Yeovil Vineyard Church was the 99th Vineyard church planted in the UK and Ireland. That number has since grown to about 140 churches. My story is not special or unique. Each church has its own story, every church planter experiences difficulties, struggles and pain along a journey of joy and wonder. This is not a book with ten steps on how to become a church planter. It is not about ‘being cool’ or becoming part of a select few.

It’s about sacrifice, hardship, giving all we have and learning so much about the faithful King we serve. It’s about the frail and broken people we are, and our need for God’s grace and mercy. More than anything, it’s about staying humble and remembering who we are as servants of God, not kings of men.

My testimony tells the story of how God called and used me, regardless of my brokenness. It is a vulnerable and true account of being a self-doubting person, who dared to believe my Lord Jesus, and follow Him when He called me to plant a church. I am honest about myself, daring to share my deeply personal tale of rejection, sadness, and shame.

There is more to a Christian’s life than just day to day living. We have a loving Father who told us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Many people in life conquer their struggles and become highly successful in what they do. Not so with being in the ministry of God’s Kingdom. The glory arising from our successes belong to our Lord Jesus. He is the King of Kings, and we are His servants, and that is the way it must remain. This is meant to be an encouragement for every Christian, to keep going, right to the end. It’s not easy to find that we will still be washing people’s feet at the end, and possibly get a kick in the process. That is when you need your Father to remind you again of His call and His love.

The acronym “IRTDMN” is well known in the Vineyard for raising up leaders. (Identify, Recruit, Train, Deploy, Monitor, Nurture.)

My story is divided into three sections. Section I deals with my rejection and self-doubt, yet amid it all, the Lord ‘identified’ me. He showed me endless grace as I kept questioning Him. Only in my late 30’s, did I enter the ‘recruitment’ stage, and the events that followed, blew my mind. I learned to say “Yes Lord” in the face of uncertainty in the most exciting and difficult situations of my life. In turn I saw the power that is in God’s merciful love for us.

Section II relates to the start of inner healing in my life and how the Lord guided me to His own intense church planting ‘training’ camp at the Vineyard Ranch in America. Upon my return to South Africa, I met Hendrik, my best friend, husband and fellow church planter.

Section III details our ‘deployment’ as we packed up and relocated to England. Since then, His generosity towards us has been awe inspiring.

At the end of everything though, it is also a call to true humility. Pope Francis once advised "It should be humility. Dare to be vulnerable. Dare to be criticised. Try not to remain on that pedestal where people cannot reach you, show your humanity."

SPECIAL NOTE

The story in this book is my own personal testimony and does not necessarily reflect the views of any church, group or individuals. In some instances, the names of people were changed.