COMMON GROUND CHURCH A YEAR IN REVIEW

Transcription

1 COMMON GROUND CHURCH 2017 A YEAR IN REVIEW

2 CONTENTS page 1 CONTENTS 4 A NOTE FROM RIGBY 6 20 YEAR CELEBRATION 9 WYNBERG 12 NUMBERS 13 NEXT GEN 14 SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY 15 CHURCH STRENGTHENING 16 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 18 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP 21 WORSHIP 22 NEXT GEN MINISTRY 23 FUEL TEAM 24 STUDENT S MINISTRY 26 BUILDING COMMUNITY 28 CITY IMPACT 30 COMMON GOOD FINANCES 31 EDUCATION 33 EARLY LIFE 35 EMPLOYMENT 35 JUST CHURCH SOCIETAL RENEWAL 36 SOCIETAL RENEWAL 38 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 39 PRE-MARRIAGE 39 REDEMPTION GROUPS STAFF 40 COMMON GROUND STAFF 42 CHURCH STRENGTHENING IN OUR CITY 44 CHURCH PLANTING AND STRENGTHENING BEYOND OUR CITY

3 Each year we take the opportunity to look back, reflect and review. We share numbers. We celebrate numbers. Numbers represent people. Numbers represent lives being impacted and transformed. We celebrate these stories of impact and consider how God is using us as an instrument; serving to extend both his kingdom and love deeper into our city and wider into our culture.

4 page 33 SECTION 1 OUR VISION

5 OUR VISION page 4 A NOTE FROM RIGBY WALLACE Dear Common Ground Church family and friends, Our grand vision as a church is to be a gospel community that fills this city with the message life and fame of Jesus. Our mission is to plant and strengthen churches, who are all full of Christ-followers who are equipped in evangelism, discipleship, community, social justice and societal renewal was a year of significant change and challenge for Common Ground Church. Firstly, we celebrated our 20th anniversary with much joy and gratitude to God. Secondly, this coincided with the launch of our vision of 5 Gifts in 5 Years for the city of Cape Town, which we have committed to as a church. This fresh sense of vision clarity is helping to rally and mobilize our church in a fresh and exciting way. Thirdly, Ryan Ter Morshuizen has joined me in coleading Common Ground Church as a family of churches across the city. This is a vision-birthed strategic change. Implementation of our 5 Gifts in 5 Years vision, requires more than my skill set. Ryan brings huge wisdom and leadership skill around process and implementation. We certainly need him to push our mission forward. Fourthly, we experienced the most severe trial in our two decade long history. We were brought to our knees as a citywide staff, by the tragic exposure of one of our youth workers as a sexual cyber predator. A large number of families in our church and wider community were deeply affected, and we endured the trial of being placed under the scrutiny of the press and the public at large for a good few weeks. The perpetrator is no longer part of our church and is awaiting trial, as I write. One of the things that brought great comfort to us during this season was what I called The parable of the Fynbos. In the week before this fiery trial broke among us, I was praying in Kirstenbosch Gardens. I found myself at the Fynbos garden and read how the Fynbos s ecosystem needs a fire every 8-30 years, roughly every 20 years. Why? To disperse their seeds, burn off disease and stimulate germination. February 2017 was our 20th anniversary and we had cast a vision for reproduction and growth for Common Ground. Somehow, God, in his sovereignty, saw fit to bring the flame of his purifying love to bear on our church through this trial. My sense was that God was preparing us for a future of growth and reproduction within his Gospel ecosystem. We should not be surprised by the fiery trial that came our way! Peter explains it well in 1 Peter 4:12, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. God used that dark period in our history to purify, humble and prepare us for an enlarged future. For this, we are eternally grateful. Yet, we continue to stand with those young lives and families who carry the devastating bruising and scars. As we turn to this Year in Review, we can once again celebrate God s faithful provision over another financial year. As we have aligned ourselves to his mission in the world, God has once again demonstrated his willingness, in 2017, to back a people who are committed to his redemptive purposes being outworked in our great city and beyond. This could not have happened without the many Christ-followers who call Common Ground their spiritual home. The purpose of this annual year in review report is fourfold: 1. To thank all of you! Your joyful, sacrificial and regular serving and generosity has significantly empowered our servant role into the city. You are shareholders and partners in our call to bring grace and hope to many Capetonians! 2. To capture the relationship between our giving and our progress in fulfilling our mission. This is evident in the testimonies, the numbers and the feedback from our congregations and from Common Good.

