GROUNDBREAKERS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Contents OUR DESTINY..............................................................1 OUR CULTURE............................................................5 WHY WE GATHER......................................................13 OUR GOD-GIVEN MANDATES...................................19 OUR UNIQUE GRACE................................................23 THE GRACE OF THE BATTLE AXE
FIVE TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH...............27 THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH.............................33 WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXIST?
OUR SPIRITUAL COVERING......................................41 DR JONATHAN DAVID AND I.S.A.A.C
OUR DESTINY The vision, mission and purpose of Groundbreakers, in order of importance:
1.
To build and form Christ in every member of Groundbreakers
At Groundbreakers we seek to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col.1:28). We want every member to attain to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). The word “perfection” here is the Greek word “teleios” and refers to Christlike maturity, Christlike character, and the full formation of the life of Christ in the saint. Every saint must become a son of God by building the nature of the Son of God into their lives.
2.
To position mature members of Groundbreakers in every sector of society
Members of Groundbreakers attaining to the character and nature of the Christ are expected to become well-positioned in their respective domains in society. Through our members we want to influence and change the different domains or sectors of society. 1
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Creation is groaning and waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God we are raising (Rom.8:19).
3.
To become agents of change in our city, nation and the nations of the world
Our vision is for members of Groundbreakers to impact and influence all domains in society. As God’s battle-axes they confront inaccurate systems, values and mindsets and replace them with accurate Kingdom patterns and principles. Our members begin to possess their mountains and take dominion in their domains. Also, our members must have the spiritual stature to rule and reign in the region and beyond. Groundbreakers must be God’s base of operation in our city and nation. Through us God will stretch out His sceptre to reach and change the city, South Africa and the nations beyond.
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OUR CULTURE 1.
We embrace the father and son wineskin
Groundbreakers is a family. We operate as fathers and sons. This is the proper biblical model of church. Pastors Nel and Michelle Sewraj carry the grace of spiritual fathers. Those who join Groundbreakers must understand this dynamic. They do not just join the church, they connect to spiritual parents. We appreciate the protection, oversight and covering of our fathers and we also esteem other members of the church as “‘the father’s other sons’”.
2.
We operate as a covenanted family
We are covenanted with our spiritual parents and church family. We prioritize our relationship with the father of the house. But at the same time, we do not neglect our brothers because they are the father’s other sons. That’s why we hold every person in our church family in high esteem. We connect with one another in love and we seek to carry our brothers to greatness. We celebrate our brothers’ victories and never compete with them. We honour and protect family.
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3.
We honour the chain of command
God always sets someone over His people (Num.27:16, Heb.13:7,17). The set authority over Groundbreakers are Pastors Nel and Michelle Sewraj. They are our primary apostolic source. All ministries are delegated by them and all leaders function under their authority. All members of our spiritual family recognise, honour and respect their authority and other leaders in the house. We function together to fulfil the assignment God has for us without breaking ranks.
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4.
We have a culture of accountability
We are a family and we have a father. None of us are a law unto ourselves. We acknowledge that the support and protection of our spiritual parents and family are indispensable to our wellbeing and progress. Therefore, we choose to be accountable to these life structures. We give an account of our lives and allow them to speak into our lives and impart into our spirits. We don’t struggle with accountability because we know it gives us authority and legality in the spirit world.
5.
We prioritize our gatherings
As a covenanted family, we place high value on our gatherings. We have learned not to forsake meeting together (Heb.10:25). We understand that prioritising our gatherings accelerates our growth and maturity. To know more about why we prioritize our gatherings, read the section entitled WHY WE GATHER on page 13
6.
We live lives of integrity and righteousness
At Groundbreakers we prioritise honesty an integrity. Integrity means that we do not change in our character or our commitment and loyalty to one another in changing environments. We refuse to have double standards in anything we do. We choose to walk in the spirit of truth (Joh. 16:13) and with clean hands and pure hearts.
7.
