A New Chapter

I've recently listened to a sermon in which a man preached about Heroes. He ultimately came to the conclusion that Heroes have two defining characteristics: 1. Clarity. 2. The irresistible urge to act.

Every person on earth who lived a life of significance had those two characteristics in common. They had a clear picture of exactly how they can make a lasting impact on the lives of others, and they had an irresistible urge to act upon it.

Take William Wilberforce as example. He had clarity that slavery was wrong, even when the world was trying to reduce his clarity by the fog of justification. He saw what had to be done and he responded to his irresistible urge to act. He was probably one of the most instrumental men in the abolishment of slavery.

We can all be Heroes. Together with God we can write a life story of significance, leaving a legacy. If someone was to write a biography of your life after you died, how would you want the story to go?

God has given me a sense of clarity on how this next chapter (year) of my own life is meant to unfold. I can truly say it has been a great joy thus far (January and February) to act upon that clarity and I cannot wait to see how the rest of this chapter will unfold.

I want to share with you some of the main areas of ministry I will be involved in this year and ask that you will pray and trust with me for great fruitfulness in all of them.

1. Elevation Youth City Wide Director

Late last year I have been appointed as the Elevation Youth City Wide Director. In other words, it is my responsibility to ensure that a healthy discipleship-based youth ministry is planted in all our different congregations across the city. I have started training and empowering other leaders to help make this possible. We have already seen much fruit, with dozens of teenagers choosing to follow Jesus and connecting into a discipleship-process. Our Elevation Bash is taking place next weekend, where 100's of teenagers will join us for an evening of praise and worship and we are trusting that many will have a personal encounter with God.

2. Elevation Youth Lynnwood Congregation Leader

Apart from leading Elevation on a City Wide level, I am also leading the Lynnwood Congregation's Elevation specifically. Earlier this month 15 new teenagers from HPC School gave their hearts to the Lord. StepUp has grown to 4 Connect Groups. And we have started an Elevation Huddle (service) at HPC.

3. Mix Mentorship Oversight

MIX is our Ministry Internship Experience. It is a year where people can do an internship at our church to serve and to discover and clarify their calling on their life. I am responsible for the Mentoring-leg of this program. I have to ensure that all 15 students are thoroughly mentored in areas such as ministry, leadership, character, finances, relationships etc.

4. Lynnwood Congregation Engage Training

I am responsible to launch the Engage Training at the Lynnwood Congregation in the month of May. This is a training where people are equipped and empowered to evangelize. Last weekend my wife and I went with 6 other Lynnwood members to join the Centurion Congregation's Engage Training, so that we can learn how to duplicate it at the Lynnwood Congregation.

5. City Wide Engage Training 2

This year myself and other church staff are planning to work together on developing an Engage Training 2. The purpose of this training is to equip people on how to evangelize people who believe in 3 of the major religions in South Africa: African Traditional Religion, Atheism, and Islam.  

6. Campus Missions

I am responsible for the Campus Missions as well. But, fortunately I have identified one of the MIX-staff who can take ownership of leading this. So I will be primarily equipping and empowering him on how to lead missions. So firstly, it is time to go to Botswana again! As a matter of fact, my wife and I will be going to Gaborone from the 6th to 8th of March. We are going to take students with us to go and serve the Every Nation Gaborone Campus Ministry. The plan is to take students one weekend a month to near by campus ministries such as Gaborone, Maseru etc. Students want to GO to the nations. It is time the church gives them a platform to do so...

7. Pioneer ‘Explore Every Nation’

So this is probably the big one. I am working with Harry (Missions Director) on developing a new concept called Explore Every Nation. This will be a year long missions journey where students and young adults will go serve at Every Nation Churches all across the world. There is no better way to raise up new Church Planters to GO to the Nations. There is a good chance that I will be giving over the "Youth-mantle" to other more than capable leaders by June, so that I can pour most of my energy into designing and developing 'Explore EN'. So far the plan is that my wife and I will lead one of the journeys in 2016. Please pray with us... 

8. Discipleship

A year will be dull and pointless without a proper dose of discipleship. There are currently 8 young men who I am primarily discipling, with 4 of them already making disciples themselves. Excited to see what God is going to do in 2015 in their lives!

9. Iceland

My wife and I don't have a so-called "bucket list", but I am pretty sure that if we had one, going to Iceland would be sitting firmly on top. And it is with great joy that I can say that God has blessed us with the opportunity to go to Iceland! We will be leaving the 30th of March and be back on SA soil the 12th of April.

10. TEFL Studies

It is also with great gratitude that I can say that I have officially finished my Bachelors in Theology Degree (BTh). My graduation will be taking place on the 18th of April. But, we should not stop learning... So my wife and I are planning to do the Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course this year. This will give us opportunities to teach English in various countries across the world.  

Once again, thank you to everyone of you for your support and prayers which enables me to make all this become a reality!

Philip Pretorius