Leadership and Church Planting Training in Cape Town, South Africa

Four days ago 41 students from 9 nations graduated from our leadership and church planting training program called CPx - located in Cape Town, South Africa. 24 of the graduates are joining my wife and I full time to plant more churches in Africa. Others are entering the market place or returning to work with their local church to make disciples that make disciples. If you want to learn more about All Nations or the CPx curriculum, click here. If you attend CPx, here is what it will do for you:

CPx will do the following for you:

• Encourage you with creativity and confidence to discover new expressions of missional church
• Empower you with practical tools to initiate spiritual conversations and make disciples
• Envision you to dream about how to utilize God's gifts and passions in you to serve the poor
• Enlighten you with insights into how to ignite movements to Christ that transform people's lives
• Equip you to be a simple church planter
• Engage your gifts and callings to grow and become more effective

That's what CPx can do for you, but more importantly, CPx points you in a whole new way of doing church, and that is to do it for God! We believe that church and mission exist because worship does not exist for many people. We do it for Him to receive glory and for the broken and lost of our world to receive mercy. Our church is for others, not for ourselves. But in living this way, we find God receive's more glory and we receive more blessing. He is the goal and we are beneficiaries. All Nations Cape Town believes passionately that church is an overflow of the love that exists between the Father, Son and Spirit, through us, for others.

When you attend a CPx you don't learn about church planting, you join us as we do church planting together, in the communities, among the people. There is a curriculum and lots of great teaching and discussion, but every week you get a chance to put it into practice, to see it really working in people's lives! It is not theory you learn, but a way of life!

If you have a burden to reach the unreached, be engaged with the unchurched, to bring justice and hope to disenfranchised and the poor, CPx is for you!

If Cape Town is too far away, or our start up date of February 7 doesn't work for you, check out CPx in the United States here.

For more information, write to Registrar at julianna@all-nations.co.za.

It is the best of times and the worst of times for Sally and me right now. 

This little literary phrase really boils down our lives. We are so thankful for you and others who have stood alongside us through so much, so of course we want to keep you informed to what is happening in our lives. I’ll start with the “best of times”.

Ministry is exploding. The Church Planting Experience (CPx) training school is raising up new leaders, with our students learning everything from inductive Bible study techniques to how to reach Muslims to a trade (like how to run an Internet café or a preschool, to enable them to be self-supporting as they move into closed nations).

These reports back to us from countries where we have sent workers have been beautiful:

“One of the young men … actually said he had been waiting for somebody to come and teach himabout the Bible, as he was eager to know more but couldn’t find anybody to help him.”

Another man said—from the Muslim nation where our team is working:

“Some of our guys have a group meeting in a park nearby almost everyday to read theNew Testament and talk about Jesus. We also have some of our team members reading through theGospels with one of the local Imams [Muslim leaders] and other men we’ve met on theisland. Some of our ladies met 12 students at a local school who wanted Bibles and havebeen meeting to discuss the life of Jesus and his teachings...”

Muslims are coming to Christ. Muslims are responding to the Gospel in our ministry, and in huge numbers all over the world. I know Muslim terrorists are at work around the world, which raises the question, must we love Muslims even though there are terrorists among them? Sally and I have chosen not to operate in fear because of terrorists. We take the Bible literally when it says we should love our neighbor as ourself. 

Why? I refuse to be afraid of Muslims because I want to see people the way Jesus sees them. I reject fear because that plays into the hands of a few violent extremists who want to see a gulf of fear and prejudice between Muslims and the good news of Jesus.

I don’t fear terrorists because fear is not of God. God loves the whole world, including the Muslim world—even the terrorists who, like Saul before he “became” Paul, hate and kill Christians. God loves the world so much that He sent Jesus to redeem the world by dying for it. In the same way, God has called us to lay down our lives to bring people to faith in Jesus. We cannot win those we fear and hate.

One more deeply penetrating reason not to fear Muslims: The terrorists are the ones who areafraid! Muslim terrorists are a tiny, tiny minority of a huge religious block of people in the religion called Islam.  They are afraid because the good news of Jesus is impacting millions and millions (this is not an exaggeration), of Muslims. They may not understand the spiritual dynamics, but there are spiritual forces at work to stir up hate and fear.

They are coming to faith in Jesus in the Middle East, in Indonesia, and here in Africa where we live. Terrorism is the response of a losing cause ... it is almost as if there is a spiritual force stirring up terrorists to detract true followers of Jesus from loving Muslims, and we must not be thrown off by this tactic. We must stay focused on praying and loving and taking the good news of Jesus. Jesus called us to love not hate. 

