South Africa
It's exhilarating to see something great accomplished. Especially when that something is a big endeavor, the kind only God can pull off. The kind that truly makes the world a better place.
And that's what makes today's news such cause for celebration.
The final phase -the roof - of the ministry facility in Stone Hill was recently completed!
Small Steps Led to Big Impact
The ministry at Stone Hill just outside Cape Town, South Africa started out small. A few faithful believers from the church pastored by ITMI's Mark Parris saw the situation in this informal settlement and decided to get involved.
ITMI's Charl van Wyk and his family and the Parris family were among them.
These were everyday people with families, jobs and bills to pay.
They began going to Stone Hill and investing in the kids there. They built relationships through activities, crafts and sports. But they couldn't continue this through the soggy, frigid winter. But even with this limitation, exciting things were happening and God was clearly working.
Living in Stone Hill means facing many challenges.
Following the advice of ITMI's Steve Evers, Charl introduced ITMI to the collaborative cause.
The Snowball Effect
As more and more people - including you guys, our supporters - began to care about these settlement dwellers in the margins of society, the need for a facility was recognized.
The proposed facility was unique, tailored to the needs of this settlement, allowing for church services, feeding the hungry, indoor outreach activities during the rainy months and even weight-lifting equipment to provide a positive outlet for the community. It also needed to be vandal-proof.
The weight-lifting equipment provides a positive way to use free time.
This meant the proposal included three shipping containers that would be placed in a U-shape in the center of the settlement. The final element was a roof that would create a courtyard where church services and larger outreaches could be held.
As people continued to invest and work in Stone Hill, impact continued growing during the fund-raising and construction phases of the project.
The First Services Held Under the Roof!
We are elated to announce that the final element of the initial construction - the roof - was recently finished! Late last month, services were held under the cover of the roof for the first time.
And as you saw, this investment in an economically and spiritually impoverished community means more to the community than words can describe. It provides a ray of hope amid the ravages of corruption and sin. It's a clear signpost, pointing to Jesus.
The Stone Hill Ministry Facility with Newly Finished Roof!
Because, that's what we do.
And you can still join us in our quest to see Jesus' name lifted high in Stone Hill! There's still much to be done in the marginalized settlement, and we'd love to see many get the opportunity to be a part of this work.
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