 Be Informed. Be Interceding. Be Involved With a slight unease… which I soon discovered was unfounded, I sat down at the supper table. Looking across at the Muslim family of six, I was wondering how the evening would fare. Here was Alpha and myself in Bo-Kaap, a predominantly Muslim area, sharing iftaar (breaking of the Fast during Ramadan) with a Muslim family. What followed was an evening of bountiful food and interesting conversation which continued late into the night. How did we end up sharing the iftaar with a Muslim family whom we have only met briefly before?  How was I led to Frontline Fellowship? In the beginning of this year, I attended the Great Commission Course hosted by Frontline Fellowship. During that time, I read Mathew 9:35-38. Not only did Jesus teach, heal and proclaim the Gospel, but He had compassion on the harassed and helpless people. Because of this He said: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” I prayed, saw the lack of labourers and now I am doing the Missionary Apprentice Course at Frontline Fellowship. Frontline Fellowship’s Missionary Apprentice Training Program… is an apprenticeship programme which also serves as the initial training phase of the Livingstone Missionary School. This includes a library programme with assignments, book reports and written exams required, numerous practicals with personal evaluations given, many outreaches and varied opportunities for practical missionary service. With my job description of Missionary Intern, Handyman, Driver and Caretaker, it is quite a challenge to keep my priorities in order.  SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION In the beginning of March, I joined Dr Hammond and the rest of the team on the annual South African Mission. We drove over 4,300km up the N1, around Lesotho to KZN and down the N2 back to Cape Town, in a two-week mission trip. Our main objective was the Minister’s Conference on KwaSizabantu Mission in KZN, but on the way to and back from the mission conference we spoke and distributed literature at a variety of schools and churches.  The Suffering Schools During school visits, we clearly brought the Gospel through as we presented: Fight the New Drug, Stop Human Trafficking, God’s Wonderful Wildlife, the Ten Commandments, the Marching Song and much more. Through this time, I experienced that many of the schools we visited were under attack. Not only in the spiritual sense, but literally as well. Umalusi and our government is making it costly and irrationally difficult for these Christian and private schools to stay licensed and accredited. What can we do about it? Be Informed, Be Interceding and Be Involved. First and foremost, PRAY. For the battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). The principals and teachers need wisdom, not only with government interference, but also in teaching these precious children in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6). Secondly, SUPPORT. The schools’ needs vary from volunteers (for teachers), experts in expertise (like builders and lawyers) and finances. The educational Christian literature we delivered was much appreciated.  Minister’s Conference God blessed our time at KwaSizabantu Mission Station. The Minister’s Conference had over 2,500 participants from 29 countries across the world to participate in this challenging and blessed conference. The theme of the conference was: Revival – God at Work. If there was just one thing I took from the conference, it is this: If God does not work, we are doomed. Rev. Erlo Stegen spoke on “Revival – God at Work,” “How does one get Revival?” and “Why Does Revival come to an end?” Earnest, heartfelt prayer for God to start personal revival comes at a cost. God is Holy, and His Spirit cannot tolerate sin. When He comes, He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8). The fire of Jesus which comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11-12) will burn with judgement, removing all dross. Studying the Bible and looking at history, we see that all Revivals begin with a deeper appreciation for the Holiness of God and a realization of how offensive our sin must be in the sight of our Holy God.  Why does revival end? Hidden sin and disobedience kills revival. Is God resisting me because of my pride? (James 4:6) Do I fear people and live for them or do I stand before the Lord, the living God of Israel, like Elijah? (1 Kings 17:1) Paul said: “If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10. Our only hope is that God comes down, that God moves and that God works. “Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make Your Name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things that we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides You, who acts for those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 64:1-4 May each one of us be willing to go through with God and pay the price.  Praise His Glorious Name Looking back at our journey, I can only praise God for granting us travelling mercies in more than one occasion. Our fully loaded double-axle trailer had a tyre suddenly shooting off it’s rubber tread which we were able to fix. This hiccup came with humour as two drunk men tried to “help” us change our tyre. We also drove through heavy rain and thick mist as we twisted through the hills of KZN. Cows, dogs, goats, potholes and a crazy GPS were some of the obstacles we maneuvered along the way. But in the end, the Lord, in His grace, enabled this mission trip “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” Ephesians 4:12-13 Daily life at Frontline There is never a moment to be wasted in God’s service. While I am super busy or doing the daily rounds; going on outreaches, children’s programmes for holiday missions, radio or just fixing the washing machine, I do it as unto the Lord. I do not find my peace and security in what I have or have not accomplished, but I live in the knowledge that Christ is my peace, through Whom I am reconciled to God.  Recent ministry opportunities In the last few months I had the privilege of being part of many different ministry opportunities, but engaging different Muslims in their own homes in a relational way is probably my favourite. It is not just a hit-and-run situation where you share the Gospel with a stranger and never see them again, rather it is a recurring opportunity to share the Gospel with someone you are building a relationship with, to be able to disciple them. During all this time, whether busy or quiet, I realize how dependant I am on God. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:1-2  My Main Aim in Life
I desire to know God more during the time He has planned for me to be here; and to be obedient to His Word in all areas of life, especially His command to disciple people of every nation. Prayer and Praise I really appreciate you supporting me in prayer. Andrew Murray once said: “Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to work. Prayer alone gives work its worth and its success. Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as God’s messengers be intercession; in it we secure the presence and power of God to go with us.” Please pray for:
” Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.” Psalms 85:6-7 In His Service, Tobie Fourie FrontlineMissionSA.org tobie@frontline.org.za
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"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen..” Matthew 28: 18-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen..” Matthew 28: 18-20
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