We must not draw back in fear, but move forward in faith! I want to encourage you and other friends and fellow believers: the Lord loves Muslims. And we are thrilled to be a part of raising up a movement of disciple makers to take the Gospel to them. Just this week I heard from one of our teams in a Muslim country that they have begun three "underground" churches among Muslims who are coming to faith in Jesus. 

God is at work bringing people to Himself like never before in history—and we are so grateful for your prayers and support that allow us to be part of what God is doing! The Lord is using you in ministry with us here in Africa and the Middle East —your prayers, your gifts, your encouragement makes it possible. Thank you!

In spite of the good news, this also seems to be the worst of times for Sally and me. Sally and I see the “worst” of times as God’s opportunity for the best, but it is still hard. We know tough times are God-given opportunities to grow, but that doesn't make them any easier. God is using what we are going through to refine us. In that light, here is what’s been hitting us hard these days:

First, Sally’s had a rough go of it physically, dealing with painful shingles for several months now, as well as two major dental surgeries that cost us a lot ($9,500 which we had not budgeted for). 

Secondly, we’ve experienced a family member in crisis. We’re helping and praying, but it’s touched us deeply, both emotionally and financially. 

Also, I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed on a personal level. The ministry activity is thrilling … but the long days are just that, long and tiring. I’m still praying (and I hope you’ll join me in this) for a gifted assistant. Plus, and it's embarrassing to say this, but I sprained both my wrist and my ankle in a nasty fall a bit ago (I’m happy to report I'm healing ok - fortunately the x-rays came back negative yesterday - no break or fracture).

All in all it's been an emotional few months, including a lot of highs and some lows. As we look ahead, we see so much potential, especially in the Muslim world. But both Sally and I also feel a little overwhelmed with the personal challenges. We see the Lord's blessings, but we also see the practical realities, such as our need for help to cover the “extra” expenses, as well as our regular living costs.

If the Lord leads, whatever you could offer toward these needs would be a tremendous blessing. I have provided details below for your convenience. Regardless of whether or not you can send a financial gift, we’d love to hear from you with any prayer requests and any family news you can share with us. We would love to partner with you in prayer as you pray for us. 

Thank you for standing with us in the face of many challenges. May the Lord bless you with His grace and mercy.

Thank you for your love and prayers,

Floyd & Sally McClung

P.S. If you’d like to read more updates on how lives are being touched through our training school CPx, please visit the outreach blog of our teams at http://cpxoutreach.posterous.com Thank you for your prayers and support!

Support Address in the USA: All Nations Support, c/o Walsh and Washburn, 5360 College Boulevard, Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66211 - Please attach a note that says your gift is for Floyd & Sally McClung

 In South Africa or Europe send a bank transfer to:

Standard bank
Account # 072110619
Swift code  - SBZA ZA JJ (for international transfers)
77 Main Rd.,
 Fish Hoek,
 Cape Town, South Africa

Please mention our name in the reference line. Please let us know of your transfer by email so we can ask the bank for it – sometimes international transfers are held without notifying us.

In the last few weeks we have had one wonderful breakthrough after another here in Cape Town. We have often asked the Lord for keys to reaching one of the disadvantaged communities here in Cape Town, and it has come through the high school. Below are some of the highlights shared by the CPx students (CPx is our training program) who have been given an open door to the high school and through the students to the teachers, parents and leaders in the community.

One of the keys to making disciples and planting churches in Africa is finding the right access to people's hearts... this time found it in the most unusual way... Be encouraged as you read!

Floyd and Sally McClung


AMAZING AFRICAN WOMEN FILM SOCIETY

Fourteen girls attended Karl and Julie’s new after school club: the “Amazing African Women Film Society.” We bribed them with snacks to get them there – then taught them how to interview each other, answer questions and film it with a FLIP video camera. Each girl took a turn being the camera woman, acting as the interviewer and answering questions as the interviewee.

We showed them the interviews at the end of class, and they were so excited to see themselves on film! Not one of them owns a camera, and we are doubtful they have ever seen a video of themselves.

Over the next few weeks we will be bringing in “Amazing African Women” guest speakers, giving the girls an opportunity to interview and film them. In the end, we will show the girls how to make a movie of these “Amazing African Women.” We are thrilled to build relationships with these precious girls!

"On Sunday, the 16th of May I will never forget as I have finally given all I have to God!"

Last weekend we held our leadership adventure camp with the Ocean View High School student council (prefects in South Africa). The students joined us for two nights of non-stop action over the weekend at a camp near Hout Bay.

