GEORGE NEWS - A a momentous event took place in George on 5 November, commemorating Life Community Services’ (LCS) ethos of 'Touching Lives and Mending Hearts' for thousands of indigent children.
"A total of 240 people from all over South Africa gathered for the celebration. We give thanks to the Lord Jesus for His faithfulness over this period of time. Life Community Services has been touching the lives of children and through painstaking mentoring has also been mending hearts for the past 20 years in the city of George," said the CEO, Maryna DeVries.
The theme for the celebration was 'Changing our world, one child at a time', and friends of Life were taken on a trip down memory lane where the miracle story of the organisation unfolded.
A magnificent three-course meal was served by Amaquetta Foods in an elegant setting. The choir of Life Christian Academy, consisting of children from Grades 3 to 5, gave a fun and powerful rendition of the song, Signs and Wonders. Michael Lindt and Koos van der Merwe also delivered heart-warming performances during the evening.
Guest speaker Frans Baleni, Philip DeVries, Phindi Baleni and Maryna DeVries, CEO of Life Community Services.
The overview of 20 years was depicted through a moving video documentary by John DeVries, son of Philip and Maryna DeVries. John also gave a stirring historical talk about LCS from his close-up perspective as a child. Another blessing was that four children who had been part of the Life programme attended the event as adults.
Guest speaker Frans Baleni challenged the audience to give what they have to make a difference. "What do you have to make the world around you a better place – capacity to build and share, time or resources? Whatever you have, give it."
Baleni used the analogy about the huge wall that separated East and West Berlin when Germany was divided. One day, some people in East Berlin took a truck load of garbage and dumped it on the West Berlin side. The people of West Berlin responded by taking a truck load of canned goods, bread, milk and other provisions and neatly stacked it on the East Berlin side.
On top of this stack was placed the sign: 'Each gives what he has'.
An auction was held where one of the items, a surfboard, donated and autographed by Olympic silver medallist Bianca Buitendag, was auctioned by the master of ceremonies, Philip Vercueil, for a stunning R21 000. Buitendag used this surfboard to practise for the 2021 Olympic Games in Japan.
Said Maryna DeVries, "Most of all, it was an exercise in glorifying the Lord Jesus for His faithfulness over all these years and honouring Him for the awesome work He has done in thousands of children’s lives."
A prayer is said.
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