Hey Everyone!
There are 9 more days on the World race! I Just wanted to hop on here and share about our last country, South Africa. The Lord moved and is moving in miraculous ways in this country and I will share a little bit about how our team got to be apart of it for a month.
Ministry!
Our team along with the other guys team, was stationed in Johannesburg South Africa for our last month overseas. While there, we worked alongside Impact Africa. Impact is a ministry with a few locations across South Africa and they have a variety of ministries including baby rescue, impact students, outreach, different discipleship programs for South Africans and much more. If you would like to check it out here’s a link to their website. They have a lot of cool stuff going on. (https://www.impactafrica.org/)
Our team specifically got to be apart of three different Impact ministries. The majority of our time was spent doing outreach in the slums of Johannesburg.
We would load up the van in the morning and drive to some of the most dangerous and impoverished communities in the surrounding Johannesburg area. About 4-5 racers would be paired up with a National. (someone from South Africa who knew the area and the language) After prayer and asking the Lord we would head out into the community and share the gospel. Sometimes we would be sharing stories with people who deeply relied and loved Jesus and other times we would be talking to people who strait up worshiped satan and practiced witch craft.
Ultimately our goal was to go to war for the gospel in these areas by loving people. There are so many testimonies about what the Holy Spirit did. Every day we went out we had testimonies . There were healings, evil spirits being cast out, people experiencing the Holy Spirit for the first time, and people giving their life to Jesus for the first time.
Another ministry of Impact that we got to be apart of was impact baby rescue. A couple of times we had the opportunity to go to baby homes. In the Johannesburg area 3 babies on average are abandoned every day. This is tragic and breaks my heart and the heart of the Lord. The ministry spreads awareness about different options during pregnancy. They also offer free council services to pregnant mothers. We hung out with the babies at one of the baby house for the day! There is truly something special about holding a baby.
The third ministry we had the privilege to partner with was Impact Students. (Probably some of my favorite ministry all race) We went into a bunch of different public schools and taught for an hour on different topics. A lot of the topics were not directly the gospel, (for example one of the topics was “plan of the enemy”) but we were able to weave it in there and would usually end up answering a lot questions about Jesus. By the end we would often be laying hands and praying over kids. The middle to high school students were hungry for the gospel. There is a lot of heavy stuff that goes on in most of their home lives. They are desperate for Jesus and when the spirit would start moving in the room, kids would be set free when they would pray to Jesus for the first time. Many tears were shed and many new fires were ignited. During this time I was truly reminded that it was not by our words that set people free but by the power of the Holy Spirit, and by his overwhelming love. These days of Minstry were powerful.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
Psalm 139:7-10
South Africa was a transformational country. The people are so open and honestly desperate for Jesus in way that really represents true dependence on the Lord.
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6:26
Finishing up the race.
As I am writing this there is about a week and half left on the race. I can’t believe how fast it has gone. This year has changed my life. Above all else I have fallen in love with the living and active God this year. I am so incredibly grateful for the support, financially and through prayer. The kingdom of God is at hand you all have played a huge role in souls being saved. There is hope for this generation and there is hope for the nations. HIS NAME IS JESUS.
I plan to continue to keep up this blog for a little while so stay tuned, big things coming soon…
Pictures below!
Please reach out if you have any questions any questions or would like to talk about anything! My number is (+1) 831-884-6381
Love y’all!
Love you all. 🙂
John M Teter
John, my eyes are filled with tears as I read this post. I am in such adoration of the goodness of God in your life. It is evident that Jesus is your ALL IN ALL! There is so much hope for the nations and the world! Jesus is setting the world on fire with HIS love. Hallelujiah! Can’t wait to see you when you get back. I hope you can come visit us!
I Love you guys so much! Thank you for all that your family is. Can’t wait to visit.
Praise God you were able to have this life impacting experience. It is exciting to see you walking with our Savior and sharing the hope we have in Him!
Praise the Lord! Love you both.
So proud of you! 💗
Thanks Maddie. 🙂
I am so thankful for all God has done and is continuing to do in your life and in the lives of those to whom you and your team have ministered. Can’t way to see you and hear more about it.
Love you.
God is good, loving and powerful to the uttermost! Thankful for the growth in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and how He has used you and shown Himself to be the only and true God! So looking forward to seeing you, and having you share Jesus and your experience with us!
The folks as Liberty Bible Church in Gainesville, GA are excited to hear and see, too!
Love you. Can’t wait!
Wow, John Michael! I have loved reading your blog posts throughout this past year. Praying for you as you wrap up the race and process all you have experienced and learned.
Not by our words that people are set free but by the power of the Spirit!!! Amen. So proud of you John! See you so soon!
John
Thanks for sharing the ministry you and team W were a part of the last part of your race – it has been an honor to watch you grow in the lord over the last 9 months – let stay in touch
Stephen and Teri Jernigan