Mission & Evangelism
This Portfolio has the following ministry groups in it:
Bible Study Groups
Tseliso Leballo is leading Bible Study group meeting on a Tuesday evening. He is presently preparing the group for further study by going through the structure and books of the Bible. The other bible study group existing within and outside the Parish is Women of Grace which meets on alternate Wednesday evenings.
Women Of Grace
Women of Grace is a group of ladies in and around the community of Brackenhurst, Brackendowns and Meyersdal who meets alternate Wednesdays at any volunteered home. This group has given and shown love to a lot of families, known and unknown, far and near, the compassion that imitate Christ. This is an interdenominational group with one purpose, to fellowship together and to hold each other in prayers.
Covid has made it difficult to be consistent with our meetings as most have gone or suffered a great deal. As the wheel is turning for the better, we can only hope and pray for the vibrant evangelism like the fire ignited in the hearts of us all.
Mothers Union (MU)
The MU meet regularly for prayer, worship, and fellowship but their strength lies in their involvement in programs to promote good parenting, stable marriages and family life, literacy, various community service projects and relief work. Since their inception in 1876, a lot of effort has always gone into helping clergy families and clergy in parishes with work as Sacristans. We welcome our MU ladies and look forward to their service among us and involvement in the wider community. More recently, the MU have been instrumental and will focus on gender-based violence (GBV).
Women's Fellowship
Recently, the ladies of the Parish have started meeting on the third Saturday of each month to have breakfast, fellowship and fun. The format is similar to that of the men, but because many more words are used, the meetings sometimes take a little longer! Please come along and join in the fun and build this fellowship.
Men's Fellowship
The men of the Parish get together occasionally – for a fellowship breakfast. A speaker is invited to address men on issues that affect them, followed by a short discussion; we sing, pray, eat, and chat. The event lasts approximately one hour and has become increasingly popular. All men are welcome.
Sometimes during the year the church hosts the courses below:
Alpha
The Alpha Course is open to everyone interested in discovering what Christianity is about. Come, relax, eat, share your thoughts and explore the meaning of life. The Alpha course group usually meets once a week for 10 weeks, and includes a one-day or weekend getaway. At each session, people enjoy great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or too hostile questions like: Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? St Francis has run Alpha before and the two Companions in Christ groups currently meeting were formed after this Alpha Course.
Rooted in Jesus
This is a two-year discipleship program designed for Africa (it takes cognizance of lower literacy levels in some parts). It was first used in the Diocese of Niassa, Mozambique, which is now sharing it with Angola. It has now also been rolled out in South Africa. In our own Diocese, Rooted in Jesus was implemented very successfully in the Vosloorus Archdeaconry and we hope to establish a training group amongst the young people in our own Archdeaconry of Katlehong.
Back-to-Church Sunday
This is now the single largest local-church invitational initiative in the world. It is based on the simplest and shortest step in evangelism – when we invite someone we already know to our church. While the initial focus was to invite ‘back’ those who used to attend church, others who do not attend can also be invited, gently encouraged and warmly welcomed. Thus, this season could also be called “Invitation Sunday”. Creative changes can be made to include weekday congregations.
Happening weekends (for the youth)
The Happening experience does not propose a new type of Spirituality, but provides a method through which one’s Spirituality may be developed, lived and shared in fellowship with other Christians. The Happening Experience is a powerful instrument of renewal within the Church. Its aim is to concentrate closely on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ and seeks to give those who attend the desire to understand and serve the Church. During the three day Happening Weekend, the teachings of Christ are discussed in an atmosphere of joy and happiness. A Happening is an encounter with Christ. During the three days the ‘Happeners’ (those attending) listen to talks given by other young people and clergy.
Cursillo
Cursillo has been described as ‘a short course in Christian living’, and has had a transformative impact on the lives of many who have participated in it for the good of the Church and its mission. The Diocese of the Highveld had its first Cursillo Weekend in May 2012 with the 9th Men & Women held side by side from the 17th to 20th October 2019 at Emseni in Boksburg.( the theme was Phillipians 4:13). We are very fortunate to have a number of our parishioners who attended most of the Cursillo Weekends. We know that lives have been changed through the weekend experience and we encourage others to consider using Cursillo to develop a closer walk with the Lord.
