In a changing world that is going through massive cultural shifts, we are poised as never before to help people encounter God. People are hungry for the Supernatural! When we look back, what was it that changed our lives? Was it a greater understanding of justification? Was it greater knowledge? No! It was a moment when we encountered God!

When I think back to the times I encountered God… I was 9 years old and I accepted the Lord as my Saviour and experienced God’s love and acceptance. Then the time when I was sitting in the back row of the church and God came with His Precious Holy Spirit, baptized me and I spoke in tongues. God came and encountered me at 21 with His call to ministry. Another time He also shook me violently in my office and shook off religion and tradition! I also remember clearly the day that God came into my car and spoke to me about moving to new premises (iKya today).

I could go on and on, but the essence is - I encountered God. I experienced God. I connected with God, He connected with me and I was never the same. Do you remember the times you encountered God and were changed? Do you want your life to change? If so you need to position yourself to encounter God! If we are going to count as a church into the future, and I believe very near future, then we have to take major transition and change very seriously! If we don’t, we will pass our shelf life, expire our usefulness and rapidly slide down into tradition and religion. We will be ineffective for God!

CULTURE OF CHANGE
We are moving quickly towards a state of constant change. At present, we experience change every three years, but by 2013 change will be constant! This is going to mean making a transformational shift in becoming a church that helps people encounter and find God!

In these times of change the church cannot become a cosy country club! We are going to have to become way more “missional” and intentional about change, culture and how to reach our city. We must position ourselves to reach this rapidly-changing world in both relevance and righteousness. We need to be reproducing church at every level! So where to from here? We are embarking on our largest, most audacious projects ever in the history of Covenant Life Church or Urban Life! It will be a journey of faith but an expedition accompanied by our God - who is supremely in command and in charge!

A JOURNEY OF FAITH

Re-launching of multi-sites
We failed our first attempt at planting a multi-site in Centurion two years ago! Because of this failure, I backed off. When I admitted my failure and encountered God’s grace, I felt His acceptance and re-commissioning! We have not forgotten our God’s Word to us – we are going back!
We will be planting a site in the community of Olievenhoutbosch first and then in Centurion. These sites will both have Sunday morning meetings. I have even been contemplating a Saturday evening meeting.

The Beautifying of this building and property

Time and time again we have heard God tell us to raise the ceilings in the spiritual but also in the natural! We want to do this by enlarging our meeting space by about 40%. We are adding training rooms and entertainment areas and turning our main hall into a state-of-the-art audiovisual meeting place.

I feel something of what Joshua must have felt when he stood at the banks of the flooding river… This is crazy! I have been here before in the past, and once bitten, three times shy! Why are we doing this? Why are we starting a major building project in these difficult economic times? Why are we revamping or upgrading this building instead of constructing a new one? But a revelation that God gave me has strengthened me and has become a watchword:The provision of the future is in the future for the future.

OUR RESPONSE
• Our Obedience to God - Our Vertical Response.
Here are some of the prophetic words given to ULC by various apostolic men, imploring us to enlarge and build and keep going to areas beyond:
- “Raise the ceilings”
- “Double up”
- “Explosive Growth”

Here is another significant word from an Urban Lifer:

“You have entered a time of transition Urban Life Church – transition into a new wineskin, a wineskin of different dimensions,
a wineskin of larger capacity, a wineskin to receive new wine! During this time of transition I am taking the scales from your eyes, eyes that have perceived Me in a certain way. I am so much bigger than you have seen. I am so much more than you have experienced. I am infinitely greater than anything you have hoped for or imagined. Allow Me to re-shape you, to re-form you, to re-fashion you that you might be ready as a people to inhabit the new wineskin. Do not be amazed at lead guitar solos, do not be amazed at the unusual, for I am going to expand your concept of Me and I am about to do it. The new wineskin I am bringing is going to gush forth new wine to a dying world, a broken and hopeless generation. You will not contain the outpouring in the current wineskin. Be open to me and my leading my children for I will lead you, I will show you the way. This new wine of which I speak is life-giving, life-changing and I will pour it forth in abundance.
Revival will break out in Midrand and I see lines of cars, lines of cars making their way onto IKya to come and taste the new wine. Do not limit me, do not try to contain me, do not try to rationalise me for I am infinitely beyond your understanding… I am,
Jehovah.” (Lisa Mitchell - May 2009)

