Johannesburg and Cape Town,
South Africa

This summer, South Africa will host the 2010 FIFA World Soccer Cup.   We got a ‘leg up’ on the competition by heading out earlier this year for a mission trip to Johannesburg and Cape Town.  These beautiful cities in the central and southern tip of the continent’s southern most country will be front and center as all eyes turn to soccer this summer.  In preparation for that event, we were part of a ministry effort to equip children’s leaders and ministry teams with creative and artistic expressions for sharing the Gospel. 

My son, Samuel, and I spent 12 days in equipping and training conferences hosted by Ivengeli, a curriculum company that services that part of the world with materials in English, African, Xhosa, and Zulu languages.  900 teachers and children’s leaders attended two-days of hands-on training in Johannesburg.  Another 200 attended an afternoon session south in Pretoria.  Our hosts for the event, Lisa and Colin Ekman, have championed the cause of children’s ministry throughout the region.  I met Lisa at an event sponsored by One Way Street back in the late 90s and have had the opportunity to work with her several times since then.  God has blessed her with a great heart for children and ministry to children. 

Since I had Samuel along, we also got to travel to Pilanesburg National Park and go on safari!  What a great experience to be chased by an elephant and watch a pride of lions on the prowl in a night hunt.

The second leg of our trip was hosted by James and Lynn Grant of Cape Town.  We had only met James and Lynn a year prior at the Ivengeli Conference in 2009.  They have a chalk-art and storytelling ministry.  It was our first visit to this magical kingdom; a vibrant city with magnificent terrain.  While in Cape Town, we had the opportunity to be a part of two training events that I taught solo.  This opportunity opened the door for me to share God Rods and other creative ministry ideas.  The participants were highly enthusiastic and very engaged.  I’m looking forward to hearing about the fruit that might grow out of this time of planting.  Who know?  Maybe we’ll see “Arise My Love” being performed at the World Cup this year!

My thanks to our hosts for making the trip profitable for the kingdom of God and such a wonderful experience for Samuel and I.