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May 25, 2013

Tag: cape town

March 6, 2012

my firstborn (a post from Melissa)

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Kids — Tags: , , — 2 Comments

Two weeks ago, Arthur started Grade 8- the first year of high school, in South Africa.  A significant moment in the heart of a mother, releasing her child another step out into the world.  I am so proud of my son!  Arthur continues to amaze me with his ability to enter into new activities and environments with a positive and confident attitude.  I guess the reason I am amazed is that I remember myself as shy and hesitant with new things and new people.  Actually, I still am, but I have learned how to appear confident- at least, I think I do!

I suppose Arthur’s confidence comes from both who he is and lots of practice entering new places and meeting new people.  Over the past 13 years, Arthur has grown up among many communities of people.  I feel the need to write it all out and process a bit for myself- so if your are interested, your are welcome to listen in, or just skip down to the final paragraph….

His first two years, we lived in Pasadena, CA (close to Los Angeles) in a small apartment on the property of Foothills Community Church where his Dad worked. Arthur Paul (dubbed AP by the pastor’s son, Ben) was loved and cuddled by lots of church friends.  At five months of age, Arthur Paul joined me at Pasadena Day Nursery (a crèche) where I worked.

In 2000, our family of three became a family of six when we shared a house with the Ramages: Tim, Jennifer and their son Josh in San Gabriel (ten minutes drive south of Pasadena).  For those two years we hosted a weekly Bible study group (aka Carne Asada night…wow, do I miss being able to buy pre-marinated flank steak and a huge package of tortillas and chips!)  Josh was five months older than AP, and our other good friends, Brandon and Judy’s daughter, Anya was just a few months younger than AP.  What fun we had with our firstborns as we celebrated birthdays, dressed them up for Halloween, and took day trips to Disneyland or the beach!

By 2001 when Iain was born, the Ramages had also had their second son, Koby.  Our family became eight and we all decided it was time for our families to move apart.  We rented a beautiful house in Altadena (five minutes drive north of Pasadena) for the rest of that year.  In 2002 we said goodbye to many good friends from around Pasadena and moved an hour and a quarter drive away to Oxnard, CA to join NieuCommunities.  There we joined a whole new group of people who became friends- the Grafs, Warkentins & McDonalds, along with Nathan, Jason, Andy, Megan and our new church family at The Bridge.

In May of 2003, a few months before Arthur’s fifth birthday, our family moved to Pretoria, South Africa.  Thankfully, God provided an immediate best friend for AP- Kyle Ward, the son of our new teammates.  With Kyle by his side, Arthur learned Afrikaans at Kleine Einstein Klueterskool (day care- Kindergarten) so that he could play with a whole new set of friends!  At pre-school he learned about rugby, Blou Bulle pride and a few other important things like pre-reading, writing and maths.

In Grade 1 Arthur started “big school” at Northridge Primary.  A new beginning with peers, since all of his Kliene Einstein buddies attended an Afrikaans instruction primary school.  Thankfully, Arthur and Kyle remained close with lots of fun together at our home away from home, Pangani.

NieuCommunities (NC) gatherings at the 100 year old beautifully renovated B&B called Pangani, consisted of swimming, making a mess in the kitchen and calling it “lemonade,” braai-ing, climbing the wall to touch the electrified fence, DSTv watching, getting bitten by a spider while trashing Oupa At’s records, worship and prayer. During these years in Pretoria, Arthur had lots of extended family- the NieuCommunities staff: Jostina, Bryan & Daleen, Sean & Debbie, Luc, Doug, Sarah, and Barbara.  And the 60+ twenty-something, apprentices he and the rest of the Pangani kids, came to know and love over the seven years Arthur and I worked with NieuCommunities (a 10 month Christian life and ministry internship/missional community).

Also during these years, Arthur led his brother and sister in his quiet, confident way as they had opportunities to experience life outside Pangani’s predominantly white neighborhood in Pretoria North where people of color, and home language other than Afrikaans traveled into and out of for work.  Our friends Jonas, Valrey, Motlope, Jostina and Caroline invited us into their homes and life in the township of Hammanskraal.  AP played soccer with two bricks set up for a goal, ate pap and shaba, walked to the tuckshop for 1.5 liter glass bottles of cool drink, attempted wheeling a full 10 liter container of water from the tap to a friend’s house, and helped to paint said friend’s tin house a brilliant, bright blue!