We obey the Word of the Lord explicitly
God’s proceeding and prophetic Word governs all our decisions and activities. We do nothing until the Word of the Lord comes to us. We do not lean to our own human understanding and reasoning. Rather, we choose to be sensitive to the voice of God and to respond to His Word 7
with explicit obedience. Explicit obedience to God’s Word is a defining virtue of mature sons of God.
8.
We carry the dimensions of the Holy Spirit
The dynamics of the Holy Spirit are evident among us. We operate in the gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, speaking in tongues and divine healing. Our gatherings are times of securing an open heaven and encountering God in a deep and personal way. Our praise and worship is spontaneous and Spirit-led. The Holy Spirit sometimes moves us to pull down strongholds and unseat ancient powers in the spirit realm. We always seek to discern God’s voice for every situation.
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9.
We work with a spirit of excellence
Groundbreakers functions with a spirit of excellence because we know that the spirit of excellence has its origin in God. Whether it is life or work, we operate excellently because Christ is the model of our expression here on the earth. We are committed to demonstrating excellence in our conduct, our relationships, our work, our demeanour, our example, our speech, our homes and families, and duties and responsibilities. We encourage our members to excel and to aspire for the best in life.
10. We are people of breakthrough and progress
Groundbreakers believes that the Kingdom of God advances and it never goes backwards. That’s why, we are breakthrough believers who possess the mentality to prevail. We have a hope for a better future therefore we are passionate about pursuing our full potential and achieving optimum results. We are progressively advancing into our God-given callings and are being positioned as champions in our respective sectors in society. We are the agents of change who will influence our society and transform our world.
11. We possess a militant spirit and a battle axe mentality Groundbreakers is a battle-axe in the hand of God (Jer. 51:20-24). We radically oppose and confront dead religious systems, corruption and wickedness in the Church and society. Our gatherings, prayers, preaching, praise and 9
worship carry this same zeal and spirit. To know more about the grace of the battle-axe, read the section entitled OUR UNIQUE GRACE on page 23.
12. We have ordered our priorities
At Groundbreakers we have set our priorities in order. We strive not to place work, family and self above God and His Church. Here is the order of our priorities:
1.
God
We prioritise our personal relationship with Father God. This includes daily prayer and studying of His Word.
Church
2.
The Bride of Christ is His first priority. Hence, the church becomes our priority. We do not neglect the church or our gathering as the church.
Family
3.
The church is made up of families. We do not neglect spending quality family time through which we build our families according to the patterns of the Kingdom.
4.
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Self Do not neglect yourself. Develop and improve yourself physically, mentally and vocationally. But, don’t do it at the expense of God, church and your
family.
5.
Work Your work or business is Priority No.5. Never place your vocation before God, church, your family or your own wellbeing.
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WHY WE GATHER 1. We gather for Christ to be formed in our lives The Word is central in our gatherings. Our gatherings have a strong impartational and teaching emphasis. The revelation we receive from the spoken Word challenges our accustomed thinking patterns and belief systems and transforms us into the image and likeness of Christ.
2.
We gather to connect to our purpose
We gather to focus on the primary assignment that God has given to us corporately i.e. to form Christ in every member and to take dominion in every domain. This vision or purpose is constantly reiterated in our gatherings with the intention of equipping and raising a people who become God’s base of operation for takeover in this region and beyond.
3. We gather to execute the written judgements
We gather as the corporate representative of 13
God’s government and authority on the earth. We are the voice of God in our city, a new breed without greed and a radical opposition to corruption. We gather to wield the battle-axe in the spirit against ungodly systems and execute God’s will on the earth.
4. We gather to raise the water levels in the city
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We gather to intensify the corporate anointing in our midst and, in so doing, we increase the spiritual water levels in the city. Through our corporate praise and worship we secure an open heaven over our city. People outside the church are affected positively as hell is pushed out of our territory.
5.
We gather to encounter God
Our gatherings are significant times of God encounter. Whatever we speak, sing or do inspires God consciousness in our minds and hearts as His people. We push in the spirit until we access an atmosphere saturated with God. Touching God is our passion.
6.
