CityHope Disaster Relief
CityHope Disaster Relief has been active in Syria, delivering R500,000.00 of aid to the Syrian refugees. East Coast Radio are doing daily live broadcasts with Ockie in Thessaloniki Greece, click on this link to find one of the live interviews with Ockie van Heerden and Megan Coleman. Interviews are broadcast daily during morning drive time and again in the evenings.
Click Here to hear the ECR Interview and Click Here to view the ECR Article
Amanzimtoti
We had a few people missing this Sunday as it was the end of Holidays and we had the Mighty Mens conference running.
Never the less we had a great time of Worship followed but a powerful preach by Fiona Marshall who came to visit us. She continued with our Kings Speech Series and preached on Matthew 6: 25-34 Do Not Worry.
Bluff
After a week away at World Equip, it was great to be back on home soil with the added assurance that we seem to be doing more than a few things really well. Our Sunday service was full of “Love” and “Life”, which I know should be normal, especially as “God is Love” and “Life”, but sadly it is often lacking. Instead of “Life” there can be “dryness”. We seemed to move up into 7th gear in a truck gearbox that has 32 gears. So although there is some way to go, we seem to be shifting in the right direction. Tobie also shared a fantastic word which I would have loved you guys to listen too, but we didn’t record it.
City Centre
Lunda preached in Zulu at Umbilo from Mt 5:4 about morning. Thereafter Pat Potgieter preached at City Centre Durban about misconceptions of God. During the service time, Newton took the CityHill kids for a picnic on the beach.
Cato-Ridge
It was quite an eventful week for us in Cato Ridge. The Men of Valour had their meeting under the tree on Mike Prince’s farm with Gary de Klerk giving his testimony of how God miraculously healed him. There were approx 44 men who attended and enjoyed a breakfast of bacon and eggs afterwards. Gavin officiated at his first wedding with Ronald and Maralise who got married on Saturday morning and then on Sunday the yfollowed through by dedicating their little girl Sasha. Craig led us in a wonderful time of worship and Wayne finished off the series on prayer.
Downtown
Downtown was incredible last night. Jesus presence was so tangible. Two people shared their testimonies and then we had a time of worship. We prayed over the those still in school and laid hands on them. There were 8 still in school which we think is so exciting that God is adding teens to us.
The Lord is doing incredible things with the people of Downtown and beautiful friendships are forming. We are so excited for more of God and are so thankful that He is adding people and transforming peoples lives. We have a lot of new people that have just come to know God so we would appreciate your prayers in guiding them and discipling them.
Frontier Church
Frontier church had a few new visitors. It is so encouraging to hear the words “We will be back.” One lady may even arrive next time on her horse! How awesome is that, just come as you are!
Mike taught so graciously on Receiving and Giving it was a message very much in season. One of the things we are loving about pioneering this church is everything is stretching us way beyond ourselves and very much deeper into a reliance on the One who is able. We are discovering new passions, latent talents are emerging and improvising is causing us to tap into our creativity all the time. Thank goodness we have an unlimited supply from our Creator!
We in our own capacity can do very little yet we see daily how much our Great God and King truly reigns and is in all the details of our lives. “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!”
Hillcrest
Sunday morning was a special day at CityHill Hillcrest.
Wayne and Rene Neuper, who run a very successful church in Dresden, Germany, joined us for the day. We set up a little lounge area on the stage and Steve interviewed the couple, asking questions about church life in Germany. Their church is about to embark on a building project which will span several years and our auditorium and property inspired them to see what a faith-filled group of people can achieve. Their prayer requests were around their building project and the refugee situation affecting many European countries.
Wayne went on to preach on the “nudge” of the Holy Spirit using a picture of a ballroom dancing couple to illustrate the Holy Spirit’s leading. Clear, simple and well thought out, his preach was very impactful. He preached again in the evening service.
At the end of the service Steve called up a couple, Mohammed & his wife Sally, and briefly told their story. Mohammed has been a Muslim his whole life, his wife a back-sliden Christian. Twenty six years ago God spoke to him in a dream, asking him why he didn’t serve Jesus. He told God that he believed that Jesus was a prophet but not the Son of God. Now, twenty six years later, he was invited to our Alpha course by someone at his work place and after completing the 8 weeks, decided he was ready to serve God. He wanted the opportunity to make a public declaration of his faith, that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God. It was very moving and inspired many others to come forward, weeping at the touch of God.
Umkomaas
Firstly, thank you to everyone involved in organising Equip 2015. Cath and I were completely blown away and got so much out of the time that we were there. We pray for Ockie and Graham in Greece and look forward to hearing about his feedback when he gets back. GO GUYS!!!
As far as Sunday goes, we had a really great service. Cath and I gave Ivor and Jakki Lewis (from Canada) a lift back from Jhb on Friday and he mentioned that he was free to preach on Sunday. He did an amazing job and it was so wonderful to have John and Barbara Ronaldson bring them along. The praise and worship was, as usual, amazing.
We are trusting for a move of the Holy Spirit in all our meetings and look forward to seeing signs and wonders. John had an encouraging word for us and said that he saw us as a lighthouse/beacon for the lost in Umkomaas.
Waterfall
We had another wonderful meeting in Waterfall and were blessed with God bringing more new folk in. We are enjoying the new season of growth and fellowship.
Peter and Karen were with us again and we always feel blessed and encouraged after their time with us.
Peter’s message on understanding the heart of worship hit the spot and we look forward to seeing its fruit in our personal lives and gatherings.