Stefan,

            Hi. I just listened to Wayne Jacobsen’s pod cast today where he interviewed you. I know it was last year, but I wanted to let you know that I was really encouraged by it. I am an American missionary living and working in Kenya and I struggle with trying to get people to look past the institution to see and know God. I sometimes would wonder is there anyone else on this continent actually seeking God. Of course I knew there were some, but I just had not met them. Thanks for sharing your story with Wayne it really blessed me. Should you ever find yourself in Kenya I would love to sit for some lunch or something and just chat.

Johnny Brooks

www.purechristianity.blogs.com

Hi Johnny

Thanks so much for writing. It has been an encouragement for me. Sorry that I respond so late but I could not get to my computer due to illness.

I hear your cry and we would love to pray for you. Could you please send us some ore information?

I would love to build an e-mail relationship with you so that we can exhort each other at crucial times. I would also like to see what your blog is about but it “times out” every time I tried. I send out a newsletter to the network with some teaching from participants on a regular basis and can send you one if you are interested. If you have all the hardware it will not take too much space but if you are operating on a small margin then I have to send you the version without the pictures so let me know.

I am also in the process of setting up a website that I think will be more for Africa so that we can talk with those who are experiencing our particular struggles.

I will be looking forward to hear from you again.

Kind regards

Stephan

A letter from Johan Bruwer, evangelist and friend

Hi Stephan,

In 2003 I had to put together a short profile about myself and the ministry, when I asked God what I should call the ministry He clearly spoke into my spirit and said;" Reaching Higher Ministry" This is also the vision of the ministry. Encouraging people not to be content with where they are at in their relationship with God. There is always more to Him than what we have now.

The mission of the ministry is releasing the potential of the church. Miles Monroe defines potential:"Potential is dormant ability, reserved power, untapped strength, unused success, hidden talents, capped capability. All you can be but have not yet become, all you can do but have not yet done, how far you can reach but have not yet reached, what you can accomplish but have not yet accomplished. Potential is unexposed ability and latent power.”

The strategy that we follow to encourage people not to be content and release their God given potential is Leadership training, Men’s & Lady's retreats and different kinds of outreach or revivals. Depending on the need and how the Holy Spirit leads. The ministry serves under the covering of the Full Gospel Church of God in South Africa. We are usually 6 month in the USA and 6 months in South Africa but we go where God opens a door.

We are very excited about what God is doing through this ministry. Refreshing those who have already excepted Christ, reviving those who have never excepted Christ, restoring those who have backslided.The results and the breakthrough that has come to individuals and churches are awesome. Equiping and encouraging and strengthening the body of Christ for the work of the ministry. To God be the glory for great things He has, is and always will do. If anybody would like to contact us for ministry they can do so through the e-mail att johanbruwerevangelist@yahoo.com

God bless

Johan Bruwer

Evangelist

Johan and Poen Bruwer saw much of their early Christian growth at El Bethel Vineyard 15 odd years ago and have gone on to serve in an international evangelistic ministry that takes them to the USA for about 6 months of the year. We connected again with them a couple of months ago when Poen was in hospital fighting cancer. They are currently in South Africa and are ministering widely.

From Godfrey and Bette Newton in Canada:

Hi Stephan & Linda:

Thanks for your e-mail. Trust you are well and keeping fit in all ways. Just before your letter arrived we were thinking of writing to you. With crashed computers, a non-functioning printer and having to replace it, and a pile up of e-mails, please forgive us for the delay. Our love – thoughts for you have not diminished even one little bit. We did receive your Cross Contacts with articles from many sources – thanks.

In the mean time we are in the process of compiling simple material on the “foundations” of Hebs. 6, bringing us to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God as a lifestyle.

As you know we have been part of the Church of Zion. Sometime back the Lord directed us to draw aside. During that time of waiting on the Lord, He quickened to us what He wanted us to share with His people. Then we were directed back to Zion with this truth and revelation and were told by the leadership that, even though they knew it was truth and revelation, “Zion is not ready for it yet”. Nor are others, but the Lord told us that He would bring “those others”, the hungry ones. One of the amazing things to us at this time is that as we have met with “restoration church” leaders they are not at all interested in the “5th Stone” from Hebs. 6, “Resurrection from the dead”. The last move of restored truth in 1948, “Laying on of Hands”, has now become the greatest hindrance {through unbelief or comfortableness} to the new move of God {as church history has proved}.
Now we are released because God’s plan for us to share this Kingdom truth was not part of the agenda of Zion.

Much of our sharing is around our table in fellowship with individuals, couples and small groups who are spiritually hungry for “fresh food” from the Lord. When we were waiting on the Lord, Bette had a vision of heaven and the Lord was dressed as a “Chief Chef” and He was busy. The words that came were, ”I am preparing fresh-baked bread and delicacies for My people everyday. I call them to dine with Me at My table prepared for them by My invitation”. We see it is a day of putting away the old “Manna” – that is the “old order”. The Lord declares that He will open the NEW that takes us to “maturity”.

We appreciate you both and your friendship toward us,

Love as always,

Godfrey & Bette

Dear Godfrey and Bette
Thanks so much for your letter, I really appreciate the contact and also the news. I love what Bette felt the Lord said about the Chef. We had a word long ago, before we started to change our format that our current format was akin to a restaurant where people could sit down and order a meal but that He wanted to change it to a bring-and-share meal. We are currently meeting at 13h00 one Sunday a month for lunch and then have our sharing and fellowship afterwards. Besides that we are meeting in various small groups that are all totally spontaneous and autonomous. We are soooo happy in Jesus.
The central theme of my own stewardship from the Lord is slowly developing around “friendship with Jesus” and the grace we are experiencing is tremendous. We are very excited, praying a lot for the revelation of Jesus in our lives and in the lives of those we love and in the church at large. If I say a lot then I mean like night and day -this is our burden from Him. We have learnt some mind blowing things about faith the last two years and are seeing the fruit in our lives and the lives of those we are praying for. Otherwise we are just doing what you are doing – sharing around tables, in restaurants and lounges with whomever he sends our way. And we are enjoying life. I have written a book on the friendship with Jesus and faith that satisfies and am now busy with the final editing.
We miss input from you people. Could you please write something for the CrossContact?
We miss you and we really pray that Father will allow us to come together some time again.

Much love
Stephan and Linda

Quick link to Johnny's blog:

www.purechristianity.blogs.com