By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

[Last Friday I wrote about Project SOS100 during which Tygerberg 104FM in the Cape Peninsula raised money to buy feed for farmers’ animals in drought-stricken areas. Here’s how the project started.]

On Christmas Day, Adri Williams from a non-governmental organization, Khayelitsha Cookies, sat with her family and parents next to the dining table. Although a feast awaited them, she could not get rid of the thought of many farmers on the same day, struggling to feed their animals due to the drought and their accumulated debt. Some of them did not even have food in their homes. Who was going to look after them? At her suggestion that they should do something, her dad at first replied: “Adri, you can not help all people in our country. Focus on your non-governmental organization and help the people there.”

The urgency in Adri’s heart grew. She knew it was a command from God. She took the first step of faith. She contacted the organization, Boere in Nood, to determine where in South Africa the need for animal feed was the largest. She got a sponsorship of MAN Truck and Bus for the transport of animal feed. She negotiated with suppliers for a cheaper price for feed and then, the biggest step of faith, she took R17,000 of her own, small non-governmental organization’s money and paid for the feed – in  total obedience to God’s command.

With the first delivery of the animal feed, Adri and her dad stood next to the truck in Williston and watched how big, proud, hardy farmers wept with gratitude. They could also not control their own emotions. God heard the farmers’ prayers for relief. And her obedience brought hope into their hopeless situations. A week later, Tygerberg 104FM got on board and Project SOS100 was officially born. 

In Deuteronomy 5:33 we read: “Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” Also in 2 Samuel 15:22 God reminds us that obedience is far more valuable to Him than sacrifices. He prefers ourobedience to His calling, rather than coming up with good ideas and asking Him to bless it. God-inspired missions are already blessed.

Abraham had to sacrifice Isaac. Joseph was put in prison for several years. Adri had to pay R17,000for animal feed (which she could not really afford). Because Abraham was faithful, his descendents are as many as the stars at night. Because of Joseph’s obedience during a difficult time in his life, God promoted him from prisoner to second in charge in Egypt in one day. And Adri saw how her R17,000became almost R3 million in contributions from listeners in just one week. 

In all my years as a broadcaster, I have never seen God so tangible in a project. Contributions were unprecedented and personal testimonies of how God relieved “drought conditions” in listeners own personal lives while they contributed are still pouring is. We were in unity and God commanded a blessing. What would have happened if Adri did not obey God’s voice? What does He ask you to do today? Let us remain obedient and take that first step of faith. He will take care of the rest. God bless. 

Father God, thank You that I may be an instrument in Your hand. Please help me to clearly recognize Your Holy Spirit's voice in my life - and strengthened me to obey if You ask me to do something that does not make sense to others around me. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.