Today we’re celebrating four years of GraceLife!
It was over four years ago that God birthed the vision for GraceLife in my heart, and then one evening seven of us gathered together and that’s where it all started… since then we’ve seen many people receive Christ, be baptised, discover their purpose, encounter God’s unconditional love and grace, discover the power of the gospel, experience family, and we’ve seen people’s lives radically change because of it.God has given the ministry much influence and we’ve seen a number of churches planted and mission relationships started in a number of countries.
The road has had ups and downs, but overall it’s been an awesome journey and adventure. Thank you to each person who is a part of the GraceLife family, both near and far. Thank you for building with us and helping make GraceLife what it is. We all have something to contribute and that’s why all of us, together, make up GraceLife. Thank you for being a part of the family and for your grace-filled, faithful love and support as we’ve grown together.
I want to encourage us all with a wonderful truth that God has been speaking to me about this past week:
“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” (Mark 4:28 – King James Version, naturally)
There is a process to growth and success. Over the past four years God has been teaching us and showing us how to go, where to go, etc. We’ve made mistakes and learnt from them, but all-in-all a foundation has been laid for great fruitfulness. We’ve enjoyed some level of fruitfulness but it’s easy to allow discouragement when you don’t see what you’d like to see. However, I am encouraged that fruitfulness is a process and it takes time. In our “microwave-minded culture” we want it all and we want it now. But there has never been an overnight success. It’s important that we enjoy where we are at while building for tomorrow. Yes, we want to see more, but let’s sow the seeds today that will produce the ‘more’ tomorrow.
We’ve come a long way since 2010. Let us celebrate and enjoy all that God has done in building our grace community, and let’s be expectant for all the greater things we know are coming!
Much love
Shayne & Marna Holesgrove
PS… Come celebrate GraceLife’s birthday with us this Sunday as we start our morning service in Stellenbosch…