6 OUR VISION page 5 3. To demonstrate accountability before both God and man. 2 Cor 8:21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In an age of scandal, we are committed to building a culture of thorough accountability and wise stewardship, at every level. With that in mind, a huge thank you goes to Allan Gibbon, Brett Bodill and the accounting team, whose diligence in these matters, fulfils this brief. 4. To inspire ongoing faithful generosity. Fulfilling our vision of 5 gifts in 5 years will require every member to commit to a sacrificial lifestyle of generosity. Our strategy for this is to mobilize every Common- Grounder to join our EFT revolution. It s this regular committed giving (RCG), that will advance our mission and bring much glory to God. For over two decades, we have witnessed the clear correlation between the generosity of God s people and the advance of the gospel in Cape Town and beyond. Long may this continue! Rigby and Sue Wallace Finally, as we remain humble and hungry, there is every possibility of continuing to multiply the DNA of Common Ground into many other parts of our city. Whether in Langa, Lower Kenilworth or the Eastern Suburbs of Cape Town, this clearly falls within our mandate to fill the city with the message, life and fame of Jesus. Imagine the blessing and impact on our city if we did! Happy reading, and once again thank you for your faithful generosity over the years, and in particular, during Rigby (For the Common Ground elders) Ryan and Kate Ter Morshuizen

7 OUR VISION page 6 20 YEAR CELEBRATION 5 YEAR VISION FOR 5 GIFTS In February 2017, Common Ground turned 20. Over 3 weeks, our ONLY GOD preaching series took us on a journey of remembering, reflecting and celebrating 20 years of God s undeserved grace to us as a church community. The term Only God is inspired by a simple verse, Psalm 44:3 (NLT) We did not conquer the land with our swords; it was not our own strong arm that gave us victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped us, for you loved us. As we looked back, the words Only God reminded us, Only God could have pulled that off so don t take the glory, rather give him the glory. And as we looked forward to the God-sized dreams we have for the future, the words Only God remind us that only God can pull that off so don t rely on yourself, rather rely on him. As we looked back, we reflected on how God has made us a church that trusts in the Son of God, submits to the Word of God, and relies on the Spirit of God. We have grown in being theologically sharp and Gospelcentred. We celebrated our commitment to build authentic relationships, to serve the most vulnerable in our city, and to impact our City and its culture. We reminded ourselves of God s prophetic whisper to expect decades of harvest. As we look to the future, we feel called, as Common Ground, the family of churches with its 1000s of people across the city, to passionately commit to serving our city in five ways in the next five years. TOGETHER WE WILL MULTIPLY CONGREGATIONS. Let s trust God for 10 more access points, across the breadth of the city, for people to experience the life, fame and message of Jesus. TOGETHER WE WILL MULTIPLY COMPASSION AND JUSTICE. Let s ask God to coach our hearts and lives to minister, in partnership with Common Good, to the broken pockets of our city especially the smallest of kids, those wilting in under-functioning schools, and those crushed by unemployment. TOGETHER WE WILL MULTIPLY CULTURAL RENEWAL. Let each of us become more envisioned and equipped to take Jesus ways and wisdom to work and into society, turning our professions and life roles into callings, so that each of us becomes a strand in the rethreading of our city s culture. TOGETHER WE WILL MULTIPLY CHURCH STRENGTHENING. Since we re a small part of Christ s body in Cape Town, let us, for the sake of the city and gospel, find ways to engage, learn from and serve pastors and churches outside of Common Ground, especially those in under-resourced areas. TOGETHER WE WILL MULTIPLY CHRIST FOLLOWERS. Let s reach, baptise, integrate and disciple 100s, even 1000s of new people.

8 OUR VISION page 7 Since February, we have been talking and dreaming about serving Cape Town with these five gifts. God has been kind to us this year already, and we ve seen some inspiring developments: Common Grounders committed to giving over R2.6 million to the mission of Common Good on the Giving Day in May, which has gone towards seeing 850 lives transformed through our job readiness journey, as well as increasing literacy rates and collaborating with 3 non fee-paying schools to improve educational outcomes around Cape Town, and crucial research to see how the church can engage and bring hope in the first 1000 days of a child s life. We also launched our Sea Point Congregation in February which started out of our Inner City congregation, and which is seeing growing attendance. During 2017 there has been a growing missional community in Langa, who are meeting together to explore what it might be like to plant into that suburb. And we are excited to announce that in 2018 we are aiming to launch a Sunday meeting at Common Ground Langa! Our Church strengthening team has been in a research and collaboration phase, with several events happening aiming to build connections with pastors and churches around Cape Town. In 2018 we will have a staff member dedicating days each week to help us serve in this way. We have also seen countless people respond to the gospel in our services across the city, with people baptised, discipled and integrated into the life of the church. Photos from the past

9 OUR VISION page 8 Photos from the past

10 page 9 SECTION 2 WE PLANT CHURCHES

11 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 10 A NOTE FROM ANDRE NTAMBWE Dear Wynbergers, We thank the Lord our God for His love and generosity towards Wynberg congregation. Looking back on 2017, I can confidently say: our God is greater than the giants we face. I would like to extend a huge thank you to all the congregants for the investment of your time and resources into the Wynberg story Guess what you did in 2017? You teamed up with God to change the city of Cape Town! In the power of the Holy Spirit together we managed to push back the kingdom of darkness making it easier for many people to encounter Christ in our weekly life groups and Sunday gatherings. Many hearts were transformed, relationships were healed through weekly life groups, Sunday gatherings and the Social Justice Ministry and forty-one new lives were added to our numbers. We ended 2017 with God s favour ravished on us. I have a sense that 2018 will be the same, more of God s favour for you, me and our beautiful Wynberg family. Join us as we re-commit ourselves more than ever to fill the city of Cape Town with the message, fame and life of Jesus. Andre and Sabrina Ntambwe Stay blessed,

12 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 11 From top to bottom: New elders being ordained, Love Ladies event, deacons being ordained, Heritage Day dinner.

