In Southern Africa, during the first 9 months of 2025, we were privileged to reach 149 771 children using otLIVE, teaching them the big picture of God’s Word and his love for each one. And as we praise the Lord for this, it is good and fitting to ‘zoom in’ and hear from an otLIVE instructor who is on the ground, regularly working in the schools.
To this end, we introduce Desmond Gates, an instructor who teaches otLIVE to children in schools in Limpopo. Desmond’s enthusiasm for what he does is certainly evident, as is his love for his Lord and the children he teaches:
“Through teaching otLIVE I have had the opportunity to impact so many groups of children and the interactions and conversations afterwards have been particularly memorable. Children often come after the otLIVE presentation and approach me with questions, doubts, fears, and ‘what-about questions’. It’s as if otLIVE is a ‘bridge builder’ to open the conversation – perhaps sometimes it’s easier for them to engage with someone from the outside to voice doubts or questions.
Sometimes I find that in schools, the children have never heard the Gospel before and don’t know the Bible stories at all. This is always a sobering fact in a ‘Christian’ country like South Africa. Children just don’t know the Word of God, and in our post-COVID world, often don’t go to church with their families. So many children approach me, saying that they don’t have a Bible and asking for one. They value it more as they start to understand the big picture of God’s Word and how it’s put together.
There are so many great opportunities to evangelise through otLIVE. I often like to build on the stories in the Old Testament. The children have many questions about their identity, who they really are. It is a joy to share with them that in this world of so many mixed messages, that their identity is in Christ, and that the answers are all in His Word.
OtLIVE is relevant and needed! I would encourage others to get out there and build relationships with school principals and teachers. Get to know them. Offer a tool like otLIVE, perhaps initially focusing on values education and Bible knowledge. Build relationships. See what God will do! I have seen the Lord’s favour repeatedly in these situations as He opens doors. At one stage, I was even teaching at three schools on the same day, in one particular small town.
You ask why I do what I do?
It’s because I know that this generation of young people desperately need to know and follow God. It was Jesus himself who said “Let the children come to me. And do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.”
otLIVE at school year end function:
I had the privilege at Modimolle Christian Academy to teach otLIVE to the whole school from the foundation phase right through to the high school, over the course of a term. I was thrilled when the school decided to have all the children showcase this to the parents at the school year-end function as part of the concert and school anniversary celebrations. This was a ‘glam’ event and a real celebration with the parents attending from the town and surrounding areas. And what a highlight this was! This school principal had really been thrilled when I had come knocking with otLIVE and the prospect of teaching it at the school.”
To find out more otLIVE
otLIVE teaches the big picture of God’s Word using engaging and fun memory tools. Please click here for more information.
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