He also engaged people and explored places such as the Voortrekker Monument, various churches in the inner city of Pretoria, concerts at the botanical gardens in Pretoria and Johannesburg, church and museums in Soweto, rugby and soccer matches, played at the Pret Plaas, game drives through Pilanesburg, swimming at Sun City and life “out in the bush” at the Breet’s house- Pangani Pori.

In July of 2009 the NieuCommunities/Pangani chapter of our family’s life came to an end.  AP again led the way forward for his brother and sister, after a weighty goodbye to both peers at Northridge and significant friends who had become close, as family.  I was anxious as I watched my kids courageously pack up their lives to move to Fresno, CA, the city we traveled to for weeks at a time over the previous seven years when we came back to the States to visit Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles and friends.

Having turned 11 in August, 2009 Arthur started his third new school and we moved into our eighth house.  The city of Fresno, with family and many friends was familiar, but had never been home.  Arthur, along with Iain and Mairin, missed life in Pretoria, friends at Pangani and school.  At Hamilton Elementary they learned new school yard games, new clothing styles (no uniforms or short hair cuts!), dropped the South African accent and speaking Afrikaans altogether.  The kids didn’t have to lug all their books and stationary back and forth from school each day and they were served both breakfast and lunch in a cafeteria every school day- for free!!

Arthur navigated all of these new experiences and people with maturity, admitting, through tears, that he missed his friends who knew him well.  Since he was now submerging with another new group of peers at school and a culture he hadn’t lived in since he was five, I was so grateful for the friendships with the Ramages, Shireys, Portelas, and Velez’ kids (and parents) he had established on previous visits.  Another significant factor was the love and care of Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles who finally had the opportunity to give their love and attention to Arthur, Iain, and Mairin while living in the same town.

June 2010, World Cup in South Africa! And another new beginning: another new house, a fourth new school and another new culture- Cape Town is a long way away from Pretoria, my bru…a new accent & slang, eating gatsbys and enjoying Halaal hot dogs with Muslim friends.  Thankfully, some things never change, Arthur is an avid book reader and there are many libraries all over the city to quench his thirst!  And again, the Lord provided a new set of friends.

Now, Arthur has begun Grade 8 at Westerford High School.  He has a cell phone and a set of house keys.  He walks ten minutes to and from school each day- all by himself!  He’s playing water polo, is taking guitar lessons and has joined the choir.  He takes responsibility for his homework and making new friends.  He is chatting with girls on Facebook and turned his face so I could kiss his cheek goodnight.  He gives me “that look” when I am treating him like a child instead of the handsome young man he is.  I am so proud of my firstborn!

 

originally posted here on 26 Jan 2012, but so good that I wanted to put it on our family’s blog. will also appear in our next email update…

December 28, 2011

year-end update (and check out the new website theme!)

by arthurstewart — Categories: Updates — Tags: , , , , , — 2 Comments

As we close out 2011, we are thankful for so many things. After relocating to Cape Town the previous June, this year was about settling in. School relationships, houses, ministry opportunities – submerging into the spaces God had opened up. We thank God for being so present during this transition. We thank God for His consistent and sometimes surprising provision. We thank God for introducing us to so many “people of peace” (Luke 10:5-6) here in Cape Town – those who have welcomed us, been open to the Gospel, and connected us to ways and relationships where God is at work. We thank God for allowing us time with our families who have visited and enabling us to stay well connected to several family members currently battling with significant illness. Finally, we are thankful that God continues to love and grow us as a family and each of us individually as we live seek Him.

I have also been reflecting a bit over these past weeks on the nature of our work. So much of it is helping others discover and live out whom God has created them to be – salvation, freedom, discipleship. As such, the tangible results we see are not “ours” to claim as they come to fruition in others. Yet we know God has used us to play a crucial role. And there is something so healthy about this – not being able to call the work of God as our own. God sees this work and says, “well done.”  AND this year we have been blessed by so many others who have seen our lives and ministry and joined us with Amen!