13 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 12 WYNBERG NUMBERS 139 AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE (Excluding Christmas & Easter) 2016: PEOPLE BAPTISED 2016: REGULAR VOLUNTEERS (On Sundays) SMALL GROUPS 2016: : 7 67 PEOPLE IN SMALL GROUPS 2016: DEACONS NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED IN CHURCH MEMBERS 2016: : : 131 These numbers represent the lives of people impacted by God in We are so grateful and are hoping that even more lives will be impacted in 2018 as we stay faithful to God and His mission.

14 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 13 NEXT GEN NUMBERS AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE NUMBER OF LEADERS 2016: : has been a year of identifying and growing a strong core leadership team, called to discipling the next generation. We appreciate the commitment of parents and leaders for their input and time over the year. The latter part of the year has been an exciting season of planning and dreaming for 2018, with the view of strategic resourcing (human and inanimate) to further grow and strengthen our Kids Rock ministry.

15 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 14 SJM LET S TALK UNEMPLOYMENT Following on from our November Together Sunday, the second service time slot was set aside to host our Social Justice Ministry team s Let s Talk...Unemployment. This was both a social justice discipleship and a community moment, intended to spark sharing and conversation within the congregation about our very real experiences with unemployment and how we as a community can gather around and support one another. Four congregants shared their stories followed by a time of open conversation. We concluded with a web of prayer and a light lunch. As a diverse community our challenges are unique. Thank God for our SJM team, and the Wynberg eldership, who thought of a brilliant idea called; Let s Talk which will be held every quarter to deal with issues pertaining to social justice within our congregation. The aim is to invest and build authentic relationships, acknowledge our ethnic groups, cultures, race and economical status. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 From top to bottom:andre introduces the event to the Wynberg congregation; a web of prayer; stories being shared by 4 congregants

16 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 15 CHURCH STRENGTHENING LEADERS BREAKFAST In 2017 the Wynberg Congregation had a small role to play in a citywide initiative under the fifth gift to the city. We launched a journey with church leaders from different communities namely Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Phillippi, Mfuleni and Langa with the view to strengthening each other around leadership development, church governance, theology and mission strategies. Our strategy is to engage, learn and equip church leaders to ensure good congregational health and engage with social justice issues in our communities. We held three leader s breakfasts in Khayelitsha resulting in a total of 70 leaders gathering together. We hope to see real and meaningful relationships formed as we continue to faithfully stand with other brothers and sisters in the city. From top to bottom: Andre Ntambwe addresses the church leaders, good conversations over breakfast.

17 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 16 WYNBERG FINANCIAL OVERVIEW REGULAR COMMITTED GIVING R 1,088,552 R 768,382 R 652,855 AVERAGE MONTHLY EFTs FUNDS FOR CONGREGATIONAL SPEND 2017: +R 1,360,650 20% Funding from city-wide Regular Committed Giving 80% ACTUAL CONGREGATIONAL SPEND 2017: - R 1,360,650 BETTER TOGETHER ADMINISTRATION In teaming together we keep critical organisational costs accounting - IT, HR, legalities and insurance to a minimum BETTER TOGETHER MINISTRIES key city-wide leadership and ministry roles communication, worship, preaching, Next Gen, Redemption ministries, staff wellness and training etc. 16% 8% CHURCH VENUE 18% Including rental, rates, security, maintenance etc. 1% 6% NEXT GEN SUNDAYS GOSPEL ADVANCE Including the Advance network we are part of, partner churches in India and Madagascar, and resourcing current and future CGC plants 8% REMEMBER THE POOR Giving to Common Good and other areas of need in our city 4% NET SURPLUS BEFORE CAPITAL EXPENSES: 12% CHURCH ENABLERS people, systems, events, resources etc. 27% PASTORING pastoral staff, leadership, training and equipping R 0

