After six long months of intense hard work, self-reflection, and self-realisation, our 26 students from SA and the UK had their LIV4Change graduation. Having lived together, seen each others’ best and worst moments and been committed to one another and the village at large, it was time to celebrate all God had done in these incredible people’s lives. Around 100 LIV Village staff members and mothers gathered to salute the students, dressed in Zulu apparel and beaming with joy.
Honouring the servant-hearted
At LIV and in LIV4Change Discipleship School we believe in raising people up and releasing them to have an impact for generations to come. We believe in celebrating each other and the gift we are to the world. This was indeed an evening of commissioning and celebrating those who had walked a six-month road of joy, hardship, emotion, character shaping, discovery and being inspired. Each student was publically honoured, given a Zulu name and headband. A video had been collated from the six months at LIV Village and played and all enjoyed food and refreshments together. Each student’s name was written on a big piece of paper and hung around various parts of the hall, giving the opportunity for final messages to be written. The photo corner proved popular as each young person frantically gathered the people they had bonded with over the six months. LIV mothers stood proudly with their “adopted children.” Another beautiful expression of “Rescue, Restore, Raise and Release” at LIV.
Fond Farewells
The evening was conducted by MC, Clive Gengadoo who had the crowd in laughter and appreciation of each student as well as what God had done in of their lives. Proceedings were also handed over to Jonathan McCririe who leads the school. Jonathan had to sadly say goodbye to three key members of staff who were leaving LIV Village- Leon and Adri, Van Der Berg as well as Erns Labuschagne. They were also honoured and given Zulu headbands in acknowledgment of their contributions to LIV4Change and LIV Village. Released from LIV to again carry forth the DNA of Gods Kingdom, wherever they may be called for.
Salt and Light in the World
The after party was filled with dancing, photographs, and laughter. The students celebrated all they had achieved and fought for over six months, but above that what God had done in their lives and how he had brought 26 strangers to LIV, knitted them together and made them a family. Many are going on to university, others to jobs and some are even venturing into the unknown but one thing is for sure; whatever they caught at LIV Village will remain with these precious students and they will forever be part of the LIV family. We believe that they will go on to do great things.
