RAISING UP GENERATIONS OF URBAN HEROES
ANNUAL REPORT
MARCH 2016 - FEBRUARY 2017
CONTENTS REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES
3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18-19
REPORT FROM TIM TUCKER CEO PRISON MINISTRY REPORT ENTERPRISE REPORT
Email: info@message.org.za
EDEN REPORT
Telephone: +27 (0) 21 447
CREATIVE MISSION REPORT
3906
FINANCIAL REPORT
Web: www.message.org.za
INTRODUCING OUR 2017 GOALS
Message South Africa
@message_sa
NPO: 133-638 PBO: 930046622 Section 18A Status
TO DONATE
Contact Details: Address: 66 Victoria Road, Woodstock, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
IMPACT REPORT 2017
BANK: NEDBANK Limited NPO Account: The Message Trust South Africa ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1124877711
2 MESSAGE SOUTH AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
@message_trust_sa
BRANCH: CENTURY CITY BRANCH CODE: 198765 Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ SWIFT CODE: SBZAZAJJ EMAIL: info@message.org.za
The Message Trust South Africa
The Message Trust South Africa
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR OF TRUSTEES Dear friend, This past financial year has been a rollercoaster year for our team and the fantastic work of The Message Trust among the most marginalised in Cape Town. I would firstly like to express our sincere thanks to so many of you for your support to our CEO Tim Tucker after the tragic loss of his wife Laura. Life often brings such unexpected hardship and sorrow and it was a difficult period for all at The Message. Laura was very much part of our wider family and a massive support to the work our team does.
EVEN IN SUCH DARK TIMES, GOD’S LIGHT SHINES
Even in such dark times and difficulty it has been amazing to see how God has continued to move powerfully through our team. Through our schools, prisons and community (Eden) teams, we have witnessed many young people come to salvation. This gives us continued encouragement that God is with us and fighting for us in the work that we do. I have to commend our staff and the leadership for persevering through such hard times and supporting Tim and the family. I would like to share one story that illustrates the power of our work and how God continuously strengthened us last year. Our prisons team hosted a public speaking event in September shortly after
Laura’s passing. The young men we work with in the prison decided to dedicate the entire event to Laura, Tim and the family as a tribute to her love and support. Over two hundred people attended the event. The young men in prison spoke inspiringly, giving their testimonies, and then broke out in a spontaneous time of worship. The guests were visibly moved and one of our team members felt led to ask if anyone would like to receive prayer and give their lives to Christ. Nine people came forward and accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour! This story aptly illustrates the power of the gospel – that even in such dark times, God’s light shines and good can come from such tragedy. As we look forward to our fourth year as The Message Trust, I would like to thank all those who have supported us in prayer, finance and with their time. I continue to be inspired by seeing lives changed in prisons, our teams spreading hope in schools, sacrificial living through our Eden teams, and businesses being established to provide employment and discipleship. I am sure as you read what God has done through our team this year you will be as inspired and encouraged to support this amazing work. Blessings,
Steve Van Rhyn Chair of Trustees
The Message Trust SA Registration information Trust Number: IT4/2014, Non-profit registration number: 133-638-NP0 PBO Number: 930046622 Section 18A Status Trustees: Stephen Van Rhyn (Chair), Andy Hawthorne OBE, Timothy Tucker, Warren Lodge and Eben Welby-Solomons (Treasurer)
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REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR TIM TUCKER LOOKS BACK ON 2016 It remains a privilege to lead The Message in South Africa as we work towards raising up generations of Urban Heroes in Cape Town and beyond. Our vision in Cape Town is to become a mission hub that:
• • • •
EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE EQUIPS THE CHURCH ERADICATES GANGSTERISM, AND… EXPANDS INTO AFRICA
We are extremely encouraged by the progress made in 2016 as we continue to see Urban Heroes emerge – young people who have rejected crime and gangsterism, and are now living Christ-centred, productive lives. Our growing team worked extremely hard towards accomplishing the faith goals that we set at the beginning of the year. Here’s how The Message South Africa performed against each of those goals. Top: Xola Dingiswayo Right: Steve Sam
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GOAL ONE
GOAL TWO
GOAL THREE
TO OPEN UP OUR FIRST HALFWAY HOME FOR EX-OFFENDERS.
