ISSUE FOURTEEN
MARGREET WIBBELINK
MONA WILLIS
ME2 MAGAZINE
M A N D Y WAT S O N
LY N E T T E VA N O N S E L E N
EDNA ELS
MICHELLE OLIVIER
LOUIS & EDNA ELS
#14 CONTENTS P O W E R N O T E 1
- Edna Els O N R A I S I N G ( 5 ) K I D S
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W O R S H I P I N E V E R Y S E A S O N
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- Mandy Watson - Mona Willis F E AT U R E S T O R Y
1 5
-Margreet Wibbelink M Y R E S T O R AT I O N
2 5
-Michelle Olivier F O R G I V E N E S S 3 3
- Lynette van Onselen B E T T E R T O G E T H E R 4 1
- Louis and Edna Els W E A R & E AT
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Š This publication is produced by Victory Media for m e 2 M e n t o r i n g J e ff re y s B a y. A l l a rt i c l e s a re w r i tt e n b y members of Victory Church unless otherwise stated. Th i s m a g a z i n e i s n o t f o r s a l e . Fo r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n o n any of the articles, do not hesitate to email us at me2@victorychurch.org.za I s s u e 1 4 - Fe b r u a r y 2 0 2 0 me2mentoring.com // victorychurch.org.za Cover Photography: Iris Dorine Photography
Dear Friend, I’m writing this note on my flight back from Cape Town, where we’ve spent the weekend celebrating a birthday! Some of us love any excuse for a good party; others would rather let the day go by unnoticed! Whatever your preference may be, a CELEBRATION is the ACTION of MARKING one’s
POWERNOTE FROM EDNA
PLEASURE at an EVENT or PERSON!
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God takes pleasure in you and in me! For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Psalm 149:4 NASBS At times we find this hard to believe, especially on those days that we feel like we’ve missed it ‘big time or most of the time...’ God LOVES you and CELEBRATES you. He has marked you for His FAVOR and delights in you! Celebrating people, not just on their birthday but whenever we become aware of the gift that that person has been to us, and the difference they’ve made in our lives, whether it’s small or enormous, creates a Kingdom Culture of placing value on what He values...people and relationships! The gift of belonging, of making a difference, of living life beyond ourselves and our selfish agendas brings a sense of connection and
significance. It causes us to give and receive
He invited us into the adventure of life-
love and live a life that is worthwhile and
transforming relationships.
significant. Becoming BETTER TOGETHER! “Life is about relationships; the rest is just details”...
Who are you connected to that you inspire by your Kingdom’s lifestyle?
When people become part of something bigger than themselves or when an individual
Let’s CELEBRATE HIM and ONE ANOTHER!
becomes part of a family, and ultimately a community of people with a shared vision, goal,
With love
and lifestyle that inspires others with hope and
Edna
courage for a better future outcome, celebrating others becomes an opportunity to honor and
Colossians 1:16-17 MSG
salute them, thereby showing gratitude and
For everything, absolutely everything, above
thanksgiving to God for giving us the gift of
and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank
belonging and relationship.
after rank of angels— everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there
Today we celebrate the women whose stories
before any of it came into existence and holds it
you are about to read. Women, just like you and
all together right up to this moment. And when it
me, who love God and walk out their lives in
comes to the church, he organizes and holds it
community with others, despite having obstacles
together, like a head does a body.
to overcome, giants to slay, deadlines to meet and at times coming out on the other side a bit
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NASBS
battered and bruised.
[9] Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. [10] For if either of
Yes, my friend, we’re created for His pleasure, not
them falls, the one will lift up his companion.
just for survival, but to thrive and live purposeful
But woe to the one who falls when there is not
lives in the midst of our battles...
another to lift him up. [11] Furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm, but how
We cannot do this alone.
can one be warm alone? [12] And if one can
We do not want to do this alone.
overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.
We do not have to do this alone:
A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
Father gave us the gift of His Son and the indwelling Holy Spirit, as well as one another!
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M A N DY WA T S O N ON RAISING (5) KIDS
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WHEN WE GO OUT AS A FAMILY, WE OFTEN GET A
Long story short, I fell pregnant and had a
lot of stares. Sometimes Brandon and I giggle as
traumatic miscarriage at thirteen weeks,
we notice people counting under their breath
(another story for another time) but I fell pregnant
with a surprised expression. Occasionally a brave
four months later with twins! I was shocked. I
mom will approach us and start a conversation
remember sitting in the doctor’s room alone
that we have become accustomed to, and it
wondering, if I had faith for four, why not five? We
usually goes like this:
had no choice but to give our financial plan over to the God of the double portion.
