Stories that Shape Us

COVID-19 continues to bring challenges to the school environment across South Africa. SU has been placing Sinawe (Zulu for 'we are with you') Workers in local schools to help provide psycho-social support for the learning environment. Some great stories are coming out of this program and we will talk about the experience of these SU staff as they navigate the challenges in local schools.  

Tim chats with SU Staff members Kwakes, Neo, Anastesia, Karen, and Mzwabantu as they discuss the Sinawe program and some tools they find useful as they minister. 

South African young people have been struggling with grief as they deal with the impact of COVID-19 on their friends and families. The trauma that many are experiencing is amplified in the pain and loss they feel as they deal with the death of loved ones or teachers or other adults within their circles of influence. The impact is significant and needs careful, holistic processing. Where is God in the midst of this pain? 

Today's podcast looks at the issue of grief, but from a position of hope. Join Tim as he chats with SU Staff members Luyanda and Kyle as they discuss the things they are seeing in the lives of grieving young people in our local school communities and some tools they find useful as they minister. 

May was a month of prayer for our schools in South Africa. Richard and Leearron of Pais gathered organisations from around South Africa to join together in prayer for our schools and teachers. Why May, why now and what did God do in response to the united gathering of his people in prayer. 

One of the serious issues facing young people today is bullying, a form of unprovoked aggression that can be directed at another individual or group of individuals with the intent to cause embarrassment or pain. It used to be that you could escape a school or work bully by simply moving locations at the end of the day, but bullying can also take place online, called cyberbullying, via an app or online platform like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok. So instead of being able to escape bullies, they ride in our pockets, come into our homes and follow us wherever we go on our phones or tablets. For many young people, it can seem as if there is no escape. 

Today's podcast talks about bullying and its impact on young people. Join Tim as he chats with SU Staff members Celest and Shenick as they discuss the impact of bullying at a recent girls' camp and some ways they help these young women deal with this issue. 

South Africa celebrates Youth Month throughout the month of June. Tim interviews Chicks Radise, new SU staff with a focus on team building and youth development. Chicks and his wife, Lerato, are the new leaders of Kadesh Barnea Campsite and bring with them a long history in the camping, team building and youth development spaces. Listen in as Tim and Chicks discuss the impact of Covid and other influences on the lives of young people in South Africa and some ways to empower them to move forward.

In this episode, Ant Ryan considers his personal adventure and how an SU camping experience can change your life--and introduce you to the girl of your dreams! Tim and Ant chat through the varied experiences that have formed the Ryan family and how God has moved to craft the journey in ways that only He can do.

The journey looks different for all of us--and we don't know how God will take what seems like insignificant moments to establish markers that create the diversity of experience that builds his Kingdom. Today's interview with Viv De Klerk is a reminder that through what appears to be random events, God weaves his plan to create a tapestry. We only see the pattern emerge later in the story.    

Sometimes God moves through the most unlikely ways to bring change. Today's interview details John Scheeper's journey to faith as a young boy on camp that eventually led him to his work at Isiphambano engaging the deep issues around justice and the gospel.

You never know how the investment of time in the life of a young man or woman can change one's trajectory. Tim has the opportunity to spend time with Jerry Mabena and chat about how key events and individuals made an eternal difference in his life and his future.

What happens when everything in life changes in an instant? Tim's conversation today is with Uel Maree and how God worked through a terrible accident to bring himself glory.