1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: Some of the believers who went to Antioch … began preaching to Gentiles about the Lord Jesus Acts 11:20.Bonus Reading: Acts 11:19-26

South Africa's white Afrikaner government had set aside three areas in Johannesburg: Soweto for blacks, Lenasia for Indians, and Eldoradopark for Couloureds (of mixed-race descent). Although legalized separation has since been abolished, these adjacent communities remain largely segregated.

The Christian Revival Centre in Lenasia built a new church in 2000 near the edge of its area and next to an "informal settlement" (shantytown). As they moved, these Indian members came to believe that God had called them to minister to this settlement's impoverished black residents.

So they invited a black evangelist to preach at the church nightly for two weeks. During these meetings, many from the black community began attending.

During the last service, the evangelist looked at the new attendees, pointed to the Indian pastor, and announced, "Here's your pastor." Then he looked at the pastor, pointed at the blacks in attendance, and said, "Here are your new members." After overcoming his initial surprise, the pastor began to faithfully serve people in the informal settlement through visitation and pastoral care. [continued 5/2]

—Curtiss DeYoung in United by Faith

My Response: How should I prayerfully seek a group to reach out to individually or corporately?

Thought to Apply: Hindus … Islamic saints can't duplicate the miracle of racial injustice swept away by the power of the gospel [in reconciliation].—Vinay Samuel

Adapted from United by Faith (Oxford Univ. Press, 2003) by permission.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Make me willing, Lord, to move out of my comfort zone in order to grow your kingdom.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help