Imagine your arms tied behind your back, lying facedown on the floor, next to your co-workers, as armed robbers fiercely roamed your workplace. With your face to the floor you pray that the documents and vital tools used run your organization would not be stolen. You slowly army crawl across the floor towards the security panic button, praying with every movement that you wouldn’t be spotted and immediately shot.
This is just one of the many life threatening encounters that our ministry contact, Erika, has encountered for the sake living out God’s calling for her life. When she finished telling us this story she simply let out a sigh and matter-of-factly stated, “Africa is not for sissys.” At the calm nature of her story telling and upbeat demeanor I immediately knew that I was going to learn a lot from our hosts about persevering for the Kingdom.
For my month in South Africa, my team and I had the privilege of partnering with the organization BEAM Africa Network. This community ministry was started in 2006 by Erika and her husband, Louis, after the Lord had placed a deep calling on their hearts for the South African people living in townships. These areas are known for their high poverty, violence, and criminal activity.
“Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry andto provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? “ –Isaiah 58:6-7
This verse has become the foundation in which BEAM Africa was created after God revealed the great need of the people around them. Over the years this ministry has seen numerous trials, but remained strong and continues to flourish through its founders faith in the Lord. BEAM Africa has many branches within the organization including: community outreach, after school enrichment for children, providing meals to the community, and job preparation for young adults.
During our time with the organization, my team and I assisted with a Life Skills program for young adults in the Mamelodi township. Life Skills is a two-week course that instills students with biblical values and teaches them practical skills such as time management, communication, job interview etiquette, etc. Weaved throughout the entire program are messages of purpose and God’s love. This program was designed to breathe life into the students and fill them with the notion that they were uniquely, wonderfully made to fulfill a purpose in this world. At the end of the program, the students went through a job interview and were placed into a job jumpstart program. During my time at Life Skills I loved bonding with the students, encouraging them, and seeing how their confidence bloomed.
Throughout the month our hosts, Louie and Erika, displayed an abundance of love to our Race group. Their selfless actions and stories painted a beautiful picture of what it truly means to be a faithful servant of the Kingdom. I’m starting to learn that being a servant of the Kingdom means obeying God’s call in all circumstances because obedience and perseverance, even when it hurts or doesn’t make sense, leads to the most beautiful blessings.
