Sitting beneath the splendor of Table Mountain to one side and the ocean’s shore to another, Cape Town rests in one of the more resplendent sites of any major world city. Our team arrived Friday night after a day and a half of travel, sweet fellowship, and numerous gospel conversations. Settling into our lodging late Friday night, we awoke Saturday for a day of adjustment, orientation to the region, and sightseeing.
We prayed over the city as we drove across her breadth, over 5 million, most of whom do not know Jesus. We stopped at the largest mall in the southern hemisphere, noting how similar this mall is to those in America, or Bangkok for that matter. We also enjoyed the largest penguin colonies outside Antarctica, where Doc took dominion over them (and later, a lizard as well). Taking dominion would become a common theme.
On Sunday we worshiped with two Xhosa churches, one an established cutch and another a new plant. The team sang, and Doc Reid preached. We greatly enjoyed the indigenous worship, marked by exuberance, affection, and passion. Oh, and dancing!
“It felt alive,” team member Jesse Gordon noted. Jonathan Going observed, “It put the American church to shame,” while Jeremy Hyatt added, “It was like what I picture worship will be like in heaven.”. Travis Smith reminded the team that this is what worship will be like in heaven, with people from every tribe and tongue gathered around the throne.
Jon Bell observed, “The dancing was contagious,” volunteering to demonstrate to the young pros at Richland Creek Community Church. “It was beautiful to see people with very little materially able to worship so freely,” Hannah Reid said.
On Monday the team took dominion over a rocky field, clearing it for a high school to use for soccer. We enjoyed lunched with the students, sharing Christ with many. That evening we had our night out on the sea front enjoying a nice meal. Our server, Masimba, when asked how we could ray for him, said he could tell we were believers and was encouraged by our witness. On Tuesday Doc spoke in chapel at the Cape Town Baptist Theological Seminary while the team led with a song. Following chapel, the team spent the day sharing Christ in the area around New Crossroads Baptist Church where they worshiped on Monday. Many came to Christ, and we rejoice in the fruit of gospel witness! One team led five young men to Christ, while one elderly lady upon meeting Christ rejoiced, saying “This is good news!”
We are having an amazing time worshiping Jesus and sharing Him. God is at work in Africa.