It was amazing! We kept them busy with games, teachings, small group discussions and adventure activities (obstacle course, problem solving outdoor events, etc.). The teachings incorporated many Bible verses from Proverbs, compelling video clips and inspirational life lessons. During the last session we spoke openly about God’s love for them.

Here are some quotes from the students after the camp:

“All my life I wanted to fit in – but now I know that I’m different and will make myself known to people all over the world…I will make a difference in Ocean View.” (Johannes did a talk on not fitting in, but standing out)

“I must learn to trust and be open with the Lord”

“You can do good stuff without anyone beating you down” (which is the crux of many Ocean View problems…you can’t paint your house in Ocean View without the neighbors accusing you of trying to be better than them.)

“I can keep believing that my life can be a success.”

“I learned how to uplift myself when I am surrounded with evil.”

“God gave you something that no one can take away from you.”

“Please keep up the work you are doing. Even if you don’t see it now your work will impact the lives of many.”

“On Sunday, the 16th of May I will never forget as I have finally given all I have to God.”

We grilled “bread on a stick” at the barbeque (literally dough on a stick you cook over a fire), Johannes did a “leap of death” from one tree branch to another (physical illustration of his talk on “jumping into life”), and seven kids made a decision during the last session to “seek after God.” Yes – you heard that right – at a public school retreat! We are blown away about what the Lord is doing with these kids and are excited about following up with them!

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY

Suretha spoke during a school assembly on addiction and brought in a guest speaker who gave an amazing testimony. He was a former gangster who went to prison and spoke about how God freed him from addition and a destructive lifestyle.

The principal has been very pleased with our interactions at the school and has indicated that the high school will be an open door for All Nations involvement for years to come!!

After the movie Namisha got to share a message with them about how Jesus longs to be their Friend and that He is the nne that connects us to God and without Him we can never come to a loving relationship with God. After Namisha finished sharing what God had put upon her heart.I challenged the team to reach out to people and find out if anyone of them wanted to have a relationship with Jesus and we saw quite a few of them being prayed for and giving their lives to Jesus. What I also sensed is that a good number of them were so shy and ashamed to step forward and be prayed for. So those who gave their lives will be followed up tomorrow and that’s what I have been encouraging the team to get in their homes and asked them if they can find out more about the decision those people made just whether they were serious about it. I will follow-up a young man whom i prayed and really wanted to give it all to Jesus. I ask him whether He meant what He was saying and he told me he did. He wants his life to turn around and follow Jesus".  

“Planting churches among unengaged and unreached people groups really means engaging in holistic discipleship. To start simple churches without caring deeply about people's whole lives is pretty superficial, and to be engaged in transformation of people's social and economic circumstances without leading them to faith in Christ and gathering them in new communities of faith, is to not care about their eternal salvation and spiritual growth.”

- Floyd McClung


“An individual gospel without a social gospel is a soul without a body, and a social gospel without an individual gospel is a body without a soul; One is a ghost and the other a corpse.”

- E Stanley Jones;

A prayer written by one of the students in CPx, our training program for leaders and church planters.

Passion Week of Jesus

From Luke’s Gospel Chapters 19:28 – 24:53

Sunday

• The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem – 19:28-40
• Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem – 19:41-44

Monday

• Jesus cleanses the temple – 19:45-46
• He teaches the Passover crowds – 19:47-48

Tuesday

• He contends with religious rulers – 20:1-8
• Jesus again speaks to the Passover crowds – 20:9-21:38

Wednesday

• The plot against Jesus – 22:1-2
• Judas joins the conspiracy to betray Jesus – 22:3-6

Thursday

• Preparation for Passover – 22:7-13
• The Lord’s Supper – 22:14-38

Friday

• Peter’s denial of Jesus – 22:54-62
• Jesus mocked and beaten – 22:63-65
• Trial before the Sanhedrin – 22:66-71
• Trial before Pilate – 23:1-25
• The crucifixion of Jesus – 23:26-49
• Burial of Jesus – 23:50-55

Saturday

• Rest and preparation of spices for final entombment of Jesus - 23:55-56
  (also see John 19:38-42, Mark 16:1)

Sunday

• The Resurrection of Jesus – 24:1-12

The last days of Jesus on earth after His death and resurrection…

• The encounter on the road to Emmaus – 24:13-45
• Jesus gives proof of His resurrection – 24:23-43
• The Great Commission – 24:44-48
• The Ascension of Jesus 24:49-53

This is the most important week of the Christian calendar. It is Passion week - the week we give special attention to the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Above are an outline of readings for the rest of the week. I suggest you follow the daily readings to meditate on Jesus' death and resurrection.

