“Life is ministry and ministry is life.” A phrase that I’ve heard time and time again this past year. It wasn’t until this last ministry placement that I was able to see and actually live it out in such a raw and authentic way- a way where it didn’t even seem like ministry but instead it’s just what we do! My team and I stayed with a family during our time in Johannesburg- a pastor of a church that has a big heart for missions and a bigger heart for Jesus. Being able to live with him, his wife and four kiddos was the biggest blessings and the sweetest privilege. We left the home feeling like it was just that, our home and our family.
Hendrik and Marga set such an example in how they live their lives by inviting Jesus into everything they do. Prayer is a norm and relationships are what they value. Sometimes ministry was structured like: going to partner with an outreach ministry their church is a part of that not only provides physical needs for the underdeveloped community it reaches, but also empowers the people by providing them with skills and resources to provide for themselves; going to rural and poverty stricken communities to share the Gospel; or joining a mom with the 30+ children she adopted to love on them but also paint some of their buildings. But sometimes ministry wasn’t structured. More times than not it was calling people while we drove from place to place and praying for them while in the car. Sometimes it was pulling over on the side of the road while we were on the way to a lion park because the Holy Spirit told Hendrik to pray for a police officer. Other times it was inviting people over to share a meal together, encouraging one another through conversation and ending the evening in prayer.
The way that the community here loves each other and does life together reminded me and my teammates of Acts 2:42 and how the early church did church – by not just going to church but actually being the church in the way they live their lives. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42. Some of the sweetest moments came from Hendrik and Marga opening up their house to allow us to share a meal or coffee with the community here. There’s something about a dinner table that opens up a new level of conversation that allows for deep conversation. Hendrik was also so intentional in making sure that no one left the house unless they were prayed over first. Their house truly was a house of prayer.
I think it could have been easy to miss the moments and opportunities around us without intentionality. The way that Hendrik modeled being intentional with listening to the Lord, hearing him and then acting upon it is what allowed for these divine appointments. The way he was intentional with inviting people over and opening up their home allowed for us to form the sweetest friendships that will last forever. The way he was intentional in having meaningful conversations with his family and also with each member of the team caused everyone to know that they were seen and cared about. And this intentionality all came from the Lord. One prayer we heard Hendrik pray the most was “help me Jesus.” And what a place to be- desperately needing Jesus and watching Jesus move like He always does.
May ministry not just be something I do but the way I live- listening to the Lord in where He is leading and being intentional with following after Him.
MK
Love this! Thank you to Hendrik and Marga! What an awesome opportunity to serve alongside of! May we see our desperate need for Jesus in every part of our day!
MK!! Ugh this family sounds like the sweetest ever. I love hearing a little bit about what life looked like in joburg. What a gift!!