School children ‘ready to give lives to Jesus’, say touring band

On Tuesday Gateway News caught up with band Frank and I who were a week into their Holy Spirit-inspired road trip to stir hope among South African school children.

“I think we have already done 15 shows and visited over 10 schools,” said band member Johan Brits from George where they were preparing to minister to an expected 500 to 1 000 learners at a youth evening at Outeniqua High School that night.

On Monday August 15 the band and their support team set out on the N2 leg of their tour during which they are visiting schools at towns along the N2 national road route from Cape Town to East London. They aim to tour the whole country in further legs of the campaign.

Initially, their plan included a talent competition around their latest song, Wake Up. But that fell away in one of several changes to their plans — for the better! — which God had effected, said band member Frank Furniss.

“I think it’s because the Lord wants more time for us to really focus on Him. With the competition our plan was to get more people to come to our events but the main mission is for more people to come to the Lord,“ he said.

Their original idea was to visit schools and use that time mainly to invite learners to evening shows where they would share their inspiring testimonies — and most importantly, share the Gospel. But the Holy Spirit has since led them to use the school time for ministry as well — especially for the benefit of children who might not be able to attend the evening events. They have also been intentional about encouraging learners to connect with them on social media where they also share the Gospel.

“Honestly, the harvest is ripe — children are very ready to give their lives to Christ and every time when we do an altar call almost the whole school gives their lives,” said Johan.

He said they were excited about that evening’s event where they would be sharing their testimonies in depth and “we are trusting the Lord that the children will give over to Him, because it is one thing to give your lives to Jesus but it’s another thing to surrender to Him.”

Johan said that before they set out on the tour they realised they did not have sufficient funds to finance the trip. But they went ahead anyway believing God wanted them to trust Him. Shortly before they set out they also learned that their sound team was no longer able to join them, which left them without their expertise and their equipment.

With two days before it was time to set out they started looking for a new sound team, realising it was a tall order at such short notice to find people ready to head out for 3 weeks on a faith journey. But unbeknown to them, two sound experts they approached, Ivanno and Graham, were already “on a journey with the Holy Spirit”, and immediately agreed to join the tour. And they came with better sound gear than they had lined up before.

Johan and Frank both said that God has been faithful with finances along the way, prompting people to pay for petrol and at a stop in Caledon, leading someone to make a substantial donation which covered their expenses shortfall.

Currently the team is in East London, where they are visiting four to five schools as well as leading a worship event at Downtown Christian Centre and ministering at two Sunday services at Shofar Church.

Other planned stopovers between now and early September are Makhanda (Grahamstown), Gqeberha (PE), Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp.

More about the band Frank and I:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/frankandimusic/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/frank_and_i_music/
Biography and Latest song – https://collect.wetransfer.com/board/srjax4ku2ovdygvjp20220525102910/latest?token=52b2dfcd-383f-4549-af63-fba23afd72a2

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