In this update, I want to point to a few milestones from the year that I think you will be excited to hear as a friend who has been interested in our lives and ministry. These are some of the things we’ve been involved with that may not have appeared in other newsletters or updates, but are significant and indicative of the ministry we are involved with here. So, family updates and things we’ve been learning will appear elsewhere…

Get-togethers with Jesus friends

I’ve written quite a bit in other places (esp. at http://differentchurch.wordpress.com) about the need for different types of churches to reach people here in Cape Town. What I haven’t written a lot about is the church we have been planting this year. It really came about as God’s burden on our hearts for something to help people experience God in life-giving ways intersected with several people who desired the same. A few key people wanted refreshment in their own walks with Jesus and were not part of local churches for various reasons. There are also others who have little or bad experience with formal church, but still have a spiritual hunger for something. We’ve prayerfully got things going this year – meeting every-other-Sunday in homes. We’ve spent a lot of time this year on stories – sharing our own stories, wrestling with Bible stories, listening for God in action stories. Pretty simple really! A significant part of this group is children and it’s been quite a joy to incorporate each of them into experiencing God. Just recently, one of the moms wrote about how refreshing it was to sit outside and talk about God together in the midst of the creation with children coming in and out of the conversation, playing, and experiencing God’s people gathered in such a normal and beautiful way. As we move into 2012, we feel God calling us to now increase the intentionality and give more opportunities to help one another’s discipleship. I promise to write more about this church plant in upcoming months.

The Incubator at The Warehouse

I’ve done a lot of work with The Warehouse (http://warehouse.org.za) this year – a local ministry helping churches address issues of poverty and injustice. I sent a communication a few months ago with quite a bit of how I am helping The Warehouse. Something that has been developing more recently is my work with the Incubator. The Incubator is a Warehouse strategy to help churches identify responses to specific needs in their community – part “research and development” and part “birthing room” – we help churches get their own projects and ministries up and running. This can be through training, helping churches connect with other churches or resources, or assisting in the systemic/logistical needs of these ministries. Churches here often lack the experience or resources to do all this themselves, so we are able to come alongside them as they serve. My role is primarily to help with training, discerning next steps with these ministries in their growth, and finding the ways the Warehouse can bless them most. Currently, we are helping nurture church-based ministries for orphans and vulnerable children, those who have experienced trauma, high-risk youth, an informal settlement, and teen mentoring. You can read more about these here: http://www.warehouse.org.za/index.php/site/overview/C3

Fusion

Fusion is one of the ministries in The Warehouse Incubator. Fusion is a ministry to high risk youth in one of Cape Town’s largest townships called Mannenberg. Drug abuse, cyclical poverty, and gangs are a normal part of life for those who grow up in Mannenberg. The Fusion team are working in the community to find new possibilities for young people with Jesus (http://www.warehouse.org.za/index.php/site/articles/C16). During the past several months, I have had the privilege of working with The Fusion team to better understand what church can look like for the teenagers they are reaching. What are churches to do with gangsters and drug addicts? How can they as a team live as a different kind of community that is attractive and healthy for those they are working with? How can they model and call others to a way of following Jesus that is a beautiful alternative to the life many of these high-risk youth have experienced? This team is living and working in a very hard environment and I have loved talking, praying, and walking with them. They are living out Jesus’ mission here I trust they are doing so a little more effectively and healthily as a result of my training with their leadership.

Missional Cape Town

Cape Town needs a movement of churches – passionate followers of Jesus, seeking God’s Kingdom and living and sharing the Gospel. In a city this diverse, that will take lots of churches, especially those willing to go out, to minister with, to be among – rather than sit and wait for others to show up on Sunday morning! I am fortunate to know a number of people who have heard God’s call and want to start new expressions across the city. We have begun to meet monthly for training, connecting, and supporting one another. It’s actually been so much fun to get together with like-minded missional leaders and we are asking God has we can do more this upcoming year. There hasn’t been a network like this up until now, so I believe it’s significant though only in early days. One of the guys is blogging his journey with church here: http://www.unlearning.co.za I am also working more intensely with St. Peter’s Church in Mowbray (http://www.stpetersmowbray.org.za) – a very old church with a new vision for reaching it’s neighbourhood. I LOVE helping a church that wants to be renewed and have been meeting with the church leaders to figure out what that looks like for them. Melissa has also recently become involved in helping those working with children. St. Peter’s also provides us local accountability, prayer, and backs our missionary work here in Cape Town.

Grip Birkman

While we were working with NieuCommunities, we started using a tool called the Grip Birkman Blueprint to help people understand their spiritual gifts, interests, styles of working, and needs. It’s a really helpful way of self-understanding AND allows individuals to know how they fit and work well with others (whether it’s their church or workplace). A few years ago, Melissa and I went through the training to asses and coach others in the process. In October, we introduced this at The Warehouse. Melissa walked each staff person through their report, asking questions and drawing out their own understandings. I then took the staff through several team-building teachings and exercises together. It has been fun to see light bulbs come on – as individual staff come to see different facets of how God has made them and desiring to better serve in their teams and the organization as a whole. It has also been helpful, as we’ve begun to give no work assignments to staff, giving new opportunities combinations of people based on what they love and are well suited to do.

