Risks, Costs & Rewards of Relationships

In any relationship there are risks, costs and rewards. As we follow God and relationships He is leading us into we find ourselves having to take lots of risks. John Wimber taught us how to spell risk through f-a-i-t-h. Bonhoffer taught us that discipleship has costs and Jesus imparted the importance of producing fruit that lasts.

Blood N Fire, RSA's mission is rebuilding family in community in the cities of the nations of Africa. How? Modeling, discipleship, imparting, training and basically walking out relationship with those God has called us to, as Jesus did the twelve he gathered around him.

Oprah Winfrey has been paralleling my life since 1987 when she came to Atlanta to an all white county where blacks did not live or work. She was just a reporter then, funny enough that risk taking act of faith to walk alongside other blacks protesting apartheid in America launched Oprah into her destiny! I remember reading about her plan to interview some of the people of the county and I thought she was out of her mind! Who did she think she was marching up to the doors of people who'd said they didn't want blacks in their schools, neighborhoods or working in their community? She was asking for trouble in a region that had no problem giving it to her!

While I did grow up in the South, I was not raised with the anti-black sentiment. My mother hailed from New England and never allowed racist attitudes or talk in our home. We consequently grew up believing that people were people, whether black, white, yellow, red or green! We were all equal and equally gifted. So I wasn't approaching Oprah's visit to Atlanta with an outraged, racist attitude. I was merely concerned about the emotional riot that might ensue as a result of her pushing the envelope. Not to say someone didn't need to, mind you! And what really blew me away was her act of throwing caution to the wind. She wasn't afraid to stand up against something she knew wasn't right! She would be risking her life and yet, isn't that what it takes? I wonder if she knew where that willingness to risk would lead her?

I knew I was to mark Oprah's decision. From time to time I check in on Oprah. Cape Town used to get her show on SABC, I don't know if it still runs. I became so frustrated watching it that I simply couldn't anymore! You see, I love what Oprah does! I am jealous that she's got the funds to do it and I don't- well not in the natural sense anyway!

I wish Oprah would come over here and jump in my husband's Land Rover and drive into Africa with us instead of flying in and out. Instead of drive by shootings Oprah's doing the drive by ministry of Oprah and getting away with it! But who can judge her? No one! She has the goods and she's giving them away. She exemplifies extravagant giving outrageously! I hope the American people are learning from her model rather than taking advantage of what they can acquire in gifts. What a model for the world's poor? God is truly turning around what the enemy meant for evil in her life and using it for good! And I seriously want to Ask Oprah- 'Hey, why don't you come visit some of us over here working hard to help the poor and needy, orphaned, rejected and confused. I'm glad you are working with God's Acre, that's a good start. Now start inviting teams of folks to come with you to meet and get to know kids and moms and dads and get involved in their lives as mentors, spiritual parents, etc. I know there's a place where folks can donate. And I'll bet they do! But Oprah, what about us folks who've given our lives to helping the poor? Are you getting to know us? Are you interested in our stories and hardships and how they might be able to transform this world we live in today? Is it of interest to you how these acts of compassion not only change those in need but the ones who are doing the giving? Or are you only interested in stories that sell, crooning and playing the violin of drama to your audience?" Okay, so maybe I should have titled this Ask Oprah?

We certainly aren't putting our eggs in the Oprah basket, she doesn't even know we exist! But the God of heaven knows! Our Father invited us to make a difference in the lives of nameless, faceless folk, who no doubt could be used to change the world. The Bible says God will use the foolish to shame the wise! Some of those folks are people like Jane Jones whose family gave their lives to the poor in San Jose, Costa Rica. Jane died of liver cancer last year and when her family spread her ashes throughout the precario, the moms and kids ran behind them to catch a part of Jane's spirit. Wow! That one act speaks loudly, eh? Jane loved kids and families. She loved encouraging the women and providing a learning lab for the kids as well as making a way for people to sponsor the kids' education. The learning lab was in their home and the kids could come after school for a bite to eat, homework help, chance to learn how to use a computer and/or read books from their library. Blood N Fire, RSA has a dual dream, taking Jane's idea to support and aid the kids with their education and to take that a step further into the Arts, providing opportunity for them to experience dance, drama, music, art, and creative writing. We call it Master's Academy of Fine Arts- Cape Town. MAFA-CapeTown is only the first school, we are dreaming of schools in Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and even other communities around South Africa, specifically the Western Cape but not limited to that area alone. Through this one arm we can reach a lot of kids, connecting with their families also. However, Oprah has unlimited funds. We don't have a t.v. show that brings in the millions to help finance our ministry. We've invested all our finances to become permanent citizens of South Africa and to purchase a home where the kids can come, along with their families and for other ministry opportunities we are offer to South Africans in rebuilding family in community.

Our hope is in the Lord and that He may have chosen some of you to partner with us to help us in this great work. We aren't here for a season only to return to the U.S. We have moved here permanently, we have put down roots not only in land but in relationships with the poor. We need funding, we need benefactors interested in the fruit that lasts... to provide new books for the library, tickets to see shows like the Lion King, Stomp, Shakespeare, salaries for musicians willing to teach who need to pay their bills. We need folks who want to reach out to a third world country that has first world potential, if only someone will believe in them!

A few hundred years ago Europeans came to this shore to establish a refreshment station. Their goal was to replenish supplies for expeditions on the Spice Route and make money doing it. They took the land away from the indigenous people, they raped and pillaged the land, made it their own whereby many fortunes were made for already wealthy families in Europe. God always meant it to be a place of spiritual refreshing, where people could rest and be restored. The people living here today put their hopes in tourism, those who are skilled and educated can make money providing township tours and countless walking history tours not to mention the wine farms and restaurants that abound. My prayer is to find those who would like to have a part in God's plan to reach out to what He has said is the last greatest place on the earth.

Would you be willing to invest funding, time, prayer and resources to help us? Yes, the poor need to eat. They need to be clothed, healed and visited in prison, too. They need people who are willing to walk out a lifetime of relationship with them so that when they are sick someone can pray for them as well as teach them how to pray. They need to know someone cares about them, believes in them and wants to invest in their future and see them succeed!

In order to make a commitment to this kind of work there needs to be trust between the investing parties and the ones on the other side doing the work. We are willing to get to know you more personally, to invite you into our lives of daily service to the poor in Africa and to share with you our God-given vision for rebuilding family in community. We are willing to meet you here in Africa in one of our homes or in yours. We pray you might be willing to invite some others who'd be genuinely interested in partnering with us, too. Please feel free to contact via email at bnfrsa@sentechsa.com.

Ned & Susan Hill
Blood N Fire, RSA
16 Cypress Road
Newlands 7700
Cape Town, South Africa

27-21-686-5083
27-82-681-6601