Transform Missions
Reaching out beyond our borders
We believe that every resident of Munsieville township, Gauteng Province, South Africa has an unalienable right to experience the overwhelming love of God and to hear, in a way they can understand, the good news of what Jesus achieved for them on the cross, and of the cosmos-changing message of hope declared when he rose from the dead.
Okay, that's what we believe, so what are we doing about it?
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Munsieville goes to sleep at Christmas. It's the hottest time of the year and those who can, escape from the township to the villages or rural areas of their ancestors. Those who remain include the poorest of the poor. Those trapped by poverty spend the festive season in their sweltering shack homes. There's nothing to do, no services in operation, and very likely, nothing to eat and no gifts for the children. Worst of all, few have any idea of what the season is all about. They are living in this world, without God and without hope, and that just has to change!
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But that will change at Christmas 2022. Transform Christmas will see a range of events for children and families in the week up to Christmas, and then, on Christmas Day, hundreds of the most destitute children from the township will enjoy a glittering presentation of the Advent story, followed by a banquet, where each of them will be a guest of honour. When they leave in the early afternoon, they will take away a wonderful gift for them to give to their family - a meal for ALL the family, health-related gifts, treats for the children and Bible portions in their own language.
TRANSFORM CHRISTMAS will also be a signpost event, pointing to something much bigger at Easter - TRANSFORM LIFE - a week-long mission for all the township, in collaboration with local churches. It will start with a bold, colourful celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, followed by six days of activities to explain the impact and implications of the resurrection to people living in poverty and fear in South Africa's oldest, undeveloped township (see below).
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Leaders from our UK team will be in Munsieville from 13 December, and will work alongside local churches and partners, in all activities and particularly the climax of the mission on Christmas Day. Flights and accommodation are now pretty well sold out, making it difficult for additional UK-based volunteers, but if you are within traveling distance of the West Rand in South Africa, and would like to join this special initiative, please contact us on info@rootandbranchchange.org.
Future TRANSFORM MISSIONS
We are currently working to finalise plans to pull together a youth Mission Team to work alongside Christian young people from churches in and around Munsieville in July 2024. We anticipate having around thirty places (plus leaders) and will accept applications from those aged 16 – 20. The outreach event will a practical work project (possibly helping in the construction or improvement of a safe house for abandoned children), and also participating in a range of events to share Christian hope with young people, including music and sports activities.
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To register your interest in receiving details of this mission when published early in 2023, please email your contact details to info@rootandbranchchange.org.