Thank you for partnering with us this year. Your support and prayer have helped enable us to serve God here in Cape Town. It has been an amazing year and we are looking forward to what God has in store for 2012. We are glad to have you seeking the Kingdom right here with us. Thank you so much!

Arthur for the Stewart5

July 11, 2011

Five

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, cape town, God, Mission, South Africa, the warehouse, Updates — Tags: , , , , — 2 Comments

On June 20, we celebrated one year in Cape Town.

When we arrived, we had the sense that this was where God wanted us.
We had pictures God had put on our heart, invitations, and questions.
We knew that being here would mean changes – city, kids’ schools, employer.
We also knew that God would say yes to all of our hearts and those of others if this was what He wanted.

So, fresh off 10-months of sabbatical and back in South Africa, we dove in….
staying at a few different houses until we found the one God had for us in Woodstock,
getting our kids enrolled in school, uniforms bought, up and ready each morning as the sun was coming up,
re-establishing insurances, phone lines, services,
seeing friends and beginning to make new ones,
getting settled,
exploring possibilities of ministry and service with people and churches and organizations,
establishing “normal life” again in a whole new place,
working at building on the things God had been growing in us,
chasing dreams,
talking with people who know God, know us, know this place,
learning,
praying,
talking,
praying.

On our one-year anniversary in Cape Town,
our family told stories, looked at pictures, and marveled at what God has done.
We have made so many friends and so many memories in this year.
We have much to celebrate and thank God for.
And we shared what has been hard, and where God has been in all that too.
Then asked God for pictures of what’s on His heart for us in the time ahead-
Growth, Stability, Unburdened, Free.

So, as far as announcements go, we are saying that
After a year, we are happy to call Cape Town home!
This is where we will be for at least the next 5 years.

It’s time to put down some roots…
We are looking for a house to rent for the long-term
Arthur Paul starts high school in January
We are solidifying commitments to ministry and church (more details forthcoming)
We will renew our volunteer’s visa next month then look at residence options
We need to strengthen our donor base
And we need your prayers for all of the above.

You can read back through previous updates for specifics of this past year.
I know this doesn’t say a lot about ministry and work,
but is more about our family and life, in slightly poetic form.
(which I hope you find is ok).

We are thankful for so many that love and support us
in South Africa and around the world.
We are honored that you are with us,
and please stay with us,
because we are only getting started :)

Amen.

April 19, 2011

Seasons – an update from the Stewarts

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, cape town, Favorite Blogs, Kids, leadership, Melissa, Mission, South Africa, the warehouse, Updates — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Leave a comment

The seasons are turning. As things are warming up for those of you in the northern hemisphere, we are moving toward winter here in Cape Town. For our family, this isn’t a time for hibernation at all. In fact, there are a number of new things to tell you about…

Iain’s baptism

Iain was baptised on March 12! He invited quite a few friends to join us for this special time and it was a true celebration of God in his life. Iain did a great job sharing about his commitment to following Jesus and says he is glad that each person in our family helped with scriptures and blessings for the day. Thank you to everyone who has prayed (and continues to pray) for our children with us – God is doing such amazing things in their lives.

Grandpa Lee’s visit

Melissa’s dad – Lee Liddle – visited us for the first two weeks of April. We had a lot of fun introducing him to our new city, neighbourhood, the kids’ school, and friends. It was hard to see him go, but we are thankful for the time together. I think the kids are already talking about the next time Grandpa comes to visit.

Melissa’s latest

When I was younger I always pictured myself having both a career and a family, but was naïve about HOW I would do it all!  During our last year and a half with NieuCommunities in Pretoria I realised that I had been operating beyond my relational capacity for quite some time.  So, I have been seeking a new vision about how to live as a Jesus follower who is a wife, mother, friend and neighbour.  Since returning to South Africa I have been hesitant to take on significant ministry commitments outside of our home and the kids’ school community.  Thankfully, God understands me fully.  He has surrounded me with caring, welcoming, like-hearted people who are beginning to become wonderful friends and mentors.

