I Love SCC!

One part of CCP that I have really enjoyed is being involved in the local church. Those older and wiser than me have always emphasized doing so, so attending a local church in Joburg didn't surprise me much. We've been going to Sophiatown Community Church (SCC) during our stay, and I just love it! It's where everyone involved with CO at UJ Kingsway goes, and it's just a five minute walk from our house! It's so charming walking to church on Sunday morning. That's something I can't do in Athens.

I remember our first morning there, we were greeted by the pastor and one of the women on staff. Since then it's been fun to see her and get to know her a little better each Sunday. They serve tea and coffee and biscuits (we'd call them cookies) after church, so we've met several other interesting people there who've been so welcoming and willing to teach us a little about the culture here in South Africa. It's a pretty small church, so it's been easy to meet most people. We've met people in different life stages as well, so we have an amazing opportunity to get to know other South Africans as well, and not just students. Everyone has been so hospitable.

Most of you already know I'm studying music education, so I'm sure this next point won't take you by surprise: I love the worship music there! We sing some worship songs that anyone in America would be familiar with, like songs by Chris Tomlin or Hillsong. That's actually one thing about S. Africa that has surprised me. But here's my favorite part: we sing songs in African languages! Well, the rest of the congregation sings, and I just listen. It's the most beautiful choir I've ever heard, and I'm standing in the middle of it with their praise washing around the room. Everyone harmonizes, and there's just a spirit to their singing that's not like anything I've heard before. And it's just really enriching to hear something different. The first Sunday we were there, they sang one and it gave me goosebumps! It was so cool to hear people praising God in other languages.

The pastor there has been going through a series on parables. For myself, parables are difficult to understand, so I really appreciate how clearly he communicates God's grace and that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Remembering that I don't have to manufacture my salvation and righteousness is definitely restful and perfect for the Sabbath.

We've had a couple opportunities to get involved. I helped set up and helped with coffee and tea one week, another girl helped lead worship one week. I was thankful to get a chance to serve with the members there. I could see myself thriving spiritually here in Sophiatown, but on the other hand, I still miss my church families at home. FBC Powder Springs and Christ Community, I miss you, and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!

Testimony

Back in April, I got the amazing opportunity to share about what the Lord has done in my life at one of UGA’s Campus Outreach meetings. Not long before the school year ended and the team left for Johannesburg, a sweet friend of mine mentioned that she’d actually really like to see it on the blog. On top of that, I actually got to share my testimony at the first 3D meeting we attended (3D is COJ’s weekly outreach meeting) which was a really cool privilege I never expected! Here’s what I shared, adjusted for blogging format.

Just to tell you a little bit about myself, I just finished my second year at UGA. I transferred from Berry College in my junior yeat, about two years ago, and I’m studying Music Education.

Coming to know the Lord was a process for me. I grew up as a pastor’s daughter, so I was highly exposed to Christianity my whole life. By the time I got to college, though, I was mostly living for myself, and I thought I would find happiness and satisfaction in my career. Even though I’d been around Christianity my whole life, I was questioning the existance of God, but still afraid of going to hell when I died. As a result, I was really fearful and felt guilty for the choices I was making. In hindsight, I can see just how lost and blind I was at the time. If you had asked me what grace was then, I wouldn’t have been able to give an accurate definition.

This fear and guilt led me to get involved with an investigative Bible study some girls on my hall were leading. If God were real, I wanted to make sure I was doing the right things to please him. I was so stuck though in this dichotomy of guilt and works. I would watch trashy shows on MTV with my roommate, and then I felt like I needed to let people cut in front of me the next day in the dining hall to make up for it. Eventually they asked me if I wanted to go on Summer Beach Project, so I went because that’s what Christians do.

Getting to go on this Beach Project was probably the biggest blessing in my life. I was surrounded by believers who were encouraging me to keep seeking the Lord. My room leader told me to go to the Lord in prayer every time I was doubting the existance of God. With all the teaching and studying I had been doing, the idea of Jesus was really appealing to me; I wanted him to be real so much that I was actually somewhat disciplined in begging the Lord to open my eyes. Again, now that I’m on the other side, I can see how Satan was using that doubt to harm me and prevent me from becoming one of God’s children.

