Following Jesus' Example

With children still on Easter break this week, Living Hope is holding its quarterly Holiday Clubs in the communities of Capricorn, Masiphumelele, Ocean View and Red Hill. Younger kids meet in the morning and teenagers attend after lunch. It’s a great way to keep them occupied and out of trouble while they have so much free time on their hands.

In Red Hill the teenagers’ lesson today was on Jesus’ attitude of humility and servanthood, based on His act of washing the disciples’ feet as recorded in the 13th chapter of John. To put this lesson into action, we told the kids they would not be getting their usual snack of an apple and a pear this afternoon. Instead, they were to go out and give their food away to others in the community.

I was proud to see them do so without grumbling or complaining. One household was so touched by the gesture that they offered a boy part of their lunch in return. And as I told the kids, when you give selflessly God often blesses you with something even greater. In this case, it was a chocolate Easter egg, a box of which had been donated for the week.

But that wasn’t all. When the kids got back from their little outing, my two colleagues and I sat them down and washed their feet. There were a lot of laughs, and a little hesitancy from a couple of kids, but overall I think the message got through. At least I hope it did. Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). The more these young people are able to live as Jesus did, the more God’s Kingdom will take root in Red Hill.

Below are more images from our Holiday Club in Red Hill this week.