FOR KINETICIV TO IMPACT 10,000 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH MISSION WEEKS IN AT LEAST TEN SCHOOLS ACROSS CAPE TOWN.
TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UP TO TEN PRISON (MEP) GRADUATES WITHIN GANGSTAR ENTERPRISES.
Through an exciting partnership with City Mission, we launched our first halfway home in August. Called ‘The Oaks’ ( from Isaiah 61), this house has accommodated four men on their release from prison. This is a critical phase of their reintegration and discipleship process. We are extremely grateful to City Mission for joining with us in this venture.
Our mission band, KineticIV, reached over 25,000 young people in schools and communities across Cape Town. This has opened up more opportunities for us to expand our schools work and be involved in impacting young people in tough neighbourhoods before they get caught up in gangsterism and crime.
We were able to provide eight MEP graduates with full-time employment. In addition to extensive learning through this process, we have also formed great partnerships with other organisations (including with Learn to Earn and Top Floor) which are assisting us in the training and placement of our graduates.
SUMMARY GOAL FOUR
GOAL FIVE
RECRUIT 20 NEW EDEN TEAM MEMBERS TO JOIN AND STRENGTHEN OUR EXISTING EDEN TEAMS.
COMPLETE THE PURCHASE OF THE LEADERSHIP AND ENTERPRISE CENTRE
At our annual Proximity conference we commissioned our third Eden team which is to be located in Nyanga. The team consists of eight members who will live in and serve one of Cape Town’s most notorious townships. We also had four new team members join our other Eden teams. Despite not achieving our target of 20 new members, we are nevertheless encouraged by the calibre of volunteers that are joining Eden. Recruitment will remain a high priority so that we can launch strong Eden teams in partnership with churches across the city.
In February we moved into new premises in Woodstock. Although initially renting, our goal was to purchase the building by the middle of the year. However, when we prepared our offer to purchase the seller changed the asking price, and therefore we decided not to proceed and have continued to rent the facility. We still believe God is calling us to own a building that can serve as an operational hub for all our activities and initiatives, and thus are trusting him for direction and provision as we enter 2017.
OUR MINISTRY STREAMS HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TOWARDS ACCOMPLISHING THEIR GOALS. WE ALSO PRAY REGULARLY INTO THE GOALS, RECOGNISING OUR DEPENDENCE ON THE LORD IN ALL WE DO. THERE WERE CHALLENGES IN 2016 THAT COULD HAVE DERAILED US. HOWEVER, THE TEAM REMAINED STRONG AND I COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS AND PERSEVERANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 5
THE YEAR AT A GLANCE... ‘THE MEP HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS OF BUSINESS’
PRISON STATS
5
EXTERNAL PLACEMENTS
12
RELEASED FROM PRISON
5
WORKING AT THE MESSAGE TRUST
EDEN STATS
23 47
TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVING ON EDEN TEAMS
DECISIONS MADE TO FOLLOW JESUS THROUGH OUR EDEN TEAMS
‘WE HAVE SEEN SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THEIR LIVES’
6 MESSAGE SOUTH AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
1 STUDYING
29 TRAINED IN MEP SINCE 2014
1,000+ REACHED THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS
‘I LOVE THIS INITIATIVE AND WISH IT GOES FAR’
ENTERPRISE STATS
100+ ATTENDED
8 NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CREATED
GANGSTAR ENTERPRISES
3 MICRO-BUSINESSES
32
28,810 YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED THROUGH OUR TEAMS
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS VISITED BY OUR MISSION TEAMS
1 GENETIK SESSIONS PROJECT LAUNCHED IN WOODSTOCK
14
SESSIONS DELIVERED BY RESPECT ME ON SELF-ESTEEM, BULLYING AND SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS
CREATIVE MISSION STATS
PUBLIC LAUNCH
‘I WANT TO USE THIS TO HELP OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR PURPOSE AND BELONGING IN HIM’
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Left: Inmates at Drakenstein Right: Siseko Ngwaishe
PRISONS MESSAGE ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME Crime, gangsterism and unemployment remain a constant challenge to economic development in South Africa. Our passion at The Message Trust is to offer holistic sustainable change that can empower young people to say ‘no’ to crime and gangs. One of our strategies is our in-prison initiative, the Message Enterprise Programme (MEP).