Stranger: Are they ALL your kids? Me: Yes
A lot of moms ask me how I do it? As if I’m a
Stranger: Gosh (along with disbelief),
super mom or something. I don’t feel that way. In
don’t you guys have a TV (laughing)?
fact I feel clueless most of the time. Five children
Me: No, we don’t actually (laughing)
are hectic, I won’t lie, but whether you are a
Stranger: I don’t know how you do it?
mother of one, two or five, it’s consuming and
Are you guys done?
exhausting and challenges every selfish bone in
Us: Nah we want two more (joke)
your body. Yet we can’t deny that it’s one of the
Stranger: (jaw drop)
most rewarding responsibilities to be entrusted with. We all need wisdom and capacity to disciple
My name is Mandy Watson and I’m married
and raise our children, and I’m grateful to God for
to Brandon. We live in Jeffrey’s Bay with our 5
family and friends who help me.
children. All planned, by the way! Well kind of… The best parenting advice I ever got was from a After having three children we said, “No more”,
wise and inspiring woman who is now in heaven
but wrestled with the feeling that someone was
with the Lord, Dee Harris. I told Dee that I was
missing in our family. Being fully aware of the
struggling with guilt and fear as a mother and
cost of parenting emotionally, physically and
always beating myself up for losing my temper,
financially, we decided to ask some older people
making mistakes and for not being able to meet
about their biggest regret in life. Almost everyone
all my children’s needs. Dee said to me, “You
said that their biggest regret was not having more
are not a bad parent. I can take you into any
kids. When we asked them what stopped them?
community and show you what a bad parent
Almost all of them said it was because of finances.
looks like. The fact that we are having this
So we mustered up our faith and courage and put
conversation makes you a very good parent.”
it into action.
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She proceeded to tell me that children are
I have been in situations where I’ve lost my
selfish, and they will suck the life out of you -If
temper and shouted at my children, then I hear
you let them. Her words to me were, “If you don’t
the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “Have I ever shouted
take time out with the Father and spend time
at you when disciplining you? “ I realize that I’m
doing things that energize you and guard your
not reflecting His heart and I am able to repent.
relationship with your husband, then you will do
Every time I make mistakes He gently leads me
your husband and children an injustice.”
and teaches me.
Dee’s words broke me free of guilt and the fear of
I place a massive value on teaching my children
failure. I realized that it’s okay to make mistakes.
to relate to the Holy Spirit as He is the best
Just as God has entrusted me with my children’s
teacher and He will guide them into all truth and
lives, there came a time where I had to let go and
everything else in life flows from that. We are Spirit,
trust Him with their lives. It’s easier said than done,
soul and body and we can’t give our families
but it will change your life when you really choose
anything if our tanks are empty. Ask yourself these
to let go and trust the Father.
questions: 1. Spiritually - am I living from overflow?
Our job as mothers is to reflect the nature of the
2. Emotionally - am I refuelling by doing
Holy Spirit to our children. We are nurturers and we remind our children who they are. We help point
what I love? 3. Physically - am I looking after my body?
them to Jesus and the Father. That’s exactly what
Sleep, rest, eat, exercise?
the Holy Spirit does with us. He reminds us of who we are and connects us with Jesus and the Father.
As mothers we must know Him in order to reflect
We can declare truth and identity over our children
His heart!
when we see them the way God sees them. Ask
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Holy Spirit for Insight into their futures and prophesy
Mandy and her husband along with their 5 children
life over them. Practice being aware of The Holy
live in the surf town of Jeffreys Bay. They are part
Spirit’s presence and allow Him to co-parent with
of the ever growing young families community at
you. Be sensitive to His leading as He is full of
Victory Church.
wisdom, gentleness and kindness. He is better than any parenting book you will ever read.
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OUR JOB AS MOTHERS IS TO REFLECT THE NATURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OUR CHILDREN. WE ARE NURTURERS AND WE REMIND OUR CHILDREN WHO THEY ARE. 6
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START CHILDREN OFF ON THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO, AND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE OLD THEY WILL NOT TUR N FROM IT. PROVERBS 22:6(NIV)
Photography: unsplash
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MONA WILLIS
WORSHIP IN EVERY SEASON
Photography: Megan Carrie
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“WORSHIP IS NOT A SONG, IT’S A LIFESTYLE.”
up in a puddle of sweat, unable to move. I never realized that my experience wasn’t normal.
This phrase has been repeated in a worship team setting countless times. It sounds significant when
At the age of eighteen, unsure of what to study, I
we share it from a platform, so we hold onto it, but
decided to move to Jeffrey’s Bay for a year and
when it comes to embracing that same phrase IRL
attend Victory Gap Year. I owe so much to the
(in real life - as we Millennials like to say), things
leaders that walked with me that year. Night after
become a bit trickier. I serve as a worship leader
night my house parents would sit with me, lay
at Victory Church. I have had to learn to not
hands on me, pray over my room, declaring the
only lead the congregation in worship but, more
power and dominion of the King. This was my first
importantly, lead myself.
experience of discipleship. It all finally “clicked” into place: this is what Church looks like! The Bride
When I reflect on my journey as a Christian, one
of Christ coming together. Running alongside one
thing becomes clear: allowing my lifestyle to be
another, unified by their love for their one true
my offering of worship is the story of my life and
Saviour, Jesus Christ.
the song in my heart. Let me share a bit more of my story for some context.
