Dear Friends
“We were discipled this week”
A friend of ours – let’s call him Peter – and his wife visited us for a few days. After they left us we felt so loved, blessed, enriched, privileged. I presume our emotions are exactly the same as people in the New Testament who were in Jesus’ presence – knowing that you experienced something extra-ordinary – divine presence. O ur house was a “thin place” this week. The curtain was withdrawn. Jesus visited us.
We were struck by Peter’s humility and vulnerability. Not wearing any mask. Not pretending. No agenda to get anything from us. Totally honest and transparent – sharing his failures and shortcomings with the same enthusiasm he shares how God used him in ministry. Speaking about his experience in a clinic after burnout – struggling with depression – with the same passion as the feedback he gets from people who are blessed by his ministry. Always giving the honor to the Lord.
“We were was discipled this week”.
Witnessing numerous conversations where Peter looked straight into our eyes – sensing that we are devoutly listened to when we shared opinions about a wide range of topics. A teachable spirit – Peter wants to learn from people around him – always listening attentively with an attitude of “How can I learn from you”. Offering his own opinions in a context of “this is what I feel the Lord is currently convincing me of – maybe tomorrow I shall think differently”.
“We were discipled this week”.
We experienced the character forming effect of pain. Peter lost his only son at the age of 15 – a taxi hit him. In the last 18 months he lost his wife due to cancer as well as one of his two daughters due to infection – leaving behind three teenagers – now in the care of a son in law – whose lifestyle created a lot of trauma and rejection for Peter’s daughter. Peter keeps on loving his son in law – convinced that the only chance of him returning to the Lord is because of God’s unconditional love for him through Peter.
“We were discipled this week”.
Every morning at 04:00 the lights were burning in our lounge. Peter was spending time with Jesus – even after nights where we talked until late.
“We were discipled this week”.
In Peter’s life we rediscovered a new missional model. Normally we send people from here to there – go ourselves from where we are somewhere else. My eyes were opened for another model – if we can offer the change God achieved in our own lives – if we can live the change the gospel brought in our own lives – our growth towards the image of Christ – the fruit of the Spirit – then people will stream to us – just like they did to Jesus in the gospels. For sure the paradigm is to “GO”. My eyes were opened once again for the power of the paradigm “COME”. Jesus in me will draw people to Himself.
“We were discipled this week”.
Since Peter and his wife left us – we are playing this song in our house – again and again and again 
https://youtu.be/6Z3q8IIT-XA?
We were discipled.
All our love and appreciation.
Johann and Annalena Theron