I realize this is a tad late but I wanted to tell you a bit about the ministry I’ve been working with this past month, Impact Africa.
Impact Africa is a nonprofit Christian organization that focuses on spreading the Gospel to the communities in Johannesburg, South Africa. Impact Africa focuses on four different areas.
1. Impact Baby Rescue
IBR focuses mainly on babies. More specifically making sure all new mamas know their options. Statistics show that 3 babies are abandoned every day, most common is for them to be abandoned in fields or dumpsters. IBR offers counseling for mamas who are unsure of what to do. IBR walks through the process with the mamas and sometimes with the fathers as well. Now sadly, everywhere you look you see signs that say “ABORTION, free cleaning, 30 minutes, pain free”. IBR is working on preventing women from calling that number and instead rethink their options.
IBR base has a “Baby Safe”. This is a safe with a weighted plate of which a mama can open, and place the baby inside as a last resort.
IBR volunteers and employees also go to clinics and hospitals, talk to mamas, love on them as they wait all day to see the doctors, and sometimes gift the new mamas with a baby care package. So far I have been able to go to the clinics and talk to mamas, get to know their story, and love on them.
2. Impact Kids
IK focuses on kids in primary schools. I have had the chance to sit in and help in a kindergarten class. I have helped with crafts, reading, and writing. I have also learned that at recess, you never run or there will be a flock of kids chasing you and when they catch you… they will latch on and stretch out your clothes. They are also very fond of saying “Teachaaaaa, spin me.” Suffice it to say… you need a lot of energy for IK.
Jubalani kids is another part of this program that happens every Friday. We go to different extensions of the squatter camps, invite as many kids as we can and then put on a little show for them. We do a memory verse dance/song, play a game, we dance a couple dances (one being waka waka of course) and tell them a Bible story. So so fun! Better believe I will never forget these memory verses. Neither will my squad.
3. Impact Students
I have not had the chance to work much with Impact Students. But this focuses on high school students. Impact Africa conducts after-school Bible studies in order to pour into the lives of these young teenagers. A lot of these students face very difficult home lives. Impact Africa loves on them and shows them their worth in God. They are encouraged that they are able to do so much more with their life than fall in with the bad crowd and waste their potential.
4. Community Outreach
Like I mentioned in my last blog, community outreach means going down the unpaved, dirt roads of the squatter camps and doing door to door ministry. For me this is probably one of the most “out of comfort zone” parts of Impact Africa. Its uncomfortable and awkward. But God never said we would be living a comfy life. He wants us to be bold, courageous, to seek any way we can bring Him glory. I’ve gotten to talk to some awesome people with beautiful hearts. I’ve gotten to help clean their dishes, their clothes, and sweep the floors.
I’ve gotten the chance to serve them 🙂 Many of them have served me too. By showing me how to cook traditional meals, how to properly eat chicken feet, and by opening up their home and showing me joy though they have little.
The people in these squatter camps are so hospitable and welcoming. They are curious as to why us white people are walking their streets and want to know more. We get to tell them about Jesus and invite them to church. There is nothing like seeing them at church on Sunday with a huge smile on their face.
For more in depth information about Impact Africa you can visit https://www.impactafrica.org/
