JTL (Jesus Christ to All Languages) was founded on the 9th of April 1985 by Pastor Kiluba wa Kiluba in Lubumbashi, DRC. The vision behind the ministry is Philippians 2:11: “…every knee shall bow, and shall EVERY TONGUE confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord”. As the Ministry’s birthday celebration, JTL-RSA hosted the first Joburg 4 Jesus Evangelism campaign for 2014; celebrating through spreading the knowledge of Christ, for this city to confess Jesus as Lord!
“What if you were Jesus for one day?” This was the question posed in the four-day Evangelism campaign hosted by JTL in partnership with Uplifted Life – Wits working with Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach (WCCO) . Jesus’ mission was that of the Salvation of souls, but His approach to His mission was not only preaching. Could it be that every work that He did was contributing to His mission? We understand that He did not only preach in the synagogues, but He also worked beyond that. We see Him advocating for the helpless adulteress when she was about to be stoned, we see Him feeding the 5000 that was following Him, we see Him embracing children, we see him healing the lame man by the pool of Bethesda, we see Him doing a lot of good things. He is the Saviour! That was and is His Life. He proclaimed that through all He did. “What if you were Jesus for one day?” We understand the truth that says: “faith without works is dead”; the Gospel of Christ, which is the hope we stand in, is not only a matter of faith, but of faith through action also. This is the work that JTL does in partnership with Uplifted Life.
Uplifted Life is a society at the University of the Witwatersrand and is also working with WCCO under Karuna Singh. The Society is about awakening an attitude of responsibility in the university environment. This is to ensure that one does not come out of university with only a degree, but also with a lifestyle of contributing to the building up of society. Pastor Kiluba wa Kiluba taught us, when he was in South Africa in January, about the ‘things’ that change things. A wonderful teaching! Uplifted Life is one of those initiatives that are working to change things. Every being exists for a purpose. It is when we embody visions of greatness such that who we truly are will manifest. WCCO says: “by reaching out to the communities around us, Witsies hold in their hands the possibility to make our country new.” Thus, every student represents a village, a township, a suburb, a nation, a continent. Indeed, if the responsibility is awakened, South Africa will be transformed – nations will be transformed.
The Campaign was held from 9 April 2014- 12 April 2014 and the programme was as follows:
Theme: What if you were Jesus for one day? Philippians 3:10
– 09 April 2014: Men’s Res Evangelism ( Preacher: Pastor Joshua Kiluba)
– 10 April 2014: JCE Evangelism ( Preacher: Pastor Mantsha Pheeha)
– 11 April 2014: Matrix Evangelism ( Preacher: Pastor Ebenezer Kiluba)
– 12 April 2014: Braamfontein Evangelism (Preacher: Pastor Ebenezer Kiluba)
Day 1: Men’s Res Evangelism
The opening of the campaign was done by one of our pastors at JTL-RSA, Pastor Joshua Kiluba. We love our leaders at JTL, them being after the heart of God is drawing us to that place also! We thank the Lord for him!
Jesus Christ is the Key to discovery! This was the message preached by Ps. Joshua, on the above mentioned date, in the open space. Saints were gathered to help speak this message into the atmosphere of Wits. People may be hiding under the cloak of status, pride, but we believe that hearts were touched. There is Authority in the Name of Jesus. We see this, among other instances, in the calling of Matthew. Jesus did not negotiate anything with Matthew. He was just passing by and said to Matthew: “follow me”. Without hesitation Matthew left whatever He was doing and followed Jesus. The Word of God is able to touch hearts; He is able to convict. This is what we stood by, the eternal Word of God that is able to transform what is temporary into eternity!
Our being in Christ is eternal substance that answers questions like: “what am I good at?” “Who am I?” For us to tap into this substance, we need to discover Him. This substance is a body that can step into the Kingdom of God. Indeed, Christ is the Key! Through Him alone can we get to the Father!
We had a blessed time of proclaiming our Faith in Jesus, the One who is risen and is going to come soon.
