Re-digging the wells
Greetings friends!
Hope this finds you well!
It’s been a while since we have been in touch, but “beneath the surface” God has been doing a deep work - clearing out obstacles and ensuring no stone is left unturned, that would hinder us from stepping into the fullness of what He has called us to both personally and corporately as a Body :)
We feel it is time to start sharing some of our stories!
Conversation with Morris Sikabelenga:
Epic: What are you currently doing and what are some of the things God has been revealing to you this season? Morris: I’m currently enrolled in the YWAM School of Community Development in Worcester, South Africa. God has been speaking to me about “re-digging the wells” - both on a personal level and in this place. I am always curious about the history of places - and recently learned that Worcester was where the revivalist Andrew Murray was based. This was the epicentre of revival in South Africa in the 1800’s! I really had a sense that “the time is now” - God wants to “unblock” the wells in our personal lives, so they they may spill over into the community to effect a regional revival! In the words of Isaiah, “Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up a signal over the peoples.” Isaiah 62:10 This is our call as EPIC! Epic: That’s amazing! You mentioned “unblocking the wells”. What are some of the personal blockages that you feel God has been dealing with in your own life? Morris: So one of the “stones” that I feel have really been a blockage in my life has been the culture that I grew up in. My culture has many good things that I really appreciate, and has undoubtedly shaped me to become who I am today. However one negative thing, which has subconsciously affected my perspectives on “justice and equality” - is the hierarchical male -dominated culture that I grew up in - the entrenched worldview of men’s superiority over women. This has hindered me from hearing women’s stories and understanding their cries - because in our culture women are not usually given a safe space to be heard. My parents were divorced when I was two years old; and because of the male-dominated culture my mother was denied custody of me. I cannot imagine the gut wrenching pain this must have caused her - but in our society this is considered normal.
Epic: Wow, thank you for your vulnerability in sharing. How has this impacted you? Morris: This worldview that I have inherited has inevitably impacted the way I conduct myself as a leader - in the ways I have interacted with women. But recently God has been convicting me about this - opening my eyes to see women as key, equal co-labourers in all spheres of society: business, government, education, ministry etc. He has shown me that unless we clear this blockage of gender hierarchy in all spheres - we will not be stepping into the fullness of what He intended.
Epic: Amen to that brother! Any last comments? Morris: Yes, I would like to wrap up with a personal question to us all: What are some of the “stones” that are hindering you from experiencing the fullness of what God has in store for you? That’s all from us for now! We would love to hear from you - especially with regards to the question Morris just posed! Blessings, The EPIC family