should switch to Nate’s dentist. He totally gets it." But as I sat there in the chair, jaw beginning to hurt, I thought, "No, this is exactly the kind of person whose heart God has in store to change. This is exactly who Mamelodi Stories is for." Besides, I like my dentist.

It’s a powerful moment when one realizes that the global tragedy the world regards Africa as being and the inconceivable stats she boasts has a face, and a voice. Those are the faces and voices of human beings, made in the image of The Creator and not be felt sorry for, but to be loved as Jesus would love.

"But from above, in the eyes of God, sorrow and joy are never separated. Where there is pain, there is also healing. Where this is mourning, there is dancing. Where there is poverty, there is the Kingdom." —Henri Nouwen

Filed under: General by Rebecca on July 24th, 2008. Tags: HIV/AIDS, Powerhouse | 1 Comment