Newsletter#52

Dear Friends

I write to you today incredibly excited for what lies ahead for Southcity. One of the promises God gave to me when Jacs and I came was from the prophetic life of Haggai where God declares, 'I will shake the nations and the desired of all nations will come and i will fill this house with glory.' (Haggai 2:7)

We have had the privilege of seeing multiple men and women come from all over the world to help us on our journey over these past years, and as we look forward, God continues to give us good gifts from both near and far to help his church.

This year, we have the incredible privilege of having Monique (from near), giving our community her full attention as she serves us all by leading our children's work, as well as Janay and Nicole (from Gauteng) and Sarah (from USA) giving us a full year of dedicated work into the youth of our community.

We cannot thank God enough for these young men and women who have devoted themselves to seeing boys and girls come to know Jesus and grow in their maturity in him. Surely God has been very good and kind to us! Church, I ask you to receive them as precious gifts and to throw your weight behind them in order that our influence and witness may continue to extend throughout the South Coast.

Below are two letters: one from each of them. Please would you read them and consider how you can free up resources in order to support this work.

Thank you friends and see you during the week.
Lots of love
Rich


Letter from Monique:

Dear Southcity

It is with much excitement that I take over the children’s ministry here at Southcity. I believe that there is something profoundly special about the relationship between Jesus and little children. It is for this reason that I have found a great passion in honouring and serving any youngster and his/her family in their growing relationship with God.

The vision for City Kids this year is purely growth:
- The growth of individual relationships with Jesus Christ.
- Seeing families grow closer to God, together.
- Seeing children and their teachers growing closer through learning and exploring the word.

Our Father in heaven loves family, he loves it when we work together, grow together and ultimately love each other. It is for this reason that the foundation of City Kids is laid upon growing as a Holy Kingdom family.

At this point City Kids is entering a season of change. Classes are growing, and relationships with Jesus are forming but in order to sustain the growth of our children’s ministry (one of any churches most important ministries), we desperately need helping hands!

Every young heart in each class is a small flame that can either die out or explode into a raging fire for Jesus. I therefore call on you Southcity to fuel the young hearts in our church through prayer, love and assistance. Speaking from a child’s perspective, it is a blessing to be spiritually guided and taught, and from a ministering perspective it is a privilege to teach someone about, and guide someone closer to, Jesus.

We need teachers and assistants for the following groups:
- Kids age 3-5 years
- Kids age 5-9 years
- Kids age 10-13 years

If you are interested in helping please contact me at 039 314 9480 or send me an e-mail.
Blessings
Monique
Monique@southcity.co


Letter from the youth crew:

Southcity is in the process of setting up a youth group called Friday Fever (F²) which will be running on the Southcity Campus on Friday evenings. There are various resources which Southcity’s youth would highly appreciate having access to during youth events; some of which include:
• a pool table, tennis table or soccer table available for the youth on a Friday night as well as
• bean bags,
• soccer or rugby balls and
• an ice-cream machine.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could help the youth by sowing into the youth ministry in any way possible.

We also need contacts with a business that is centred on hardware, appliances, jumping castles, paintball, catering, etc. We would like to speak to you to discuss incorporating your business and resources into youth events.

If you would like to get involved but are not sure how to do so or simply have questions, please feel free to come and speak to us; Sarah, Janay or Nicole on any of these matters.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

We want you to be a part of what we are doing for the youth of Southcity.

Please feel free to email us on youth@southcity.co or contact us on 039 314 9480.

Newsletter #50

Dear Friends

My family's journey at Southcity started with a call from Craig Meyer and the eldership team in place at the time. They were looking for a couple with vision, capacity and energy that would take Southcity on to becoming a base church in the area.

 
It was to this call that we sought God. And God responded emphatically: 'Take them in, settle them, and grow them'. So matching the call from man, the unique gifts and skills God had given me, and the affirmation from God, we arrived to lead Southcity into their inheritance promised to their forefathers.
 
This has been the mandate with which I have felt the freedom and the constraints to lead the beautiful people called Southcity.

Well, it's now four and a half years on. A short space of time relatively speaking. Yet, God has been unbelievably good and Southcity has established a base from which to influence this coast on the physical land that had been prayed for and seen by her forefathers and promised to by God: these incredible 6.7 hectares in Ramsgate. Southcity is by many accounts, flourishing.

 

Have I fulfilled what was asked of me?

 
I believe a 'base' church in its simplicity is a church which resources others, both with people and financially, opposed to needing to be resourced primarily.

A quick glance over the extent of influence the people of Southcity have in this region, I believe, indicates that we are indeed resourcing others and helping others flourish. We have been able to birth multiple new works, continue to establish and build into existing ones, and been able to support others with their work and ministry. Today, I believe I have been true to the call from Craig for the desire of a base church to be established, true to God to lead you into your inheritance, and true to what God has placed in me, through birthing new works and building into existing ones.

 

So what now?

I am incredibly excited for the future of Southcity! As I have been privileged to be on the frontline for much of this activity, I have seen first hand the work of God and the faithfulness of men and women. I see the beautiful establishment of a community who really and significantly impacts this coast, rather than just exists as a group of believers in Christ. It would be a privilege to continue to lead us and enjoy some of the fruit of the hard labour that has gone before, but I can only be true to what God has given me, and I believe he wants to give Southcity to another man to continue to establish you in your inheritance on the South Coast.

We believe God has looked over the earth and wanted to find a man who he could trust to love this local congregation and to give his life for them. And as he looked, he found Harry. A man who 4 and a half years ago, didn't come here primarily to lead the schools, but carried in his heart a desire to lead God's people. He has served me and he has served you faithfully. He has poured his life into what God gave him to do with Southcity Christian Schools and God has found him faithful and, we believe, has now appointed the time to release Harry into his next assignment, which is to lead you and the people of Southcity.

 

We believe that any transition is for the sake of propelling forward, and we believe this one to be no different. So friends, as you see the kingdom of God, we urge you to lean into this transition, throw your giftings, talents, and resources into the life of this beautiful church and behind Harry and Wendy, and contribute in an even greater way to the flourishing of Southcity for the sake of those that still need a Saviour.

We love you deeply.

Love

Rich and Jacs