We gather to increase corporate grace and strength
Our spiritual parents are the source of corporate grace in Groundbreakers. We gather to strengthen this arrowhead leadership that God has set over us, and to discover the burdens and concerns God has placed in their hearts. We also assemble to plan and strategize about taking our cities and nation for God.
7. We gather because we are a covenanted family
Groundbreakers is a family. Our gatherings are family interactions where each family member gets to participate and relate to the larger family. Our gatherings allow us to get to know the different members in our family. We encourage you to find others in the house that you can connect and relate to.
8.
We gather for accountability
Accountability is part of our culture as Groundbreakers. We consistently and faithfully attend our gatherings. We present our lives in accountability to our spiritual parents and family. We are accountable to our family, and for our fam ily. We d e si s t f ro m beco m i n g 15
an island or a law unto ourselves.
9. We gather to discover the prophetic shifts taking place
Rev. 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...�. Groundbreakers come together to hear the prophetic Word of the Lord and to know what God is saying. We gather to capture the prophetic shifts taking place and to stay updated and upgraded with all that God is doing.
10. We gather for Spirit demonstration
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Our gatherings are times to activate the grace of God that is upon the lives of our members. Our corporate gatherings are times of Holy Spirit intensity and are often accompanied by the gifts of the Spirit. When people come into our meetings, they can be assured of touching the supernatural power of God.
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OUR GOD-GIVEN MANDATES The following are specific mandates given to us by the Holy Spirit through the prophetic and proceeding Word, visions and revelations. These directives from God are the “musts” for Groundbreakers. They define our operations and our focus.
1. We are God’s battle-axe and weapons of war
Refer to The Grace of the Battle-axe on page 23
2.
We exercise dominion in every domain
We are sons of God and as such we were created to rule and reign on the earth. Our authority is not limited to the confines of church but is to be demonstrated in every sector of society. Thus, we seek to be strategically positioned in the various domains and to execute His Kingdom rule. We have a takeover mentality. We are on an upward trajectory, continuously upgrading
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our knowledge and upskilling our competencies to be the best in our fields. God is breaking our limitations, extending our boundaries and giving us the power to enter into new territories to exercise dominion. The Kingdom of God will consume every other kingdom (Dan. 2:36-45) and Mt Zion will be positioned above every other mountain (Isa. 2:2).
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3.
We are an apostolic resource centre for the nations
God prophetically called us to be a resource hub for the nations of the world. We resource the nations through the apostolic materials we produce, publish and distribute in the form of books, manuals, ministry training programmes, children’s ministry resources, audio and video. We also make use of online technologies including blogging, social media platforms and our website.
4.
We take the apostolic message into the African continent
Dr Jonathan David (International Alliance of Apostolic Churches) has called for one thousand South Africans to impact the continent of Africa with this apostolic Kingdom message. Moreover, a prophetic Word came to Groundbreakers that the doors of African nations would open to us.
Members of Groundbreakers have captured the call to Africa within their hearts. God is preparing the hearts of Africans to receive the Word of the Lord into their nations (Act. 8:26-39). As we build accurate churches in Africa, cities will be taken and nations will be rebuilt.
5.
We are the catalyst for racial reconciliation in South Africa
We have destroyed the spirit of racism and discrimination in our own hearts. God has prophetically called us to be catalysts for racial reconciliation in South Africa. He has given us the grace to break the strongholds of apartheid in South Africa. God has mandated us to promote a nation of “faces without races� and to be agents of reconciliation who bring healing and unity among all South African citizens.
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OUR UNIQUE GRACE T H E G R A C E O F T H E B AT T L E - A X E
Every local church has its own unique and peculiar grace. When Christ revealed Himself to the seven churches (Rev.2 and 3), He revealed different dimensions of Himself to each church. Likewise, God expresses Himself differently through every local church. So, what expression of God does Groundbreakers carry? The expression of Groundbreakers is that of a BATTLEAXE. The grace of the battle-axe is distinct to us. How so? In 1994, our father Nel Sewraj received a prophetic confirmation from Kim Clement to be God’s battleaxe and weapons of war, taken from Jer. 51:2-23: “You are My battle-axe and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms; With you I will break in pieces the horse and its rider; With you I will break in pieces the chariot and its rider; With you also I will break in pieces man and woman; With you I will break in pieces old and young; With you I will break in pieces the young man and the maiden; With you also I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; And with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers.” 23
1.
