Rooted in Jesus

7th February 2011, posted by Richard Morgan

A report back from Richard Morgan's trip to South Africa

I've just got back from a week as part of a team leading two conferences in South Africa. The conferences were on leading a discipleship course, 'Rooted in Jesus', which began in Tanzania but is now in several African countries and many dioceses. The first conference was an introduction to the course, and the second a 'follow up' conference for a diocese that has been running the program for the last year and a half. It was great to hear feedback about the difference that the course has made in the life of the diocese of St Marks.

I went with a team of four - myself, Tim Davis (who used to be Associate at St Paul's), John McGinley and Merisa McInnes. We taught about the course, but were also able to spend time just teaching some principles from the bible and ministering to people. One lady was overwhelmed with the reality of the Holy Spirit in her life, having never before thought that possible. Another man was healed of night sweats. Many were aware of the Holy Spirit touching them in the course of worship and prayer ministry and the opportunity to model this kind of ministry was itself a valuable part of the experience.

The course has been spreading quite fast in other African countries, and there is now quite some momentum behind rolling it out to a number of South African Dioceses. Trevor Pearce, who runs 'Growing the Church' for the province of South Africa and Tony Lawrence, who heads 'Anglican Youth' were our hosts in Johannesburg, and Trevor will head a South African hub for Rooted in Jesus, delivering Diocesan training on implementing the course. Our hope and prayer is that God will use this to help grow the church in South Africa.