In 2016 we operated MEP for the second year, welcoming nine new students. MEP offers holistic training and preparation for young incarcerated men, preparing them for release. Nationally, 65-80% of prison leavers reoffend and end up back in prison. Through MEP, we are currently seeing fewer than 10% reoffend. Our aftercare is on hand to provide support for every MEP graduate once they are released. We have found that the reoffending rate decreases significantly – saving society millions and decreasing the overall rates of crime and gangsterism – provided we offer the following three things to each graduate:
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ACCOMMODATION
EMPLOYMENT
A stable home environment is vital. In 2016, our key goal was to provide a halfway home for prison leavers who had completed MEP while inside. Through a partnership with City Mission this goal became a reality and we now have four MEP students living in the halfway home. We also witnessed the successful reintegration of eight other MEP students back into their families, and, while this can prove challenging, it is always preferable. Our halfway home is called ‘The Oaks’ in reference to Isaiah 61: ‘They will be called oaks of righteousness, planted by the Lord for the display of his splendour.’
Leaving prison with a criminal record gives young men a further sentence of continued unemployment. With youth employment so high, coupled with a criminal record, it is virtually impossible for an ex-offender to find work. Through our own enterprise businesses, external placements and the will and initiative displayed by our students, each MEP graduate has had an employment opportunity since leaving prison.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT Leaving prison can often be lonely and daunting. Through our Message staff, local churches and mentors we provide a loving community that supports each MEP graduate once they are released. The aim is always to support the individual’s family to provide this role, but this is often not possible. Mentorship and support is crucial to ensuring each MEP graduate can succeed and rebuild his life.
2016/17 HIGHLIGHTS SPEAK OUT After being trained in Toastmasters all our students gave high-level speeches to over two hundred guests at our first Speak Out event in Drakenstein Correctional Centre.
VISION NIGHT Our MEP students were released from prison for the night and spoke and sang to over four hundred members of the public.
ELEVATOR PITCH DAY Our MEP students pitched business plans and ideas to over thirty business leaders and guests.
GUEST LECTURERS AND GROUP VISITORS During the year we brought in lecturers from businesses, universities and churches to speak to the young men. More than 90% of these visitors had not visited prison or met with prisoners before. We also hosted teams from the US and UK in the prison.
354 HOURS OF LECTURE TIME During the year we offered modules in During the year we offered modules in business, job readiness, public speaking, leadership, sexual purity and fatherhood along with weekly discipleship classes. This totalled 354 hours of lecture input for each student, not including our mentorship hours and care for MEP students once released from prison.
SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION
One of the most encouraging outcomes of MEP has been the reintegration of our MEP students post-release. It has been so encouraging to see our graduates progressing strongly in their faith and life. Not only are they reintegrated back into society but they are contributing to bring hope and transformation to so many through their testimonies.
LOOKING TO 2017 Our big goal for the Message Enterprise Programme in 2017 is to revise and develop our full curriculum to conform to the calendar year. This includes implementing our first reintegration programme for young men released from prison. We’re aim to provide a short-term training programme that bridges prison release to employment for our MEP graduates.
STORIES ‘MEP helped me understand the tools of business, but the most important thing was that I became a Christian while I was in the class. Currently I am working and staying in The Oaks halfway home.’ Jerome Sauls, released September 2016, working in full-time employment
‘MEP helped me in prison by equipping me with skills in business, public speaking and character development. It prepared me for the outside work in order to live out my God-given potential. I am now working for The Message Trust as a schools coordinator, educating young people about the dangers of crime and gangsterism.’