We are a militant people
The battle-axe was a weapon of war. It was used to decapitate or crush the head of the enemy. It was an extremely destructive weapon, capable of penetrating the armour of a warrior. It was considered a fearsome weapon in medieval times. Groundbreakers carries the spirit and culture of a warrior. We are a militant company.
2. We confront standards contrary to Kingdom
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The grace of the battle-axe breaks in pieces and destroys any mentality or belief that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Groundbreakers confronts attitudes and ideologies that are contrary to Kingdom standards, both within the church and society. Groundbreakers has a provocative nature.
3.
We challenge the status quo of both Church and society
Our scope is not limited to the body of Christ. We are also called to impact the world’s system (political, socio-economical), captains of industry, heads of states, provinces and districts, structures that exercise influence over the masses, oppressive systems, and the Church and Christian leaders.
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FIVE TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH 1. Believers
Believers are only interested in their own relationship with Christ. They have little interest in church life. Believers always have to hear God for themselves, even if a proceeding word has come from the father of the house. Also, Believers enjoy the “benefits” of salvation but they refuse the “responsibility” of it. They attend church primarily for what they can get out of it and how it can benefit them personally.
The prayers and efforts of Believers center around their own personal breakthroughs. Their mentality is established on personal edification and personal achievement. Everything is personalized, and they receive everything subjectively. Believers interpret the Bible personally. They don’t understand that the promises of the Bible are for a collective community and not individuals. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit was not poured out on an individual but on the 120. 27
2. Members
Members have discovered that the church is their home and not just God’s house. Their mentality has changed from a Believer to a Member of the church. The Member is no longer an individual but has come home to a family. He is no longer alone with God; now it is God, him and the church. He understands that he must embrace corporate lifestyle and he is prepared to adjust his personal life to fit into it. He reschedules his life around the activities of the church. He is prepared to make sacrifices to fulfill a common destiny.
Members learn to bring themselves under proper spiritual covering. They learn to respect the authority structures in the church and are prepared to live in accountability to them. They receive the godly counsel and advice of those in authority. They also communicate and relate well with spiritual authority and have a personal relationship with them.
3. Disciples 28
This is the minimum starting point in Groundbreakers. Disciples are those who embrace the Word declared in the church and live it out as a lifestyle. They are doers of the Word and not just hearers. They build and model the teachings in their lives. Disciples are willing
to change their thinking patterns according to the fresh truths they receive. They are able to hear the new and follow progressive revelation quickly. Their minds are not locked to the past but are opened to the new. They are willing to change and move on in God.
The Disciple also has a leader from whom he is drawing as his source of truth. He is selective not to draw from anywhere or anyone. He draws from the primary source. He is clear about who his leader is and he commits to him for life, duplicating the life of Christ emulated by his leader. The Disciple has an innate nature to be like Christ.
4. Ministers
The Minister is one who functions. He contributes his grace and gifts to the overall edification of the church. He uses all that God has given to him to make certain that others are growing. The Minister moves in a spirit of excellence and provides maximum contribution in the house. He has to be one step above the rest and excel in every good thing. Ministers function under authority and live in total accountability to the leaders they represent.
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5. Sons Sons are connected to the father of the house and not just to the meetings. They not only share ministry responsibilities; they have a personal relationship with the father. Their connection to the father is not a loose connection because they are connected to his heart.
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Sons also connect to the people in the house knowing they are their father’s other sons. They love the church in the same way the father does. They are also connected to the purpose and vision of the house. The Son doesn’t have a vision of his own but discovers the vision that is already there and walks in it. Sons also provide for the vision of the house. They become a constant supply of time, energy, capacity and resources. Sons continue to perpetuate the legacy and dreams of the father.