Then in seeking a “God Encounter”, a sustaining Word of God, God spoke to me out of Ezra 7. “The king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him” - Ezra 7:6. God said this to me, “If an earthly king would grant a man all that he asked, how much more will I, your Heavenly Father and King of Kings grant you all you ask! My Hand is upon you!”

Two more things that God spoke to me about that day
1. It will be done with all diligence (7:17- 21). That means in Hebrew, speedily and eagerly!
2. It must be done “in full” (7:23). We must not build a little bit here and a little bit there, but in full – the buildings, roads, the offices, the barn
    and the gardens!

• Our Mission: reaching the lost people – Our Horizontal Response
In 1 Kings 10, we read the account of the Queen of Sheba coming to see King Solomon after hearing word about his wisdom and the glory of his kingdom. What she encounters exceeds her expectations.

The Queen of Sheba represents all the world has to offer:

- Beauty = attraction
- Spices = flavour and variety
- Gold = wealth and riches
- Precious stones = external adornment
- All on her mind = important questions

King Solomon represents the church. He could answer all her questions (Can the church today answer the world’s questions?) The Queen could see evidence of his wisdom worked out in the things surrounding him in:

- The house he built = our buildings express our values
- The food on his table = quality and quantity
- Seating of his officials = order and inter-relationships
- Attendance of his servants = “Servolution”
- Clothing of his cupbearers = representation and reflection of the King
- Burnt Offerings = our worship

What was her response? “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard” (10:6-7).

She believed when she saw with her own eyes, “Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness”. (10:8-9)

How are we going to do this? How are we going to afford 5 or 6 million Rand?
Remember that God is not on Prozac because of the recession! It is no surprise to Him and He was not left thinking of a back up plan for Urban Life. The economic systems of God’s Kingdom are different to the economic systems of this world. They are recession proof. Even though it is impossible for us, we can’t afford it, but God can!

Again, God spoke to me also out of Ezra 7 saying that provision will come from:
• Gold and Silver of Babylon (7:16)
• Freewill offerings
• Kings Treasury (7:20)

As part of ULC, God is leading us all into this project; we all have to get faith from His Word for this time. May the Lord help us to reach the “Queens of Sheba’s” of this world as we partner with Him in building His Kingdom. A Kingdom of Righteousness and Justice that will take the world’s breath away as they witness His beauty, wisdom and love. This is a time to bring true beauty to the church – a people adorned with honour and our buildings an expression of His beauty.

WHAT IS THE BUILDING GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

The building is just a tool for the task. A tool to facilitate us as we help people encounter God. Some of the characteristics of our new building:
• Bigger by 43% meeting area, adding 164 m/sq
• Total of over 600 m/sq extra space
• 293 m/sq extra useful space for training
• 85 m/sq storage
• A new patio and bigger coffee bar
• High Ceilings
• Audiovisual friendly
• Better Sound
• Bigger stage
• Great Lighting
• Upgraded Coffee area
• Moms’ and Tots’, Moms’ and Babes’ rooms
• Amphitheatre
• Aircon
• Training rooms for conference facility

FAQ

Why not build a new building?

• God has told us to lift these ceilings!
• We will still have to come back afterwards and refurbish the ugly limited building.
• It reduces our project by millions.

How much will it cost?

• First estimates is 4.4 million.
• Full work 6 million.

How long will it take?

• 5 - 6 months if we have all the money.
• We will Start August.

What will do while we build?

• There will be a period where we will have to move out and meet in the piazza or will have to hire a tent

How can I get involved?

• Bring your gift, availability, time, treasures and talents.
  We have already had people offer us their talents generously from Architects to Quantity surveyors.

When and where do I give?

• ASAP - into ULC’s building account.