Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and the country’s second-largest city by population. So, when told that 85% of South Africans claim to be Christians, one can be confident that it is a significant number of people in Cape Town. With those statistics in mind, one might wonder why James Broadaway would end his five years of service in Pretoria to expand the ministry to Cape Town, but that is what he did. Three years later, a six-person team works together at the University of Cape Town.
“I think it’s an incredible time in South Africa to be doing evangelism on campus,” says James. “Christianity is a cultural identity marker that allows easy transitions to conversations around the gospel and spiritual things. Christian values and presuppositions are built into their worldview.” Once the conversation goes deeper, discerning the actual state of one’s heart becomes a challenge, and language does not provide the needed clarity. A local pastor advised staff to ask students if they have repented of their sins and put their faith in Christ for their lives. It’s a mouthful, but a phrase people will understand.
While initiating evangelistic conversations is easy, establishing disciples has proven more challenging. Ancestral worship or “wealth and prosperity” surfaces during establishing, resulting in difficult conversations. These do not contradict the cultural Christian worldview but do contradict the scriptures. High academic demands make time a factor. Another difficulty stems from most South African families that stopped attending church between 2012 and 2015 but still identify as Christian. The team is experiencing the implication that most students don’t have a church background. Many students with genuine conversions don’t know what to expect because they haven’t attended church in a decade!
These culturally specific descriptors would be overwhelming for any team… but, God! God is at work in students’ hearts. James stepped onto campus three years ago and didn’t know one person. Now, 60+ students want to study the Bible! Five students have turned to Christ since May!
George came to faith last July and then went on a summer project in December. James has been casting vision and sharing the gospel with other students in front of him. George has developed a heart for sharing the gospel in the last two months. He’s had the skills, but his heart has changed with an increased desire to evangelize. Recently, James was talking with George about mutual friends. George said, “I should get some time with them, talk with them, and see where they are about Jesus.” Seeing the subtle, slow shifts in students’ hearts is a joy! Next term, George and James will co-lead an investigative Bible study.
Please join the CO SERVE staff as we pray for the ministry in Cape Town. It is a privilege to serve this team and enable them to engage students on the university campus through a community of faith. Pray for them as they focus on first-year students while training those who have come to faith to multiply their lives.
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