I have joined a weekly prayer group currently consisting of women who previously worked for The Warehouse, but have stepped back from those roles in order to be present with their children.  A couple of moms from the kids’ school and I have begun walking for exercise one morning a week in a nearby park.  I even enjoy most of my regular household duties while the kids are away at school, primarily because I get the house all to myself and no one is saying, “mommy?”  I am also able to get to the gym for a class or two each week (I can flex my triceps now;)

Tomorrow I begin volunteering two hours a week at my kids’ school with a non-profit organization called help2read (http://www.help2read.org).  Currently there are about 500 volunteers in over 125 schools in the greater Cape Town area.  I have been assigned two students who I will see one-on-one for 30 minutes twice a week.  As an early childhood educator I resonate with help2read’s child-centered philosophy and am thrilled to have an opportunity to help children learn to love books and become confident readers.

Leading worship & blessing leaders

The last few months have been very fulfilling for me (Arthur) as I’ve had the opportunity to lead or coordinate the morning prayer and worship times at the Warehouse (http://warehouse.org.za/). Each morning, we gather for an hour with God together – absolutely necessary for those working in the difficult realities of poverty and injustice. We believe that our direct encounter with God is THE thing that connects our hearts with God, shaping us more into the image of Jesus and giving us God’s heart for those all around us. It’s just one of the ways I get to pour into the lives of these amazing leaders. In the upcoming months, I will turn more of my attention to working with local church leaders. There is such a huge need here to care for, encourage, and listen to pastors. These men and women are given the responsibility of guiding God’s people, yet who looks after their hearts? Because the Warehouse’s mission is to serve the church in its response to poverty and injustice, one way we can help them is by ministering to their leaders. Please pray for me as I move into this important (and exciting) role.

A great way to keep up to date on what God is doing through the Warehouse is to sign up for the newsletter mailing list: http://warehouse.org.za/newslettersignupform

Mairin is turning 7 on April 28th!

“We are going to have my birthday party at a park. My friends and I are going to play and have a cake with butterflies. I am very excited to be seven :) ”


Arthur Paul high school update

“I’ve sent in all of the applications and am waiting for a reply from either. It’s pretty boring just waiting for news :/” – AP.  Just a note to say thank you to everyone for praying with us through the high school visiting and application process. We have applied for two schools and will hear back in the next month or two on acceptance.

We are missionaries

God has asked us to live in Cape Town, South Africa, and we have said yes to this and all that He asks of us. We are sent and supported by churches and individuals who believe in us and are investing in the Kingdom work we do while partnering with and working for local ministries. We need prayer, encouragement, and financial help to do this. I point this out because while many are encouraged (inspired?) by what God is doing with our lives, they don’t know that we raise our own support to do this. Maybe God wants you to be part of this with us. If you are feeling a nudge, email me.

Two links for you to check out

May this season bring good things in your life!

Arthur for the Stewart5

February 22, 2011

learning Love, sharing Love, being Loved

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, cape town, Embracing Grace, God, heart journey, Kids, leadership, South Africa, the warehouse, Updates — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — 1 Comment

Today marks 8 months in Cape Town for our family. God has been very good to us and we are thankful for the ways we have been loved and supported during our transition into this new home.  Resisting the need to tell you EVERYTHING that is happening in one communication, here are a few recent highlights…

Learning to Love God

My friend Myra Perrine wrote an amazing book called “What’s Your God Language?” that we have found really helpful over the past few years. The basic idea is that each of us is created somewhat uniquely in the way we love God most naturally. In discovering our “God Language,” we can grow in the intimacy of our relationship with God as well as appreciate and help one another as we engage God together. This is powerful stuff when we bring our hearts before God this way.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of walking through this with the staff of The Warehouse. For many, it was a new way to think about their love relationship with God and how to live out this love best.  For others, it was an opportunity to take time to evaluate the current state of their relationship. For everyone, it was a special time to see the amazing diversity God has brought together in this team and I believe it will only make us stronger as we continue to seek to serve God here in Cape Town.

I love being able to teach in the context of a ministry community where we know one another and are able to practice what we are learning together. I am also thankful for the opportunity to help train Christian leaders here in South Africa in ways that are both life-giving for them and impactful in the local church. Leaders that know their own hearts and focus on their own relationship with God will be able to help others. Several people have mentioned wanting to use this with their church or home group. May God be glorified as His people know and love Him more.

If you are interested in learning about how you are created to love God or how to shape your life to best connect with God, I’m glad to tell you more, answer any questions, and highly recommend the book What’s Your God Language?


