September Newsletter

A fighting chance...

September 2009 Newsletter #2

by Eugene van Deventer Juan‘s story... ...Boetas for Life.

Not long after my inception at Miederpark Dutch Reform Church I was informed about the ‘Boetas’, an Afrikaans slang word meaning ‘Brothers’. Whenever the teenagers spoke of the ‘Boetas’ there was always a fearful, but yet enamored gaze upon their faces. As I did more research I discovered that this ‘gang’ had a series of criminal offenses behind their very popular name. The street walls in Miederpark screamed of the graffiti BFL, ’Boetas for Life’. Besides the drug-use and alcohol abuse, the goal of this gang was quite simply getting into fights. Not your average schoolyard-style For more information:  Mobile:

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J.A.S.O.N. Project interdenominational worship.

tussle, but the kind of fights that would instill a sense of deep fear within the Miederpark teenage community. It wasn’t long before one of the founders of this reputable group of boys came to introduce himself as Juan, almost in an intimidating sense of purpose. Six years ago Juan’s father, whom he loved deeply, died. The result was severe alcoholism and rebellion against society. An attitude that resulted in six severe car accidents in two years. At the age of 19, he and three of his friends formed the ‘Boetas’ and recruited young teenagers into their group. As the drug-use, assault, alcoholism and

gun-threats escalated, so did the interest of the authorities. It wasn't long before several of the Boetas where standing trial for assault and drug -related charges. As a result, the ‘Boetas’ came to an end and with the dissipation of the gang, many of the members, including Juan, gained a strong interest in the person of Jesus Christ. They started attending the homegroups intended for the youth at church. It was there where the teenagers themselves started praying for Juan and convinced him to go for counseling. Every fortnight Juan has a counseling with Hendrik Venter, a pastoral counselor.

Juan has been a follower of Jesus for about a month now and although he still has his vices, the change in

A picture of the ‘Boetas’ icon, the Playboy bunny. his heart and attitude has been tremendous. Juan still actively participates in the home-groups and even invites his ‘old’ friends to join the fellowship and community of Christ.

J.A.S.O.N. Project J.A.S.O.N., an acronym for Jesus and the Sons of Now, Project is a worship movement whose main mission is to bring a Joy to worship music in a world where tradition has taken president over an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The project’s recent heartbeat has taken a new

rhythm: To unite the youth of different churches in Potchefstroom by creating opportunities for interdenominational worship. For the past month, the movement has been hugely successful, organizing two opportunities for interdenominational worship. In a community where racism is

still a cultural tradition. The teenagers of Potchefstroom are standing up and starting cross-cultural interaction in the name of Jesus Christ; attending each other’s youth meetings at church and sharing His Name. The next worship session is on 18 September at Christian Fellowship.