When Cheree and I first moved to South Africa, our plan was to go and help others plant churches. It was not too long before there was a small group started in a three-bedroom apartment that housed four families close to the inner city where we were working. We faithfully met with new [...]
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will [...]
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV) You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in [...]
The Walk to Emmaus: Part 3By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the [...]
The Walk to Emmaus: Part 2 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27 NKJV). Can you Imagine what it was like to be in this conversation? Luke introduces us to Jesus, the Preacher! I have heard many good preachers talking [...]
The Walk to Emmaus: Part 1 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them (Luke 24:13-15 NLT). [...]
We all desire to have a dynamic prayer life. Here are keys that can help us: Surrendered Life: A dynamic prayer life begins with a surrendered heart. When we submit ourselves to Christ, we pray not for authority but from a place of authority, rooted in our identity in Christ. This surrender aligns us [...]
Prayer is more than a ritual; it is a lifeline that connects us to God’s power and presence. Jesus, who regularly withdrew to pray, modeled this for us. His life demonstrated that a deep connection with God through prayer results in miraculous outcomes, aligning us with God's will and authority. In Christ, we pray [...]
When we are willing to pray for others, God moves through us to touch people’s lives. by Merle Shenk We serve a God of the supernatural! The Holy Spirit is the Helper who Jesus promised in John 14:16-17. He is the means through which we live in continual connection with God. He leads us [...]
By Merle Shenk Cheree and I, with our nine-month-old daughter, moved from the USA to Cape Town in 2004 to plant a church. Although we had helped plant churches in other areas of the world, we were unprepared for the steep learning curve we faced in the developing nation of South Africa. We had [...]