I started serving in the worship team and Jesus solidified something in my heart that year: I
I grew up in a typical Afrikaans household. My
was created to worship and use my gift to help
parents separated when I was nine years old.
people connect with the One who created
We moved to a small seaside town with my mom
them. I received prophetic word after prophetic
and would see my dad every other weekend. Life
word about how I was going to lead people into
often felt very overwhelming as a young girl. I was
freedom and see shackles fall as we worship
constantly fighting off my rollercoaster emotions,
God together. Little did I know that this meant
trying to create a counterfeit “safety net” by
God would need to purify the song in my heart,
controlling everything and everyone around me.
defining my lifestyle of worship. I walked through
I was harassed by a spirit of fear my whole life
deep valleys and even higher mountains with
which started with the lie that I was not safe. I
Him. As I held onto the words and promises Father
would get nightmares almost every night, waking
gave me, I spent three years serving as a backup
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vocalist, seeing others (seemingly less qualified)
God has planted me. This is a topic I’m very
being promoted around me. He made me realize
passionate about. It’s always been very clear
that my gift will never come before my heart. I
to me that I was called to serve as a worship
was learning how to lean on Him, to serve when
leader. In every season. I’ve led sets where I
nobody asks and no one is watching. What a
felt debilitated by fear and pain (physical and
privilege to serve a God who knows what I need
emotional) but I knew that, as I declared the truth
more than I do.
of the Word over my life in song, my breakthrough would become the congregation’s breakthrough.
Walking with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Father God
That’s my sweet spot - standing there in front of
has been the most beautiful, rewarding journey.
my brothers and sisters during a time of worship,
He has taught me how to worship in every season:
seeing them being transformed by the gentle
When I’m up and when I’m down.
touch of the Holy Spirit. It always brings me to
When I’m riddled with fear
tears.
When I’m full of faith. When I’m single and praying for a husband.
Today I’m a young mom of two beautiful little girls
When I’m praying for the life and salvation of a
(a two-year-old and a three-month old), and I
loved one.
am once again navigating how and where Jesus
When I’m battling yet another intense migraine
wants me to serve. But I am convinced of this one
episode and I want to explode with pain.
thing: I have something to add. Whether it be in a
When I’m a Mom to two tiny pairs of feet and
mom’s group, dealing with my toddler’s tantrum or
drowning in new born season.
serving the members in our worship team.
I don’t always get it right but I know there is
Worship is not a song, it’s a lifestyle. I pray that the
always a reason to worship.
way we live our lives would give rise to worship in the hearts of our friends in the faith.
You see, part of my lifestyle of worship has
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involved me serving in a household of faith where
Mona , Benji and thier beautiful daughters are part of the young families community at Victory Church. They also volunteer their time as worship leaders with the Victory Worship Team.
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I DON’T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT BUT I KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS A REASON TO WORSHIP.
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I WILL EX TOL THE LORD AT ALL TIMES; HIS PRAISE WILL ALWAYS BE ON MY LIPS. I WILL GLORY IN THE LORD; LET THE AFFLICTED HEAR AND REJOICE. GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME; LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER. PSALM 34:1-3
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Photography: unsplash
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I am MARGREET WIBBELINK. But who am I? The beautiful discovery. Photography: Iris Dorine Photography
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BEING CONCEIVED AND BIRTHED IN SOUTH AFRICA, OF DUTCH PARENTS, was a good set up to make me different. When my parents relocated to the Netherlands, the confusion began. I started asking, “Who am I and where do I belong?”. Because of that a wandering, orphan spirit took hold of me. I found comfort in the fact that I can be a travelling world citizen. My love of the ocean satisfied me with belonging to the it, and I travelled! But deep inside I was restless and searching. I had a strong sense of God’s existence and presence in my life but was confused about Christianity. In search of spirituality, meaning of life, the plan for my life and purpose, God directed my steps back to South Africa. He met me here. I learned that there is no such thing as coincidence in your life’s happenings, and what the enemy meant to confuse and distract me, was the very key to discovering who I am. My search made me find Him and know that I am a daughter of the King! I am two nations in one and I am a bridge builder. My only real belonging is in Him. My citizenship is in heaven. But in order to flourish, God had to plant me. The planting happened in Jeffrey’s Bay, my spiritual home on earth. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:12 In the planting I learned to be. It isn’t in what I do that I am loved and accepted, but just in who I am. That is what settled my identity. I learned to become interdependent and be part of a much bigger picture instead of trying to find out what my purpose is. We are part of a body and I found my fit. I learned that I am much more than the sum of my giftings, accomplishments and degrees. I learned that through letting all those things die, living through the cross was the best thing that could have happened to me. It’s the lifestyle that Jesus modelled. There is resurrection power after the cross. I had to let go of my dreams and desires - dead. Once my desires were dead and didn’t define me
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IT ISN’T IN WHAT I DO THAT I AM LOVED AND ACCEPTED, BUT JUST IN WHO I AM. THAT IS WHAT SETTLED MY IDENTITY.
