Comfort Ministries - Go and Proclaim Ministries

Concern Eastern Cape
What is Concern Eastern Cape? It is a network of pastors and ministry workers across the Eastern Cape that aims to complete the task of the Great Commission in their respective spheres of influence. Comfort Ministries was instrumental in establishing this network in the Eastern Cape. It is for like-minded church and ministry leaders with a heart of reaching the province with the good news of Jesus Christ. The director is Fanus Louw who together with his wife Ananta has run the ministry from Comfort Farm close to Bathurst. They have since relocated to Port Elizabeth and have concluded the ministry at Comfort Farm.

At a "Concern Eastern Cape" consultation at the beginning of 2018 several factors were identified as hindrances or challenges to reaching all of our province for the Lord. You can find more information here

1. Response and "Battleplan"
Against this background, it was concluded after a time of prayer that there is a clear instruction to all of us and all of His Church in the province. It seems clear that we should start with a thorough re-examination of ourselves, that we will repent of our wicked ways, recommit to prayer and intimacy with our Lord, unite in our commitment to the Lord and His command, and encourage and help one another to re-kindle our faith, not in our ability, but in the faithfulness of Him that called us and the power of His Spirit. We should earnestly seek our joy in the Lord for therein lies our strength remembering that we are His workmanship to perform the good works that he has prepared for us in eternity.

2. The way forward
It was decided at the end of the consultation that the following would serve as guidelines for the effective functioning of the network:

2.1 Feedback about the consultation will be given not only to those in attendance but also to those who have been invited, but who have been prevented by circumstances from being in attendance.
2.2 Ministries committed to giving feedback every month to Comfort Ministries on what the Lord has been doing, to continue to pray for one another and CM and for the work we have been called to, and to gather again at Comfort Farm on Saturday 5 May 2018 at 09h00.
2.3 Ministries should forward their details about the areas where he/she is ministering so that the database can be updated.
2.4 Ministries were encouraged to make use of the ministry tools that were introduced. These tools can be used in combination or as a stand-alone tool to empower the saints for their ministry. Leaders were encouraged to introduce tools and resources that they were using to the rest of the network.
2.5 CM will set up a database and inform everyone of all developments to improve effectiveness and encourage networking with others enabling everyone to gather the harvest.
2.6 Churches should be encouraged to reach out to neighboring countries, making these tools available to churches there to reach the continent for Christ.

3. Ministry Tools
The following ministry tools have been identified as part of the ministry "toolbox" for reaching the Eastern Cape. This is not a complete list nevertheless.

This is a comprehensive missionary training tool available to the Church or ministry. Live School missionary training presented by the World Mission Centre equips churches and organizations to prepare members to gather the harvest both locally and to the ends of the earth. When applied on a full-time basis a course could be completed in the space of approximately 4 months whereas on a part-time basis, it could be completed in a period of one year or even up to 18 months.

Personal Foundations. This is a valuable tool to ensure that workers are firmly established in the foundations of the faith. This is a relatively short course that can be dealt with in the space of 2 to 3 weeks. The first lesson establishes that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant eternal Word of God. In the short chapters that follow there are mainly quotes from the Bible illustrating what the Word teaches on who is God, who is the Son, who is the Holy Spirit, who is the devil, what about sin, salvation and other topics – 20 in all.
Discovery Bible Study This is a tool devised to be applied in small groups to allow individuals to hear from the Word what the Lord may reveal to him/her, to immediately start being obedient to that Word and, every child of God being a minister, sharing that Word with one other that is not yet part of the group or another small group. Every week there is a report-back as to obedience steps taken and testimonies of what the Lord has done as a result.
The Jesus Film was made available by Campus Crusade for Christ. This is a film based on the full version of the Gospel according to Luke which has been used very effectively across the world. It is currently available in several languages including the Xhosa language.
Freedom from the bondage of ancestral worship. A local pastor has prepared a strategy to help those held captive by the bondage of ancestral worship to be set free therefrom. It is planned to have a teaching session where Pastor Dama will present the plan and on which occasion it is intended to make a video recording thereof and thereafter make those video recordings available to pastors in the Eastern Cape that express a need for it.
The World Needs a Father is Based on a need identified and a project launched by Cassie Carstens.
Foundations for Farming This is a tool that has been used effectively in various parts of Africa to assist in community development. The training is usually run over 1 to 2 days.
This is not a complete list, and it will be updated with time.

How can you become involved in Concern Eastern Cape? Please contact GAP Ministries by e-mail: outreach@global.co.za

Check out Landmarks in the History of World Evangelization (From a South African Perspective)