Comings and goings with IRC Ministries
26 July 2018
On a recent ministry trip to the Southern Cape, an area four hours east of Cape Town, Trina and I worked with Churches in many different stages of development. Over the course of sixteen days we preached in five different churches, held three different meetings with the leadership groups of these churches, prayed for hundreds of people individually and helped perform a wedding for a couple that we have a longstanding relationship with.
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NASB
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, [13] which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
Two of the congregations, located in the cities of George and Willimore, are newer churches with changing, newly emerging leadership. We spent significant amounts of time discussing strategy for grassroots evangelism, fostering unity among the existing members of the churches, and continued development of the present leadership.
The congregations in Oudtshoorn (pronounced oadtshorn) and Swellendam were established works on the verge of significant growth and influence in their respective communities. Much of our input into these communities was a dual encouragement not to become comfortable but to seek a deeper personal relationship with Christ & to reach out to members of their respective communities that don’t know the Lord.
In Mossel Bay we worked with a church that is the regional anchor of the rest of the congregations. It was our first time to work with this pastor but it was evident very quickly that it wouldn’t be our last visit.
Often Trina and I organize, fund & administrate teaching and training weekends for pastor’s that will never receive formal instruction in a bible school or seminary. Along with this we have found ourselves engaged in a supporting and strategizing role with churches like those in the Southern Cape. Every situation we encounter in this type of ministry is different and we KNOW that we need the leadership of The Holy Spirit to guide us each step of the way! Please pray for us as we visit another group of churches North of Cape Town in August!
Blessings,
Rodney and Trina
