Over 2,000 people gathered at the church building for a time of celebration, thanksgiving, prayer, worship, videos, the appointment of our newest evangelist and of course food for everyone! The Jo'burg church was begun by a multi-racial and courageous group of disciples who traveled from Boston, USA to the then apartheid governed country of South Africa to begin a church of true disciples who do not see colour, but see ALL people simply as children of God.
From the very begnning the church was a light to the world. Blacks and whites worshipping together, eating together and bound together by the blood of Christ. Visitors would come to church for the first time and be blown away by what they saw, "this is the hope for this country" many would remark!
(Some of the teens at the 25th anniversary service)
The church has had it fair share of ups and downs over these past two and a half decades, years of great growth and years of pruning and discipline, but through it all God has always been there guiding, prompting and protecting his bride.As plans for the churches 20/20 vision where laid out (deeper teaching through the Disciple Bible Academy, church plantings, campus and teen revival, stronger families) and then Cornelius Xulu was appointed as an evangelist the church erupted in applause. The sense that God's Spirit was among us was tangable! Truly we live by faith that "even greater things" are yet to come.
(Cornelius Xulu being appointed as an evangelist)
After all the celebration it was time to cut the cake and then eat together as a family. 2060 people ate and were satisfied! It was nearly biblical in it's scale as caterers served up some delicious local dishes and people sat in groups and on the grass (I wish it could be said that there were seven basketfuls of leftovers [Matt 15:37] but there was nothing left!)
(The oldest and youngest disciple in the church cut the cake - Gogo Rose & Michael Aguirre)
Here is a video news summary!
Please continue praying for all the disciples in Johannesburg and South Africa that we will boldly proclaim the gospel and that the next 25 years we will see "even greater things" happen through the power of God.
Justin Renton for IcocHotNews