News > Africa

Cape Town UBF, Africa
April 30, 2014

UBF Cape Town held an Easter Bible Academy from April 18-20 with the title ‘Heavenly Father’s Love’. Our prayer topic was to learn our heavenly Father’s love through the parable of the prodigal son and Jesus’ prayer on the cross, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’. We prayed for our existing members to grow as leaders and to receive grace through testimony writing and sharing.

On Friday we had group study on Luke 15, ‘The parable of the prodigal son’. After that we had a drama expressing the passage in a modern way. Our concern was that if half of our members participate in the drama then there would not be many members left in the audience to enjoy the drama. However, God took care of our concern behind the scenes. On Friday new faces arrived and at the end 18 people attended (including four missionaries). The drama was a great hit. Many received the word, ‘Come as you are. Don’t try to fix or wash yourself. Your heavenly Father is waiting to receive you with open arms.’ After the drama we had one student reciting the passage from memory followed by two testimony sharers. Because of academic studies it was a great struggle for our leaders to prepare drama and testimonies in advance. But through their struggle they could digest the passage and begin to taste our heavenly Father’s love who receives sinners with so much love and understanding.

On Saturday our numbers returned to our regular members. We had group study on Luke 23, ‘Jesus’ death on the cross’ followed by a message by brother Mondli. We thought of sinners who are ignorant and don’t know their sins are bringing the wrath of God. Although God should crush all sinners who nailed Jesus to the cross, Jesus interceded and prayed, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ Jesus not only prayed for us but he also made our forgiveness possible through his atoning death. Many students understood Jesus’ death as a substitute for our death and punishment in a deeper and clearer way. After lunch we had testimony writing and sharing. Our ministry is still young and students are still learning the benefit of testimony writing. One brother commented that he surprised himself because he was busy the whole Saturday. Normally, he would be tired after 30 minutes. But somehow after a long day at the academy he went home refreshed and strengthened. He was not tired at all. I am thankful that on Saturday we could look newly at the cross of Jesus and get a glimpse of what Jesus had graciously done for us. Through that we could experience something of our heavenly Father’s love forgiving our sins through His one and only Son.

On Sunday missionary Daniel Rhee from Pretoria delivered a graceful and heart moving message from Luke 7, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ Missionary Daniel made us shout the title from the top of our voice. For the rest of the message students were hanging on every word until the last amen. Missionary Daniel’s English was fluent and clear. I’m so grateful that msn Daniel and Miso Rhee could join our Easter Bible Academy. Their presence and prayers provided depth and much strength to our activities. They were a great blessing to us! The academy closed with a South African braai which the students prepared and served.

Our prayer topics are:
1. We thank and praise God for blessing our Easter Bible Academy and helping us to taste something of our heavenly Father’s love
2. We pray for our leaders: brothers Mondli, Donald, Surprise and Masingita to grow as disciples of Jesus
3. We pray for our sister’s ministry to grow
4. We pray for our John’s Gospel study to learn deeply who Jesus is and have life in his name.