29 TRAINED IN MEP SINCE 2014
17
12
STILL IN PRISON END OF FEB 2017
RELEASED FROM PRISON
5
WORKING AT THE MESSAGE TRUST
5
EXTERNAL WORK PLACEMENTS
Steve Sam, released September 2016, schools coordinator for The Message Trust
‘MEP helped me by understanding how to run a business and created opportunities for us to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. It also helped me to be creative in my work space and find a job. I am now working full-time.’ Farrol Moses, released 2015, working in full-time employment
1 STUDYING
8%
1 REOFFENDED
FIND OUT MORE
Visit our MEP website – www.message-mep.org or contact Mark Slessenger at marks@message.org.za 9
Left: Gangstar merchandise Right: The Mess Café
CHRIST CENTRED ENTERPRISE GANGSTAR ENTERPRISES Gangstar Enterprises is the micro-business arm of our Christ-centred enterprise strategy. On 31 March 2016 we hosted the public launch of the Gangstar Enterprises brand at a special event at the Artscape Theatre Centre. The goal of the launch was to create awareness of our brand and engage the media and the general public in the discussion of how we can combat the challenges of gangsterism, crime and reoffending in South Africa. We believe God is calling us to share positive stories of transformation that will challenge the stigma facing those individuals with a criminal record. With over 100 people in attendance, the event was a success, and duly reported in the local media.
‘IT WAS AN AWESOME LAUNCH’ ‘ALL THE STORIES ARE TOUCHING. I AM INSPIRED. I JUST WANT TO SAY KEEP IT UP AND INSPIRE MORE PEOPLE TO MAKE A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA’
‘I LOVE THIS INITIATIVE AND WISH IT GOES FAR’
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Our goal for Christ-centred enterprise in 2016 was to create opportunities for up to ten prison (MEP) graduates within Gangstar Enterprises. In 2016, in conjunction with our prison aftercare team, we worked with eight young men who were released from prison, and continued to employ a further three exoffenders who were already working in our micro-businesses. Of the eight who were released in 2016, seven continue in their employment with us, while one has returned to prison. This is a great success when compared to national reoffending rates. In 2016 we were able to partner with a local company called Top Floor. They have agreed to employ young men that we recommend to them regardless of their criminal record. In 2016, three of our MEP graduates were offered an opportunity at Top Floor. Our heartfelt thanks go to Top Floor for their commitment and partnership.
We also continue to run our own micro-enterprises that provide initial employment for young men upon release from prison.
THE SOFT MACHINE Now into its second year of operation, The Soft Machine is a gourmet ice cream food truck hired out to weddings, events and corporate functions. The Soft Machine has provided full-time and part-time employment for six ex-offenders since we commenced operations. Although a seasonal business, The Soft Machine has enabled us to cut our teeth in running a micro-business. We are excited to expand our business offering in 2017.
Finally, we would like to make a special note of thanks to Jessica Longe who has spearheaded our Christ-centred enterprise strategy. She left The Message at the end of 2016 but still remains involved as an HR consultant.
STORY
GANGSTAR FURNITURE Gangstar Furniture traded throughout 2016. The business employed one person fulltime as well as providing work experience for others upon release from prison. We ceased trading as Gangstar Furniture at the end of 2016 as we believe there are better opportunities to create employment through new initiatives that emerged.
LOOKING TO 2017 An exciting initiative envisaged for launch in 2017 is our first café – the Mess Café. Learn to Earn have trained two of our ex-offenders to become baristas, and the new café will be launched in partnership with The Book Shop in Mowbray. Our big goal for 2017 is to launch our first full Gangstar Café which will serve as a retail hub offering great coffee, food, ice cream and our Gangstar merchandise.
ATTENDED
GANGSTAR ENTERPRISES PUBLIC LAUNCH
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GANGSTAR GEAR Gangstar Gear was registered as its own micro-enterprise in July 2016. The goal of the business is to develop branded merchandise that carry the Gangstar story to a wide audience. Through the significant enterprise development support of LegalWise, we were able to launch our new range of t-shirts and caps. Our goal is to grow Gangstar Gear in 2017 and offer our merchandise through multiple retail channels.
100+
Xola Dingiswayo – Mess Café barista
NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CREATED
I grew up in a little town called Samora in Cape Town, where I spent my youth as part of a gang. We would smoke drugs and abuse alcohol, to the point where I could not recognise myself in the mirror. Then, one day I was arrested for being in possession of a firearm. I was sent to prison. After nine months in prison I reached a decision – that I just can’t live this life anymore. I knew something had to change. I heard the gospel – I’d heard it a lot of times before – but this time something was different. I felt a connection with God – and I realised that nothing could separate me from his love. When I was younger, I used to think God was for other people, not for me. I would look at the madness around me and say to myself, ‘Is this what God made for me?’ But he never left me. I enrolled myself in some of the spiritual programmes, committed my life to Jesus and got filled with the spirit of God.
