Stories of His Faithfulness

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Written by Mike Verkaik:

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story. – Psalm 107:2

One of the joys and life giving gifts of leading kingdom encounter trips is to almost daily hear testimonials and stories of our Father’s faithfulness and provision from local people, and partner ministries. To me, listening to the accounts of people following the promptings of the Holy Spirit, are an extension of the Bible living and breathing in our day. Each story is a new chapter in God’s enfolding plan of bringing His kingdom to earth. As I listen and watch the stories bring life, hope, and joy into a world that can be so filled with negativity and darkness.

During one of our family times in South Africa we invited Brian Steele and his wife Zelia to share their story of how God led Brian to leave his current position at a larger private school to become the new principal at VTC, the Christian school moving onto the Oceans Retreat Center (ORC) campus.

His story was a beautiful reminder of the orchestration of our Abba Father to bring His kingdom to earth through His obedient followers. To begin, Brian actually spent much of his childhood years living on the campus of ORC, while his parents managed the facility, so in many ways this is somewhat of a homecoming. His advancement into leadership at his former school was not through self-seeking actions, but from the encouragement and persuasion of his co-workers. His work was satisfying, and he was well respected by students and staff, however, there grew in him a deep hunger to be and share Christ’s “salt and light” to the students under his care.

Although Brian was currently leading through his example of Christ’s love for him, God placed a deep desire to also verbally share Christ’s love to his students, however, that was not permitted at his former school. What followed is a beautiful story of God taking the seed of Brian’s seeking heart, and spiritually germinating, watering, growing and pruning him to have the courage to leave his economic security and step into the calling on his life to speak the Father’ truths into and over children He places in His care.

That night we heard and saw the beautiful story of our Father’s Spirit wooing Brian and Zelia to hear and listen to their Father’s voice, and through them choosing to have the Father’s story lived out in them, the words of Jesus took on life once again:

…the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice … My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:3-4,27

What a relational God we have. As we continue to listen and follow His leading in our lives, may His story of faithfulness be the story we long to share with a world that needs more and more of His salt and light.

This is Church

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Written by Mike Verkaik:

I have recently returned from traveling with another group of high school students to Oceans Retreat Center (ORC) in Fish Hoek, SA. As Tim mentioned last week, we are excited about an upstart Christian school moving on to the campus. Part of this Kingdom Encounter was preparing the campus for the transfer to happen smoothly. As change comes to ORC, one place I hope stays in tact is the front room overlooking Recreation Ave. This weekend, I asked people to describe it with words and phrases. The responses were sanctuary, open window to God’s creation, safe haven, a place of peace, holy ground and where God has anointed and dwells.

For team members and staff it rivals what the upper room must have meant to the disciples. A living room filled with memories of the Father’s love and forgiveness, the Holy Spirit’s filling and presence and the Words and peace of Jesus. A place where testimonies are shared, healing received, surrender given and fervent prayers cried out.

Our favorite time of each encounter to South Africa is our last night in this front room sharing takeaways. After two weeks of being immersed in God’s kingdom together, a family unit has been formed, and this is our last Spiritual meal together. As we prepare to come and receive communion at Christ’s table, each participant is given a time to share a testimony, a conviction, or a revelation that was unveiled to them from their Abba Father through His Holy Spirit over the past two weeks.

It is normal to have some awkward pauses materialize as the Holy Spirit prompts students to wrestle with their emotions and share. Being honest, and sometimes vulnerable, in sharing what God revealed to them is a new concept for many. However, this time the pauses were exceptionally long as faces stared into space, tears began to trickle, and deep breaths were exhaled.

Society teaches us to be superficial and shallow in our conversations, saying mindlessly, “I’m good”. However as the followers of Christ we are called to the following:

Look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.– Galatians 6:10

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.– Psalm 107:2

As the pauses continued students gained courage while being prompted by the Holy Spirit to be countercultural, and share the brokenness, darkness, and struggles we all battle with against our flesh. For others, they had testimonies that normally go unmentioned because as many students tell me, “we don’t talk about God with our friends”.

The Spirit began to break through the lapses of silence with these normal, but hidden convictions and struggles:

  • I was in a dark place before this trip. I am struggling with an addiction. I’ve been hearing that I need to tell someone, and here I am telling the whole group.
  • Father’s day was really difficult for me.
  • I struggle with my flesh, trying to do everything in my own strength.
  • I long to feel the Holy Spirit in my life but I don’t
  • I’m looking for a reboot, I’m not happy anymore

Others broke through the enemy’s wall of fear and testified to presence of God in their lives:

  • When I was worshipping tonight, I felt such an amazing presence of the Holy Spirit. I have been longing for that.
  • For the first time, I’m opening up to God, and He has been faithful and I have found Him here.
  • God has taught me the importance of obedience and prayer. I can’t control Him.

Sitting there listening, praying I wrote these three words in my journal notes, “This is Church”. It is what we read about in the lives of David, Peter, and Paul to mention a few. Lives which were messy and repentant, and their praises and thanksgivings were recorded. Sharing in our failures and sufferings, as well as receiving encouragement from the testimonies of His presence in us and working through us, are both so valuable for the body of Christ to be healthy and relevant. It is what we read in the book of Acts. This is the essence of Jesus’ final message to His disciples.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.– John 13:34

The Bible is one giant story of God’s faithfulness to His children, whether they are denying Jesus, or pouring perfume over Him. May you have, or find a front room to be in community with others where there are “no stones” and you can live into the freedom of the cross.

Gathering to Dedicate the High School

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It is overwhelming to consider how the Sovereign Streams of God have flown together to begin the first Christian High School in Fish Hoek, South Africa starting on the Oceans campus in July. Someday I will explain the story in greater detail but it is truly a work only God could have brought about.

As we gathered together to worship, pray, and dedicate this new work to the LORD we were all in awe of how our Father moved to unite hearts in a supernatural way to make this a reality. For the last nine months many travailing prayers along with hours of intense work have birthed a vision to encourage young lives for generations to come.

We believe only God’s amazing sovereign hand could have brought this together we are placing all the needs, students that will come, staff, teachers, principal, yes all the details back in His firm grip knowing it will be by His grace and strength alone. Please join us in praying that a mighty move of His Spirit will continue to flow, lives will be changed, and His Kingdom will expand for His glorious name.

We want to thank so many of you for being a part of this new birth for Oceans Retreat Center, and this new season of ministry. We continue to hold on tightly in faith to the promise given in Hab. 2:14:

“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea!!

 

Reminiscing About God’s Faithfulness to Oceans Ministries – Part 2

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We encounter the Kingdom of our Father when we give His love away!  We want to share a few stories with you of the blessings of letting Christ’s love flow through us.

John 13:34,35

“So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”

Click on the image below to watch the video, or click here!

 

 

 

Reminiscing About God’s Faithfulness to Oceans Ministries – Part 1

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“Give thanks to God, our King over all gods! His tender love for us continues on forever! Psalm 136:2

For the next few weeks Mike and I wanted to share some thoughts about God’s amazing faithfulness demonstrated over the 10 years of Oceans Ministries.

Thanks for listening, we hope it encourages you to trust in the Father’s great love and faithfulness to you!

Click on the image below to watch the video, or click here!