Church Renewal and new Churches

God continues to speak His call for us to help people plant churches here in Cape Town. An interesting part of this journey has been ongoing conversations with several friends about what it means to be the church and how we can faithfully respond to God’s call for life-changing community.  There is a growing momentum for a church plant among some really Jesus-loving people and some others who are seeking God but need something new. I am also excited about a particular local pastor who also has a vision for planting missional communities as a way to renew their own church and as part of a network of new churches in Cape Town. We are beginning to pray and dream together for church expressions that allow people to experience Jesus in life-changing ways – especially in ways that are needed here in South Africa. Please pray with us for new churches and growing disciples in Cape Town. I have just started a new blog to share some thoughts on the subject and would love for you to check it out and subscribe. http://differentchurch.wordpress.com/

Lecturing

I am taking a break from teaching courses at Cornerstone this current term. This is primarily due to the load I have taken on at The Warehouse and needing to put a lot of effort into what God is doing with me there (read about what I am doing on http://www.stewart5.net/2010/12/what-i-am-doing-at-the-warehouse ). However, I am scheduled to lecture the following courses in the upcoming in terms:

  • Character of Christian Leader
  • Constructive Conflict Resolution
  • I am also considering teaching an intensive course with some coworkers on Reconciliation through Changed Relationships

These are all subjects that are dear to my heart and important here in South Africa. In each case, we have the opportunity to shape students from this country and across the continent to be leaders different than the norm – ones who model a passion for Christ and deep dependence on God that leads to serving and changing our world. In future updates I will tell you more about some of the individual students I am coming to know and love.

Iain is going to be baptized



Our middle child wants to be baptized J Praise God for Iain’s tender heart and desire to declare his faith and share his commitment to following Jesus with others.  Iain has made a list of people he wants to invite and we are making preparations and setting the date for the next few weeks. Pics to come…

AP going to high school next year!

Gulp.

In SA, there is no middle school.  Primary school ends in grade 7 and High school begins in grade 8. Arthur is currently in Grade 7 so we are busy looking at local high schools for January. This is a big decision! Unlike public school in America, you must apply to high schools here. Also different is that public school is not free. This is true for all grade levels, but the cost really goes up in high school.  We would appreciate your prayers as we ask God where He wants AP (and potentially Iain and Mairin down the line) to be in school the next several years. Please also pray for him as he writes essays and goes for interviews.

For more Pictures

Melissa is our primary picture taker and online poster. I know most people really enjoy pictures, so make sure to visit our shutterfly site and subscribe to get updates. http://stewartdot5.shutterfly.com/ (more…)

October 6, 2010

Partnerships

by arthurstewart — Categories: leadership, Mission, South Africa — Tags: , , , , — 5 Comments

As we move toward making commitments to specific ministry opportunities here in Cape Town and seeing how that fits under a broader organization, I have been thinking a lot about partnerships.  I have to tell you, I have a love/hate relationship with partnering in its many forms.  But I am convinced that it is actually critical to my next ministry steps to do this in very specific partnerships.

Being in partnership reminds me that I don’t know everything and can’t do everything myself.  Sometimes I forget that.  I need other people who are strong where I am not.  I need other people to teach me.  I need other people to say, “let’s go” or “slow down” as appropriate.  I also believe in partnering because we are in a new city in a country that is not our own.  God is at work here in LOTS of amazing people.  Partnership says, “we aren’t the only ones trying to do something good.”  Honestly, I don’t see partnership enough.  So, part of being in partnership is living out what I say I believe and hoping that it serves as a model to others that we need less one-man-shows (especially in the Church/ministry business I am in)!  And finally, Jesus seemed to send people out in groups and pairs quite often.  Must be something to that…

I have been pretty fortunate over the years to learn a lot about myself – personality assessments, gifts tests, team styles, work styles, etc.  So, I know what I bring to a team or work relationship.  I say “let’s go.”  I see the big picture and how things all connect together.  I like to see other people do what is on their heart and can often help them move into that.  I can analyze.  I gather people for a cause.  I am a thinker.  I train and inspire.  I ALSO know that I desperately need others who can keep my ego in check.  I need people who can share other perspectives.  I need people who see how everyone is feeling.  I need people who keep it light and fun.  I need people who move quickly to action.  I need people who remind me to serve more.  I need people to remind me that’s not all about me.

Where do I see partnership opportunities developing right now?

  • helping start a new faith community with some friends here
  • helping with people already living and working in our new neighborhood (Woodstock)
  • meeting up and strategizing with others also praying/working toward a church planting movement
  • working with people who are also serious about discipleship and exploring different ways to do that
  • helping a few local ministries do what they do better
  • coaching and encouraging local leaders to follow their hearts and respond to God’s call

I can and will do none of these alone.

