Dear
friends
I
find myself utterly amazed at the Kingdom effect some of you are having on our
city. Having just spent some time studying Isaiah 49 and working through God's
reassignment of our desolate inheritances (Isaiah 49:8), I am more convinced
than ever of our need to continue the work Jesus started when he came to usher
in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We
understand that our position as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven is
due solely to the finished and complete work of Jesus Christ as he defeated the
effects of sin in our lives on the cross, and through his resurrection, lives
daily to intercede for us. But beyond that now exists the churches
responsibility to make known the blessing of God through Jesus Christ to the
nations, revealing his goodness, kindness, power, mercy and grace.
As I
take this moment to stand back and look upon the influence Southcity is having
on this city (remembering that Southcity is us, the people) I can only smile. I
think about the Phakamisa project currently under way training and equipping
men who would not have access to or the ability to run their own businesses,
but now being skilled to do just that. I think about the work some of you are
doing into KwaNzemakwe. I think about the work being done into the South Coast
Recovery Centre with the past two weeks having seen incredible times of worship
and preaching at a service with the residents. And I think about our expanding
influence in education as we launch a pre-school in 2012.
These
are just a few ordinary people doing extraordinary things as they allow the
Spirit of God to lead them on their journey of faithfulness to the task God has
assigned to them.
What
a privilege to be a part of this community!
Be
encouraged Southcity and may I urge you to give our incredible Father the time
to speak with you and to reassign you in order that the inheritances which have
been laid to waste due to our pasts without Christ, may be restored to the full
and rich inheritances that our Father intends for us.
I
pray for the blessings of our Father to be known by you, in order that you may
be a blessing to this coast on which we live.
Much
love
Rich
PS -
I would appreciate your prayer this weekend as I have the privilege of speaking
into a local church context in Durban, a church called COGS. And may I also
remind you that as we desire to influence the people of this coast, we have
built new and great facilities for moms with young babies as well as toddlers
in order that they may be part of a worshipping community during a difficult
season in their lives, and to that end, we will be taking up a special offering
this Sunday in order to cover the costs of being a blessing to these new moms.
Let's show our generosity and our willingness to bless others!
