The signs of kingdom transformation are starting to show in downtrodden suburb of Cape Town, South Africa called Bishop Lavis. This effort is being headed up by the efforts of our much beloved Percy Jeptha and his church, the Baruch-Haba Christian Centre. Many of you have become friends and supporters of Percy Jeptha over the years, meeting him not only at the annual IAM convening, but also having him in your churches. Its on these yearly tours of the States that Pastor Percy has been known to bring life changing sermons fueled by a life spent on the front lines for kingdom advancement. But just know that while he does enjoying traveling the States visiting churches, these trips are used to finance the great acts of outreach and evangelism that are indeed changing an entire city.
Bishop Lavis is a region that over the years has experienced a triumph of the enemies efforts and his works are quite apparent as you walk down its many streets and peer into its buildings. This region, despite having a large population of a eager and willing workforce, experiences a 70-80% unemployment rate. However, the curtain of darkness that has been drawn over the city has done nothing but create a stage for the light of Christ to be displayed.
Pastor Percy’s community outreach began as lunch feeding program to the school across the street from the church. But over time, this feeding program has grown from just children to entire families every Wednesday. The church witnesses lines that last for hours filled with not only Christians, but Muslims and non-believers as well. Because of their efforts, the school has opened their arms wide to the church, allowing them to fix up and use three unused classrooms to do their outreach. The church’s food distribution program has also expanded to a Malawi refugee camp about 3 kilometers from the church. Often times, this is the only nutritious food that this rejected group of people receive each week.The church’s impact in the community has not gone unnoticed though by the government. Their results have even attracted the attention of the Director of Agriculture who is giving the church a community garden which will not only grow crops and provide the church tools, but will provide the community a place to learn agricultural skills. Sadly though, due to the massive increase of world-wide food prices, especially the price of grain, the churches lunch program to the local hospital (essentially a 3rd world clinic) has had to be curtailed for now.
Despite this and other setbacks, the impact of the gospel can not be ignored. We are seeing that out of necessity and desperation, people are being drawn to the church and their ability to provide when others can’t. Baruch-Haba Christian Centre is not only a spiritual oasis in a desert of darkness, but is also becoming known as a place to get life giving necessities by all in the community. We ask for you to continue to vision with IAM not only in prayer for this great work, but also in finance. The soul in this nation is rich and cannot help but to bear rich fruit. To give, please click on this link. Also, if you happen to live in the Northwest, be on the lookout for a visit by Pastor Percy Jeptha in the month of August.