I do not consider this a sign of weakness or lack of vision.  Rather, I am intentionally saying, “I am here to help.  How can we do this together.”  By my reckoning, that’s the strongest kind of leadership there is.  This hasn’t always been the way I’ve operated.  But it’s how I want to be, how I believe Jesus wants me to be, and I give you permission to hold me to it.

July 13, 2010

One Step at a Time

by arthurstewart — Categories: God, South Africa, Updates — Tags: , , , , , — Leave a comment

An update from the Stewart family, intrepid travelers now returned to South Africa’s shores.  What has this past month brought about and revealed?

First, the pragmatics:

  • We arrived back to South Africa on 3 June
  • We spent a week and a half in Pretoria (where we had lived since 2003 before our recent sabbatical in California) visiting and reconnecting with friends there, saying goodbye to several who are headed different directions.
  • We spent a week and a half in Port Elizabeth with our friends Sean and Jean Daly.  This was the beginning of our exploration in South Africa of what “might be” as far as life and ministry on the ground.  We were also able to attend a world cup soccer match!
  • We drove to Cape Town on 24 June.  We have been exploring neighborhoods, meeting with people, and seeing if God confirms this as the place we are to settle for now.

When we left California, we went with a sense that Cape Town is where God wanted us to be.  Our picture of how this was going to look has changed significantly enough over the past year and a half that we wanted to put ourselves on the ground, ready to listen to God again.

We have three big questions we are asking in this discernment process:

  1. First, is this where we think we should BE – do we hear God’s call, do we feel at home, can we see ourselves flourishing here as a family?  Are we hearing God invite us
  2. Second, what is it that God has for us to DO  – what unique opportunities open up, fit well, excite us (especially in light of what we have experienced and learned about ourselves during our recent sabbatical)?  We’ve had lots of ideas and people in mind, and we want to see what changes or materializes once here.  In other words, God has given us pictures – now how will they become more clear?  What things in our hearts will God fan into flames?  So, we are beginning to get together with people and ministries to see what we might be part of, partner with, or start here!
  3. And the final question – how is that going to work pragmatically – who will we work with and for, how will we get paid, etc.?  We know that if this is where God wants us, it will mean something new as far as our organizational commitments.

We are stepping into a pretty big unknown for us.  But it’s our best attempt to respond to how we hear God’s Spirit’s leading.  We trust that God will guide, clarify, and provide as we continue to seek Him.  I would also point out that the above questions are in an important order.  They have kept us focused on asking questions of HOME first.  While staying at a wonderful but temporary (and small) house here in Cape Town, we have been spending lots of time looking at houses and neighborhoods.  Place is important as it will be our primary context of love, rest, and ministry.  God wants us to “be” here before we can “do” here.  Also, we have been paying a lot of attention to our family and being healthy and settled before committing to work-related tasks.  We’ve begun to see what life here will be like – places to play, school, and other daily life stuff.  I believe God is pleased with these being our priorities and has graciously allowed us to experience quite a bit in such a short amount of time.

As a result, I can tell you that we think the answer to Big Question #1 is YES, Cape Town is where we think God wants us to be for now. Within the next few weeks we will share more on what exactly that means, and our thoughts and explorations of Questions 2 & 3.  I can say that some great opportunities (both anticipated and unexpected) have already begun to surface and we are excited for what God will continue to invite us to.  In the meantime, we are starting our kids in local school and looking for a house to rent.  We haven’t got it all figured out yet, but we’re really excited!

Please pray for us:

  • that God would provide the right house in the right neighborhood and that we can move in by the end of July
  • for the process of moving our things from Pretoria, getting settled, meeting new neighbors
  • for the kids starting in a new school, new routines, new friends
  • that God would open our hearts to the people and things He has for us and discernment as we consider our new roles and how this is all going to work
  • for protection – spiritual and physical – as we live and share God’s love and ways here

Please be patient with us.  We’ll keep you in the loop as much as we can, but there are lots of questions that we are still asking – important questions.  With inconsistent internet and unsettled housing, it’s a little hit and miss as far as communication right now, but we’ll do our best to keep you updated as we go.