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THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXIST?
God has set His church on the earth for a purpose. Satan has always attempted to hijack God’s purpose for the church, and he has used people to do this. People use the church to serve themselves. The church today is more about the people than about God. We must return God’s church back to Him and restore God’s purpose back to the church. Here are the ten purposes of the church:
1.
To reveal the government of heaven on the earth
Matthew 6:10 “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”, God’s government and order in the heavens visible on the earth (Gen 28:11f). The church first establishes God’s government in the saints, and through them into every domain of society “on earth as it is in heaven”. The church is a glimpse of God’s government in the heavens. Society must see the church as regal and royal. They should admire our order, ranks and authority. Therefore, everything we do must be governed and 33
ordered well: an ordered life, ordered family and marriage, ordered in the way we think, speak and carry ourselves, ordered in our dealings and associations etc.
2.
To reveal Christ as the standard and measure of all things
Christ is the standard and measure of all things according to Col. 1:15-16 and John. 1:1-4. All our “success” must be measured against Christ. His standards are the only valid standards. He is the measurement of all things because He is the cornerstone. His Body, the church, is the standard for everything that takes place in the earth. The church is the standard bearer even for the non Christian world (1 Cor. 14:24-25). When non Christians look at our lives, our families and how we manage our resources and so forth, they must say: “Let’s go up to Zion and there learn the ways of God.” (Isa. 2:3)
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3.
To be the voice of God in the earth.
The church is the conscience of society. We have the prerogative of speaking up and throwing light on everything happening around us. The church cannot shrink back, barricade itself off and refuse to be a voice in society. We must hear what the Lord is saying and go and tell the masses,
including the non-Christians. The church must be able to speak into people’s lives at any time and in any place. The church is all about being God’s voice in the earth.
4.
To extend and expand God’s Kingdom into every domain of society
The church is called to invade every domain and penetrate every strata of society. In Dan. 2:3435 and 44 we find the stone which was cut out by the hand of God striking the statue and becoming a great mountain that fills the whole earth. 1 Peter. 2:6 tells us that the stone is laid in Zion, the church. The stone proceeds out of the church. Thus, the purpose of the church is to strike every other kingdom and fill the whole earth with God’s Kingdom. Kingdom expansion is not limited to the four walls of our local church; it must go beyond. Our members must get into every domain and change the world. They must be trained to take over in their domains where God has positioned them, whether in education, business, politics and so forth.
5.
To manifest the manifold wisdom of God against principalities and powers
This is confirmed in Eph. 3:10 “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be 35
made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places”. The wisdom of God that proceeds from the church has the power to override and shut down the schemes and fiery darts of the enemy (Eph. 6:11,16). Our members must be trained to win battles in the spirit world and not in the natural only. In the natural the enemy may have power over them but, in the spirit, they have power far above all principalities and powers. Therefore, our members must be trained to take their problems into the spirit world and deal with them there. This approach provides permanent answers and will eliminate the need for draining counselling sessions.
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6.
To become the dwelling place of God
1 Tim. 3:15 reveals that the church is the house or dwelling of God. The church is not built for our gatherings, programmes and services; it is for God. Therefore, whenever we gather, God must descend, manifest among us and move freely in our midst. God must descend from the heavens and dwell among us. The God factor is essential. The church is God’s dwelling place. “Dwelling” means to make a place home and to live and express oneself freely and with no restrictions. We cannot put God under house arrest in His own house! Is God able to manifest in
any form He wants to? Can He express Himself freely in Groundbreakers? If He can, then we have built the church accurately.
7.
To break dividing walls between peoples, tribes and nations.
The church is not a melting pot of cultures. The church is where every culture is broken, and only Kingdom culture prevails. The church is where we break everything that is outside heavenly culture. The church cannot be dominated by one single culture because this divides the church. Eph. 2:14 says “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” The church must understand that every dividing wall is broken. Only the culture of the Kingdom remains. Not even the prevailing culture of the city or environment can be dominant in the church. Kingdom culture is the dominant culture and we must work towards that culture alone.
