Yesterday, I returned from a 9-day trip to South Africa.
Our tour lasted 6 days with three key conferences. (The other 3 days were for traveling.)
Milt Rodriguez and I delivered 12 messages in those 6 days. We gave 3 interviews and had many informal gatherings with various saints and groups there. Our time concentrated on Pretoria and Cape Town.
I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the ReThink Conference in Pretoria. A number of leaders from South Africa also spoke there along with Rob Bell, Leonard Sweet, Reggie McNeal through video.
All in all, Milt and I spoke to over 500 people during our 6 day tour. And most of them were already familiar with my books, which laid a nice groundwork for what we were going to share.
We met many wonderful people and forged new relationships with individuals and groups.
The Lord Jesus Christ was magnified, given, and received.
There’s much to tell, but I have no time now as I’m catching up from being away.
Suffice it to say that I fell in love with South Africa and the people we met there. We had a beautiful time together and the trip was one of the most spiritually fruitful trips I’ve been on for a first visit.
Some highlights:
- Cape Town is drop-dead gorgeous.
- I love the pink/purple colors of Pretoria. The Jakarandas make the place beautiful.
- The culture is fascinating. The body of Christ there has a unique opportunity post-apartheid to demonstrate Ephesians 2 and 3 in living color.
- We brought my Italian “family” culture to them and they picked it right up. “Forgetabooouuu …”
- The South Africans have a great sense of humor. We laughed hard and much. This was freeing to some of them who were inclined to separate spirituality and laughter.
- Organic church life is taking root there. The people are hungry for Christ and His body in experience.
Regrets
- Wish we could have stayed longer. Not much time for sight-seeing and we fell in love with the saints there. ‘Twas sad to leave.
- Found out my homeboy Vanilla Ice was there when we were. Sad we didn’t get to connect (smile).
- It’s a 16 hour non-stop flight from Atlanta to JoBerg. The flight is not for sissys (smile).
- The South African’s drive on the wrong side of the road, speak in tongues constantly (without interpretation), and clear their throats (make a coughing sound) a lot while they talk (big grin).
- They have a hamburger place called WIMPYS. We discussed what must be on the menu. “The Double-Meat Wuss” … “The Pencil-Necked Geek” … “The Limp-Wristed Lightweight” … “The Pansy” … “The Weakling.” But we never stepped in to check the menu.
God willing, we plan to return in November 2010 to work with the new organic church plants that came out of our time in the country. Before that, some of them plan to visit one of the organic churches we are planting here in the States. So we are quite excited about that.
The CD containing the messages delivered in S.A. will be available before the year is out.
My next trip – Las Vegas for a 4-day Organic Missional Church Connecting/Equipping Event. After that, I’m taking two months off to write and work with a new organic church plant here in Florida.
Incidentally, it seems that whenever I return from a trip, I’ll get several emails from people saying: “I had no idea you were in my city? How come I didn’t know about this?”
Answer: to be notified about future events and conferences, you need to fill out this form: http://ptmin.org/events.htm
Not all events are public, so you will want to fill out the form so you can receive an email notification if I’m in your city, state, or country.
~ Frankie V.
becky said,
October 27, 2009 at 11:26 AM
just got back as well….villages for us in the Transkei…at e at Wimpy’s like 4X bacon, egg and cheese=familiar
almost got hit by a truck looking the wrong way crossing the streets…
it was an amazing trip and now we want to get our money over there…and that’s confusing us…:)
Lynley said,
October 27, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Hi. Just want to say it was really Good to meet you in person. Hope you can do the 3 day conference in cape town next year.
Freshly Found said,
October 27, 2009 at 12:52 PM
So enjoy your perspective on our country – especially Wimpy! You have to include Durban in your trip next time!
Joey said,
October 27, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Hey Frankie
next time we must have a sitdown at a local Wimpy. We could do the system of thin-slicing the onion, and spicy tomato sauce… and when the wine gets there, we’ll eat…. now that’s what I was talkin abou all this time!
(Glad you find us funny though…..like, clown funny? I mean, do you find us amusing?)
As for the 16 hour flight – next time, I’ll talk to da wiseguys. They’ll make a phonecall, ya know what I mean Frankie? We’ll take care of it for ya. Forget abou….
Give my love to da family.
Joey.
Tony Turner said,
October 27, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Great to meet you in person. Glad you liked God’s own country!! Next time, bring the family and have a holiday here. See you next year, be Blessed.
Tony T
cindyinsd said,
October 27, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Hmm . . . I wonder whether “Wimpy’s” is a takeoff on the Popeye character with the legendary appetite? A Wimpy Burger was kinda like a Dagwood sandwich.
Looking forward to meeting you and Milt and everyone else at Vegas. Glad you had a terrific experience in SA.
Don Baker said,
October 27, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Hey Frank, Ya’ wanna go back to Joberg. I’m leaving in 6 days from DFW to Atlanta and then a 777 (15:50) to Joberg. From there we drive vans (wrong side) to Swaziland to minister. Not as fast as your trip but I hope as fruitful. I hope to go every year (with my son). My son is planning on moving there with his family (my granddaughters), so ya’ see why I may move too. Pray for a move of the Spirit for our visit. See ya’ later. . .Don
Ryan Slater said,
October 28, 2009 at 5:50 AM
Frank and Milt – thank you for travelling all the way to South Africa to bless us! My wife and I are still reeling from the fresh new ways of reading the Bible and understanding the reality of being IN CHRIST. I’ve just finished book number 7 of Frank’s! About to tuck into ‘From Eternity To Here’ and ‘The Butterfly in You’ and I know they’re going to continue to expand my heart with a revelation of God’s love and the freedom we have in him. Can’t wait to see you all again in 2010 if you get here God willing. Much love Ryan and Britt-Louise
Nico Liebenberg said,
October 28, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Man, do I like the colour of this blog!!!!
37stories said,
October 28, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Enjoy your thoughts. Have read and am reading your books. Am new at the concept of “Reimagining Church” although have been in church 55 years. Thank you and God bless, archie