I can’t point to a specific moment that it happened, but by the end of Project, I knew I had become a Christian. I was amazed by how God is consistent with Himself and knew He had to be real. Grace made sense. I could define it. It was truth that I could cling to. No amount of works and letting people cut in front of me in the dining hall could save me or make God love me, but Jesus paid for all my sins with His blood. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, because the way I came to know the Lord, I had so much joy in finally receiving salvation after praying for it for seven weeks. And it proved to me that God does hear and answer our prayers.

Now, Jesus is my Lord, and I want to submit to him in everything. Instead of focusing my life decisions and choices based on what I think will make me happy, I want to glorify God by the choices I make. I still struggle with wanting to make music the center of my life, but I know and firmly believe He’s working on me and changing the desires of my heart.

Because getting to know God’s character through the Word was such a significant part of how I became a Christian, I wanted to just sum up with a couple verses from Psalm 18:16-19: “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

Ministry Update in Skoonveld

Hey everyone! I thought it was high time for me to let you know how things are going down here in Joburg! We’re now finishing week two of our ministry in Skoonveld. We’ve met several girls, and our first week was spent mostly just getting to know them. Now we’re turning our focus more toward getting to know where they are spiritually.

This question is a little more tricky to answer than it would be back home in the States. They’re highly involved with churches and Bible studies, they can quote all kinds of scripture and know the Sunday school answers to the spiritual questions that come up in conversation. So the problem for us is that in the culture here in South Africa, most students are so exposed to Christianity that it’s hard to figure out if they are indeed true Christians. I think the key in sharing the gospel with them is going to be showing them that involvement in spiritual activities isn’t what saves us, but faith alone in Christ is what does (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Another challenge in sharing the gospel is that we have to overcome is the Health, Wealth and Prosperity “gospel.” A lot of students choose their course of study because of the money they’re hoping it will bring them. So one thing Lawton and I are striving to make really clear is that being a Christian and persevering in the faith doesn’t mean that your life is going to turn glamorous. It doesn’t mean that you’ll start getting good grades and become wealthy, all your relationships will go smoothly, etc, and that life will be perfect. But, what we do get is eternal life with the Father. In brief, we’re trying to show them that our treasure becomes what is in heaven instead of what is on earth.

On Thursday night, Lawton and I had the opportunity to share some truth and wisdom and address these issues. We found out the night before that we would be leading the Bible study our CO student leaders, TK and Beulah, have been leading for a couple weeks now (by God’s grace, they’ve laid a really strong foundation for ministry in Skoonveld – praise Him!). Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” so what we felt we needed to explain to the girls was how to receive eternal life. Our answer to that was that you have to surrender your will. The whole evening, girls kept cramming into the dorm room we were meeting in. I think there were about 15 in all, so it was definitely a privilege to share the gospel with so many girls at once.

Our next step will be following up with Bible study to see what the girls are thinking and feeling about everything we said. According to TK and Beulah, I don’t think these girls are used to such direct teaching and explanation, and I think it was also challenging for them to hear that you don’t have to do any works to receive salvation. I see their frustration when we talk to them about spiritual things and that they’re wanting to understand the gospel, but they just can’t yet. A lot of these girls are first year college students too, so I see a lot of myself in them because I struggled to understand the gospel at that point in my life as well. I’m asking the Lord for the opportunity to share my testimony with a girl during the next couple of days we spend on campus.

Bringing it back to our joy, the motivation and source of everything we do, I pray that they would see the beauty of the gift that’s been given to us. That is, that the Creator of the entire universe loved sinful man enough to give His only son for their atonement, redemption and sanctification, and is writing this amazing story to reconcile all things to Himself to the praise of His glory. Stay tuned! Last Saturday, a couple days ago, we had CCP Vision Night where we got to hear about what’s been happening for CO Johannesburg and all the other projects in Joburg and Praetoria, so I hope to be filling you in soon!

Meet Our Team!

