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In the beginning…
On 23 October 2006, Jocelyn Sery and Patrick Derand from La Reunion arrived in South Africa to spend some time with the CTMI family in Durban. It was a joyful reunion with the church for Jocelyn, after his last visit in August 2005; many of the church were waiting with hopeful hearts. Jocelyn was truly encouraged by the growth that had taken place in Durban since his last visit, so many young people desiring to serve the Lord, compared to his last visit, where the youth group consisted of 4 young people only…
Was the Word...
He shared on many subjects and his time in South Africa was truly a time for seeds to be sown in the spirit in the hearts of many brothers and sisters, parents and youth. In most of the meetings, Jocelyn showed the heart of the Lord for His people. He shared repeatedly on the importance of our relationship with the Lord.
And the Word was with God...
At one Sunday morning meeting, he spoke about the cross and the commandment that Jesus gave His disciples in John 13:34 regarding our love for one another - he gave an illustration of the cross as a vertical and horizontal beam; with the horizontal representing our relationships with other members in the church and the vertical representing our relationship with God. For us to have love and concern for one another, the cross needs to be at work in our hearts and lives, both horizontally and vertically.
And the Word was truth...
For the next Sunday meeting and during the mid week meetings Jocelyn continued to speak about the cross, God's love, and its bearing on our freedom. He shared that, in love we don't use our freedom to affect others. After reading from Romans 5:13, many people's relationships with their spouses, children, parents, and brothers and sisters in the church were exposed and shaken by this passage of scripture.
One Sunday evening meeting in Pietermaritzburg (an hours drive from Durban at the home of Peter and Raylene Amos). Jocelyn spoke about how we reap what we sow, and that there needs to be an attitude of brokenness in our lives and allowing death to work in us, so that life may be in others
During his time in Durban, Jocelyn also spent time with the music team and he encouraged them that their responsibility was not just to play music but was to lay down their lives for one another and for the church. One could feel that he was very concerned about worship, and took great care of the team. The church needs to feel not their talent but their hearts for the Lord. Without brokenness, the music will not “please” the Lord. It was a wonderful time for the music team to be encouraged in this way, as it brought back to the foundation, which is not personal talent, but rather, Christ.
And you shall know the truth…
A Bible course was held over 3 weeks on the Epistle to the Hebrews. It was the first time that the church has held a bible study and everyone was excited. Jocelyn clarified the difference between the old and new covenants, how, as a High Priest Jesus is able to stand on our behalf, before God. Having taken on the form of a man, He experienced what we experience, without sinning, and is therefore the perfect High Priest.
For a young church, it was very encouraging to know that we are indeed God's People and that the work of the cross makes it possible for us to walk righteously with God. The Bible Study could be described as being held at a strategic time for the church, as without revelation, the book of Hebrews can be very confusing. At least people now know about the order of Melchizedek!
Each of Jocelyn's visits have produced much fruit as the preaching of the gospel of the cross continues to establish and strengthen the Durban church. We were truly grateful to the Lord for the seed sown in the spirit. We can feel the heart of the ealders, which are taking care of us like parents, they are really concerned about our lives, concerned with the spreading of the gospel!
And the truth shall set you free...
Personal Testimony
"... I believed that I ended up in Durban for a reason, I knew God was the only way forward, but I didn't know the next step to take. Then Jocelyn started talking to me and nothing mattered anymore, none of it, where I was, who I was, how bad I knew I was, what I thought, how I felt, nothing! What Jocelyn said sounded right, it felt good. He told me that God was concerned for me, and wanted me as I am right now, that God had wanted me before I even knew who He was. I could not have done anything bad enough, that He wouldn't want me. God has been waiting for me since He let His Son die on the cross for me. All I had to do was say to it, say that I believe that through Jesus Christ my heart could be washed clean, and that I want a relationship with God. I said “Yes!” without even thinking about it when Jocelyn asked me if I wanted him to pray with me. So he and Lyn Page prayed with me and I have been born again! I am so excited! I have no idea what my future holds, or how my life will get sorted out. I am a heroin addict, my marriage is broken, I have no job, I have sought solace with another man; the list goes on... But I am not overly concerned. Today I have God on my side, I have handed Him my heart and my life, I have sought Him and He has revealed Himself to me, and I am so excited! Thank you, Lord Jesus ”.
Kelly Anne van Eden, Durban Church
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