Christian testimonies : Street preaching (Reflections)
- mambaub
- Jan 18
- 4 min read
Greetings and salutations
Greetings once more.
We are only a few weeks into the year, and already time seems to be moving quickly. Before sharing what has unfolded recently, it is worth pausing to acknowledge this: every opportunity we have to speak, serve, or stand in public is ultimately given by God. What may appear simple or natural is sustained entirely by His grace. All glory belongs to Him.
This year will matter—not because of the personal goals we hope to accomplish, but because of what God is already doing among His people. With that in mind, I want to reflect briefly on the final stretch of the past year and the lessons it carried.
The Final Stretch of the Year
As the year drew to a close, I took time to reflect on the road behind me. It had been a season marked by change, challenge, and growth. In hindsight, it became clear that God was at work in ways I could not fully see at the time.
After spending time in street ministry, I visited an old friend, Tian De Beer, and his family. It was good to reconnect and share unhurried moments together. I also met the newest addition to the family, little Lisa, for the first time—a quiet reminder that even in seasons of transition, God continues to bring new beginnings.
Ordinary Moments, Lasting Impact
One day during my visit, I joined Tian and his friend Manny at a "Boerie day" outreach in Meyerton, where we prepared and served hotdogs to members of the local community. What appeared to be a simple act of service soon revealed deeper significance.
At first, there was little response. A few people approached after noticing the "Free Boerie" sign, only to be called away by an employer who had arrived to collect them for work elsewhere. For a moment, it seemed as though the opportunity might pass quietly.
Then we noticed a small group of men sitting at a distance, waiting—most likely job seekers. We invited them over, and gradually the atmosphere shifted.
Within a few hours, close to fifty people had gathered. Conversations unfolded naturally and without agenda.
We spoke with council employees, delivery drivers, restaurant workers on lunch breaks, and pedestrians passing through. Different lives, different stories, yet one shared moment. The Lord ordered it with remarkable clarity.
It served as a reminder that when Jesus spoke of His hands and feet, He was speaking of ordinary people willing to step into ordinary moments with faith. What seems small can carry lasting impact when placed in God’s hands.
Returning Home With Perspective
After saying goodbye to the De Beer family, I returned home and spent the following weeks completing my book, Sent: Living the Mission. Writing its final chapters brought fresh perspective. It revealed not only how God had been working through ministry, but how deeply He had been shaping me in the process.
Transformation rarely announces itself while it is happening. It is often only visible in reflection.
Moving Forward
As the year continues, my hope is simple: to remain attentive, available, and faithful. To meet people where they are. To speak the Gospel clearly and live it consistently.
The work continues, often quietly, often without recognition—but always with purpose.
And that, perhaps, is where the mission has always lived.
Closing Reflection
As the year unfolds, it becomes clear that the work of God is rarely loud or hurried. More often, it moves quietly through ordinary days, simple acts, and willing hearts. The moments that shape us most are not always the ones we plan for, but the ones we remain present for.
If there is anything the past season has revealed, it is this: faithfulness matters. Showing up matters. Saying yes in small, unseen ways matters. God continues to work through lives that are yielded, attentive, and willing to be used—often long before the results become visible.
The mission has not changed. The call remains the same. And as long as there are people to love, serve, and reach, the work continues—one conversation, one act of obedience, one moment at a time.
Discipleship Notes
1. Discipleship Begins With Availability
Discipleship is not initiated by position, preparation, or perfection. It begins with availability. Throughout the Gospel narratives, Jesus called ordinary people who were willing to respond. Faithfulness often precedes clarity.
Reflection:
Am I available to God in ordinary moments, or only when it feels significant?
2. God Often Works Through the Ordinary
Serving hotdogs, visiting friends, sharing conversations—these are not interruptions to the mission. They are the mission. God consistently uses simple acts of obedience to open doors for deeper transformation.
Key Truth:
What feels small to us is never insignificant to God.
3. Discipleship Is Relational, Not Transactional
Jesus did not rush people into decisions; He walked with them. Discipleship is built through presence, listening, and shared moments. Transformation unfolds through relationship, not pressure.
Practice:
Listen more than you speak. Let conversations develop naturally.
4. Obedience Shapes the Disciple
Growth often happens quietly. Writing, serving, waiting, returning home—these unseen moments shape the disciple more than public ministry ever could.
Reflection:
Where might God be forming my character while I focus on outcomes?
5. We Are the Hands and Feet
When Jesus spoke of His hands and feet, He was pointing to His followers. Discipleship is lived out, not merely spoken. The Gospel becomes visible when believers step into real spaces with humility and compassion.
Application:
Where has God already placed me to represent Him?
6. The Mission Continues
Discipleship is not seasonal. It does not pause between years or projects. The call remains constant—to follow Jesus and to make Him known through word and life.
The video below is adapted from Eric Ludy, and should set as an encouragement for any believer for the year going forward . Hope you enjoy
A video by Eric Ludy.
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