Sept Update - not just HOW, but WHAT?

Hello dear friends!

We trust you’ve had a restful and enjoyable summer. Our summer is actually starting now (we’re just coming out of winter, believe it or not...)

If you’ve been checking our regular blog updates, you’ll know that we’ve spoken much in the last few months about HOW we’re doing… settling into life in South Africa.

Now, let’s talk about WHAT we’re doing…
First of all, we should explain that Victory Christian Church is an Apostolic Church with a strong mandate to be a resource for other churches and ministries. It has, under it’s umbrella, a number of disciple training centres such as Victory Master’s Commission (VMC), Surf Masters (a training centre for the discipleship of surfers), and Victory4All (an outreach centre in the black township of Tokyo Sexwale whose main outreach is to the children of poverty and AIDS).

Why are we here?
Focus #1 - We came to SA because we believe God asked us to submit ourselves under the leadership of Pastor Louis Els. We are, first and foremost, here to be mentored by him and his wife, Edna.

Focus #2 - God is birthing something new in South Africa! There is a “sound” that God is releasing from this nation, and we’re not the only ones who can feel it in our bones. God is building a network of relationships with other leaders / worship leaders in the country (even from organizations like YWAM, CFNI, AFM, etc.) We all have such stirrings in our spirits that God has brought all of us together “for such a time as this.” God is birthing something new for South Africa—a new sound—one that combines cultures (Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Canadian, etc). It’s not about a South African sound, nor a Canadian sound, and it’s definitely not about becoming famous. It’s about a “kingdom” sound and what God wants to release in Africa—and it’s very exciting!

Focus #3 - We believe that, above all other things, our mandate is to inspire others to crave “intimacy with God in worship” and to teach them to “practice the presence of God.” It’s sooo much more than just the music.

So...HOW are we doing this?
Erwin - These are some of the things that I am involved with at Victory Christian Church…
General Worship Pastor duties
Mentoring worshippers and worship leaders
Assisting and teaching with the Worship Academy (a part of the VMC program - see picture to right)

Worship Rehearsals—The weekly worship rehearsal has been a prime tool for mentoring worshippers, worship leaders, choir/singers, and musicians. They have been learning to see themselves as team members and each are learning to play their part in the whole. As a result, overall musicianship has been improving! Sunday celebration times get sweeter and sweeter all the time.

Theory classes—Hand-in-hand with rehearsals, we have been teaching basic music theory for an hour before rehearsals to the worship academy students, and anyone else who wants to come. As a result, the overall musicianship of the team is growing!

Soaking night. This is perhaps one of the most exciting things happening in the worship department. On the first Thursday of every month, the entire team comes together for a night of just “soaking” in God’s presence. Musicians, singers, dancers, multimedia, intercessors—actually, it’s open to anyone who wants to come. No agenda. No time limits. Just us, our Bibles, our instruments, and God. Wow! What amazing times we’ve had. This has been a powerful tool in developing prophetic worship as well as greater intimacy in worship! Definitely a highlight in my calendar!

Networking - Building a network of relationships with leaders/worship leaders from other organizations, including YWAM, AFM, etc. Feeling that God is birthing something new for South Africa—a new sound—one that combines cultures (Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Canadian, etc.) and…
Partnering with our Dutch friends @Victory4All (church, care centre & school) in the township (among the very poor) to assist with bringing the sound of worship and open the gates of His Presence in the place of great darkness!

Shauna – These are a few of the things that I’m involved in…
Resource Team— I am still a member of the team that writes the monthly resource for the “Women of Worth” mentoring groups. We meet weekly to write and edit the material for each month’s mentoring meetings. There are currently about 900 women involved in these mentoring groups throughout the area and, to provide consistency, they all use the same resource.

Worship team– I continue to sing on worship team, as well as attend weekly rehearsals and teach parts to other vocalists. I’ve even been learning songs in Afrikaans and Xhosa (depending on who the worship leader is that week).

Dance team - our 10-week class is finished now (and it was awesome!), but a few of us are still meeting at least once per month to continue building teamwork. The interest level is great and I am looking forward to teaching another 10-week session soon.

Worship Dance Workshop – On September 1st, I was so excited to host a full-day workshop on worship dance for both men and women, young and old, black and white. Wow! We had 47 people registered for the workshop and God did amazing things in people’s lives! Our workshop facilitator was Kari Larson (see picture to the right) and, for those of you who don’t know her yet, Kari is an exceptional dance teacher from Edmonton who helped to co-found Abda Dance Studios. She’s currently here on 2 weeks holidays and she did a fabulous job imparting her passion for God and her passion for dance to those in attendance! Thanks Kari! We've loved having you with us!

Sooo… what’s next?
In case you haven’t heard yet, we have heard God directing us to prepare for a longer season in South Africa. We are not sure exactly how long that will be, except to say that the mandate is longer than this one year.

We are presently working through the application process for visa extensions, but we also need our friends and family to partner with us in a couple of ways…

In Prayer
For our family – we still struggle with missing friends, family and the comforts of home, as well as the adjustments that come with being in a new culture.
For wisdom – in all aspects of decision-making, both here and in Canada.
For our time here – that God’s purposes would be accomplished in us, as well as in the church and community. That God would give us divine strategy for the opportunities He’s laid in front of us.

Financially – please consider partnering with us for this next season of ministry, either through a one-time gift or through regular monthly support. We are trusting God for a significant increase in monthly support which would enable us to continue our work here in South Africa.

There are numerous options for sending financial gifts, depending on your needs.

1. HELP International – a Canadian based missions organization that is acting as our “sending” organization. They will also issue you a tax receipt at the end of the year.
   Box 5968 Station A, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2H 1Y4
   Phone: 403-873-1635
   Fax: 403-873-1720
   Email: helpca@shaw.ca
2. PayPal - log onto http://www.paypal.com/ . Our account is e.blaak@telus.net
3. Online banking (interac email transactions through any of the major Canadian banks)

However, we also want to comfort our friends and family to say that “we still have a burden for our own nation” and still feel that we will eventually return to Canada. We love our homeland, but we also feel strongly that

Our time here will determine our success back in Canada.

It’s about the Kingdom being expanded in South Africa and in Canada, not one or the other. Obedience always precedes blessing! If we are faithful now with what God’s asking of us, He will bring us home at the perfect time for His plans to be accomplished. And, regardless of our emotions, we choose to say out loud

"God, we will obey. We trust You with our lives!”

With all our love,

Erwin & Shauna

Raelynne

Joshua

David

Rachel