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anymore, they were given back to me in a measure I cannot even begin to explain.
THE PURPOSE, THE FULLNESS, THE THRILL OF LIFE IN JESUS. Once I wanted to be a medical doctor, it didn’t happen. I let it die. Now I am a Midwife Specialist with a doctorate behind my name and God has given me a voice to the nations on behalf of women and families. Once I wanted to be a world traveler, but I had to let it die and learn to belong and be planted. Now I travel the world, but there is purpose attached to it. Once I wanted to be a great surfer. I pursued it. God put me in a house with some of the best surfers and a genius shaper for three years. But then I had to let it die again. It couldn’t define me; and I made it to the WSL World Longboarding Championships twice! Once I wanted to start mom and baby clinics somewhere in a tropical rural place. I had to let it die and be satisfied with managing the clinic I co-founded in Jeffrey’s Bay. Now, He has given me an instant national and international platform to educate and empower midwives so that they can start clinics and bring change in every possible community they find themselves in. Who AM I? People know me as a Midwife Specialist, as a Surfer, an Adventurer, an Academic, a Pioneer, a Speaker, a “whatever”. Those are all bits of who I AM and I know many attributes will still be added. These are my treasured, Godgiven attributes that are meaningful in a world in desperate need for the love of God. But they don’t define me. I am much more. I am the daughter of the King. _ Margreet is a vital member of the community in Jeffreys Bay. She’s actively part of the surfing, medical and Victory Church Community. She’s the cofounder of Healthy Mom & Baby Clinic.
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I LEARNED TO BECOME INTERDEPENDENT AND BE PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT MY PURPOSE IS. WE ARE PART OF A BODY AND I FOUND MY FIT.
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SOME FRIENDSHIPS DON’T LAST FOR LONG, BUT THERE IS ONE LOVING FRIEND WHO IS JOINED TO YOUR HEART CLOSER THAN ANY OTHER! -PROVERBS 18:24 (TPT)
Photography: unsplash
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MICHELLE OLIVIER restoration 25
I REMEMBER THE FRESH WINTER MORNING IN 2012.
off me, screaming and running towards the road.
I love spending my holidays on the farm with my
But he tackled me and started to choke me saying
family. The stillness and the peace; this is where I
that because I had misbehaved he was going to
can breathe. The perfect morning to go for a run,
kill me.
be myself and to enjoy what I love: being active, surrounded by family and nature. But this particular
I closed my eyes, thinking that it was my last day,
morning did not turn out the way I had envisioned it.
praying to God and saying, “I’m on my way”. I experienced such peace during this experience.
As I was running on the farm road back home, and
I experienced Holy Spirit lying next to me on the
I had the feeling that someone was watching me.
ground, whispering into my ear: Romans 8:28 “For
When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw someone
we know that God will make all things work together
duck behind the bushes. I knew something was
for the good for those who love Him”.
wrong, and that my only option was to run faster and get home, about 1 km away. A man came
In that moment I knew that God was going to
running aggressively towards me with a wooden
change this for the better and that I was not going
rod. I knew my worst nightmare was about to
to die that day. God would turn my pain into a
happen.
testimony, and many would be impacted by it. I remember as another bakkie passed by, a “force”
He grabbed me by the clothes and said that I
came, and threw my attacker off me. I really
needed to give him my money and cell phone,
believe that this was Jesus having my back. This
which I did not have with me. So he said that he
“force”, or an angel, or whatever you would like to
was going to rape me. He started attacking me.
call Him, was holding my attacker on the ground.
I tried to stay as calm as possible and fight back
I was able to get up and run towards the bakkie,
the best I could. Finally after struggling for some
screaming out of desperation for help but also
time and being severely injured, he threw me onto
having hope in my heart that everything was going
the ground and said that if I was not going to co-
to be okay. I remember this massive flood of relief
operate then he would kill me with the knife he was
washing over me.
carrying. I realized that if I wanted to survive this, then I needed to stop fighting. He threw me over the
Walking into my parents’ home that day marked
fence and dragged me into the bushes so that no
the beginning of my journey of restoration. On this
one could see us from the road.
journey I’ve seen that where the enemy has tried to steal, God has restored. I realized that I needed
As he started to rape me, I closed my eyes and
people to help me on this journey. There was no
started to pray. I remember calling out to God,
way I could keep quiet about what had happened.
telling Him that He can open the gates of heaven, I’m coming home today. I was convinced that my
The week after the incident people from all over the
attacker was going to kill me when he was done
world were praying for me. While my cousin and his
with me.
pastor were praying for me, they both had the same vision for me: They saw me standing on a mountain
I heard a bakkie driving past and tried to push him
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Just hearing the Word wash over me, I could feel how God was giving me new strength daily. I felt what it meant to be carried by prayer.
