Church, Covid-19, featured

Locked Down in Love – The Life Changers COVID-19 Update #3

Posted on Author lifechangersblog
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
Charles Dickens

 

The above words were famously penned as the introduction to The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and they seem an apt description of this strange season of life that we are finding ourselves in at this present moment in history. As we approach the half-way mark of lock-down here in South Africa, the reality of what lies ahead might be starting to set in. But despite the evidence of hardship and challenge that are looming large, we are more convinced than ever before that God is setting up His Church, His people, for some of their greatest days.

Romans.8:28 tells us:

“What the enemy planned for evil, God turns round for the good of those who love him…”

 

And that is what we are already seeing! Despite not being able to meet physically across our five meetings on a Sunday, we have had 34 first-time responses to the Gospel on our live online platform these past two Sundays!

 

We are having favour and access to support our local government like never before, with our church being a leading light in helping get resources and food to the vulnerable in our surrounding suburbs and areas at this time.

 

We have also seen an unprecedented amount of people in our church sign up for Life Group Live groups and we believe that the strength and grit of our Life Changers family will be shown in a way we haven’t seen in the midst of this crucial juncture. Thank you for being such a beautiful, faith-filled, resilient people!

 

And yet we know that none of this is easy for any of us. Businesses and families are under pressure, jobs and income have been lost, emotions are feeling frayed and relationships are being tested and stretched.

 

It’s because of knowing both the OPPORTUNITY and the OPPOSITION of this moment that we are wanting to encourage you to press into Jesus, community and faith in a way that you might not have done before. To help you do that, below contains helpful steps to take and online content to engage with over the coming week:

 

Here are five ways to seize opportunity and resist opposition at this time:

 

  1. GET CONNECTED 

SUNDAYS
From this past Sunday (5th April) we moved to three online times that our services will run live for the rest of our Lock-down season. This is to provide more people with more opportunities and options for them to engage and connect with the service with other like-hearted men and women.

 

These times are:
8:30am / 10:30am / 5pm

 

But before each service, we also have a pre-service experience hosted by Mark and Gabe on our Life Changers Facebook platform, where you can comment, connect and chat online.

These will run at:
8:10am – 8:25am
10:10am – 10:25am
4:40pm – 4:55pm

 

LIFE GROUP LIVE
Life-Group Live groups kicked off this past week with over 850 people signed up and involved. These groups are meeting online once a week over the Zoom App for short and sharp conversations and check-ins to see how everyone is doing. These are essential moments to be able to care for one another as well as to keep your faith encouraged and growing in the context of community at this time. If you are not part of one yet, make it a priority to sign up at http://www.lifechangers.org.za/lifegroup-live/

 

LIVE AT FIVE
Every night coming to our Life Changers Facebook page, live from Mark VP’s garage, is LIVE AT FIVE. A daily dose of information, inspiration and a whole lot of laughter to help you get through this crazy season of life! Join us each evening, comment, make suggestions and you might win prizes, have your name shouted out and influence the future editions of Live at Five.

There will also be special guests joining in via Zoom that you won’t want to miss.

 

  1. GET WATCHING

 

ONLINE SERVICE  
If you missed out on this last week Sundays Church@Home service or just want to watch it again, catch up with it here: http://www.lifechangers.org.za/

PODCAST SERIES
Our short podcast conversations between Mark and Gabe called LIFE CHATS are up on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeChangersCT They are an attempt at answering questions people have been asking around parenting, loneliness, spirituality, business, financial pressure and the Christian response to the Corona virus, and we believe it will be helpful, entertaining and encouraging in these crazy times we are living.

Part One – “Help! Have we canceled church?”
Part Two – “Help! I’m feeling frustrated and lonely!”
Part Three – “Help! How can God bring good in this time?”
Part Four – “Help! My business is in trouble!”

 

DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Each morning we are publishing brand new 2 minute video devotionals on all our social media platforms.

 

  1. GET READING

 

BLOG 
Check out our blog site http:// http://blog.lifechangers.org.za/ for the latest in our series, PRAY THROUGH IT ALL for a biblical recipe to combat anxiety!

 

READING PLAN
Download our Life Changers App (for free on any mobile App Store), click on Reading Plans and start our Faith Over Fear reading plan.

And as we begin this new week, our PASSION WEEK Reading Plan kicks off as we head towards Good Friday and Easter.

 

  1. GET GIVING

 

TITHES AND OFFERINGS
If you are wanting to give of your regular tithes and offerings, we would love to point you to http://www.lifechangers.org.za/give-online/ where you can give via Snapscan or via our EFT banking details. We would love to encourage you to keep making God your first priority each month, especially in the area of financial giving. 2.Corinthians.9:6-8 is a faith-stirring reminder at this time of pressure!

 

 

COVID RELIEF FUND
As mentioned at the top of this blog, we are partnering with Nora Grose (our Ward Counsellor) to look after and feed the vulnerable and forgotten members of our society at this time.Every cent given will go to feeding people and not to administrative costs. We will be overseeing and managing the whole process from procurement to placing the food at the door of the people who need it and we believe this is an amazing opportunity for us to serve our city in a very practical way.

 

Bank details for the FUND:
Bank: FNB
Account Name: Life Changers
Account Number: 627 968 121 73
Branch Code: 250655
Reference: COVID Relief Fund

 

  1. GET SERVING

 

Although we are all house-bound at this time, our ability to serve, encourage and love people is not held-back. Three ways you can be serving powerfully at this time:

  1. ONLINE: inviting unchurched friends and family to watch our Sunday services with you. Sharing, liking and commenting on our social media posts as we aim to reach the world around us with the Good news of Jesus. Send us testimonies and stories of what God is doing in you and through you to info@lifechangers.org.za
  2. ON THE PHONE: contact at least one person daily who you feel needs specific encouragement at this time. Forward on our audio formats of podcasts, sermons and devotionals to unchurched family and friends.
  3. IN PRAYER: pray for our church services each Sunday, individually or join a Zoom prayer meeting. Make a time to pray daily for our church, your Life Group or serving team and for your family.

 

We truly believe that though there is great opposition, great opportunity outweighs it all if only we have eyes to see it! We love you immensely our amazing Life Changers family. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need any prayer, encouragement or assistance at this time. If you have any ideas or questions, please also let us know! You can do that via email (info@lifechangers.org.za) or by phoning the office number 021 557 7704 during office hours. This number will be forwarded to one of our staff team every day of the week.God bless!

Love,

Gabe and Fi Phillips (on behalf of the Life Changers leadership team)