REACHING MORE PEOPLE IN MASI FOR JESUS CHRIST

THE COMMUNITY Masiphumelele (or “Masi”) is an informal settlement in the Southern Peninsula of . Initially known as “Site 5”, the community was renamed by its residents as “Masiphumelele”, an isiXhosa word meaning “let us succeed”. About 500 people first settled in the area in the 1980s. During residents were continually removed to the suburb of , over 30 km away, but the numbers began to grow as apartheid began to unravel from 1990. Today, it’s estimated that more than 40 000 people live in Masi. There has also been a signif- icant influx of residents from other sub-Saharan Africa countries such as , and Zambia. It’s estimated that between 25-35% of Masi residents are now non-South African. As with most other informal settlements in , amenities are scarce. Schools are overcrowded, there is no police station and an understaffed day clinic. Approximately 23-28% of the population is HIV positive, and many of these are affected by Tuberculosis as well. As a result, there are many orphaned children and many parents or grandparents who have to support families on their own. Crime rates are high and unemployment is estimated to be between 70-80%.

THE OPPORTUNITY There is no shortage of churches in Masi. But, as in most Southern African cities, there is a desperate shortage of churches that teach the true gospel and raise up faithful If we are to reach leaders for the next generation. Our experience of gospel Cape Town for work in South African townships and our research into Christ, we Masi so far, has identified the following: desperately

1 There is an opportunity to challenge the need more

prosperity gospel gospel-teaching, healthy Large numbers of We’re building a sharper understanding of the factors churches“ to be Africans actively that drive so many towards the prosperity gospel. planted in the participate in We’re convinced that, whatever the attraction, the biggest “ problem with prosperity theology is not that it promises township areas. Christianity… yet also believe in witchcraft, too much, but that it promises far too little. The true gospel evil spirits, sacrifices to of Jesus offers salvation from sin and the solid hope of PHUMEZO MASANGO, ancestors, traditional eternal life, not a platform for earthly prosperity. RECTOR – CHRISTCHURCH religious healers, KHAYELITSHA reincarnation and 2 There is an opportunity to teach other elements of against syncretism traditional African The mixing of biblical Christianity with traditional African religious beliefs and practices, religions… more than remains a serious and common problem in African churches. Our experience so far in

half the people places like Khayelitsha and Masi has certainly found this to be the case in and around

surveyed [in South Cape Town. Because many of these practices are tied into family life and family hierarchies Africa] believe that it’s essential to start a church which proactively seeks to connect with whole families – sacrifices“ to ancestors especially fathers. or spirits can protect them from harm. 3 There is an opportunity to raise up a new generation of evangelical leaders Two of the leading Reformed Evangelical training institutions in South Africa (George Whitefield College and The Bible Institute) are within 15km of the Masi community. TOLERANCE AND TENSION: Yet neither of these institutions have had a student from Masi graduate with a basic degree ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. PEW in theology. Why? Because the churches of Masi, by and large, do not have the resources RESEARCH CENTER REPORT, 2010. or mindset to train people up for evangelical church leadership. Given our proximity to these excellent training institutions, there is a great opportunity to launch a church which raises up and trains evangelical leaders for the future. 4 There is an opportunity to reach people who are eager to hear God’s Word Our work in Masi so far has been hugely encouraging. We’ve found so many people who are eager to hear simple Bible teaching from a well-trained, trustworthy pastor, with the backing of a solid denomination.

There is an awesome opportunity to launch a new church in Masi which brings the true, biblical, gospel of Jesus to Masi, counters some of the dangerous messages that are out there and raises up a new generation of church leaders.

THE PLAN Christchurch Khayelitsha (CCK) is located in the largest township in the Cape Town area and, Bheki Dikeni by God’s grace, has a track record of real gospel growth in the midst of some of the most Bheki is married to Thembi challenging social conditions. In 2016, CCK launched its “Vision 2030”: a desire to plant seven and they have two little girls churches by 2030 in townships across Cape Town. (Chulumanco is 3 years old St Peters Church has experienced wonderful growth from it’s surrounding middle-class, and Sanelisekile is 6 months). suburban communities but has had little success in connecting with and discipling people from Bheki began his formal theological Masi (located just 2km away). studies in Pietermaritzburg and A gospel-centred partnership between CCK and St Peters could be an effective means of completed his Diploma in Theology planting a new church to reach Masi. We’ve already been able to secure a property on the edge at George Whitefield College in of the community. Our church planter, Bheki Dikeni, has been based there since August 2018. Cape Town. He has attended church planter training seminars with This can serve as an ideal base to launch new ministries to reach the Masi community. City to City in Cape Town. “My heart is to preach the gospel The next 12 months of Jesus Christ to the poor communities, where people are • Bheki and his team are currently researching the hopeless, because the gospel community of Masi through questionnaire surveys brings about transformation and and he’s also building relationships, evangelizing has a promise of eternal life.” and discipling individuals. • We’ve already seen two women and one man came to faith in Jesus, through door-to-door evangelism. God has also opened an opportunity to start Bible studies in two orphanage homes. Three young men, in their early 20’s, are being discipled. • We’ve also been well received by some of the key community and political leaders in Masi. One such leader has been assigned to us as a contact point for anything that we might need help with, in the future. • We’re hoping to secure a temporary location in Masi to hold evangelistic outreach campaigns over the next 6 months (especially Christmas and Easter). • Our prayerful hope is to launch a Sunday gathering with at least 50 to 60 people by August, 2019.

PARTNER WITH US Partner with us, in the following ways, to reach more people in Masiphumelele for Jesus Christ: For Christ’s love compels us, because 1 PRAY 2 GIVE 3 SEND we are convinced Pray that God would pour Partner with us financially. If you have groups or “that one died for all, out his Spirit and bring We’re looking to raise individuals who you would and therefore all died. many people to salvation. R500 000 to help grow this like to send to serve in And he died for all,

Pray that they would then work in 2018/19. Masi, for as little as ten that those who live

find in this new work, St Peters Church days or for longer periods, should no longer live a loving Christian Standard Bank there’s plenty to do! for themselves but community where they SWIFT code: SBZAZAJJ We’d love to teach you for him“ who died can established in the faith Branch code: 036009 more about gospel work for them and was and trained for service Account no: 270372806 in this context. raised again. in God’s mission. Reference: “MASI PLANT”

2 CORINTHIANS 5:14–15 NIV