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Photography: Impact Studios
top, surrounded by green beautiful hills, dressed in
planned for destruction ended in uniting countless
a white dress, with my hands in the air, worshipping
people in prayer.
God. My cousin told me that he had never seen me so free and so joyful. As I was walked through
One of the best decisions I’ve made on my journey
my process of restoration, I held onto this vision,
of restoration was to be as open as possible with
with many others, and scriptures I’d received from
everyone about what had happened. This resulted
people.
in many people coming alongside me, supporting me in all areas where I was weak. The community
I experienced the heart of Father God when I
around me was not only caring for my needs but
looked into the eyes of my own father. I saw how
also spoiling me. One of the greatest weapons of
broken he was and how badly he wanted to protect
the enemy in situations like this is shame; but there
me. He wanted to be there to protect his daughter.
is so much freedom in bringing things to the light. By
I felt Father God telling me that He was also broken,
bringing whatever happens to us into the light God
His heart was also sore. That He loves me so much
brings us into a place of complete healing.
and wants to protect me. The turnaround point in my journey came when I When I heard Romans 8:28 in that situation, I
realized that the key to restorations lies in complete
received God’s Word and His will for me in that
surrender. A question that everyone asks when
situation. When we receive a word from God, and
going through a trauma is: “Why did God allow this
we receive it as our truth, it silences the voice of the
bad thing to happen?” I never struggled with that
enemy.
question because I knew He was broken with me and that He was there with me through the whole
Matthew 4:4 says that man shall not live from bread
process. I prefer to rather say that it was not God’s
alone but from every word that comes from the
will for me for these bad things to happen, but that
mouth of God. This scripture became very real to
He endured it with me. God has given all of us free
me. I could literally feel how prayer and scripture
will and that means that sometimes He needs to
were carrying me through every day. I was very
endure things with us, even though it is not His will
sick, especially in the morning because of the
for us.
ARV medication that I was using, to such a degree that I could not read the Bible myself. It was in
God loves me, but He also loves my attacker. He
these moments that I really appreciated people
loves us equally. I realized that His heart was not
reading it to me. The first week after the incident
only breaking for me, His daughter, but also for him,
was the worst. I remember my mother reading all
His son.
the scriptures that everyone was sending me. Just hearing the Word wash over me, I could feel how
To be able to be completely restored, healing needs
God was giving me new strength daily. I felt what
to take place in the body, soul and spirit. I thought
it meant to be carried by prayer. What the enemy
I’d received complete healing in the spiritual area
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but God started speaking very directly to me about
and no matter how broken you are, when you get
forgiveness. I thought I was fine, moving on with my
to a place of surrender, handing your brokenness
life, even testifying, thinking that I did not need to
to Father, He can start the process of restoration in
forgive my rapist. I even used scriptures like Psalms
you. Commit to the process of God healing you, He
139 where David says that he hates those who hate
is willing and able.
God, as my motivation that I did not have to forgive him. Two years after the incident I finally made the
If God can heal and restore me completely, He
decision that no matter how I feel, I’m going to
can do it for you! God’s heart is for you to walk in
choose to forgive. The importance of forgiveness is
complete freedom. When we allow God to come
that you are not only setting your perpetrator free
and heal us, He restores us into something better
but you are also setting yourself free. My rapist can
than what we were before.
be in a physical jail cell but receive the forgiveness of God, setting him spiritually free, while I can walk
My Anchor Scriptures:
freely outside but be in bondage because I have
Romans 8:18 ‘For I consider (from the standpoint of
not forgiven him. Forgiveness brings freedom.
faith) that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about
In 2018 I decided that I’m going to run a 21km half
to be revealed to us and in us.’
marathon. This was the final part of my restoration of just kicking the enemy in the teeth and overcoming
Romans 8:37-39 ‘Yet in all these things we are more
him. During the race I felt how Jesus was running
than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory
with me and encouraging me. With every step I took
through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that
I felt how things were falling off of me and how I was
neither death nor life, nor angels, nor demons, nor
taking the next step into my freedom.
principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come nor powers, nor height, nor
The freedom I experience today, in who I am, and
depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to
in the journey I’ve walked with God would never
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
have been there if this “thing” did not happen to
Jesus our Lord.’
me. As painful as this attack was and as difficult
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as the journey of restoration was, if my rapist
Joshua 1:9 ‘Be strong and courageous! Do not be
could encounter the love of Father God, it will all
terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your
be worth it.
God is with you wherever you go.’
Romans 8:38-39 says that nothing can separate us
2 Timothy 1:7 ‘For God did not give us a spirit of fear,
from the love of God. No matter what you are going
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’
through today, remember that there is nothing that
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you can do or that could be done to you, which
Michelle is a Pastor at Victory Church, Jefferys Bay.
can separate you from the love of God. I want to
She overseas all connect groups and with a team,
encourage you, whatever you’ve been through
helps to look after the congregation.