18 WE PLANT CHURCHES page 17 WYNBERG FINANCIAL OVERVIEW ACCUMULATED POSITION At 31 Dec 2017, after taking into account all surpluses or deficits, as well as any investments made towards capital expenditure, Wynberg has an accumulated deficit of R90,905. This represents our historical deficit which has not changed in The city church has underwritten this amount on our behalf until such time as we can repay it. HOW SALARIES ARE SET: In tandem with an external consultant, Common Ground use a job grading system - involving Patterson grades and the Avril Ryder South African NPO salary report - to ensure fairness in clustering job sizes. A WORD FROM ANDRE NTAMBWE: Despite the shaky economy, many of you stretched yourself to give of your finances to God over and above your normal regular committed giving. As a result of your giving, for the first time in six years we can say it is possible; our financial situation has moved from red light to orange. We hope to see it move on green light in 2018 in order for us to fully stand on our own feet. It is possible because God is able! A CHANGE TO NOTE: As a church our desire is to serve our city and world. Two of the ways we do this is by what we call Gospel Advance (reaching more people with Christ s message by sending teams, leadership gifts and financial resources to plant and strengthen churches both nationally and abroad), as well as Remembering the Poor (where we demonstrating Christ s heart for the poor). We have in the past contributed the first 20% of all Regular Committed Giving towards initiatives that directly address Gospel Advancement (10%) and Remembering the Poor (10%). However, in 2017 our congregation s eldership team made a decision that we would need to reduce the % for funding Remember the Poor initiatives from 10% to 5%. At this stage of our church s financial journey we realised that we can t give out of what we don t have, and that first we need to cover immediate running costs - while trusting that we will quickly get to a place of strength that will enable us to once again sow the full 10% to Remembering the Poor. Common Good continues to receive 5% of our regular committed giving as our way of funding vital initiatives. Our hope is to get back to funding an additional 5% towards alleviating poverty and injustice in our specific congregational context figures are management report a figures, year in review financial 2017 audit underway at the time of print

19 page 18 SECTION 3 EVANGELISM &DISCIPLESHIP

20 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page 19 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP We evangelize people through mobilizing our church to be messengers into their own worlds and relational networks, and through compelling Sunday meetings which aim to impact both Christ-followers and those investigating the faith. We disciple people through potent content (on Sundays, as well as through Group Guides and Going Deeper resources), through catalytic worship encounters, and through actively encouraging each person to have personal devotions. A devotional resource was created for our Colossians series to encourage personal devotions.

21 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page PREACHING JOURNEYS Our Follow campaign saw 70 new groups being launched across the city as people invited guests to join in for a 6-week journey. Just under half of those groups went on to become permanent small groups. During 2017, over 4000 Common Grounders journeyed personally through the book of Colossians using our devotional resource.

22 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page 21 WORSHIP TEAMS 2017 was a great year for the music ministry of Common Ground Church. In our annual New Song Showcase, 50% of the songs written included either Xhosa, Zulu or Afrikaans which was exciting. Our citywide music teams have grown in both numbers and gospel maturity through multiplication, new congregation plants, and through the worship leadership course. We were also able to serve the congregation s sermon series with some music videos of songs written by Common Ground songwriters. From left to right: Worship at Sea Point congregation, worship at Bosch PM congregation, GLS worship band, meeting leading at Sea Point congregation, worship at Green Point, music video recording in the Common Ground cafe.

23 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page 22 NEXT GEN MINISTRIES ACROSS THE CITY 2017, in the Next Gen Ministries across the city, has been both a wonderful, yet difficult year. We have faced a serious challenge, yet God has proven himself faithful, and we have seen him working very powerfully in and through the various congregational ministries. Many young lives have been impacted by the Gospel, many young leaders have been invested in, and many parents have been inspired and equipped to disciple their own children. Congregations have taken more ownership of the ministries in their context this year, and it s been incredibly exciting to see how the different ministries have developed to better serve the next generation in their community. I m so encouraged by the leadership in each congregation being more invested and committed to serving the Next Generation than ever before. BRAD ANDERSON Next Gen Ministry Leader THE NUMBERS FRIDAY NIGHT SUNDAYS AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE 2016: : : : : 85

24 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page 23 FUEL TEAM The Fuel Team have been incredible this year. During the year, the Fuel Team has been involved in various ministries, such as serving in our Next Gen team, serving in and partnering with various schools in Cape Town, studying theology, and being upskilled in both ministry skills, and personal development. We have also had the chance to travel to various parts of South Africa on mission trips. God has done such an amazing work in the lives of this team and has radically changed them. Our focus as a team for this year and the years to come is to preach the Gospel, serve the Local Church, serve the next generation, and serve the community. BRANDON BESTER Fuel Team Leader

25 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page 24 STUDENTS MINISTRY STUDENTS REACHED IN O-WEEK STUDENT EVENTS STUDENT MINISTRY LEADERS STUDENTS AT EQUIPPING EVENINGS STUDENT SMALL GROUPS 2016: : : : : 11 Feeling called by God to be more missional and more racially diverse, our Student s Ministry went through big shifts in branding, events and music. We spent all our equipping evenings focusing on our call to be missionaries right where we are to the culture and people around us. From mission trips to firelighter weekends and soccer tournaments in O Week, it was a fantastic year. We are looking forward to continuing our clear mission into 2018 to see unsaved students saved, to see diverse students becoming members, and to see students thinking of themselves as missionaries and wanting others to do the same. Students ministry events were a great opportunity to build community and get connected in Common Ground. Through those times together, I felt challenged and encouraged to boldly share my faith with the people around me. - Rebecca Yoko KYLE PETERS Students Ministry Leader

26 EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP page 25 From top down: Handing out new student business cards on campus, students at Student NIght Away, Lux and Gruth performing at the Live Music in the Café event during O Week.

