Hope fulfilled

A FREE collection of Christmas devotions. For twelve days up to Christmas, learn about twelve messianic prophecies from the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled when He came to live among us. We’ll see how only HE qualifies to be our Saviour, and our Hope.

Hope fulfilled: unwrapping the prophecies about Jesus

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Christmas and the Holy Spirit

When we think about the characters of the Nativity, we think of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds and wise men. However, we don’t often consider one of the most crucial characters: the Holy Spirit. Over the next four weeks, Phil Tuttle will be exploring the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christmas story and in our lives today.

Session 1 Christmas and the Holy Spirit

Session 2  Mary and the Holy Spirit

On this episode, Phil Tuttle shares how Mary was empowered by the Holy Spirit not only to conceive Jesus, but also to complete the immense task God asked of her.

Session 3  Elizabeth, John, Zechariah and the Holy Spirit

On this episode, Phil talks about how the Holy Spirit moved in the lives of Elizabeth, John the Baptist and Zechariah to make way for the coming of Jesus.

Session 4 Simeon and the Holy Spirit

On this episode, Phil Tuttle shares how the Holy Spirit gave Simeon discernment to see that the child Jesus was indeed the God’s promised Messiah.

“This was the most transforming approach”

“This was the most transforming approach”

Walk Thru the Bible, in partnership with Kidz at Heart (KAH),

trains people throughout Southern Africa

to reach and teach children for Christ

– in their own culture and community. 

 

A Kidz at Heart training was held recently in Maseru, Lesotho. The training group of thirty participants included Sunday School teachers, school teachers, children’s workers from NGO’s and some pastors.

The training focused on sharing the need for nurturers themselves to love God with their whole heart, to follow Him and grow more like Christ every day in order to impact every aspect of a child’s life for God. This is the foundation for nurturing great children. Participants were encouraged to spend time daily listening to God in Scripture.

 

 

 

A heart and a passion for children were clearly
evident in the interactive buzz and 
the enthusiasm with which everyone
bought into the principles being taught.
Testimonies from participants are so encouraging and attest to the life change in those who attended the training:
 
 
“I was reminded how we are created in the image of God and that it is my purpose to train up a child Biblically.” -Marethabile (Children’s Pastor)
 
“I think I had lost the love towards children but God really touched my spirit .”-Cornie (Missionary)
 
“This is first-class training for it is about building up the leaders of tomorrow and empowering them with the love of God. This should be taught to all ministries.” –
Mankopane“
 
“I sensed God’s love through the trainers and through interacting with the participants. Their training was ‘worth millions.’ I was reminded that I need to model the behaviour I expect from my students and that they need to know I love them unconditionally.” -Komosoang (Educator)
 
“This is the most transforming approach that needs to be taught to adults as well. I also need to include the parents.” -Hope (Sunday School teacher)
 
“I realized I have mainly been addressing the minds of the children, but in order for them to love God, I need to address the other spheres -their spirits, their souls and their strength. I also realized how important their home background is.” -Tsoane (Sunday School teacher)
 
“I want to help children love the Word of God more than I did as a child.” – Masa (Praise and Worship team leader)
 
“I was reminded that some children come to church hungry, broken-hearted. I need to create a welcoming environment and treat them with love, and I learnt to rely on the Holy Spirit to do this. Through the church, I want to do my best to meet their needs.”  -Welekazi (Sunday School teacher)
 
“I got great help in realizing that I have been approaching the kids’ ministry without listening to the Holy Spirit.” -Theko (Sunday School teacher)
 
“I learned to hear God through Scripture and that it is important to train learners to impact the next generation through Scripture.” -James (Missionary)
 
“As I participated in this training, I was able to hear God’s voice.” – Mathebo
 
“It was awesome. I learned to rely on the Spirit of God for nurturing the children.” -Welekazi (Sunday School teacher)
 
“This should be taught in all ministries and they in turn should teach and train the congregation. This is quite incredible.” – Mankopane
 
“I sensed the learners’ hearts are ready for the Word.” -Agnes (Teacher) “We need this training often.” – Mpho (Teacher)
 
“I will involve God in every movement and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, all the time being aware of everyone’s uniqueness.” -Maphuthi (Sunday School teacher)
 
” These instructors know their content and achieved what they came to do!”
 
 
For more information on KAH, please click here
 
 
 
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“I am a changed girl”

“I am a changed girl”

– God is working as otLIVE is taught at schools in Malawi

 

Walk Thru the Bible Regional Trainer, Lynette Stander, reports on the lives that are being impacted as otLIVE is taught in Malawian schools…

We are so excited about what is happening with otLIVE in schools in Malawi. I had the privilege recently to spend time with otLIVE instructors in some of these schools – both to upskill and encourage them. What a joy to witness God at work…

 

Observing the excited participation of the children in otLIVE was a joy. Even more so was hearing some of their testimonies:

“otLIVE has helped me to know the love of God –  that he gives us time to repent and come back to him.”

