Thank you for your gracious support of my missions trip to Cape Town, South Africa with Leaders on the Front Line from December 9-18, 2023. Your generosity enabled the 10-member team, and our Cape Town partners, to bless over 500 children, youth and adults, as well as dance ministries, and four local church/ministries in Cape Town and surrounding townships.  You embodied the scriptures in Matthew 25: 35, 36, 40, in which Jesus said,

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Your generosity purchased copies of my book, UNASHAMED and worship tools donated to the ministries in Cape Town; purchase supplies needed for the trip as well as donate towards the local missions.   It was a blessing to pray for, worship, and dance with the residents of the communities we served. Seeing their hearts of joy and hunger for God was inspiring.  

The three-fold focus of Leaders on the Front Line included: MISSIONS through genuine partnerships; sustained ministry through creative MOVEMENT; and building long-term relationships through LEADERSHIP development.  This remarkable journey was a confirming word and a stepping stone for future international mission assignments God has for me.

With a grateful heart – for the opportunity to go and for your generous support – I THANK YOU and pray that God continues to bless the works of your hands.  Below are collages of photos from our mission's work and teaching assignments in South Africa. Feel free to connect with me if you’d like to hear more about this mission. 

In His Service and Yours,

 Alicia

Golden Gate Community, Cape Town was the location of our first mission assignment. This community was a true example of a plentiful harvest. With the expectation of serving 30 children/youth and 50 adults, we saw a multiplication of community members join our walking tour and subsequent worship service. The word spread and the numbers of residents attending the service grew to over 300.

Parents came to ensure their children were prayed for. Entire families, sisters, cousins came for generational covering in prayer. Praise God that we were able to multiply the gift packets by dividing the contents, ensuring that as many people as possible received a tangible gift as well.

It's Harvest Time Dance & Worship Festival

Leaders on the Front Line taught leadership and movement classes to AFM* (Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa) church dance ministries in the Elsiesriver township of Cape Town.

Classes included modern and lyrical dance technique, men’s movement, pageantry, embodied Prayer, and leadership. Such an impactful day attended by children, youth, and adults.

Day-2 of the Dance Festival ended with a closing worship service featuring ministries and movement artists who participated in the workshops.

Pastor Terésa Carter shared a Word of Encouragement.

 The Festival theme was, It’s Harvest Time. Matthew 9:37-38 was the text for the message which was a charge to the youth to Prepare to Reap the Harvest.

The worship gathering included dance ministry presentations from various groups and the finale was a presentation of a choreographed dance featuring each workshop class and the instructors.

Leaders on the Front Line and AFM Dance Ministries ministering to

Fill the Room by Michael Bethany

AFM Norwood ministering to

We want U by Roy T. Williams

Sights of Cape Town~

As apart of the LEADERSHIP development aspect of the mission, the team visited Table Mountain, District 6 Museum, Hermanus (Western Cape), Robben's Island, Prison where Nelson Mandela was held, the Biscuit Mill, and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. We also enjoyed some of the local culture by visiting attending African Drumming and dancing at the Gold Restaurant as well as breaking bread and fellowshipping with families in Cape Town.

The District 6 Museum Tour was very meaningful as it gave as the history of apartheid told by a surviving daughter of District 6,

Mrs. Jasmine Salie. Below is a link of her historical account of the day her family was forced to leave their homes.

District 6 Museum Tour

THE FOOD!!

From home cooked meals served by our amazing personal chef, Ms. Grace, to the various restaurants around Cape Town, we ate WELL!!!

Some of the meals featured Lamb, Prawn, Ostridge, Brai, and our favorite dessert, Koeksisters!

So grateful for this amazing team of leaders! We laughed, we cried, we prayed, we danced, we worshipped, we completed this Mission!!

To God be the Glory!!

Leaders on the Front Line

Dr. Ca'Asia, Dr. Renee, Deanna, Keyana, Lashana, Nakia, Nola, Raymond, and Terésa!

I can't thank you all enough for your prayers, support, and generosity.

This was a life changing experience that will have a long lasting impact on my life.