Dear
friend
It
seems like the main theme of my life and ministry is that of Change! You would
have seen that in recent updates as well. Well, it is certainly true this
month.
Sonlife
Africa is in the process of a merger with a sister organization called J-Life
Ministries. J-Life was started around the same time as Sonlife Africa by John
Abrahamse - we journeyed through the training from Sonlife at the same time
and, as director, John grew the organization to help churches implement a
Jesus-style disciplemaking ministry. They have the following focuses as a
ministry: coaching teams to help churches implement Jesus-style disciplemaking;
a youth worker training program, music and drama teams that equip local
churches, a theological programme aimed at assisting youth workers studying
theology, sports ministry, camping ministry and life discipleship (a gap year
ministry). We share the same DNA and have started to bump into each other as we
expand out efforts across the continent. Under God's leading, John and I
started meeting together a few months ago to talk about a possible merger.
As we
are seeing things develop, my role will be that of training director for the
movement - which will mean that in due course I will take my hands off the
Africa side of things in terms of launching and developing ministries across
Africa. All the Sonlife regional directors will be incorporated into the
movement as well as the country leaders working across Africa. The name Sonlife
Africa will be left behind in favour of the name J-Life Ministries except in
referencing our connection as Sonlife in Africa with our global ministry partners.
The
other massive change that I have gone through is that I have taken a half-time
role as youth pastor in my local church (we have been a part of His People
Christian Church in Johannesburg for the past four years). I have been feeling
for many months this year that I am getting out of touch with youth ministry
and need to get back into the trench to be effective in my disciplemaking role
with Sonlife. I have two full-time staff - Hayley Gommersal is our youth leader
- and she was trained by Sonlife when I went through the process in Johannesburg,
so the ministry has a solid foundation with the priorities we teach from Jesus'
life and ministry. I also have a youth worker, Andrew Falkson, who is a
relational type and is powerful in ministering in high schools and is a great
asset to the ministry. We also have about 12 volunteer staff who are involved
with us. My goal is to develop the ministry further and write and share
resources and curriculum out of this context in the wider disciplemaking
movement.
I am
excited about my dual roles and despite being rather challenged in this interim
phase I foresee a day coming where my time is balanced between local church ministry
and operating as training director for the J-Life disciplemaking movement in
Africa.
I
would appreciate your prayers in the coming months as I have two international
trips planned between now and the end of the year - I am off to Kenya in
November (13-20) together with John Abrahamse and we will be presenting the
fourth level of equipping in Nairobi and the third level in the village of
Kager. Then in December (4-14) I am heading off to Sierra Leone for my second
trip to that country and will be presenting a Strategy and Foundations seminar
in two cities: Kailahun and Freetown. Pray that God would prepare the hearts of
the delegates and help us as we come alongside ministries that are seeking to
demonstrate the priorities of disciplemaking seen in the life and ministry of
Jesus Christ.
On
the home front, we are thrilled to report that we have the official adoption of
Drew Nguvu all completed and he is now officially our child, or as the document
says, "He is ours, as if by birth". He has brought incredible joy
into our home and we are truly honoured to have this adorable and precious soul
growing up with us!
Thanks
to those who have been faithful partners with Sonlife Africa over the past
seven years - it is my prayer that you would continue to stay plugged into all
that Sonlife ministries is doing in Africa - even though the container is
changing, our values and priorities remain the same and our need for support,
both in prayer and finances, are not decreasing. May God lead you to continue
to invest in what He is doing in and through us on the continent of Africa.
Blessings
Mark
Tittley
mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Director
Sonlife Africa: http://www.sonlifeafrica.com
Youth
Pastor, His People Johannesburg: http://www.hispeoplejoburg.org