Here is the link to the video of the message from that day:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnW68M1uQQ
Day 2: JCE Evangelism
A wonderful woman of God, Pastor Mantsha Pheeha from Change Bible Church visited us on this night with good news, proclaiming liberty at JCE. She has been working with JTL since last year, and she is a blessing to us!
A night of Grace! The Blood of Jesus still has Power to this day. Grace renews, restores, redeems; Grace gives us a new name. We experienced Grace at JCE. The works of Grace do not depend on us. It is God at work; seeing our inadequacies but still says: “come as you are!” What kind of Love is this? It is the Love that kept Christ on the Cross. He endured till the end for us to enter His Grace, His Love.
“It is not everyone who says: “Lord, Lord who will enter into the Kingdom of God” This is a very crucial truth that would trigger a thought: “have I met Jesus Christ?” Yes, I have met the Christians, I have heard about Christ, I use His name every now And then, but have I met Him? “Salvation is an encounter with Jesus”, Pastor Mantsha said. Our relationship with Jesus Christ carries us through life’s trials. Our relationship with Him! We can’t have this relationship without an encounter with Him. This encounter is not orchestrated by our own doing, but by the Grace of God. It is Grace, only Grace; that which Jesus brought into the world.
“What is man that you are mindful of him?” What is man that You have considered Him to behold Your Glory? The life of Grace enables us to pass through what we can’t carry ourselves through, and that is the Glory of God
Day 3: Matrix Evangelism
A question was asked in the beginning: “what if you were Jesus for one day?” The message preached by the senior Pastor of JTL-RSA, Pastor Ebenezer Kiluba was answering the question that one might have had in the beginning: “how do I become Jesus?”
We learn that the Name of Jesus is not just a name, but it is an identity. When we begin to move in this identity, we function like Jesus. The identity of Jesus, among other characteristics, has compassion. Jesus Christ is concerned about the next person; whether they are sad or happy, hungry or full, captive or free. These, and many others, are the preoccupations of our Lord Jesus. The Cross of Jesus, His Blood, is able to transform us into the identity of His Name. It is Grace! We have to express Him, not only through speaking in tongues, but by works also!
Below is the link to the YouTube Video of the preaching:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCbBAEbzibUcB1a6MHotWGOg
Day 4: Braamfontein Evangelism
This was a wonderful time in the Presence of God in the streets of Braamfontein.
There is a Painting on the wall! Hallelujah! Jesus is the painting on the wall! But often, He is avoided. We see the world pursuing its desires wanting to quench the deep thirsts within. But we learn from what Jesus says to the Samaritan woman that only the waters from Him give life and His cup never runs dry. The are many things that people who have not met Jesus resort to for comfort, to feel important, to feel wealthy, but there is a painting on the wall, Jesus, in whom we are positioned and that brings joy, peace, purpose! The Bible says Jesus had nothing to make Him look attractive. But He is the Saviour, the Glorious King, Holy, and the Most High God. When we begin to gaze at Him, we will see His beauty. The world sees it foolishness because there is nothing appealing about it, but there is a Power; a Power to hold things together. The city is a strategic place; there are a lot of activities in the mind for things to move. CEO’s have decisions to make, municipalities have strategies to implement, universities sit in long meetings to try and figure out how to lower the failure rate, business men and women are looking for opportunities to grow and dominate the business world, there is a lot of thinking. People are so caught up in what they want that they are indifferent about Jesus’ Reign. Truth is Jesus is alive and He rules forever! If everything; positions, intelligence, structures, is submitted to Jesus Christ, then everything shall move with purpose. The city has considered a lot of things that never builds it but destroys instead. It is time that it considers Jesus Christ.
Link: http://youtu.be/neh_knUQhPA
This was the conclusion of the Joburg 4 Jesus Evangelism campaign. Proclaiming Jesus outside the walls of the church! We refuse to be the traditional church. The world needs Jesus, we will speak until it comes to pass that that every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord!
Jesus Christ To all Languages 