“These otLIVE lessons at school that we do on the Bible have helped me to respect my aunt. At first, I was a troublesome girl, but now I am a changed girl and my aunt is my witness.

 

The testimony of parent 

“Our family is of another faith – and I therefore didn’t want my child to attend the classes on the Old Testament which are taught at the local school. A while later, I noticed such a change in my child and I remarked to her that I liked what I saw. My child replied: Mother, I did go to those Bible classes at school – and since then my life is different.”

I have noticed such a positive change in her that she now has my blessing to attend.”

 

The school teachers are growing spiritually too as result of otLIVE. Teachers have reported:

“otLIVE helps the children ask meaningful questions. They want to discover more about the Bible. It gets the children thinking about and discussing the Bible. It helps them develop a passion for the Word of God.”

“otLIVE is teaching the children the gospel in a way that they can understand. It is a wonderful evangelism tool!”

“Academically, we have noticed a real improvement in the children’s marks for Bible Knowledge.”

 

According to the principal of one of the schools:

“Since otLIVE has been taught here, we have really seen a change for the better in the behaviour of the children. In fact, attendance at school is much better on the days that otLIVE is taught!”

Many of the schools where otLIVE is taught are in areas that are predominantly of another faith, but the learners so enjoy and look forward to the otLIVE lessons. A few years ago at one such school, Gideon Bibles were brought to the school, but these were torn up. God however opened the door for otLIVE to be taught at this same school – and now recently when the Gideons again brought Bibles, there was a total change of heart. This time, the Bibles were given to the children, and they were allowed to read them.

 

The otLIVE instructors that teach in the Malawi schools are dedicated and enthusiastic. They also shared about how their own lives are changing as a result of teaching otLIVE:

“This is helping me to grow spiritually.” 

“I get to know the Bible better as I teach.”

“God created me to teach!”

More schools also want otLIVE

We were so encouraged to learn that there are new schools who are also wanting otLIVE, as they have heard about what is happening in schools where it is currently being taught. Plans are being made to train new instructors for this – as well as to train those who already teach otLIVE, to also teach ntLIVE (New Testament LIve). This is an excellent opportunity to reach children – especially now as Covid restrictions are significantly less.

 

May God continue to bless this ministry as the lives of children and teachers alike are impacted and changed.

 

For more information on otLIVE please click here.

 

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otLIVE in SA schools: “Kids love this!”

otLIVE in SA schools: “Kids love this!”

Equipper, Welcome Ndlovu, gives feedback on how otLIVE has been received in South African schools…

 

“The participation from the learners was amazing! Kids love this! otLIVE definitely develops an interest and curiosity about the Bible in the children who attend. They learn in a fun and exciting way. In fact, they develop a passion for learning about the Bible.

Many of the children ask questions and identify with characters from the Old Testament. The hand signs are also really Important for remembering the big picture. I would like to pay tribute to the teachers who really help by regularly reviewing the material.”

 

 

Feedback on otLIVE from learners in schools

 

“It has made me understand the Word of God and what happened in the Bible. Knowing about other characters in the Bible encourages me to press on in life.”  ~ Maxwell Daramola.

“This has made me gain more zeal for reading the Bible. It helped me to realise that l must always be kind to other people and help others”  ~ Nontokozo Moyo

“l will definitely encourage others to do otLIVE as you learn the Bible so quickly, in an easy, simple and fun way. The hand signs are great.”  ~ Nicole Nyathi

“otLIVE has been of great help to me personally to learn more about the events and characters of this Holy book. It has made me love God even more.”  ~ Alungile Sibisi

“otLIVE has helped me to follow the path of God. I also learnt to obey my parents, elders and family members. I will follow the steps of Jesus Christ. Thank you to the instructors for how they taught us.”  ~ Amelia Bila

 

For more information about otLIVE please click here. To find out about being trained as an otLIVE instructor click here.

 

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Bible teaching and meeting physical needs in Mozambique

Bible teaching and meeting physical needs in Mozambique

– profiling a Walk Thru the Bible-supported

children’s project in Gwara-Gwara

This project is facilitated by the Agape Family Church Beira and aims to meet the spiritual as well as the physical needs of people in Gwara Gwara in the Buzi District in Mozambique. Here lives have been severely impacted by recent floods. Families have been displaced, leaving many people homeless. Lives have been lost and infrastructure destroyed.

This farming project provides for the feeding of children and their immediate families. Beneficiaries are both members of the church, as well as villagers who are in need as a result of the floods or have been placed there by the Mozambican government. With support received, the Church has been able to buy organic rice seeds and food for the beneficiaries. People who are part of the programme are also now able to produce their own food.

The programme also ministers to the spiritual needs of the community. The wife of the pastor at the Gwara Gwara Church has been running an outreach programme and has customised the content of the Bible teaching to the challenges faced by the community. We are grateful that in spite of the many natural disasters and a growing number of beneficiaries, Agape has consistently been able to conduct sessions of the outreach programme.

 

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