Please continue contacting, encouraging, supporting, and loving us – all crucially important as we begin something new.  We are thankful that YOU would take time to care for us and believe in what God is doing in and through us.
may we all be amazed with God at work,

Arthur for the Stewart5

Arthur & Arthur Paul at the Ivory Coast v. Portugal world cup match

Mairin and Melissa visited the orphanage where Mariah Breitenberg volunteers.  Mairin has also recently lost her two front teeth but we didn’t seem to have a great pic…next time :)

The boys attended a 1-week cricket camp.  Both did great and Iain won a special award for his “dedication to the game of cricket”

March 11, 2010

Seeking the Giver

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, marriage, Melissa, prayer, South Africa — Tags: , , , , , — 2 Comments

My wife Melissa is demonstrating an amazing amount of maturity these days.  I am both in awe and frustrated!  Here’s why…

As many of you know, we are finishing up our sabbatical.  Entering our last months, we are making multiple decisions – big ones, small ones, and many that open up a multitude of other decisions. These decisions relate to where we will be, what we will be doing, when… little things like that :)   So, important stuff.

And the PROCESS of these discussions and decisions is as telling as the results.  We are giving some of the work we and God have been doing in our lives and marriage a pretty good exercise.  How is our intimacy, how is our trust, can we say what we think, can we hear things we don’t like from one another, can we apologize?

I have to admit, I am a little more anxious than Melissa to get these conversations and decisions happening.  And although I wish we knew everything yesterday, I am proud that she is committed to waiting until she is confident in some things before moving forward.  Frustrated a bit, but proud.  She is bringing her strengths of thoughtfulness and discernment to our shared process.  And as I was telling a friend on the phone the other day, in watching her process I am reminded of a very good maxim… Seek the Giver.

back-story: when I was growing up in church, one of the principles that always came up when talking about spiritual gifts (those ways God supernaturally empowers people to serve) was, “don’t seek the gifts, but the gift-giver.”  In other words, don’t get overly-fixated on these specific gifts God can give (essentially a self-centered approach). Instead, seek God, and let His Spirit give gifts as God deems appropriate (see 1 Corinthians 12).

This came to mind as I was saying how one of the ways Melissa is discerning God’s desire is by being involved in a local Bible study on Jesus.  She isn’t only sitting with God and asking, “should we move to X?” every day.   Instead, she is connecting well with God, for the sake of their relationship alone.  I’m pretty confident that as she does, God is and will speak to those specifics because God loves her and knows they are important questions.

Thank you beloved for this reminder.  So glad to be doing this with you!

September 1, 2009

What the sabbatical?

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey, Mission, NieuCommunities, sabbatical, South Africa, Updates, usa — Tags: , , , , , , , — 5 Comments

In the rush to get our sabbatical started, pack up our entire house, and move from South Africa to California for the year, I haven’t sat down to write in detail about this sabbatical thingy.  But, with a little room to breathe, I wanted to start giving our friends more information on what we are up to.  I am sure this will turn into a multiple-post series, especially as we process and can begin to share what God is doing in us through the process.

In wrapping up our time with NieuCommunities in Pretoria and before starting for something new in Cape Town, we have a unique and precious window of time to let God prepare us in significant ways.  For today, some basics on the PURPOSES of our sabbatical…

1. The first purpose of our sabbatical is rest from several years of cross-cultural living and ministry.  We need to decompress, have time as a couple, and opportunity to do things as a family that we haven’t made as much time for in the last several years as we would have liked to.  We believe this will put us in a better place personally, spiritually, and relationally.

2. A second purpose of our sabbatical is restoration.  This is part of the reason we needed to leave our normal environment so we have time, space, and freedom from our normal obligations that can detract from making growth a top priority.  We are in the middle of a great program at Link Care in Fresno specifically designed for missionaries and their unique needs.  We will continue counseling throughout our time in Fresno as part of the process of continuing to grow into the people God wants us to be.  A big part of what we anticipate is deeper intimacy with God, one another, and all those God brings into our life.

3. A third reason for our sabbatical is reflection on the past several years of life and ministry.  What has taken place in our personal lives, what have we learned about life in community, how has God shaped and used us in South Africa, and what does all this mean for the future?  Expect lots of writing…

4. The final purpose for our sabbatical is preparation for what God has in store for us in this next season of life and ministry.  We have some pretty good ideas about what that will look like, but want God to confirm and clarify.  We expect God to further reveal hopes, details, and specifics.  We also anticipate this leading us to further training and learning to get us ready.  And, we want to use this time to develop the patterns and habits we will need to continue successfully in the next season.  Of course, you will hear more and more as we do, and as we gear up for all that is to come when our sabbatical ends on May 31.

For now, we are settling into life, school for the kids, and soon a new house (renting from friends) in Fresno!  More on all that, and some pics, soon :)

In the meantime, would appreciate your comments and prayers.

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