121@VMA Update, October, 2006

New Team Members
This last month has seen a lot of changes and challenges. For one, our team has expanded, and with that the organization is becoming progressively more structured. Whereas before we have been working on quite an informal, from home, over-the-phone-and-email basis, we now have a team meeting three times weekly to run the administrative and training side of 121. This has meant that we have been able to up the level of a lot of ‘organizational’ type things (fundraising, marketing, etc).

Pray that we will work well together in a team, and become more and more the kinds of people that God can use to impact the lives of young people.

Training in Soshanguve
In terms of training, we have been going through to Soshanguve every Wednesday to train local volunteers to run our life skills programs in the schools there next year. It has been great interacting with these twelve-odd young adults, discussing some challenging issues as we explore what Jesus is asking from us in the context of impacting the lives of young people.

Pray for these volunteers, that they will grow in understanding of what is expected of them in terms of working with 121, and especially that they will become a strong team, committed to changing lives for Jesus.

Constructive Detention
We’ve still been running our detention program at Pretoria North High and are still very excited about the impact it’s having on learners. Facilitators, working in small groups, have had the opportunity to really speak into lives, as learners have opened up and shared their struggles. We have been surprised at how much learners have enjoyed these two-hour sessions, and the very positive feedback we have received from the responsible member of staff from the school side as well.

Pray for the facilitators, that they will have wisdom and compassion when responding to their small group. Pray also for the learners, that the seeds that have been planted will take fruit.

Breakfast
Early in the month, we held a breakfast to inform people about what we’ve been up to and raise awareness and support for what we are doing. We were encouraged by the positive atmosphere and the opportunity to testify to what God has been doing in and through 121.

Please continue to pray for our finances, and especially that we will never need to hold back in any aspect of our ministry because of financial constraints.

Thank you to everyone who prays and supports us. We realize more and more how dependent we are on the greater team of people, who although not necessarily directly involved in our work, nevertheless play a pivotal role in holding us accountable, keeping us motivated and encouraged, and most importantly, engage in the important work of prayer on our behalf.