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MICRO-BUSINESSES
FIND OUT MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.gangstar-ent.org
Since leaving prison, I’ve trained as a barista, hoping to one day become South Africa’s very best.
1111
EDEN PELICAN PARK
(in partnership with Cape Gateway International Church)
In 2016, Eden Pelican Park made significant progress in reaching the hardest-to-reach young people in their community. Four of our team members have seen one or more of their friends in the community make a decision to follow Jesus. 2016 saw visiting teams from both the US and the UK who helped with community development. The team has also begun to build relationships with a local school, and is engaging with a handful of young men who are serious about getting free from drug addiction. MK leading a football outreach
EDEN SALT RIVER
(in partnership with Jubilee Community Church)
COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION EDEN ‘WE HAVE SEEN SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THEIR LIVES’ The above statement was spoken by young people regarding one of our Eden teams recently. This sums up what Eden is all about: a community of urban missionaries seeking to engage young people with the gospel of hope. Each one of our Eden communities faces real challenges of crime, gangsterism and all forms of abuse. To see committed people move into such areas sacrificially, dedicating their lives to reach young people, can only be a positive thing for our country. In 2016 we were praying to see young people respond to the gospel, making a commitment to follow Christ. Each of our three Eden teams has seen miraculous responses to the gospel this year.
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EDEN NYANGA
(in partnership with New Crossroads Baptist Church)
Eden Nyanga was launched in July 2016 at Proximity, our annual Eden conference. Mkululi Letstatsi (‘MK’) was appointed as the team leader. Originally from Nyanga, MK met Jesus while serving time in prison and developed a vision for a football and mentoring ministry in his old neighbourhood. In 2016 we saw this vision come to fruition with 23 boys meeting with MK twice a week for football training. They are being constantly discipled, with more than ten of them regularly attending the local partner church. The Eden team have implemented other outreach initiatives in the community, including a tea for the girls in the church and two separate football festivals.
Our longest-established team (since 2014) have continued to build ongoing relationships – living intentionally and joining in with what God is already doing in the community. In 2016, the team have been involved with a local soccer team, engaging young people in the club and their management. They also started literacy classes in the local schools as teachers approached them with this need. At a local boys’ home – Beth Uriel – the team has seen three young people make decisions to follow Christ. Grant and Stef Porthen continue to lead Eden Salt River with passion and grace, and have more community-focused projects in the pipeline for 2017. Grant and Stef Porthen
LOOKING TO 2017 Our big goal for 2017 is to recruit another 15 Eden team members to join our teams by moving into our Eden communities. We are excited to be partnering with a church on the border of Guguletu/Manenberg and we hope to launch this team in the next financial year.
and cars and women around them. ‘After years of terrorising Nyanga, my life of stealing, drugs and fraud eventually caught up with me and I was sentenced to 18 years in prison.’ When MK came out of prison he faced many challenges transitioning to life back in Nyanga. But through his changed life he won back the trust of those he’d terrorised. He got an office job and was appointed as a youth leader in his church. Then doors started opening for him to set up his football ministry and eventually he became the Eden Nyanga team leader.
STORY
Mkhululi Letsatsi, better known as MK, was still serving in prison when God gave him a vision to bring transformation to Nyanga, the community he’d terrorised as a young gangster. Through a series of miraculous circumstances God totally restored MK’s life. Seven years after he received this calling to go back to the place where he grew up, he’s started a remarkable football ministry as well as leading our Eden team in Nyanga. MK says his vision to provide a father figure to these young men was something he desperately needed himself when he was growing up, but instead he turned to a life of crime: ‘When my father left my mother alone to raise me, I was full of bitterness and anger. All my life I had to prove my love for my dad but he was not there.
‘At first it was hard establishing the football outreach and just a few young boys would come along. But I kept the vision. We now have at least 22 boys aged 12-14, who come to our football sessions each week. We also provide Bible studies and character development sessions. Then we invite their parents to come to church with them on Sundays.’ MK says the impact on both the boys and their families is incredible: ‘I had a meeting with their parents recently and they said there were times when the kids were sitting with their Bibles and helping with house chores. Something they’d never seen before. ‘It is only Jesus who brought me back to Nyanga. God was sending me back to the place of brokenness and pain as the vision burned in me to go back. I thought, “How many other young men are suffering in drugs and gangsterism?” I used to cry walking the streets of Nyanga seeing these young men in the state they were in, because they don’t dream anymore and they even drop out from school. I had to go and deliver my
‘As a teenager, I found a sense of belonging with a group of gangsters. I aspired to be like them with their nice clothes
INTERESTED IN URBAN MISSION?
