Grace Tells Us Another Story

This Mercy Me song is the inspiration for this blog. We spent Monday morning last week on a walking tour of Bridgetown, on the Cape Flats, Cape Town , South Africa. We were taken round by Bradley Naidoo, a young man who spent more than half of his life in the gang and drug culture that is now endemic in this part of the world. But almost 5 years ago Bradley met Jesus, was miraculously set free from years of drug addiction and now is faithfully wanting to serve God and bring hope and restoration to his community.

The latest project that 'Impact Direct' (the christian ministry that Bradley is part of), wants to implement is to restore a derelict set of shops in a building in the heart of Bridgetown. This is currently a drug den and gang hang out. The local residents are very concerned by the rising crime there. It is hoped that the place can be transformed into a centre for healing and reconciliation. The aim is to turn 'negative spaces into positive spaces'. There is a lot of work to do; the buildings are totally wrecked currently, with no electricity, walls covered in gang graffitti, broken windows,and unsafe ceilings. But Bradley and his colleagues from Impact Direct are putting in many hours of time to begin the work of transformation.

On our walk around Bridgetown, we were introduced to many current gang members. Bradley is constantly engaging with them and seeking to show them there is an alternative way of life from the only one they currently know, of violence and drugs. But the reality of the risks of life on the Cape Flats was crudely demonstrated to us, when one young teenager me met, part of the 'Playboy' gang, was, three days later, shot four times in the chest by a rival gang member.
We pray that Impact continues to be able, with the love and power of Jesus, to show this community that life can be different.
In the words of this song :

'They say don't waste your time, You simply cannot find an ounce of good within the heart of man. They say we've got to lay in this bed we've made, and live this life without a second chance.
But I'm inclined to say there must be something more.
We've been told that the heart is just too far gone to save, but grace tells us another story, where glory sends hopelessness away.Oh GRACE TELLS US ANOTHER STORY!!'