Photography: Impact Studios
Photography: Impact Studios / unsplash
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HAVEN’T I COMMANDED YOU? STRENGTH! COURAGE! DON’T BE TIMID; DON’T GET DISCOURAGED. GOD, YOUR GOD, IS WITH YOU EVERY STEP YOU TAKE.” JOSHUA 1:9 (MSG)
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Photography: Unsplash
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LY N E T T E VA N O N S E L E N FORGIVENESS Photography: Griselda E Photography
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MY PARENTS GOT DIVORCED WHEN I WAS A YEAR
I was academically strong and soon learned
old, and six months later my mom remarried
that he left me alone during exams and when
because she was worried that she would not be
I was studying, which made me study more. I
able to take care of my brother and I with long
know this is an area where God protected me,
shifts as a professional nurse. My stepfather was
so that I would not feel unworthy and could have
a difficult man; he manipulated others and made
something to be proud of. I did not compete with
sure that my parents never got together again.
other classmates; I excelled academically for
My dad was also not allowed to come close to us,
myself.
and I only got to know him when I was twentythree years old.
Once, my stepfather hit me in the face leaving it swollen and the skin broken, but by the age of
When I was ten, I started developing breasts
fifteen I had mastered hiding things. I wondered
and being impressed with them, I told my mom.
at times why my mom never realized the
My stepfather overheard this and asked to see
tremendous pressure that was in our home and
them. My mom worked shifts, so we were left
my involvement in it, but only realized when I left
alone with my stepfather at night and he started
for university that our home was constantly in a
telling me that he really loved me, and that he
state of turmoil and emotional manipulation.
had a “special� love for me. He told me that it was our secret. He started touching me and
I had friends at school that were molested by their
said that if I told my mom I would be the cause
grandfathers or friends of the family, and I was
of their divorce which would make my mom
always there for them emotionally, but no one
very sad. In fear, I told no-one. He was a master
knew my pain. At that time, I believed that I would
of manipulation; when I refused him, he would
just make things worse if I said something. I was a
give me the silent treatment for weeks, fighting
model student at school and top of my class, so
with my mom about everything and making life
my teachers would not think that anything could
unbearable. My stepfather caused me to be
be wrong.
the barrier between him and my mom to avoid constant fights.
When I was seventeen years old, I gave my heart to God and found real peace. I kept on praying
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to God for an outcome and some days I wonder
got worse, demands for sex came into play. My
if I had said something then if the molestation
refusal caused tension, but I made sure that I was
would have stopped. Maybe there were lifelines
playing sport or studying, until my mom got home,
that I was just too fearful to take. I shared the joy
but the fighting persisted.
of my salvation with my stepfather, and his only response was that it was great for me, but Jesus
I chose Stellenbosch University to study Medicine
was not for him. I realized that he only used his
but was not accepted. I persisted in my choice
Bible for crossword puzzle answers. What helped
of university because I did not want to be close
me was that If I slept with my Bible on my chest,
to home for weekends. My roommate at ‘varsity
he left me alone. My stepfather was paranoid,
forced me to go to a clinical psychologist; she
and I was not allowed to be late from school, talk
saw what a state I was in when “he” phoned.
to anyone on the phone and definitely not speak
The sessions with the clinical psychologist only
to a boy or he would call me names. Growing up I
showed me that I would kill him if I had the
was very mindful of what I wore, where I went and
opportunity. I avoided going home as much as
who I befriended because of this.
possible.
This led to a crossroad where I had to make a
During my third year of university I stayed at my
choice…
boyfriend’s parent’s house during the holidays so
1. M y stepfather was already accusing me of
that I could visit my mom at work, without going
being a slut, so I could do what he expected
to their home. Once I needed to buy something,
and sleep with boys or slip out at night.
and after a conversation as to how my stepfather
2. I could try and be good to him, so that he could
would dissect my choice and what he would
change his ways, see me as his real daughter
think of me, my future mom-in-law asked me the
which would make him stop his behaviour
question: “Who is the God in your life? It sounds
towards me.
like your stepfather is.” It was harsh, but it was the truth and I had to hear it. This had gone on too
Neither path was really a solution, but I chose
long.
the latter, which was good for me and my future. My stepfather did not stop molesting me. Things
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I got in my car, driving, crying and praying all the
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way. Praying that I could forgive him and asking God to help me forget every incident. When I got to my mom and stepfather’s home I told him that I forgave him for not being a true father to me, I forgave him for what he did to me, and I asked him to forgive me for hating him and for not treating him with the respect a father deserves. He denied having done any wrong; he never said he was sorry. My mom heard it all, but she did not leave him, as I thought she would. I don’t know if God wants us all to confront our perpetrator like this, but I knew I had to. In the natural world this does not make sense, but after that I was totally free, and I can’t remember anything that happened between my stepfather and I. God granted me my prayer. Years later I could forgive my mom, for taking his side. I could forgive myself for letting it happen and I know that as a ten-year-old child I had no control in the situation. I could pray with my stepfather on his death bed for his forgiveness and for him to give his heart to God. The scripture in Matt 20:1-16 where the labourers got paid the same regardless of when they started work made complete sense to me. My stepfather was not too late to receive cleansing with Jesus’ blood. I saw him dying in peace.