23
TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVING ON EDEN TEAMS.
150
ATTENDED ANNUAL PROXIMITY CONFERENCE IN JULY 2016
47 DECISIONS MADE TO FOLLOW JESUS THROUGH OUR EDEN TEAMS
48 PEOPLE REGULARLY MENTORED THROUGH EDEN TEAMS
1,000+ REACHED THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS
JOIN EDEN TODAY – CONTACT Alastair.Buchanan@message.org.za
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Left: KIV in Manchester for the Higher Tour Right: Respect ME in school
CREATIVE MISSION REFOCUS, RESPECT ME AND GENETIK SESSIONS Through creative mission, our vision is to envision and empower young people to break free from gangsterism, crime, poverty, suicide, eating disorders and low self-worth and fulfil their God-given potential. In a world where there are countless demands on the attention of our young people, our creative mission work is more vital than ever. Since our last annual report, we have seen the need to reach more young people in schools across Cape Town. This need arose through our mission band KineticIV (KIV) and their work in schools. As the band went from school to school they saw thousands of young people desperate for a message of truth and hope. Through our work in prisons we are passionate about holistic, Christ-centered rehabilitation and realised we needed to increase our impact in preventing young people making poor choices that could lead to prison, drug abuse or gangsterism. Churches and schools are also keen to see greater partnership and support: more school
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intervention programmes are needed to surround young people with positive role models and a message that God is real and has a plan and purpose for their lives. Through the work of KIV, we realised that we wanted to offer more to local churches in their support of local schools. In 2016, we introduced three new teams that are highlighted in this report. In early 2017, all these teams worked tirelessly alongside local churches and shared the gospel with thousands of young people. This is encouraging for us as we increase our mission to young people and our offering to local churches and our Eden teams. This year has seen KIV continue to use music to engage young people across Cape Town. Between April 2016 and February 2017, KIV visited 19 churches, 27 schools and performed at one large concert – reaching approximately 23,680 people.
In March 2016, KIV returned to Manchester to be part of the Higher Tour. They performed in one church, four schools and on the Eden Bus in the build-up to five nights of evangelistic gigs at the O2 Apollo Manchester, from 16–20 March 2016. Having already released their debut EP, KIV are now working towards launching a full album in 2017. One of the highlights of the year was their first live appearance on national TV, performing live on the Afternoon Express Show and speaking about their passion to share Christ with atrisk young people in Cape Town. KIV received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public on the show’s Facebook page. By the end of 2017, we will have launched three new creative mission teams:
REFOCUS Our Refocus coordinator, Steve, developed a vision in prison for encouraging young people to turn away from crime and gangsterism. Launching in 2017, Refocus will offer a dynamic and intentional course for young people, helping to raise awareness of gangsterism and actively equipping young people to be released from the damaging world of gangs. Refocus is set to officially launch in 2017
RESPECT ME Respect ME helps young people to make positive God-focused choices in the areas of their lives that sometimes feel too difficult to talk about. With self-image and identity at its core, Respect ME’s vision is to see young people set free from the lies that surround them today. We want to see young people come alive in their God-given identity and for each young person to know that God has a plan for their lives. Respect ME has a full curriculum offering seven sessions on topics including self-esteem, sex and relationships and pornography, and we have already delivered courses in various schools and youth groups across Cape Town.
LOOKING TO 2017 In 2017, our big goal is to reach 40,000 young people face-to-face and share the gospel through our teams. This goal can only be achieved through partnering with local churches and organizations as we aim to create a positive ripple effect across Cape Town.
