PROJECTS
1
SOMLANDELA PRESCHOOL
Somlandela Preschool was founded in 2012 by Christ Church Strand in response to the need for a preschool in the Nomzamo community. The church's vision is that through this preschool, children may come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior in their lives.
Somlandela Preschool is committed to providing high-quality early childhood education to children in the Nomzamo community. The preschool's curriculum is tailored to the needs of the children, and it focuses on both academic and spiritual development.
One of the areas on which Somlandela Preschool focuses strongly is numeracy. The preschool believes that early numeracy skills are essential for children's success in school and in life. As a result, the preschool has developed a comprehensive numeracy curriculum.
Somlandela Preschool is also committed to creating employment opportunities in the community. The preschool currently employs 6 full-time staff members, and it also has temporary personnel who come and fill in as needed. The preschool is proud to be able to provide jobs for people in the community, and it believes that this is a valuable contribution to the local economy.
2
FEEDING SCHEME
In 2010, we started a feeding scheme in response to the needs of our community. The scheme, also known as a "soup kitchen," currently runs twice a week, feeding 100 people on Wednesdays at the Siyanyanzela informal settlement and 70 people on Thursdays at our church building. We would like to expand the scheme, but limited resources prevent us from doing so.
Despite the limitations, we have seen the impact of the feeding scheme in people's lives. Many people have come to know Jesus through the scheme, and their lives have been radically transformed. We also use the budget of the feeding scheme to help families in need and those who have been affected by shack fires.
We are grateful for the support of the community, and we are committed to continuing to provide food and hope to those in need.
We would like to expand the feeding scheme to reach more people in need. Currently we are limited by resources.
We believe that the feeding scheme is a valuable resource for our community, and we are excited about the future of the scheme.
3
SEWING PROJECT
High unemployment and a lack of skills are two major challenges facing our community. In response to these challenges, we started a sewing project in 2015. The project offers classes every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, where people can learn sewing skills. We have seen people start their own businesses as a result of the project.
The sewing project is a valuable resource for our community. It provides people with the skills they need to find employment or start their own businesses. It also provides a sense of community and belonging. For many people, the sewing project is the only place where they feel welcome and accepted.
Our Challenge
The wendy house which currently houses this project is delapidated and posing a danger. Also, we only have a few machines which limits the number who can participate.
Our Dream
We are dreaming of obtaining convertible containers to house this project and also for many more sewing machines.
We are grateful for the support of the community, and we are committed to continuing to provide opportunities for people to learn new skills. We believe that the sewing project helps to reduce unemployment and improve the lives of people in our community.
4
CHURCH PLANT KLAPMUTS
In 2020, at the beginning of the lockdown, a church member received a call from a friend in Khayamandi, Stellenbosch. The friend said she was hungry and had nothing to eat. The church council members went to Khayamandi with a food parcel and shared the gospel with her. The woman gave her heart to Jesus, and she told the church members that her family in Klapmuts also needed to hear about Jesus.
The church members went to Klapmuts and shared the gospel with the woman's family. Several people gave their hearts to the Lord. The church members kept in contact with the group through WhatsApp, and when things reopened after the lockdown, they invited the group to come to our church on Sundays. The church members have been picking up the group every Sunday to come worship in Strand.
Every Tuesday, Nkululeko and the team go to Klapmuts for a Bible study. They are currently meeting in someone's home, but the venue is too small. The church members are struggling to find another venue, and they also want to start a children's and youth ministry as well as a Sunday service in Klapmuts.
Nkululeko is a curate from George Whitefield College (a Christian theological college in Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa). The church is currently partnering with Christ Church Stellenbosch and REACH-SA.
5
HOUSE CHURCH MINISTRY
In 2018, a few leaders started a house church with a small number of members. The church grew rapidly, and by 2023, there were 6 house churches with a total of 120-140 members. Each house church has a shepherd who is responsible for the spiritual well-being of the members and for leading evangelism and discipleship programs. The pastor works closely with the shepherds to train and equip them, so that they can continue to grow the church.
The success of the house church model can be attributed to several factors. First, the house church setting provides a more intimate and personal environment for worship, fellowship, and discipleship. Second, the shepherds are able to build strong relationships with the members and to provide them with the support and encouragement they need to grow in their faith. Third, the house churches are able to reach out to new people in their communities and to invite them to experience the love of Christ.
The house church model is a powerful way to grow a church. It is a model that is both biblical and effective. If you are looking for a way to grow your church, I encourage you to consider the house church model.
6
ENGLISH
SERVICE
In June 2019, a new English service was started at 4 pm on Sundays. The goal was to reach out to non-Xhosa speakers in the area.
The service was going well until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The church tried to keep up with new converts, but it was difficult. In the third quarter of 2021, the service was fully reopened at 4 pm. However, the church found that this time was not convenient for many people. As a result, the service was moved to 8 am.
The 8 am service has been much better. Attendance has increased, and the church is starting to see many new people. The average attendance is between 20 and 40. However, the church is still struggling to find people who can sing.
The English service is currently attended by people from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Congo, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. Conwell, who is serving his curacy, is responsible for the service.
The church is excited about the future of the English service. The church believes that the service has the potential to reach many people in the area. The church is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who attend.