Repairers of the Breach: A pilgrimage into the heart of the Kingdom of God

Repairers of the Breach: A pilgrimage into the heart of the Kingdom of God

This pilgrimage-in-a-book leads us into the heart of the kingdom of God where we see that the ways of God’s kingdom are very different to the ways of our world. His ways lead to a different kind of life – the way we drive our car, the way we shop, the way we eat, the way we go on vacation, the way we do everything – leads to the kind of life Jesus called “abundant” life. God’s ways lead our souls to safety and peace. Jesus comes to repair the “ancient ruins and age-old foundations” spoken of in the book of Isaiah. Those who embrace the ways of his kingdom will naturally imitate him and, like him, become repairers of the breach – willing to stand guard on the wall, able to defend and ready to repair. " I’ve watched the authors of this book be “repairers of the breach” for over eighteen years now. For them this book is not a theory about a way of life, it’s the way they live. In that, they have helped me grow from being an educated Christian to an active one and for that I am very grateful. I first met Mike and Michelle Tessendorf at a breakfast event at Sun Valley Community Church, in Gilbert, AZ, the church where I now serve as Lead Pastor. They were talking about the ministry they had founded and their work in South Africa. At that time the ministry was called Helping Hands. I was brand new to the church and was immediately intrigued by their work as well as their accents. As a kid from Texas, I had never met South Africans before. I didn’t know the history of Apartheid and I had never been part of truly holistic ministry. That was going to change. Up to that point ministry for me had primarily been about teaching. It consisted of an exchange of information. If people had the right content, then as a minister you did your job well. In South Africa and through the Tessendorf’s ministry now called Orchard Africa, things were different. It wasn’t just about right content. It was about really caring. They were training Pastors, to be more than Sunday Preachers. They were training them to be community leaders. Children were fed, schools were built, medical needs were provided for. Men and women were being empowered to care for their families and their communities. People were being saved spiritually yes, but also physically and emotionally. As the years went by, I literally watched entire villages move from survival, to stability to sustainability. The Kingdom of Heaven was at hand even in the midst of brokenness. I was convicted, challenged and changed. It seems that somewhere along the way here in America, discipleship for many has become solely about knowledge. People want “deeper teaching” and the newest study, but few people want to really follow Jesus. Following Jesus means you get dirty. It means you serve the poor. It means you’re an ambassador of his grace and his grace gives and serves. Following Jesus is not just about what you know, but about what you show. The more time I spent in Africa, the more frustrated I became with just “knowledge based” Christianity. I wanted more. Jesus wanted more. He wanted me to join him in his great mission of ushering in the ways of His Kingdom. He wanted me and our church to become “repairers of the breach”. So we have. Here at home, in Africa and all over the world. We have moved from having an opinion, to having an impact. Perhaps God wants the same for you. If you find yourself wondering if there’s more to the Christian life than what you’re experiencing, can I just tell you there is. There’s more. A lot more. As a follower of Jesus, you’re called to make a difference. You’re called to change the world one life at a time. You’re called to repair the breach. - Chad Moore, Lead Pastor, Sun Valley Community Church " " Michelle Tessendorf has spent more than thirty years working in remote villages and vulnerable communities in Southern Africa. She is equally comfortable in the boardroom and behind the pulpit. She has been in full time ministry for over four decades, serving in various church positions, eventually finding her passion in the ministry of biblical justice. Michelle co-founded Orchard: Africa and has led this organization since its inception in 1991. Michelle delights in being a wife, a mother and a grandmother. Apart from her leadership role at Orchard: Africa, she is also a writer and speaker. About the Co-Authors Brian LaMew and Michael Tessendorf , contributing writers, are both seasoned lead pastors with decades of ministry experience. Brian has served as a pastor for over 25 years in Michigan and Arizona, leading small, large, and multi-site churches. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and currently serves as the Executive Pastor of Orchard: Africa, where he helps U.S. churches make a positive and sustainable impact globally. He is married to Shelle, his wife of 27 years, and they have three young adult children. Brian enjoys running and hiking the trails in the Phoenix area. Michael has served as a pastor for over