WA S T H E TRAUMA WO R T H I T ? NEVER. WA S T H E R E SOMETHING G O O D T H AT CAME FROM T H I S? YES, A B S O L U T E LY. Rom 8:28a (NIV), And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, many times after sharing my testimony I’ve been able to help others understand the full power of forgiveness and why we have to do it. It is not to say we condone the wrong doings; we are free from it all when we live in Christ. Giving my testimony I realized why: “In it, but not of it” (John 17:16) is so true for me. We are in an unholy world with true evil, but we are not part of it. We need to consciously choose not to be part of it. _ Lynette is a registered nursing sister and midwife. She is responsible for running the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic on a daily basis. She is part of the Victory Church Family.
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Photography: Griselda E Photography Photography: unsplash
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NOW, IF ANYONE IS ENFOLDED INTO CHRIST, HE HAS BECOME AN ENTIRELY NEW CREATION. ALL THAT IS RELATED TO THE OLD ORDER HAS VANISHED. BEHOLD, EVERY THING IS FRESH AND NEW. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:172 (TPT)
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BETTER TOGETHER Louis & Edna
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Dear Friends
season of peaceful prosperity follows, until they do evil again.
Here we find ourselves at the start of 2020 and we thought it would be great to share this word that God
In Judges 4:1, we read: Israel, again did evil in the
has given us with you.
sight of the Lord... This resulted in great oppression where their women were taken and violated, their
God spoke a clear word to us that last year would
food and crops were stolen and they didn’t live in
be a year of continued Acceleration which we can
their God-given purpose and destiny. It sounds a bit
all attest to and that as we align with His Word and
like headlines in our daily newspaper, doesn’t it?
move TOGETHER in the same direction, we would BE THE DEMONSTRATION that would cause the harvest
Presently, many of us live in walled estates and our
to come in.
freedom is inhibited by the spirit of lawlessness that rules our cities and villages. Today, as in the time
It has also been prophesied that it would be a time
of Judges, we read: Village life ceased, it ceased
for women to arise and take their rightful place in the
in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in
Kingdom.
Israel - Judges 5:7 NKJV. It was at a time like this that God raised up a woman called Deborah to bring
At The 2019 Rising Ladies Conference, Edna shared
deliverance to the nation (read Judges 4:4-10). She
a word that gripped our hearts. She called it BETTER
received the Word of the Lord and summoned Barak
TOGETHER. At the time, this coincided with an uprising
(the leader of Israel’s army) to go up against Sisera
against violence and women in South Africa, which
(‘Sisera’ means: battle array/strategies) who was the
resulted in the #EnoughisEnough campaign.
commander of Jabin’s (‘Jabin’ means: intelligence) army, as God was about to give them into his hand.
As God’s people we need to rise against the enemy
Barak refused to go unless Deborah went with him.
in the power of His Spirit; however, when we succumb
Deborah agreed to go but prophesied that the
to an uprising (the word ‘uprising’ is defined as a
honour would not be Barak’s and that God would
revolution, rebellion, rooted in revolt, anger and
deliver Sisera over to them through the hands of a
entitlement, that results in a victim mentality) we
woman.
play into the enemy’s hand and give him room to manoeuvre but when we rise up in boldness, yet in
Barak’s refusal to go without Deborah has been
humility, according to the plans and purposes of
widely interpreted as negative. He has been
God, it looks different.
depicted as a weak and fearful man that hid behind the skirts of a woman.
When we look back over history, we find the same scenario we face today repeating itself - a nation
However, the truth is that Deborah represented God’s
does evil; becomes oppressed; cries out to God;
Word made flesh to Barak. He esteemed the Word
God has mercy on them and sends a deliverer; a
of the Lord (prophetic insight) and found safety and
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security in keeping it as close as possible in times of
order for that to happen, we need to:
battle. Having the Word close will always guarantee a successful outcome.
1. KNOW OUR TRUE IDENTITY Wholeness as a person is key - where we war from
Barak had to humble himself and risk the chance of
freedom and not for freedom or your version of it. In
being misunderstood and so he followed Deborah’s
order for this to happen, you need to firstly establish
instructions and did it God’s way. It’s interesting to
your freedom in Christ and keep in mind that hurting
know that it is BARAK and NOT DEBORAH who is listed
people, hurt people and broken people, break
in the “Faith Hall of Fame” found in Hebrews 11.
people. You can’t export what you have not grown at home. Be the man or woman who God has called
Barak destroyed the Canaanite army but Sisera
you to be (not the one you think you should be).