27 page 26 SECTION 4 COMMUNITY

28 COMMUNITY page 27 BUILDING COMMUNITY We build community by bringing people together under a common church identity, vision and current preaching/prophetic emphasis, by hosting people well on Sundays and at other community focused moments, and by encouraging people to linger longer on Sundays. We also seek to assimilate new people into community through our DNA membership process, and then integrate people into healthy Small Groups and groups of 3 or 4. By creating opportunities to serve alongside others under team-building leaders, we hope to foster and develop a further sense of community. Finally, we aim to strengthen community by celebrating a culture of doing life together in authentic relationships marked by mutual care, under the oversight of pastoral care AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE excluding children and highschoolers, and excluding Easter and Christmas 2016: PEOPLE BAPTISED* 2016: SMALL GROUPS 2016: 181 *The reality of the drought has meant that for half of 2017 we have not baptised people on a Sunday at many of our congregations, but rather in smaller locations and in homes. These numbers are harder to track which is why we have seen a decline in the recorded number. BIG CELEBRATION ATTENDANCE It is our joy and delight to host our city on these two highlight moments on the Christian calendar. These are times when we aim to create moments that are truly double-impact a space for Christ-followers to gather and meaningfully celebrate the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus; while at the same time being a moment of invitation a meeting that is accessible and appealing to all guests, no matter where they are on their faith journey GOOD FRIDAY 2016: EASTER SUNDAY 2016: CHRISTMAS 2016: 4512

29 page 28 SECTION 5 SOCIAL JUSTICE

30 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 29 SOCIAL JUSTICE CITY IMPACT Common Good exists to respond to issues of social justice that challenge our city. Through a gospelmotivated and holistic approach, we seek to make a positive and lasting impact in the areas of early childhood development, education and employment, so that individuals and communities across Cape Town can build brighter futures for themselves. We work with church leaders and Social Justice Ministry teams within Common Ground congregations - equipping and empowering them to disciple congregants towards a lifestyle of social justice has been a year of rapid growth for Common Good. Our team has expanded to better serve thousands of people across this city through our Early Life, Education, Employment and Just Church initiatives. EDUCATION Common Good has partnered with the Western Cape Education Department in the Collaboration Schools Project, which aims to bring fresh flexibility, accountability and capacity to non-fee paying schools. As co-governors and managers of a growing network of schools, we re committed to enabling schools to provide excellent education in an environment that allows learners to thrive. We also implement, through the Shine Literacy Programme, volunteer-driven literacy programmes in five local schools, providing individual attention to foundation phase children who are struggling with reading and numeracy. EARLY LIFE The First Thousand Days (FTD) of a child s life is pivotal: without the necessary building blocks of love, nutrition, security and stimulation, babies cannot reach their full potential and are likely to experience difficulty throughout their lives. Our focus in this sphere targets primary caregivers, with the aim of seeing the local church support the FTD of a child s life. EMPLOYMENT The vast majority of the unemployed in South Africa are also unemployable lacking the basic hard and soft skills required to seek and secure meaningful employment. Common Good s employment initiative, the Zanokhanyo Network, offers a transformational Job Readiness Journey that restores dignity and hope, equips people to realise their potential, and connects graduates to networks of employment opportunity. JUST CHURCH A significant part of Common Good s work is to encourage and equip Common Ground congregants, congregations and the broader church to embrace a lifestyle of social justice. We coordinate courses and events, support the Social Justice Ministry team in every Common Ground congregation, and develop resources that encourage readers and listeners to grapple with, and respond to, issues of poverty and inequality in our city.

31 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 30 COMMON GOOD FINANCES Reflected in percentages 10% 14% 10% 16% 2% 12% 5% 1% 30% MONTHLY DONORS CGC CONTRIBUTION GRANTS AD HOC DONATIONS OTHER: GOLF DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY OFFERING GIVING DAY CSI GIVING INTERNATIONAL GIVING SCHOOL OPERATING PARTNER FUNDS TOTAL INCOME FOR COMMON GOOD: R14,698,590

32 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 31 EDUCATION In our Collaboration Schools Project, we ve taken great strides at Oranjekloof Primary to support school improvement through academic and operational interventions, including: 1. Strengthening governance 2. Recruiting and stabilising leadership 3. Providing professional development for teachers, 4. Ensuring safety 5. Focusing on Mathematics and Language through introducing Libraries, Learning centres and NumberSense programmes. SILIKAMVA HIGH SCHOOL We have added Silikmava High to our schools partnership - a crucial step towards creating a Grade R-12 pipeline of excellent education in the Hout Bay Valley. DISA PRIMARY SCHOOL Common Good has also committed to partnering with Disa Primary in Bonteheuwel - where, despite rampant gang violence, the soil is fertile for change, and teachers are crying out for much needed support to sustain their tireless efforts. ORANJEKLOOF PRIMARY SCHOOL For the first time in years, Oranjekloof Primary has a principal and deputies; the new library has changed the literacy culture at the school; teachers are using their holidays to give extra input to those struggling to keep up; and many learners achieved awards in the Hout Bay schools creative arts competition % 90% COLLABORATION SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIPS TEACHERS RECEIVING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING through our School Improvement Plan IMPROVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS PASS RATE at Oranjekloof Primary SCIENCE PASS RATE at Oranjekloof Primary