Our team is a group of 2 staff and 13 students from Campus Outreach Atlanta. CO Atlanta is an interdenominational ministry with a vision to glorify God by building laborers on the college campus for the lost world. This summer we will be spending 7 weeks on a campus in Johannesburg, South Africa partnering with the Campus Outreach team to ministry to South African students.

Jeremy M.  I graduated from North Georgia in May 2010 with a degree in History Education.  I am now in my first year on staff with Campus Outreach at the University of Georgia.  I am excited to be a part of this team for the summer because I believe that the vision we get to be a part of is an opportunity to impact not only South Africa, but all of Africa and the entire world.

Kira B.  I graduated from Georgia Tech in May 2007 with a degree in Industrial Design and am in my fourth year on staff with Campus Outreach.  Since I graduated I have been on staff at North Georgia College and State University, but have recently moved into the role of our office administrator for Campus Outreach Atlanta.  I want to go to South Africa with hopes of growing in my love for God's people and God's world.

Ashley D.  I am a junior at North Georgia College and State University and I'm studying Psychology.





Ben E.  I am in my 4th year at North Georgia and I'm studying Accounting.  I believe the CCP will give me an opportunity to experience something outside of what I think I know, to have my eyes opened to the power of God, to see how He is beyond anything I can imagine, to have a chance to labor for His kingdom, and to answer the call.

Blaine V.  I am in my 5th year at Georgia Tech and I'm studying Chemical Engineering with a minor in Business.  I want to go to South Africa because I think that's where God is working, and I want to put myself right in the middle of that.  becuase of this it will be an area that will force me to grow.

Chad T.  I am in my senior year at North Georgia and I'm studying Business Management.  I want my view of the gospel to be more than just America, I want to see God work in other countries in different ways, I want to see my faith grown through the gospel being presented in different cultures, and I want to be a doer and not just a hearer of the Word.

Danielle D.  I am in my junior year at University of Georgia and I'm studying Child and Family Development.  I'm excited for the unexpected.  I love the idea that we have a God who is so big that we cannot exaggerate.  The greatness of God makes me realize that the opportunities are endless because anything can happen.

Emily F.  I am in my 4th year at University of Georgia and I'm studying Music Education.  In my own walk with the Lord, I have seen how He's pursed me.  I feel like He has done such great things in my life - more than I deserve - and I look forward to the opportunity to share that with someone who might never have heard or encouraging someone who is struggling to persevere.

Evan L.  I am in my senior year at North Georgia and I'm studying Business Management.  I am excited about the opportunity to experience a culture outside of what we live in.  I want to see Christ in a whole new way and do His kingdom work in a whole new way.

Josh C.  I am in my junior year at North Georgia and I'm studying Biology.  When I think about God's heart, the Great Commission, and how Christianity is not just an American thing, I feel an urgency to go and take the gospel to the nations.  To be a part of something great - something bigger than yourself.

Karen G.  I am in my junior year at the University of Georgia and I'm studying International Affairs with a minor in Anthropology.  I am most excited about the vision of students coming to Johannesburg for college and then going back home to share the gospel as leader's in their community.

Lauren B.  I am in my 4th year at Georgia Tech and I'm studying Business Administration.  I'm praying that the Lord would use me to bring someone to Christ or to be a part of planting seeds in someone's life while we're in South Africa.  I've never experienced that before, and I think it's a beautiful thing.

Lawton F.  I am in my 4th year at Georgia Tech and I'm studying Public Policy.  I want to go to South Africa because I am understanding what world vision means, and that it is God's greatest call to us to spread His Word to all the nations.  It is an incredible opportunity to share the gift I have been given with people who may never hear it otherwise.

Lewis H.  I am in my junior year at University of Georgia and I'm studying Accounting.  I am most excited about being stretched, and having to trust God with something that is out of my comfort zone.  I also want to continue to develop a heart for sharing the gospel and seeing people brought from death to life, particularly with the vision in view of reaching an entire continent through the multiplication of a few.

Lindsay R.  I am in my 4th year at North Georgia and I'm studying Psychology and Sociology.  This summer, I am excited to build relationships with women in South African, to make new friendships and to minister to college students.  I'm also excited to see a new country - to see that our God is not in a box but He is the God of the universe.