FOR MORE INFO ON OUR TEAMS MESSAGE.ORG.ZA /MESSAGEINSCHOOLS /#NEW-PAGE-3
STORY
Steve Sam was sentenced to 22 years in prison after his life as a gangster in South Africa finally caught up with him. Back then his mission in life was to influence other young men on a path to destruction. But since he found Christ he’s found a new purpose to provide positive education to the next generation as Message South Africa’s ReFocus school coordinator. ‘When I was just 11, my parents’ divorce led me to become part of a gang. Eventually I was arrested and sentenced to 22 years in a correctional facility. I was a broken young man and I was still caught up in gangsterism. I recruited many young guys and I had a very negative influence over them, even commanding them to stab others. ‘I remember one night when I was in my bed, there was a battle going on inside me. A voice told me to go to church for the first time. Eventually I found myself there, crying. During that moment I experienced such a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. ‘In 2014, I came into contact with the team from The Message Trust and I shared my vision to see other young people rescued before they fell into gangsterism and crime. I knew God had laid this burden in my heart. I knew God was going to use me to provide a positive influence on young people. It’s my mission through ReFocus to see many souls come into the kingdom of God by influencing them not towards destruction but towards freedom. ‘I used to wear a mask as a gangster for my identity, but Christ gave me a new identity and I want to use this to help other young people find their purpose and belonging in him.’
32
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS VISITED BY OUR MISSION TEAMS
28,810 YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED THROUGH OUR TEAMS
14
SESSIONS DELIVERED BY RESPECT ME ON SELF-ESTEEM, BULLYING AND SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS
1 GENETIK SESSIONS PROJECT LAUNCHED IN WOODSTOCK
15 15
FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 2017
The Message Trust has evolved as an organisation, adding new elements to existing programmes, grouping projects and refining its project offering.
CREATIVE MISSION
18%
increased expenditure from 10% in 2016 to 18% in 2017 with the growth of the KineticIV ministry, the opportunity to allow mission teams to experience The Message Trust’s influence and the incubation of the schools programmes (Genetik Sessions and ReFocus).
PRISON MINISTRY
16%
increased expenditure from 13% in 2016 to 16% in 2017 as a result of the running costs of the newly established halfway house
EDEN TEAMS
12%
expenditure has remained in line with last year, at 12% (10.2% in 2016) respectively
CENTRAL MISSION
53.8%
expenditure has remained in line with last year, 54% (53.8% in 2016) respectively
EXPENDITURE BY PROJECT: The project specific income received has been in the same proportion as the expenditure, except for the Creative Mission project, whose expanded schools programme is relatively new, and involves activities that are difficult to fund.
18%
Creative Mission
16%
Prison Ministry
12%
Eden Teams
Management have been successful in bringing in grants and donations to support the organisation as a whole. Thus, the emphasis for fundraising has shifted to sourcing donors to contribute to the organisational mission rather than to a specific project objective. This will also allow more flexibility in allocating necessary funds to strategically important initiatives. Overall, the organisation raised R 3,835,754 in income (a decrease of 14% from last year) and spent R 4,103,125 (a decrease of 3% from 2016), resulting in a deficit of R 267,371. The decrease in income was largely related to the ending of grant funding from the United Kingdom as The Message Trust South Africa becomes more self-sufficient, and the reduction of funding from a significant South African donor, which will be restored in the new financial year.
16 MESSAGE SOUTH AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
54%
Central Mission Funds
INCOME HAS BEEN GENERATED FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES: Donation & grants
3 155 739
82%
Sales & services
144 023
4%
Fundraising & other income
535 992
14%
3 835 754 Grants and donations continue to make up the bulk of the income for the organisation. Since the enterprises became separate companies last year, sales are primarily made up of KinetikIV CD sales and performance fees.
INCOME BY PROJECT:
7%
Creative Mission
9%
12%
Eden Teams
Prison Ministry
71%
Central Mission Funds
THE COSTS OF THE ORGANISATION ARE EXPLAINED AS FOLLOWS: 4%
8%
Message International contribution
Eden Seed Funding
2%
Equipment & depreciation
Personnel costs continue to be the largest expense as an adequate staff complement is required to engage at a deeper level with the organisation’s beneficiaries. Premises costs is now the second largest expense as the organisation has grown to require more space to operate. Along with a financially stable year, The Message Trust team have managed to raise R 1,143,223 towards the cost of buying a building to house the growing impact of the organisation.
