In September 2024, the Annual Conference of the MCSA launched the Pilgrimage of Renewal, an initiative aimed at renewing our church life, such that each church, in terms of the presiding bishop’s vision for the Methodist Church in Southern Africa, becomes a desirable alternative community in the face of the onslaught of the world and the legacies of the historical conflicts in our country. This pilgrimage represents a pivotal moment for all Methodists in Southern Africa as we engage in prayerful conversations throughout the entire church, right down to individual member level, to discern God’s call for our mission over the next ten years and beyond. Even though the insights gained through conversations will be presented at Conference as early as September 2025, the long term goal is for spiritual renewal to continue to change the face of South African communities to bring hope, joy, peace and love by, each one of us, becoming the hands and feet of Christ.
The expression of the church becoming the hands and feet of Christ, must be undergirded by our understanding of Scripture’s call to love one another. Christians are meant to be an alternative community living a new way of life, visibly demonstrating the values of Jesus and the kingdom of God. That necessarily will create a countercultural community living by different values than the surrounding society and providing a real evangelistic model of the healthier and more human way of life that the gospel offers.
If we truly desire to see positive change in the world, not just cosmetic window dressing which does little to alleviate the causes of social ills such as crime, violence, and crippling poverty, then that positive change must first be seen in the Body of Christ. The kingdom of God is not a reality to be discussed, but instead, is a body of principles that are to be lived. The church is meant to be an alternative community, a place where new principles, values, and interpersonal ethics are lived out in healthy, balanced social relationships. If we are faithful to living by kingdom principles, people will take notice and naturally be drawn to the peace, justice, and grace they see being lived out in this alternative society. It was this very
reality that led to the widespread success of the early church.
LIVING A PURPOSEFUL LIFE BY BECOMING THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS
There’s an amazing paradox to God’s grace. It’s absolutely free to all who come to Jesus in faith. Yet the grace of God is the costliest gift we’ll ever receive.
It cost God’s Son his life.
Absolutely free – the costliest price ever paid.
How could we possibly respond in a similar, meaningful way upon receiving the costliest, free gift ever given?
With indescribable gratitude from the depths of our soul. And then we ask ourselves how we can go about demonstrating such gratitude for the most valuable, costliest, free gift ever given?
By making our lives count ….by living a purpose driven life, irrespective of the stage of life we find ourself right now.
God created each one of us for a purpose and He redeemed us for a purpose. He wants each one of us to fulfil that purpose.
We can give purpose to our lives by embracing Peter’s guidance in two ways:
- You are (says Peter) a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:12); give Him praises in your heart and publicly.
- “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10).
One way of looking at our purpose is to see ourselves becoming the hands and feet of Jesus in our families, our Church and the broader world.
We cannot manufacture spiritual renewal for it is falls squarely in the domain of the Holy Spirit, but we can embrace a journey towards giving ever more purpose to our lives in gratitude for God’s gift to us.
WORKSHOP PROGRAM: Program/information & registration
Our Pilgrimage of Renewal Workshop on Monday 28th of April 2025.
Start 08h30 with coffee/tea and light snacks. Small lunch at 12h00 Close at 15h00.
Please register by Monday 14th April either by email – admin@knysnamethodist.co.za or WhatsApp 0824754868. Your inputs are valuable & important…please join us!
Session Outline
Read more about it here.
Want to get in touch? Please feel free to call us on 076 905 0964 or email us at admin@knysnamethodist.org