It’s not often one meets one of Cape Town’s most notorious gangsters, appointed to one of the highest ranks in the criminal world through his gang, with worldly power to control the toughest prison environments in the region. So why was this gangster, Denzel, at the AE/Palau Love Cape Town mission festival, talking to missioners?
A couple of months ago, Denzel had an incredible revelation as a result of a family trauma that turned his world inside out. He turned to Christ 4 months ago when he realised that despite all the power of the criminal underworld and connections, it was not enough to stop the shocking abuse of his nine-year-old daughter, and a sudden realisation that his entire life has been built on a complete lie. At incredible risk to himself, he gave up all his wealth he had accumulated through crime to preserve his life by exiting the gang, and gave himself over to the church to find what this new pathway in Christ now means for him.
His first request to the church was to open his heart to feel love, which was so hardened by crime. In a short time, he began to repent for all the hurt he’d caused, particularly relived by remembering all the tears in the eyes of so many parents whose children he’d impacted.
Reflecting on his life, he realised that seeking protection of the gang for the constant bullying he’d experienced was the wrong choice. A ‘soft’ and small-statured target at school, his entry into gang life stopped the immediate problem, but very quickly took him many miles away from the care of his mother’s arms to a new city and complete criminal life at only 12 years of age.
Somehow he survived the next 19 years, which he believes is now for a higher purpose. “I’ve only been stabbed but never shot”, he said. “I’ve had a pistol pointed at me several times and the trigger pulled, but each time the gun jammed or misfunctioned.”
After a life, most of which has been spent in jail, God had finally woken him up to what his true role needed to be, which has not been without its costs. “My gang just cannot understand what has happened to me and normally I would be killed”, he said. “They even offered me money to come back. However I cannot go back. God knew me from within my mother’s womb, and after 19 years I have finally reconciled to my mother and daughters. That is the true power I have now, to be a proper parent. Now I am looking forward to becoming a father to my daughters and to start making up for the most important things in life that I lost in my life of crime.”
Incredibly, his mother never gave up praying for him during this time. Members of his old gang have also been observing closely the transformation that has taken place in his life since turning to Christ. One gang member has since said that he would like to have the power that Denzel now has.
There is now a very long road ahead of repentance and growth in his knowledge of Jesus. However, Denzel hopes that he can show that turning to gangs is not worth it, and will rob people of the very things that are most dear to them. True power is not in controlling the criminal underworld and the chains that it brings. It is only found in bringing life to others through Jesus, and in Denzel’s case, opening his life to the love of Christ and understanding what is like to be a true father. Please pray that youth in Cape Town will stay away from gangs and for God’s mercy on this city.
Well before dawn in Cape Town South Africa, the first of the AE missioners, well acquainted with mission over the past 9 days, have emerged from their shared rooms to start the day with prayer. It’s 4am and Bishop Andrew has commenced his routine, and he is soon joined by a number of others, fervently praying for the Lord’s mercy and favour. By 6am, we have commenced devotions led by Masai Jane, and today we are hearing from Enid about the power of the Holy Spirit revealed in Acts, our Helper sent to us following the resurrection of Jesus. We stand, pray and sing. We build one another up. We strengthen each other through spiritual songs and encouragement.
By 7.30am, all the volunteers have gathered to the bus to prepare for the day’s evangelistic activities. Before we move off, we commit our journey ahead in prayer and drive off in anticipation of what the Lord has prepared. Before we leave the bus, we will also pray.
Mission volunteers
Slowly making our way through the early traffic jams, we eventually make our way to Shofar church, led by DB and Ronelle, whose church serves as the central meeting point for AE’s citywide evangelism.
Shofar Church leaders, DB and Ronelle
After a briefing and prayer, we are sent out in the Spirit of the Lord to bring Good News of Jesus to the city. As we move in different directions, it soon becomes apparent that our greatest opportunity to engage the city outdoors is amongst office workers taking an outside cigarette break, together with passersby and the numerous trade shops.
Meet Ambrose
It’s not long before we bump into Ambrose, having his cigarette along with scores of others outside the office buildings. After striking up a conversation, he is open about his struggles to accept faith in Christ. He tells the missioners; “Every day I pray that I would find that strength in God and to find a personal relationship with Jesus.” As he hears about the love of Jesus for him, and the ease of taking that step forward, tears well up in his eyes as he recognizes the divine intervention now taking place in his life. We encourage him to find a home group, to read the Gospel of John we gave him, and he fills in a decision card that will help him to be followed up by a local church minister. Gratefully accepting our prayers, he soon departs back into the workplace, embraced by the assurance of God’s love for him and strengthened in his spirit to accept Jesus.
We all thank God for this beautiful time together to help bring him closer to Jesus, and we ask for God to grow faith within him.
AE Australia CEO Ben Campbell and Ambrose
Two Muslim Women
As the mission group diffuses through the city, a group of four AE missioners (Benson, Mercy, Ben and Mary) approach a cluster of people centred around a bus stop, market stall and smoking area. The Holy Spirit has gone before us, and we are embraced by two Muslim ladies who are so open to hearing about the Gospel. They are transfixed as we describe God’s great desire to unite us together in Christ after the fall. They are so overwhelmed with joy in hearing this news, they can’t help but hug us and thank us for what they have heard today. They want to reflect on the true pathway of life through Christ, and to read the tracts we have given them. “Thank you for coming all this way to South Africa to talk to us today”, they said. “We want to model openness to hearing about Christianity as an example to our kids, so they too can make a choice on who they might follow.”
Benson and Mercy
As we wrap up our time in the city, mercifully protected by the Lord in courageously approaching city workers, we are given a thanksgiving lunch by an executive member of the mission organizing team.
“Thank you for all you do”, said pastor Ricky, “and God bless you all.” As the day comes to a close, and we have dinner and fellowship, we turn our sole attention back to the ‘Author of Life’ through devotions at 7.30pm. This evening we hear about the power and love of Joshua and Caleb, who encouraged the Israelites to take the land that God has given them (Numbers 13).
Following this, gradually we prepare for rest, and a new day of evangelistic activities. We reflect on how God has prepared the hearts of people like Ambrose, the Muslim ladies and on the people who have finally taken the decision to accept Jesus right there on the streets with the AE disciples of Jesus. We prepare to be even more effective the next day, and utilise what we have learned to bring more into a relationship with Jesus as God enables.
We thank God for all the supporters of mission through prayer and finances, who are transforming Africa person by person in obedience to Christ and the Great Commission. We thank God for all of you, because without you there would be even more lost people on the streets today. Because of your faithful service to God, even more people have new hope in Christ. And as God wills, there will be even more tomorrow.
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AE Live on Mission: https://africanenterprise.com.au/ae-on-mission-live/
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