A Place of Beginning (Everyone has a story)
When I was seventeen church and God had no place in my life, until God orchestrated
events in my life to bring me to a place where I would begin a journey with Him.
The first Scripture that I read after this encounter with God was a direct call to me.
Colossians 3:1 -4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on
things of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who
is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (New Spirit Filled Life Bible,
New King James, Thomas nelson, 2002)
It was during a worship event at a youth camp that God so touched my heart that I began to
weep unashamedly. This experience was so “wow” that it changed my entire life
progression. From here I went home and announced to my parents that I was going to
serve God full time.
I returned to school the next day and openly shared with whoever would listen what had
happened. I also shared in the open Student Christian group meeting at school and so the
die was cast.
The minister in the church that I now attended invited me to attend the open-air Gospel
rally that he was holding and that night I also shared about what God had done.
Today as I look back, I understand that had I not been encouraged to be a witness from the
time I took my baby steps, I would not be doing what I am today.
The Wilderness Journey
The years that followed where years of frustration, but I understand that God wanted to
shape me into something he could use. The blur of completing school, going to the army
(Conscription), Bible College and then out of the church all together because of a variety of
human issues concluded with a full year of being totally God disconnected.
Through the patience and obedience of one faithful servant of God I was drawn back into
full time service. Once again, I engaged in training and ministered in a variety of places in
South Africa. My ordination was confirmed and I continued to serve as a faithful clergy
member.
The Original Call
It was in Dundee that the thirst for mission again began to take hold of me and as a
community we took 18 teenagers on a mission trip to Zimbabwe.
I moved to Wilro Park in Roodepoort where I underwent a triple bypass heart operation an
event that set me back as I became angry with God for allowing me to experience this
debilitating event. This questioning of God led me to a deeper experience of God than I had
ever had before, one that allowed the thirst for mission to totally overwhelm me. This
resulted in my first trip to Mozambique in 1999 and a desire that consumes me still today to
make Jesus known while I still have the time.
After a number of Holiday Mission trips, I joined a Mission agency for five years of
extraordinary mission events to Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
All of this culminated in Xstream Harvest Ministries (Original ministry name) being born. A
story of a faithful God and an unfaithful Servant, trying hard to make a way for the vision of
God; to save the world; to come to reality.
I believe in Books
I must firstly acknowledge complete dependence on the Holy Spirit for His guidance and
perseverance in my journey. During this journey God has brought many books and
individuals across my path that nudged, jostled and prodded me until I accepted the move
that was needed by Him for my life to take on meaning. I want to thank those who have
obediently written these books for without them I would not have been able to see the way
I do.
Chasing the Rainbow
The mythical idea that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is much like the idea
that there is an ideal church. We can chase after the ideal, try the latest craze or orient our
church to the beat of whatever drum is in vogue at the time. This pursuit will serve to hold
our attention and drain our energies faster than the cascading waters of Victoria Falls. So,
what should we do? I suggest that the answer to each church’s success lie in God Himself
and its uniqueness in its culture and neighbourhood and its ability to take on its particular
God Shape.
Jonothan Hart (Founder)