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Source: TCN / Glenn Weiss
Date Added: 2024-04-22
Category: General News,  TCN News,  Issues - General,  Issues - Social upliftment, 

I first took note of the phrase, “chasing impossible causes” or “lost causes” during interviews with the Springboks after the victorious 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Three single point wins in as many back-to-back knock-out matches is testament that they lived in this statement and built a winning, “never say die” culture around it.

However, the ultimate epitome of “chasing impossible causes was undoubtedly the charge down of French fullback, Ramos’ conversion attempt by Cheslin Kolbe.

Those who know and follow the game of rugby know that this hardly ever happens. In fact, can you even remember another charge down like this?

Probably not!!! But this didn’t stop Cheslin giving all he had to give it a go.

So, with that introduction, I trust I have your attention.

What is it that you feel are seemingly impossible or lost causes in our city.

Rampant violent crime, poor governance, and lack of service delivery or what about record, astronomical unemployment figures.

The issue of unemployment is the “seemingly” impossible cause that I wish to tackle in this article.

The figures for our province of the Eastern Cape for quarter 3 of 2023 was that the official unemployment rate was 39,7%.

Far more concerning is the youth unemployment rate of 52,4 % for those aged between 15 and 34.

Sadly, during quarter 4 of 2023, an additional 111 000 jobs were shed in our beloved Eastern Cape!

As this is an article to the Church in the Community, do you remember when Jesus was anointed with oil at Bethany before His arrest?

He made a statement that, “we will always have the poor amongst us.”

Sadly, many Christians and churches have taken that statement out of context and built a lifestyle that says, “let’s not worry about the poor (the unemployed and the poorly educated) because they will always be with us and we are fighting a losing battle, so let’s not get our hands dirty”.

So back in June 2022, we as a little church in Walmer, called Joy to the Nations, (yes, the one right at the entrance to Walmer Township), felt the prompting to start what is known as a “Jobs Club”.

We launched the club with the help of Izenzo, an organisation which assists churches to address unemployment through the lens of a biblically just economy.

The name of our club is the JESU Club (Joy Employment and Skills Upliftment).

We have been running for nearly three years now, meeting consistently on Wednesday mornings at our “strategic location” that is easily accessible by those needing assistance in their search for employment and much needed skills upliftment including small business startup training and assistance.

Since inception we have run programmes on domestic/cleaning skills, computer training, sewing skills and we were partners in assisting some artisans obtain their trades as a plumber and electrician.

So back to the seemingly impossible cause of fighting against +_ 50% unemployment.

Have we solved that (yet)?

No, we have not.

But, what do you think the 80+ families would say that now have a breadwinner in their home, working and supporting them because of the JESU Club?

They would say, “This was definitely not a lost/impossible cause!”

Add to this, those who have upskilled themselves and made themselves more marketable for employment, what about the hope they leave with each week when we celebrate their friend who was with us last week, being absent today, because they are working now!

My two questions to you the reader are:

What is in your hand? What skills, experience, connections, resources do you have?
and
Are you prepared to get your hands dirty?

To answer these questions for the team that serves in this ministry to our community:

I personally happened to come from a human resources background before I transitioned to so called “full time ministry” 14 years ago.

This was helpful in launching this initiative, but it is definitely not essential.

Many of the volunteers on the team have found that their skills in banking, business management, small business, education, hairdressing and even retired attorney’s and IT guys have found their place and find great satisfaction from seeing lives around them being enriched somehow through their availability and sharing their life experience and knowledge.

This is the tougher question by far.

As the pastor of a local church, I could easily justify why I should give more of my time to the preparation of my upcoming preach or teaching and to prayer.

Yes, that is scriptural but without a heart for the people in your church and the community where you find yourself, you are just a clanging cymbal.

There is a wise old saying, “people do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Rolling up my sleeves and serving as part of this team has shown me the immense truth of this statement.

Remember that God Himself said, “What is impossible for man, is possible with Him”.

So, which seemingly impossible or lost cause is God asking you to partner with Him on?

If you are moved to fight the giant of unemployment in your community, then please contact us and we will assist you wherever possible to get started.

Glenn Weiss
Joy to the Nations pastor

Source: TCN / Glenn Weiss
Date Added: 2024-04-22
Category: General News,  TCN News,  Issues - General,  Issues - Social upliftment, 

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