(battle strategy), the commander, fled on foot to the outskirts of the village where he came to the tent of
2. KNOW HIS DESIGN
a woman named Jael. Jael invited him in under the
God created man in His own image, in the image of
guise of hospitality in order to set him up and drove a
God He created him; male and female He created
tent peg through his head.
them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it;
Jael defeated Jabin (intelligence) and Sisera (battle
and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of
strategies), with the simple use of a hammer and tent
the sky and over every living thing that moves on the
peg. This must be one of the most unconventional
earth.” Genesis 1:27-28 NASBS
but effective examples of warfare recorded. God will use a combination of people working together
God made man and woman, to complete and not
(better together) to ultimately defeat the enemy. He
compete with one another, to have dominion and
will use a combination of prophets, commanders,
not to dominate, to rule over and not to overrule. Our
home/ tent makers with the hammer of His Word
mandate is to be fruitful and multiply, subdue the
(Jeremiah 23:29) to put a nail through the head of
earth and rule over all living things. We are created
the enemy.
equal in His image and likeness, however, the enemy loves to cause separation and bring division in order
Colossians 2:14-15 (NASBS) Jesus...having cancelled
to discriminate, divide, conquer, polarise and bring
out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees
disunity.
against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When
Instead of us being united in Christ with common
He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made
Kingdom purposes and different expressions thereof,
a public display of them, having triumphed over
we find ourselves fighting on our own and the result
them through Him.
of this is a power struggle.
God is calling us to work together with Him and with
The truth mentioned above has a wider application
one another, for the advancing of His Kingdom but in
to church leaders, business leaders and different Kingdom movements.
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3. KNOW GOD’S PATTERN
So in conclusion, when we understand the power of
God is a Father with a family who has assigned us as
BETTER TOGETHER, it doesn’t just apply to men and
individuals with our own unique and different roles.
women, husbands and wives but also to leadership
Fathers build and mothers nurture so that children
teams,
can receive a full picture of God. We are called to
mountains and anywhere else where a greater
father, mother and mentor physical and spiritual
outcome is desired.
churches,
Apostolic
streams,
Kingdom
children and when we know His pattern, plans and purposes, we will be able to build strong households
Ephesians 4:4-6 in the Message Bible captures it so
of faith with secure sons and daughters.
beautifully; You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so STAY TOGETHER,
4. KNOW AND PRACTICE LOVE, ACCEPTANCE AND FORGIVENESS
both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
We receive freedom through forgiveness, mercy and
who rules over all, works through all, and is present in
grace. God’s extended grace and righteousness
all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated
enable us to live in freedom that isn’t based on our
with Oneness.
own self-effort and self- righteousness. When we live from the freedom that Christ paid for us, this enables
May you find your Kingdom partners and align for a
us to draw the best out of others and sets us up for a
greater outcome in 2020!
great harvest. Remember we are BETTER TOGETHER! In the story of Deborah and Barak, each one did their
Louis & Edna
part which resulted in total victory, instead of one person trying to be the hero. In your local church,
(This article was also published in AC TALK)
in the Kingdom context or company that you find yourself in, you or your movement alone, will not be the sole answer to the prevailing problem – we are better together.... You are able to make a difference where He has positioned you in your career or profession, by obeying His voice to advance the Kingdom of God and collaborating with others. 5. KNOW THE POWER OF PRAYER Change comes through passionate, determined prayer. We pray to God to change our families, our communities and areas of our influence, by His grace and through His Spirit.
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Photography: Unsplash
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WEAR B Y A M A D E A YA C U M A K I S
AT H L E I S U R E I want to meet the woman who turned our favorite comfortable leggings and a loose gym tee into the trending activewear look, making us all look fit and healthy while we live our daily lives. This style has become a well known and loved style for women, whether they actually exercise or not. You can now join the women around the world rocking the active look while doing everyday activities like grocery shopping, picking the kids up from school or going for coffee with a friend. You don’t have to wear blazers and skirts to look chic, modern and presentable because today’s athleisure brands create their activewear to be just that! So join the trend! You’ll feel young, fresh and who knows it might even inspire you to join your local gym! Photography: Pinterest
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EAT B Y A N N E G A L LO WAY
SIMPLE HUMMUS This Hummus recipe has a little secret ingredient that helps to make it extra smooth. It’s simple and can be made up right before a party to please vegetarians and meatlovers alike. Or keep it in an air-tight jar, in the fridge, to be spread on toast, crackers or eggs in the morning. INGREDIENTS:
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•
1 tin chickpeas strained
•
Salt to taste
•
1/2 cup tahini
•
Ice cold water to help blend
•
1 clove of garlic
•
A glug of Olive oil
•
Zest of 1 lemon
•
Pinch of cumin
•
Lemon juice to taste
1.
Put all ingredients into a blender.
2.
Blend.
3.
Serve with your favourite veges, crackers or flat bread.
Photography: Unsplash Photography: unsplash.com
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