Dear Honeyridge Family,  

If there is one word I have typed and said more  in the last month than I would ever care to repeat again in my whole life, it is the word “Lockdown”… Oh dear… I just typed it again!  

The “L” word started off as a novelty but has now become our prison… and I write this Pastoral note with much uncertainty of what the 1st May 2020 will bring for us as South Africans. By the time you read this, we will be entering into the first phase of life after Lockdown, with the hopes that normality will begin to return... but we still have a long road ahead as a country.

But what this time has been teaching me is that God is not constrained by viruses… or Government regulations… or social distancing… and he is not constrained by the regular program of the Church. He has continued to work and has in fact revealed many things to us about life and being the True Church of Jesus Christ in ways which would otherwise not have been likely.

As I look back over this last month, I am grateful to God for the following lessons…

1. We have learned to appreciate the Gathering of believers as the Church (Heb 10:25)
2. We have learned to appreciate celebrating the Lord’s supper as the Body of Christ (1 Cor 10:16-17)
3. We have learned to appreciate the blessings of interpersonal fellowship (Rom 1:10-12 / 1 Thes 3:6)
4. We have learned to understand the pain of those in their loneliness  (2 Tim 1:15 / 2 Tim 4:9-16)
5. We have certainly learned in a new way, the special comfort and care of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 139:7-12 / 2 Tim 4:17)  

For many of us, these lessons came to us at great cost in this month of Lockdown – and so it is my prayer that God’s work in shaping our thinking about life, and Church and being Christians…  will not be quickly lost on us as the business of life after Lockdown starts to resume. What a waste it will all be if we lose sight of these precious lessons in the valley where God intends to make us more thankful, more joyful, more loving, more caring, more patient and more kind than when this all began.  

Your brother in Christ,
Clinton.

The DC4K Safekeeper team ministers to kids who are grieving.   We do it because Jesus cares about what happens to kids of divorce.  Hear what some DC4K kids shared about their lives:

“I don’t understand why Mom chose her boyfriend over me. I hate her for it but I miss her.  I know I’m supposed to love her but how can I love her when she left me behind? I love my dad and he tries to make up for my mom being gone. Grandpa and Grandma also help take care of us. It’s not the same any more. Why did she have to leave? Why?”

“I was hoping my parents would get back together but why did Dad have to marry that woman?  I don’t even know if I like her.  He told me I have to love her because he does and she’s now my step-mom.  I’m not even sure what a step-mom does.”

“I’m glad my parents are getting divorced! They fight all the time and at least now things are quiet at home. I’m worried I won’t get to see my grandparents.   They are pretty mad at mom. They think she kicked dad out of the house.”  

“My sister and I have to take care of our mom. Mom is so sad.  We have to tell her when to get up. If we don’t make sure she’s up before we leave for school, she doesn’t make it to work. I worry all day and can’t concentrate on my school work. I’m worried she won’t go to work and she’ll lose her job.  What will we do then?”  

“I’m going to run away. Please can I live with you? You are nice to me.”  

Need workers for 2021. Libby de Klerk.  

One week before the Coronavirus lockdown was announced in South Africa, Alper boarded a flight from Paris to OR Tambo. The goal of his trip was to speak to his sending churches (Honeyridge, Rosebank Union) and private supporters about his plans to permanently move his ministry from France to Turkey. Alper recalls that this flight was the "most wonderful flight experience I ever had" – obviously because of the empty cabin!   Having come from a high-risk country, Alper remained in a self-imposed quarantine for 14 days. Little did we know that on 23 March our President would announce a nation-wide lockdown in South Africa! Alper's sister and sister-in-law from Turkey had planned to join Alper on this trip but having kept a close eye on global developments they cancelled their flights 4 days before the lockdown was announced.  

Despite the physical restrictions imposed by the lockdown, Alper was able to arrange multiple conference calls with all the relevant people, including OM South Africa and OM Turkey. Alper was able to share his vision to move from his current location in France back to his home country of Turkey, in order to bring the Gospel of Christ to his own people. These plans were met with positive approval from all parties. Staff at OM Turkey confirmed that they had been praying for more labourers to enter into their portion of God's field.  

Prayer points: Praise for a successful trip to South Africa despite lockdown restrictions Pray for a smooth transition from France to Turkey (admin, logistics, health) – planned for mid-2020 Thanksgiving for the support given by churches and cell groups regarding the transition Pray that Alper will integrate well and build strong relationships with the OM network and local churches in Turkey  

(The Honeyridge mission trip to Turkey is postponed until further notice!)  

Redeem the time during Lockdown - and get the answers from God's Word to help yourself and others! In this new resource from Desiring God, John Piper offers six biblical answers to the question many of us have asked recently: "What exactly is God doing through the coronavirus?" Christ — and Christ's church — are essential during this time of global pandemic to bring both physical and spiritual relief.