7%
Training & events
1%
Giving
4%
Travel & transport
3%
Governance & promotions
53%
4%
Personnel costs
Professional services
2%
Communications
2%
Office costs
10%
Prepared by: Michelle Davidson, Director of Entrepreneur and Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd Accountants for the Message Trust South Africa * All figures are unaudited
Premises & equipment
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INTRODUCING OUR 2017 GOALS TIM TUCKER LOOKS AHEAD TO 2017 Our motto for 2017 is, ‘It’s God’s fight’. We recognise that we are dependent upon him to open up the right doors so we can impact Cape Town with the gospel. Our big goals for 2017 have emerged as we continue to trust God to strengthen and increase our capacity as an organisation.
GOAL ONE
GOAL TWO
GOAL THREE
LAUNCH OUR FIRST GANGSTAR CAFÉ.
RECRUIT 15 NEW URBAN MISSIONARIES TO JOIN OUR EDEN TEAMS.
FINALISE ONE-YEAR MESSAGE ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME (MEP) CURRICULUM.
Our enterprise strategy is becoming more focused on the food/service industry. We believe this will create more entry-level employment opportunities, in addition to providing good visibility for our Gangstar brand. Our goal is to open a Gangstar café shop as a flagship store of Gangstar Enterprises.
We continue to see new opportunities to plant Eden teams across the city. In 2017 we will enter another new partnership with a local church who want to launch an Eden team. However, Eden requires committed volunteers who are willing to live long-term in tough neighbourhoods. Therefore, we continue to focus on recruiting the right people to strengthen our existing teams as well as plant a new team.
Following two years of development of the Message Enterprise Programme, we want to prepare our curriculum for multiplication. Our prison team are therefore working on completing and packaging the MEP curriculum so that it can be delivered in other prisons in the future.
18 MESSAGE SOUTH AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
The 2017 goals continue to propel us towards our four long-term outcomes that we believe God has laid on our hearts for Cape Town and beyond, and which he is calling us to: empower young people, equip the church, eradicate gangsterism, and expand into Africa. Please pray about how you could stand with us. We look forward to next year when we will share all that God continues to do through The Message Trust in Cape Town.
GOAL FOUR
GOAL FIVE
TO REACH 40,000 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SCHOOLS, CONCERTS, CAMPS AND CHURCH ENGAGEMENT.
PLACE TEN EX-OFFENDERS INTO SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT THROUGH OUR REINTEGRATION STRATEGY.
We are seeing great potential in working with young people in schools and communities across the city. Our goal is to present the gospel more broadly and provide touch points between churches, Eden teams and young people in multiple neighbourhoods.
We want to continue to improve our reintegration process, offering exoffenders the support they need from the day of release through to full reintegration into society. In 2017 we will launch our revised reintegration strategy and will be employing a new staff member to focus on this vital area.
19
GIVE TO OUR 2017 CAMPAIGN BY SETTING UP A MONTHLY R100 GIFT
– THAT’S THE COST OF FOUR COFFEES –
=
YOU’LL BE HELPING US TO REACH 48 MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN 2017!
TO JOIN THE FUN, INCLUDE THE REFERENCE ‘COFFEE’ WHEN SETTING UP YOUR GIFT.
IN 2017 WE WANT TO REACH 40,000 YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS CAPE TOWN. WILL YOU HELP US? PRAYER
Join us in prayer and sign up to our prayer newsletter and updates.
PEOPLE
PARTNERSHIP
There are various ways to partner with us, through financial support and joining us in our missional call to reach the hardest to reach youth in Cape Town.
TO DONATE
We are always looking for passionate people who want to see young lives impacted with the gospel. Email us to find out about job and volunteer opportunities.
NPO: 133-638 PBO: 930046622 Section 18A Status BANK: NEDBANK Limited NPO Account: The Message Trust South Africa ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1124877711
BRANCH: CENTURY CITY BRANCH CODE: 198765 Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ SWIFT CODE: SBZAZAJJ EMAIL: info@message.org.za
message.org.za Email: info@message.org.za | Tel: +27 0 21 447 3906 FOLLOW US
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© 2017 The Message Trust South Africa. Charitable Trust IT4/2014 | Non Profit 133-638-NPO | Public Benefit Organisation 930046622 | Section 18A Status | Trustees: Stephen Van Rhyn (Chair), Andy Hawthorne OBE, Timothy Tucker, Eben Welby-Solomons (Treasurer) & Warren Lodge (Secretary)