8. To fulfil the pledge of the Father to the Son
Act. 2:34-35 reveals the Father’s pledge to the Son was that He would make all His enemies His footstool (“Sit at my right hand…until I make 37
your enemies your footstool”). God will do this through the church because Psa. 110:2 tells us “The LORD will send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!”. God is using us His church to fulfil this pledge to bring every enemy in total subjection under Christ. The purpose of the church then is to complete and finish Christ’s final battles with His enemies (. i.e. sin, sickness, satan). The Church will also deal with and destroy the final enemy of Christ: death!
9.
To express the covenant relationship between God and man
Abraham walked in such a level of covenant with God that God worked with Him as a “friend of God” (Jam. 2:23; 2 Chr. 20:7; Isa. 41:8). Like Abraham was God’s friend and ally, the Church must manifest this same dimension of covenant with the Father. When we walk in covenant with God, He moves on our behalf. He attests to our covenant with Him with signs, wonders and miracles. 10. To sum up all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. 38
Eph. 1:10 says that “in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in
heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” God’s ultimate plan is to gather all things in heaven and earth together in Christ. And God will use His church to bring everything in subjection to the Christ. The church is called to pull everything together and align it to Christ. Because the church is called to align all things to Christ, it must itself be accurately built and aligned to the Head of the church. To be able to take hold of the powers of the air and change our city, the church must be built strong. What happens in our environments cannot change until the church is built accurately and arises to a position of power. God’s purpose for His church is that she would cause entire cities and nations to be changed and adjusted to the measure of Christ.
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OUR SPIRITUAL COVERING D R J O N AT H A N D AV I D A N D I . S . A . A . C
Groundbreakers is affiliated to I.S.A.A.C (International Strategic Alliance of Apostolic Churches), a network of governing churches and ministries across the nations under the presiding apostleship of Dr Jonathan David. Dr Jonathan David is the founder and senior pastor of All Nations Sanctuary, a governing kingdom church in Malaysia. He has been recognized by apostles and prophets around the world for his contribution to God’s present move through his popular book “Apostolic Strategies Affecting Nations.” He carries a strong apostolic grace for city and nationwide transformation. Dr. Jonathan David is one of the pioneers of the Prophetic Movement in the earth. His accurate prophetic ministry and cutting edge apostolic teaching mantle has enabled him to reach the nations of the world. It has given him the favour of God and the privilege to minister to presidents, prime ministers and governors in many nations. His prophetic accuracy has been instrumental to set many national leaders on course towards their destiny and God-given assignment. 41
His book, “Apostolic Strategies Affecting Nations�, became the catalyst of his apostolic grace and mantle bringing clarity to many budding apostolic ministries. Senior pastors across the planet have shifted to the next level after applying his apostolic strategies in their ministries and churches. His apostolic-prophetic books are being used by scores of Bible schools around the world. Hundreds of pastors now use his materials and revealed blueprints to rebuild their lives, churches, and their cities. He resides in Muar, Johor, Malaysia with his wife, Helen. For more information you can visit Dr Jonathan David’s website: www.jonathan-david.org
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Contact Details: wwww.groundbreakerschurch.co.za info@groundbreakers.co.za (+27) 32 946 3331 (+27) 83 743 4812 (Leann Peters) Groundbreakers South Africa Nel Sewraj
As the primary grace givers over Groundbreakers, Nel and Michelle Sewraj are passionate about building and forming Christ in the lives of every believer. They possess a remarkable desire to transform lives and bring others to greatness. Together they have also been developing leaders locally and internationally for over two decades and have a reputation for challenging the way people think and live. They are turnaround specialists whose unique apostolic perspectives confront the status quo and eliminate mediocrity. They are a highly competent ministry couple with both holding numerous postgraduate qualifications in a wide spectrum of fields including Theology, Ethics, Political Leadership and Education and Training. Nel and Michelle Sewraj were married in 1999 and have been developing and equipping sons of God ever since. They live in Ballito with their Nel & Michelle Sewraj two children Zara and Zion. Senior Elders
