Our next term of LaunchPad starts on Monday! We spent two full days this week at schools across Qwa Qwa getting students excited for the upcoming term.

Over the last two months our interns worked on a drama to share with the schools. Throughout this week, they preformed for hundreds of young people! At each school, a current LaunchPad student shared how God is using LaunchPad to help them dig deeper into their faith and strengthen their relationship with God.

Check out photos from our week here!

Will you join us in praying for our first week of classes that start on Monday?

Our Next Step interns spent the last couple of weeks sharing life with people in Intabazwe, here’s one of their stories:

“This week in Intabazwe has reassured me of the power of God’s presence in prayer.

My group met a lady on the first day we went out to visit people. She was sitting in the corner of her kitchen by the stove. She didn’t seem very happy and told us that she was in so much pain.

She wasn’t really able to walk by herself and had trouble stirring her breakfast in a pot on the stove. Her ankles were swollen and her arms shook when she used them. When we asked what she would be doing that day, she said she would just be sitting there all day.

She said she would be happy if we prayed for her, so we did and told her we would come back the next day to pray again. The next morning she was sitting in the living room and walked in to the kitchen to greet us. She was so happy and said that she was feeling so much better. Her ankles weren’t swollen anymore and she was literally glowing with joy—she even did a little dance.

We continued to visit her everyday last week to pray and talk about God. Her faith seemed to be strong and I think this healing has brought her even closer to God. It was really amazing to see so literally the power of God through prayer.”

-Krista, Next Step Intern

Our interns have been spending a couple days a week with kids from a local children’s home. Using the theme “You are Special” they’ve been able to see God working in the kids lives.

On Friday, we took a step further and invited about 20 of the kids the interns have been working with for a day-camp. The kids are just finishing up winter break so it was the perfect opportunity for them to come to the mission base. It was such a fun day–for us and the kids! We set up an playstation arcade style, where the kids were able to race each other, a paintball station where they shot at a target and they competed in various relay races.

There is something about being around a bunch of kids that is good for the soul. We put the day together for them, but it was definitely a blessing for us too!

Check out photos from our day here.

Everything we do is based on II Timothy 2:2: “…Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.” This translates into all areas of ministry–including children’s ministry. Here’s a recent story from Dallas, one of our Next Step interns:

“A couple days after we did children’s ministry, we were talking with an elderly woman during relationship evangelism. She said that her grandson came running home after he had been with us, and was so excited to share the story he learned about Daniel and the Lion’s Den. He wanted his grandma to read it from the Bible for him. She said that he just had lots of fun and was very excited. It was encouraging for us to hear that our children’s ministry had impacted lives already and we were happy to know that the kids we interacted with were passing on what they learned to their families.” – Dallas, Next Step Intern

Our interns spent last week working with one of partner churches doing Relationship Evangelism. As they spent time in people’s homes and with their children, helping families with chores and sharing life with them, they learned a lot.

I definitely learned to be open to God working through me. We laid hands on people and prayed for healing and I really believed God would work! -Ashley, Next Step Intern

Through this experience I learned that I need to take more time to follow Go and ask to be where He is, not ask Him to be where I am. – Stephanie, Next Step Intern

One lesson I’ve learned through this experience is that even a small act of kindness and friendship can unite people…it was amazing to see that we could bring people to church even after spending a few hours with them. – Kaitlyn, Next Step Intern

Just as our students are impacted by our village discipleship classes, so are the teachers. God has used preparing and teaching their classes to strengthen their faith!

This past term of LaunchPad I’ve been able to go out of my comfort zones in giving salvation messages, praying over students that never knew God and knowing that big things were going to happen. My whole outlook on what it means to be a disciple to others has changed with the result of instilling truth in others. I had the opportunity to instill truth in my LaunchPad students and beyond that the people they choose to reach out to. – Jace (staff)

I remember being nervous for our first day at Clubview and hoping we were all ready to teach our first lesson. Our class was crowded with about 70 kids. Throughout this term I have learned to resist the devil’s attacks and lies, and to be confident to teach and go out of my comfort zone to present the truths God has for our learners. I have also learned to be creative in capturing the attention of our young learners. I was very encouraged at the end to hear their testimonies of how we have helped change their lives. I know the learners weren’t the only ones. Through teaching I have grown and changed in many ways! – Jessica (Twenty4Seven Intern)

Our summer internship, Next Step, kicked off last week. We’re so excited that these 11 young adults will be serving with us for the next two months.

We’re confident God is going to do great things-in them and through them!

Alaina, one of our Twenty4Seven interns, stepped out of her comfort zone to share at a recent IMPACT leadership conference. Here’s her story:

“On Wednesday April 21^st, I was blessed with the opportunity to share my testimony at IMPACT.  At first, I was a little nervous and I wasn’t certain what, exactly, I was going to say.  It was intimidating to have 400 students looking at me with their full attention, but it was also exciting to know that God had ordained that moment for me to speak into the lives of everyone in attendance.

I was able to share with them my battle with depression and how, through God’s power, strength and grace, I overcame it all.  After sharing, a coach, a Thrive staff member and a student each separately approached me telling me that God had used me that day to impact their lives.  It was such a blessing to know that God had used me and it always brings me joy to be reminded that God has redeemed my story and will continue to use it for His glory and His purpose.”

We want to hear from  you! How have you stepped out of your comfort zone lately?

The interns had the chance to spend a week in Naledi Village, experiencing a typical ministry week of relationship evangelism. They visited several homes, helping with chores such as creating a rock walk, cooking, and cleaning. Mme Maria walked them through the steps of canning a type of pear that is native to South Africa, as well as cooking spinach and pap for dinner. One woman was so excited to share her culture with the interns, that she brought out several Sesotho music and dance videos to show them her favorites, and blessed them with a pumpkin from her own garden. All of the families visited attended a church, so together the interns and families spent time praising God and rejoicing in His glory. It was a wonderful week of building relationships and having the opportunity to pray with people.

- Jenna McKee, Twenty4Seven Intern