Tag Archive for: Outreach

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Eskom’s annual Innovation Summit

Eskom’s annual Innovation Summit’s aim was to ‘ignite Africa’s and South Africa’s inventive spirit’ over three days of inspiration, interaction and collaboration’ (28 – 30 August). Africa Works, Rays of Hope’s skills development project, was given the space to show off their bags and latest project: the litre of light. Still in its pilot phase, the litre of light uses a coke bottle to illuminate shacks in Alex during the day. A simple concept that attracted a lot of attention; the bottle is fitted into the roof of a shack and filled with water to create the equivalent of 60 watts of light. Potential donors were met and of the 3000 people that visited the stand, manned by Katy Robertson (Africa Works project manager) and Donna Drimie (Africa Works product designer), many were fascinated and humbled by all the industry happening in Alexandra.

The Business and opportunities Expo was held from the 13 to 16 September at Joburg’s Coca Cola Dome. Africa Works showcased its range of bags from designer handbags to African inspired laptop bags. Some of the products were woven in front of visitors eyes by Africa Works members who were part of the expo to show off their talent. The project received media coverage on SABC news and in print (keeps a look out for the in-flight magazine on your next SAA flight). Africa Works received a lot of attention and praise, with considerable interest from corporate and private customers. Thanks to Eskom’s sponsorship of the space, the project was able to exhibit and then go on to win the award for the “Most Innovative Stand” at the expo.

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Leigh Robinson

Beyond “Bums on Seats”

Leigh RobinsonAt our special outreach services with Stephen Lungu last Sunday we had 482 more ‘bums on seats’ that on the Sunday average for this year. That’s wonderful! Need I say that ‘bums’ represent people! On Sunday a total of 1864 people heard the message of the gospel, and saw its power in the transformed life of street boy turned gangster, Stephen Lungu. But hearing the message, vital though it is, is not enough.

This morning in my quiet time I read Colossians chapter 1. I was particularly struck by Paul’s words in v6—“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” Hearing the gospel is absolutely vital (we thank God for all who heard on Sunday), but for the gospel to bear the fruit of salvation, God’s grace in all its truth must be understood. By nature “no one understands” (Romans 3:11) God’s grace. People are by nature wired to see salvation to be a reward for good works. Understanding God’s grace requires a work of the Holy Spirit in the mind and heart of a sinner. A clear sign that a person has been born again is that they understand grace and abandon any and all trust in themselves.

Some years ago a man by the name of Johnny came to chat with me. His wife had become a Christ-follower and the changes he saw in her had a profound effect on him; so much so that he began attending church with her and making an effort to clean up his life and do good works. I pointed him to Ephesians 2:8-9 (“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.”) and urged him to go home, read the verses, and think about them. A couple of weeks later he came to me with beaming face and declared, “As I read and re-read those verses I realized that I was a sinner and that I could not save myself by trying to be better, so I simply got down on my knees and asked Jesus to save me. He has!” He had come to understand God’s grace.

Beyond “Bums on Seats” – it’s about hearing the message and understanding God’s grace. Pray that those who heard will understand.

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Leigh Robinson

It Only Takes ONE!

Leigh RobinsonNext to Billy Graham, D. L. Moody is probably the most famous evangelist America has produced. He was instrumental in tens of thousands of people coming to know Jesus in both America and Britain. Many people have heard the name of D. L. Moody, and today the famous Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and Moody Press Publishers bear on-going witness to the effectiveness of his ministry. Most people have never heard the name of Edward Kimball. He was Moody’s Sunday School teacher when he was a boy. One day he visited Moody and after sharing the gospel with him led him to Jesus. I bet he never dreamed that his witness to that one little boy would have the impact for eternity that it did. 

We’ve all heard of Stephen Lungu. He’s the Director of Africa Enterprise and has a worldwide ministry through his preaching and writing (his autobiography Out of the Black Shadows is being made into a movie) but none of us knows the name of the young woman whose testimony God used to capture Stephen’s heart as he sat in the back of the tent meeting in Harare waiting to firebomb the event. Yet God used her to change the life of a young man he had chosen to use mightily.

Yes, it only takes one.

Stephen Lungu will be preaching at RUC this Sunday (8am, 10am, and 6.30pm).

Invite someone you know to come with you to hear him! Who knows what God might have in mind for that one.

EACH ONE INVITE ONE.

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