A Real Spiritual Holiday: by Jacques & Jeanette Groenewald

We’re all going on a summer holiday.
No more working for a week or two.
Fun and laughter on a summer holiday.
No more worries for me and you.
For a week or two.

Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard

Its my privilege to share with you our experience from early Summer 2007 here in the UK. Our first visit to the Greenwoods house in East London was a real humbling one. Not knowing what to expect we went to see for ourselves and attended our first service at the London International Christian Church.

We were met with amazing hospitality at this home where the church met at that time, even though we have never even seen or spoken to the people. The brothers Steve and Dale shared with me about their lives answered many of my questions. I was amazed at this family and the humility of Oliver & Eugenie Greenwood leading not only a household with 4 children but working full time and leading the disciples as well.

I now realize that at that point we were spiritually burdened and felt overwhelmed with life as disciples and newly marrieds. The scripture that best describes how I was feeling after the service is: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30) God says he looks after us when we search him.

We are so grateful for the church making time regularly in the following weeks to meet up and do Bible studies with us and disciple our lives. It really strengthened us spiritually and we are very grateful for those times. The strong sense of family won us over. Oliver and Eugenie would usually have everyone stay for lunch after church and fellowship would go on for hours. After our first visit we committed ourselves to attend all the meetings.

Tim Kernan and his wife Lianne arrived shortly after and have been great leaders and examples to us and the church. I like to think of Tim as my older Brother. Not only were we helped, encouragement and supported spiritually but the church offered to cover some of our travel cost since we were living two hours away (We have now since moved to west London!). Truly I have never heard of this! This is the church we were baptized into. This love and emotional support helped us and made the emotional burden of the traveling light. We are truly grateful for all the incredible help and support of all kinds.

Over the weeks we built strong friendships as we spent time with the brothers and sisters. Tim and Lianne even traveled to the city of Reading where we were living to visit and encourage us! It was amazing to see the unity of the church and their hearts to obey the Word. We would meet up to share our faith on the streets in Stratford – East London and to our amazement even Olivers kids would out of their own will come share their faith with the group!

One of our the things we love as South Africans is to meet for a “Braai” (BBQ). A popular saying in South Africa is: “There’s nothing like a good Braai”. This summer was probably some of the most fun I ever had here in the UK. Saturdays someone usually organizes a party and we meet and have fun. One of the first things Tim bought when he arrived was a big propane BBQ! We have had so much fun on the weekends even if they are not official meetings of the body. We have really enjoyed the sleepovers, BBQ’s watching DVD’s, meeting for coffee and sharing our faith wherever we go. A special thanks to Tim and Lianne who council our marriage, thanks for stepping up to deal with us by using the Bible. I just want to thank all of you in the London Church for this – I know it is out of love for God and for his flock. I think my new phrase is now: “There’s nothing like a good Braai with the disciples in the UK!”

Indeed sin and darkness are terrible burdens and in hindsight God graciously lifted our burden and continuous to do so as we search him and call on the Lord (2 Tim. 2:22). This was like a summer holiday to us and we look forward to having many more good and strengthening times!

I would also like to take a minute to invite you all to the Gathering! I really hope you come and we can meet there!

Jacques & Jeanette Groenewald