"Business" as UNusual

We have relocated the KMPBEC to a different shopping centre closer to the Tembisa Township. The BEC is now a kiosk in the middle of the shopping center. We will still be doing the same kind of preaching and teaching through Bible classes and the bible correspondence course. The format is just different and hopefully just as effective or even more fruitful. We are still finding our feet regarding a few operational aspects but judging by the first week we are quite exited about the latent potential. On the first day when we starting setting up two people wanted to know about what we sell and enrolled for the Bible course even before we had anything placed in the kiosk.  

 

At present the kiosk is very basic but we will be modifying and upgrading it to give ourselves more "exhibition space", better security, easier operation, eye catching signage, a table and chairs next to it to make it inviting for people to have a friendly Bible chat with us if they want to. We were also encouraged by quite a few people walking by remarking that it was great to have such a stall in the shopping centre as there is no Bible shop in the near vicinity.

 

Kempton Park 2010 Team

 

 

 

Kinos Group - Moved and Motivated

During the last month some special things have happened with regards to our preaching and outreach work in Tembisa. A group of about 20 children attend our Sunday school on Sunday mornings. We fetch them from Tembisa, transport them to the ecclesia and then take them back to Tembisa again after the memorial meeting every Sunday. Eighteen of these children have been coming to the Sunday School very faithfully throughout the year. They attended the holiday club and also went on the youth weekend we had in Benoni. It has been a privilege to see them grow and become like a small family in a way. Most of these children have only one parent or live in very poor circumstances. Although they do not live in an orphanage they still could do with some help. A natural progression from this is that we started a formal "KINOS" (Kids In Need Of Support) group. There are certain criteria for belonging to this group, two of which are that you have to be needy in some way and that you have to be a regular attended of the Sunday School. The word "kinos" in Greek is related to moving and thus also to being motivated. It has indeed been a motivation to see the blessing God has showered on these children lately and on us for being part of their lives.

 

The KINOS group made up the larger part of the Sunday School review group that was superb in singing and acting out various songs according to a specific theme in the Bible. A month ago we were approached by the commissioner of a Police station near Tembisa and asked if we could identify children in need for whom they could give a party and some gifts. We suggested the KINOS kids and the children got the opportunity to write a wish list. Most of the list had items like stationary, clothes, watches. Two of the children listed a bicycle (which we though a little ambitious.) We were very surprised and delighted when, two weeks later, the commissioner informed us that they decided to buy each of the 18 kids a bicycle. On December 4th we fetched the children and transported them to the Police station for their party. They were not told what gift they were going to get. They were treated to a lovely meal and then a clown gave them a good time of laughs and made them each a special "toy" with balloons. Lastly they were given their bicycles and it is hard to describe their amazement, happiness and spontaneous joy. To see 18 kids riding brand new bicycles, each one totally ecstatic is hard to describe but an awesome goose bump experience. 

 

Before and during the party the groups sang a lot of songs that they have learnt during the year. The police chaplain present was very impressed with the group. He asked us if we were interested in helping with Bible classes etc at the police station next year. We thus might have another opportunity for preaching next year! It was wonderful to see the kids still riding their bikes in the township when we visited them again two days later - their lives have been changed and their holiday has a whole new dimension. The thank you cards they wrote were very touching and made us realize how wonderful God has been in blessing them and us this year - All glory to Him and Jesus for the love they bestow on all of us. It is truly a wonderful life when you can serve others because of what Jesus has made and still makes possible by his example and life.   

 

From a very grateful 2010 team in Kempton Park.  

We are moving because we are always on the move!

We have relocated the KMPBEC to a different shopping centre and it will be run as a kiosk. More about that in a following blog post. The first phase however was to vacate the KMPBEC and leave it in a condition that met the requirements of the owners. It was tough work but with enough volunteers and God giving us strength we got the job done. It has been a fantastic three years that the KMPBEC was in operation and we had many wonderful and edifying experiences as well as ample opportunities for preaching. We have made lots of friends and developed relationships - some of which might develop into baptisms in the future.

 

The reason for relocating was two-fold:

1) Foot traffic decreased significantly after the department of home affairs moved out of the shopping centre and after two of the main entrances feeding people past out shop were closed.

2) The rent was becoming prohibitive.

 

God has been awesome in the way we found a great alternative venue and method of reaching the same and perhaps even better goals. More about this later. The photos should give you an idea of the fun we had with the "slog" to get the KMPBEC evacuated.

 

 

For the love of his name

KMPBEC 2010 Team.

We are moving because we are always on the move!

We have relocated the KMPBEC to a different shopping centre and it will be run as a kiosk. More about that in a following blog post. The first phase however was to vacate the KMPBEC and leave it in a condition that met the requirements of the owners. It was tough work but with enough volunteers and God giving us strength we got the job done. It has been a fantastic three years that the KMPBEC was in operation and we had many wonderful and edifying experiences as well as ample opportunities for preaching. We have made lots of friends and developed relationships - some of which might develop into baptisms in the future.

 

The reason for relocating was two-fold:

1) Foot traffic decreased significantly after the department of home affairs moved out of the shopping centre and after two of the main entrances feeding people past out shop were closed.

2) The rent was becoming prohibitive.

 

God has been awesome in the way we found a great alternative venue and method of reaching the same and perhaps even better goals. More about this later. The photos should give you an idea of the fun we had with the "slog" to get the KMPBEC evacuated.

 

 

For the love of his name

KMPBEC 2010 Team.

Another week has gone already and it’s been a busy one…!

Hello everyone...

We said a teary ‘goodbye’ (well…not exactly…but it was quite sad) to Richard as he set off home.

Mat and Cam went up to Happy’s school on Wednesday to help fix wheelchairs. We’ve been working with a fantastic guy called Tula who has offered to give the kids workshops on wheelchair maintenance. Apparently it’s amazing how many problems can be fixed by a few blows from a hammer!

Laura I has been busy sorting out Guitar stuff. The plan is to run group Guitar classes in the Lamontville and Mariannhill areas – with the aim of giving less privileged children the opportunity to learn an instrument when they would otherwise not have the chance to. Through this we hope to teach spiritual songs and lessons through music (similar to the concept behind the Kingdom Youth FC.)

There have been a few people coming into the BEC this week as a result of the concert which is fantastic news! The next concert is planned for the 21^st December with a Christmas theme…hopefully the festive spirit will encourage people to join in and be more receptive to the idea of coming to learn about God’s word.

Julie and Laura S have been involved in working at the crèches. Laura has enjoyed singing songs with the Lamontville kids in preparation for their concert next Tuesday…Julie has enjoyed sleep time!

Jude has spent three days this week checking Afrikhono cards and working with the business partners. The cards are looking good and with the re-vamp of the website that Simon has just completed we hope to get some more orders coming in.

Please see: www.afrikhono.com and buy some cards!

Finally a Chocolate factory trip this morning with the Westville kids has left us feeling very sick!

Westville Blazers.