Dear Family, Friends & Partners,
I hope this finds you doing well. I just returned from Cape Town, South Africa, where we are continuing our work in some of that nation’s poorest communities. One of my main focuses on this trip was to hold “Life Events”, exposing the lies of suicide with the truth of God’s word. Our first event had over 1300 young people in attendance with hundreds responding to the freedom that only Jesus can provide. The strategy is the same for every event. I utilize the “Sea of Trees” video combined with the story of my father’s suicide, making the relevance of the message a reality. As tears of hope and smiles of deliverance streamed down the faces of those at the altar, I was distinctly aware of one thing: we must stay on the offensive, attacking the lies behind suicide that are taking thousands of young lives around the world, every week. In every meeting, whether it be a school or church event, the magnitude of the suicide problem was very evident. It was also evident that most churches and schools do not talk about this issue, much less provide real-life spiritual solutiuons and application. Those who responded wanted help and desperately wanted to know if freedom was in fact a reality. It was truly amazing to see God’s grace provide strength in times of real weakness for many of these kids. The shame and rejection that these kids deal with is at times unbearable and keeps them in a place of silence and isolation. After the events, pastors and leadership teams shared testimonies of how God was using these events to not only open the spiritual eyes of the hurting, exposing the lies of the enemy, but to also begin the much-needed dialogue on suicide and its effect on families and communities. Please pray that God will give us even more opportunities to communicate the life and freedom found in Christ to a generation who is at the greatest risk.
I was honored to again be with our friends at Hillsong Church in Cape Town. Willing hearts responded to His Word!
In every service young people were overcome by the presence of God, weeping as God touched their hearts!
Our Youth Jam event was held on South Africa’s public holiday called Youth Day. Mitchell’s Plain was the community chosen for this outreach. Known as South Africa’s largest township, it has deteriorated over the past 25 years into an urban ghetto, a home for gangsters and drug dealers. Working in conjunction with Tygerberg Radio and local churches, we were able to promote the event on every program they broadcasted. Utilizing local and international musical guests, we not only had a concert but an event that celebrated the community and promoted hope to a struggling generation. Over 2500 young people attended the event with lines forming outside for four hours before the doors opened. As the Word of God went forth you could feel that God was wanting to deposit life into the attendees, and the altar call confirmed His heart for even the most desperate. Hundreds came forward weeping, believing that God was going to do good to them! The reports we have been receiving have been very encouraging, so much so that we are planning on holding many more similar events in the next year. Thanks again for helping us go!
I am thankful to Joyce Meyer Ministries for provding us with the book, Battlefield of the Mind for Teenagers, which were handed to teens at each event.
I just completed filming our latest YB episode entitled “Deep” off the coast of South Africa. Yes, I was with the Great Whites!