33 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 32 EDUCATION CONTINUED SHINE LITERACY KEWTOWN: The Shine Literacy space at Kewtown School in Athlone has been revamped including a brand new library and staff room. These creative new spaces will help us grow literacy capabilities and enhance the experience of both learners and volunteers. The excellent response to our call for more volunteers, especially from Common Ground Church Rondebosch, also means that we can extend the literacy programme to include support for both Grade 2 and Grade 3 learners. KLEINBERG: Teachers at Kleinberg in Ocean View say that children participating in the Shine literacy programme are showing great improvement. A large team of dedicated volunteers works every week to help pupils improve their reading and writing skills. Recently, five parents initiated a weekly Wordworks programme to assist Grade 1 learners, and hundreds of books were donated by Common Ground Church South Pen towards expanding the library. MOKONE: At Mokone Primary, the gospel was heard by close to 200 children through Super Saturdays and Holiday Club. Grade 7 learners learned valuable characterbuilding lessons and each received a stationary set and a Reach4life Bible at the end of the year thanks to the generosity of Common Ground Church Bosch PM members. Top to bottom: Volunteers work one-on-one with foundation phase learners at Kewtown Primary. 40% IMPROVEMENT IN LITERACY RATE at Kewtown Primary 58 30% GRADE 2 S RECEIVING LITERACY SUPPORT at Kleinberg Primary IMPROVEMENT IN GRADE 6 NUMERACY THROUGH FRIDAY NUMERACY PROGRAMME at Mokone Primary

34 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 33 EARLY LIFE Earlier this year, a research team at Common Good asked what contribution the local church can make towards supporting the First Thousand Days (FTD) of a child s life (conception two years) in Cape Town. The research included a wide variety of key informants including church leaders, church laity, NGO leaders (practitioners), denominational leaders, and experts in the field of FTD. The research also included two literature reviews, and two community workshops. We have completed the data collection and analysis phase of the project and are encouraged by the response we ve had from a wide group of stakeholders. We eagerly await the final report which aims to assist local churches in responding to this crucial life phase, and will shape Common Good s Early Life initiatives in the new year. The First Thousand Days offers a unique and invaluable window of opportunity to secure the optimal development of the child, and by extension, the positive developmental trajectory of a country. - The National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy 2015, RSA, p RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS LOCAL CHURCH PASTORS PARTICIPATING IN THE SURVEY INTERVIEW PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING EXPERTS IN THE FIELD MOTHER/CARER PARTICIPANTS IN VRYGROND AND KHAYELITSHA WORKSHOP DIFFERENT CHURCHES REPRESENTED AT CHURCH LAITY WORKSHOP

35 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 34 EMPLOYMENT It is with great gratitude that I am a part of the Zanokhanyo Network story. When I was introduced to the course by a gentleman called Max from the Boost sewing centre at Dunoon, I had lost hope and felt spiritually drained. I attended the course with two of my very close friends. The class was looking for some positive light in their lives, a sense of purpose and restoration of dignity. At the graduation ceremony I witnessed a change in all of us; we all had courage to stand up and look for employment, trusting and believing in Christ. The light continued with the collaboration with the Table View Congregation where they journeyed with our small group on Thursday afternoons, and continuously helped to encourage us whilst seeking for employment. Some received leads from the churches networks, others were placed through TZN opportunities and others received employment through the skills and tools received from the Job Readiness course. Personally, I was delighted to start working at Bolt and Nut Centre as a picker and packer after being connected by TZN. I was then further introduced to the DYNA training opportunity where I continue to be a part of the TZN story and help encourage others to follow suit. I am also delighted when I see all of my co-peers who did the course with me, with meaningful employment in their respective spaces. I am proud to say that I am a true TZN ambassador. - Bulelani Ngcoza In our employment initiative, The Zanokhanyo Network, we ve focused on extending our reach through mobile training in seven communities across the city. As a result, we ve seen record attendance in recent months. We also hired a Placements Manager this year and since then our monthly placements average has gone up by 226%. At one of the mobile sites in Dunoon, we have seen a wonderful partnership develop between Common Ground Church Table View and TZN. Twenty men and women graduated from the Job Readiness Course in April and all have gone on to find meaningful work opportunities. We are so excited about what this will mean for this group of individuals and the lives they will in turn impact. Job Readiness students celebrate graduation in Hout Bay % 800+ RECORD NUMBER OF GRADUATES IN SEPTEMBER TRAINING SITES AVERAGE MONTHLY PLACEMENT INCREASE JOB READINESS GRADUATES (BY DECEMBER)