Our church will celebrate this Sunday as we gather home churches, friends and family. There will be believers from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Limpopo - and many other provinces and countries. We will worship in a variety of languages, see a dramatic presentation of Jesus' death and resurrection, then scatter around the grounds of Africa House in small groups to discuss the Scriptures and do communion together - led by local people, many of whom are recent converts. Then there will be baptisms and more rejoicing!

I wish you could be with us!!

May this week be a blessed week for you, your family and your community.

Yours,

Floyd and Sally McClung

by Floyd McClung

1. Thou shall not make thyself a god or big boss to the people that you lead.
2. Thou shall not allow people to flatter you, and thou shall not take for your self big titles.
3. Thou shall not require an unquestioning loyalty from others, nor shall you teach people that you are their covering.
4. Thou shall not be a spiritual social climber, nor shall you purchase a theological degree online.
5. Thou shall lead with meekness and grace.
6. Thou shall not seek to control and manipulate others, nor use intrigues and scheming to get your own way.
7. Thou shall not have two standards of conduct for your public and private life, nor shall you have secret relationships or sexual fantasies.
8. Thou shall not interfere with or weaken the marriages of others by usurping authority over them.
9. Thou shall not compete with others in ministry for the allegiance or praise of people.
10. Thou shall not discourage people from joining other churches or being sent as missionaries with other groups.

Have you ever heard of an "access ministry"? One of the keys to discipling new believers is finding the right "access ministry" to connect to their hearts. An access ministry is what we do to serve people that opens them to hear the good news of the gospel. Not every church planter/disciple maker is good at creating an access ministry, and not every person who can start an access ministry is a natural evangelist and disciple maker. But these two types of ministries desperately need to be integrated. Doing one type of ministry without the other is to be guilty of the worst extremes of missions: hit and run evangelism on the one hand, and social justice without mentioning Jesus or sharing the gospel on the other hand.

Planting churches among unengaged and unreached people groups really means engaging in holistic discipleship. To start simple churches without caring deeply about people's whole lives is pretty superficial, and to be engaged in transformation of their social and economic circumstances without leading them to faith in Christ and gathering them in new communities of faith, is to not care about their eternal salvation.

We are committed to holistic church planting and disciple making in here in Cape Town. It is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work, fierce focus, and great intentionality. It means making sure there are passionate evangelists on every team we send out, and linking these evangelists with those who can start practical ministries of of social development.

Let me give you an example of how we are attempting to integrate the these two dimensions in All Nations Cape Town. In fact, I could give you lots of examples: Baby Safe - rescuing abandoned babies, Vulnerable Children - caring for AIDS impacted child-headed households, Steps Job Training, etc. In fact, every ministry we do is aimed at integrating practical care, personal salvation, and establishing communities of faith for the new believers. But one recent example stands out.

Photo: The First Graduating Class from Play Prof

Play Prof

Two days ago I attended the first graduation ceremony of pre-school principals being trained in the use education toys for disadvantaged pre-schoolers. We do this under the banner of PlayProf. This program is led by Anna Chan. Anna is from Hone Kong and works with All Nations to train and mentor pre-school teachers and principals in Masiphumelele, a township in Cape Town. Each lady who completed the course was given a large plastic box, filled with educational toys and a teachers manual. Anna will follow up with monthly one-on-one mentoring times with the pre-school leaders.

The training course is the result of a partnership between All Nations and Pray-Prof, a South Africa pre-school training and equipping company. A child born in poverty often lacks basic motor and learning skills, which sets them on a life-time pathway of educational and learning disadvantages. Most never recover from this early childhood disadvantage. Pray-Prof exists to address this need. And All Nations is deeply committed to meet that need as well.

Anna is excited about discipling the teachers of pre-schools, the parents of children in the pre-schools, the children themselves, and their siblings. Anna sees what she is doing as a huge door opener, an access ministry, into the lives of teachers, parents, older bothers and sisters, and care givers. What she is doing is an example of holistic discipleship: she is adding huge value to people's lives, and creating an important "access ministry" for starting simple churches. She and others she works with are discipling people they meet one-to-one, starting Bible Studies in their homes, and growing up leaders to lead simple home churches. No one is more excited than Anna when one of those she has discipled to faith is baptized in one of our church celebrations.

So, while we have our personal health struggles, at the same time Sally and I are deeply encouraged. Thanks for your love and prayers.

God bless,

Floyd