News from South Africa
In the words of the late, great theologian, Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon)
It is like a finger pointing to the moon… don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory!Since March 29, I have been “the finger” in South Africa pointing to “the moon” of living in the Outflow. My prayer has been that people would not see me (the finger) but that they would be able to catch a glimpse of the true heavenly glory of flinging seeds of service, love, kindness and generosity. Lord, let Scott be forgotten and let Jesus be remembered!
As I type, I am completing the first leg of this trip. I’ll be flying out of Johannesburg (or JoBurg, as I am now authorized to call it) and landing in Port Elizabeth to spend Easter with the folks at Fountain Vineyard later today. I truly believe that God is up to something in South Africa!
On Saturday, March 31, I led an Outflow Mini-Conference at Valley Vineyard. The response was amazing! Not only did people really “get it,” but they were naturals at “doing it.” We went into a new housing community, still under construction, and gave away chocolate Easter eggs to demonstrate the kindness of God. During the morning discussion I was talking about the value of the seed and that when we shift our focus from getting people to “pray the prayer,” to simply flinging the seed miraculous things can happen. I had no idea how those words were about to be proven! The idea of giving something that people would like to have (chocolate eggs), for free was astounding to most of the people we met. One family asked the group who handed them Easter eggs if they could give their lives to Jesus right there in their home, or did they have to wait for church the next day… Sure, you can give your lives to Jesus right here! There were literally dozens of stories from that one afternoon of seed flinging. God is up to something in South Africa. The best part was when we came back to the church to share stories and discuss what we’d experienced. The room pulsed with energy and the presence of the Spirit. People were already moving beyond “Servant Evangelism” in their thinking and sharing ideas about getting back into that community in powerfully simple ways. My heart was singing with joy because it was pretty clear that “the finger” had not gotten in the way of the true heavenly glory of living spontaneous, Outflow lives.
The next day, Sunday April 1, I spoke at another great church, Hillside Vineyard. God’s presence was so heavy and tangible during worship, the tears poured from my eyes despite my efforts to look "put together" and like America’s official Outward-Focused Ambassador. It was, again, beyond my ability to describe. I have never known the kind of weight and burden (but in a good way) that I have experienced while talking to the people here. There seems to be such a spiritual imperative, such a now is the time mandate on this Outflow message. Gavin, the Team Leader from Valley Vineyard, said on Sunday night that he saw a picture of a giant fan, moved into position by the Holy Spirit. Then he saw the Church in South Africa taking fistfuls of seeds and flinging them into the rotating blades of the fan. The implication being that if we will generously, recklessly scatter the seeds we’ve been given, God will blow them in the right direction.
Of course, there has been plenty of fun too. Check out this picture of me petting one-and-a-half year old lion cubs… They would never let you do this in the US!
Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 02:34AM
by
Scott Bane
in Discoveries, Outflow Living, Outward-Focus, Servant Evangelism, Thoughts
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8 Comments
Scott Bane
in Discoveries, Outflow Living, Outward-Focus, Servant Evangelism, Thoughts
|
8 Comments
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Reader Comments (8)
I'm glad those lions were napping! Cool picture!
Just a heads up. My hope is that you'll be on everyone's list of great reads.
Steph
http://www.knysnavineyard.org/news/2007/04/conspiracy-of-kindness.html.
God bless & keep up the great work Scott (our toilets are waiting for you!)
I'm back online using my own computer now. I'm in a town north of Cape Town and I'll be updating as soon as I get a chance to upload some pictures and write a little bit.
Peace!
Luke