36 SOCIAL JUSTICE page 35 JUST CHURCH We equip social justice ministry teams in Common Ground and other congregations with practical tools, resources and events to help congregants explore and respond to God s heart for justice personally and collectively. RESOURCES AND EVENTS: We developed two sets of resources on the topics of Homelessness and Employment. These included devotionals, practical steps and going deeper resources designed to help Christ-followers respond to these issues of justice in their daily lives. An Insights evening was held for each of the topics. These were well attended by both Common Ground congregants and members of other churches. JUSTICE JOURNEY COURSE: The Justice Journey is a learning experience designed to challenge, inspire and equip Christ-followers to better engage with the issues of social justice that surround us individually and as a congregation. Sixty-nine people have attended the course, which was hosted in various church hubs across the city this year. We have also trained facilitators to replicate the course in their context VISION SUNDAY COMMON GOOD EXPOSURE EVENT CITYWIDE JUSTICE JOURNEY COURSES JUSTICE JOURNEY COURSE PARTICIPANTS SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY TEAMS HOMELESS INSIGHTS EVENT ATTENDEES EMPLOYMENT INSIGHT EVENING ATTENDEES COMMON GOOD EXPOSURE EVENTS FOR CONGREGATION LEADERS BEYOND THE RIVER MOVIE PREVIEW ATTENDEES PEOPLE REACHED WITH GROUNDSWELL NEWSLETTER Facilitating the Justice Journey was an inspiring and humbling experience. As a group, we wrestled through what it means to live out God s heart for social justice in our country, every day. We also considered God s plans and heart, and the huge disconnect we see between his heart and our lives and society today. We learned to mourn and lament over the gap, and yet to dream and do, to see that gap closed. We can dream and do, knowing our God has both the plan and the resources to realise that transformation. - Kirsten Barnes (Justice Journey Facilitator)

37 page 36 SECTION 6 SOCIETAL RENEWAL

38 SOCIETAL RENEWAL page 37 SOCIETAL RENEWAL We mobilize societal renewal in our people through our emphasis on our all of life discipleship and preaching. Within the work-life context, we motivate people to reach, touch and change the sectors in which they are involved. Within the home-life context, we aim to prepare and equip, strengthen and serve. Help and support are offered through our Redemption Groups Ministry. In the civic life context, we encourage our people to be involved by prayer, voting and being involved in city blessing events and neighbourhood life.

39 SOCIETAL RENEWAL page 38 SOCIETAL RENEWAL CONTINUED GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT NUMBER OF EVENTS GLS FULL CONFERENCE ATTENDEES GLS EXPRESS DAY ATTENDEES As a church we aim to host contextually relevant events and courses that inspire and equip people. For many, these events and courses act as an introduction to our church community. We were delighted to host the Global Leadership Summit in October in partnership with WillowCreek SA. This world-class leadership seminar in is attended by various leaders from many spheres in our city. I wish to thank the organisers for a powerful express GLS day. It propelled me into grander improvement of the latter part of 2017 and I am currently working on and infusing the learnings/teaching of the event into my Delegate review Scenes from the GLS Conference and Express day.

40 SOCIETAL RENEWAL page 39 SOCIETAL RENEWAL CONTINUED PRE-MARRIAGE COURSE 3 99 COURSES PER YEAR TOTAL COUPLES Our Pre-Marriage Course gave couples a great way to prepare for their next important stage of life. Thank you for a great two weekends. We learnt so much and you have given us lots to think about and discuss. I would highly recommend this course to anyone preparing to get married. I feel much better equipped in preparation for our marriage. Thanks again and God bless. - Course participant REDEMPTION GROUPS: 2017 has been another great year in that we have seen real breakthrough in people s lives as they encounter God s truth and support from people journeying on similar paths. The ministry has been strengthened with a number of new speakers who have impacted positively on our courses, particularly in the Divorce Recovery Course, the Living with Loss Course, and the Dealing with Depression and Anxiety Courses LIVES HELPED FACILITATORS TRAINEES Our leaders have grown in their leadership skills, as well as in developing well-trained and experienced facilitators to partner with them. Our Addiction and Family Support Groups have grown over 2017, and we are trusting for another support group to start up for people dealing with depression. We are also looking forward to having the Valiant Men Course up and running in This programme is designed to restore and fortify the sexual integrity and spiritual vitality for men.

41 page 40 SECTION 7 STAFF

42 STAFF page 41 COMMON GROUND STAFF We are blessed with a truly fantastic staff team. which continues to grow. A large portion of our staff growth was due to a thriving and growing Common Good team which required more staff to help support their initiatives. Our annual staff time away gave us an opportunity to connect with God and each other away from the busy office, to be freshly envisioned and empowered for the year ahead. Our times of prayer, worship and devotional input inspired us, while clarity on our staff values (Christ is central, better together, here to serve, mobilise others, keep it fresh) helped to unite and equip us for mission. We are grateful for our staff team s dedication and hard work over the year NUMBER OF COMMON GROUND STAFF NUMBER OF COMMON GROUND CAFE STAFF NUMBER OF COMMON GOOD STAFF Our entire Common Ground and Common Good Staff teams at our annual, end of year staff thank you day at Greenpoint Park.

