Key Verse: 15:20: "So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off. His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son; threw his arms around him and kissed him."

Part 1 Setting off for a distant country

My name is Andries Coetsee. I was born in 1975. I grew up in South Africa. While I was young, I accepted that my father had to work long hours to support his wife and 5 children. But when I became older, it seemed to me as if my father was more focused on making money than spending time with his family. One day I explained to him that he was absent in my life. My father pushed our conversation aside and said I was talking nonsense. This made me harbor resentment and bitterness towards my father. Meanwhile I decided to quit my job as a computer programmer and use my pension money to go back to the university. I wanted to become an actuary in order to secure my financial future and become someone. But the opposite happened. I failed my exams and used up all my pension money. I felt like a complete failure.

Part 2 Returning to my Father

In 2004, Missionary James Lee invited me to a Bible conference in Pretoria. Through the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I could see how I had squandered God's blessings in satisfying my own selfish desires. I could see that my sexually immoral lifestyle was wrong in the eyes of God. I knelt down at the foot of Jesus's cross and opened my heart and accepted that Jesus died on the cross so that all my dirty sins could be forgiven and be washed away. Later, Mark chapter 4 (Jesus healing a paralytic) helped me to overcome my father problem. I learned that I first needed to take responsibility for my personal sin before God and receive Jesus's forgiveness; then my relationship with my earthly father could be recovered. Through Jesus's forgiveness it became possible to forgive my father and to love him unconditionally. I have no more bitterness or resentment towards my father.

In 2004, I accepted Jesus' calling to become a shepherd for University of Cape Town (UCT) students. Through serving mission I could grow. In 2006, Dr. Mark Yoon gave me clear direction to be a messenger of God's word. After two years, I completed the Gospel of Mark. In February 2007, God blessed me to establish my house church with Missionary Annie Choi. She greatly improved our singing and worship service. In September 2007, we had our first UCT Spring Bible Conference, and 5 UCT students attended. In March 2008, we had our first UCT Bible Academy, and 2 students attended. Obakeng was invited during orientation week and has only missed 2 Sunday worship services. I also thank God for sending my youngest brother Anton to co-work with us. We pray to raise 12 disciples.