43 page 42 SECTION 8 CHURCH STRENGTHENING & PLANTING

44 CHURCH STRENGTHENING & PLANTING page 43 CHURCH STRENGTHENING IN OUR CITY We are excited about the insights we have gained this year as we have invested in friendships with church leaders from the eastern suburbs of Cape Town, friendships that we hope will serve to strengthen us all. With Sakhiwo Rala from Good News Community Church in Mfuleni, we co-hosted two breakfasts at Malibongwe Restaurant in Khayelitsha where we were able to meet with over forty leaders from Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Langa and Mitchell s Plain. These were times of learning from each other about what it means to join Jesus as he builds his church across the length and breadth of the city. We look forward to more of these moments in 2018! This year, God has continued to take us on a journey towards establishing a congregation in Langa. It has been a rich time of moving forward in prayer and we are humbled at how he has moved people and events at the right time and in the right way. We are thrilled that Ziba Mbense, the pastoral director for The Zanokhanyo Network, will be the congregational leader for this community! He has been leading a fellowship group on Sundays since March This group has been meeting at the Epping offices of Zanokhanyo with plans for this core group to start meeting in Langa at Ikamvalethu High School in January It is this group that will form the basis for a formal congregational plant later in God is at work in Langa and we are humbled that he has called us to join him in this. From top down: Sakhiwo Rala shared a powerful message on the importance of self-leadership at our first breakfast, Ziba Mbense leading a training session for leaders in the Langa fellowship group, Andre Ntambwe addressing a leadership breakfast at Malibongwe Restaurant in Khayelitsha..

45 CHURCH STRENGTHENING & PLANTING page 44 CHURCH PLANTING & STRENGTHENING BEYOND OUR CITY 2017 was full of moments to serve and strengthen churches beyond our city. This strengthening takes many different forms friendship, prayer support, financial backing, the release of apostolic and teaching gifts to go and serve, as well as practical hands-on help. It has been our privilege to serve a number of nations and churches including Madagascar, USA, UK, Holland, India and Dubai. MADAGASCAR: Closest to home was perhaps our own Blake and Rachel Tucker who planted from the Constantiaberg congregation into Madagascar and launched Tana City Community Church in their home in May They moved into a dedicated venue in October, and this small seedling church continues to grow. A core group in the Common Ground Church Constantiaberg have supported and stood with them and some of our team have even been able to visit and encourage the Tucker family personally. Our Health Team continue their work into Madagascar, building on the relationship that has been established over many years with Growing The Nations, an NGO in Antananarivo. Their annual trip, which took place in October, building on previous projects and partnerships, continues to flourish as they serve and equip parents and carers. A woodwork team was also involved in a collaborative effort to build a jungle gym which will serve about local kids who come to the Tuckers on a Wednesday as part of a community outreach strategy. A media team also joined the Health team this year working on filming a documentary. Bruce and Natasha Martin, who lead our Common Ground Church Durbanville, also spent time in Madagascar strengthening and equipping local pastors. From top down: Terran Williams and Blake Tucker, the jungle gym built by the woodwork team.

46 CHURCH STRENGTHENING & PLANTING page 45 From top down: The Common Ground team enjoying some time off together while at the Advance Global conference in Washington. Louise Gibbon bringing a prophetic encouragement during one of the sessions. ADVANCE: Our partnership with the Advance movement has continued to grow and deepen. The National Conference was hosted in Cape Town in March, allowing many of our leaders and staff to participate in and benefit from the collaboration, input and partnership dynamics. A team of seven Common Grounders were also able to attend the Advance Global Conference which took place in Washington in June. This was a valuable time of relational connection, with key input sessions by theologian, Andrew Wilson, and other inspiring speakers. We also had 5 Common Grounders participating in the Advance Church Planters Course this year.

47 page 46 SECTION 9 IN CLOSING

48 CLOSING REMARKS page 47 CLOSING REMARKS We are constantly reminded of God s faithfulness towards His people. Our hearts are filled with gratitude towards our awesome God who has sustained, directed and grown our congregation despite challenges on many fronts. These challenges, and the triumphs, spur us onward to see God s purposes come to fruition in the Wynberg community. It is truly a joy to be part of the forward movement of God in our beautiful city. Psalms 3:3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Praise be to our God! From top to bottom: Deacons being ordained, Social Justice Ministry Let s Talk event.

49 Every year with this Year in Review we get to celebrate God s faithfulness and goodness and kindness towards us. Thank you for the way you have served and prayed and given to make this story happen, and add our small yes to what God is already doing. We are trusting for a year of growing and serving the city of Cape Town