Dear Christ Life Family,

As most of you dear folks are aware, Yvonne and I are managers of an Upliftment Center in Kempton Park.  We have been involved with the center since February 2000 and we help and uplift destitute and homeless families by offering them temporary accommodation, 3 meals daily, clothing, medical assistance, take their children to and from local schools, etc, and teach them the message of Grace, The Christ Life.

During January this year a couple was referred to us by a pastor and on his request offered them, husband, wife, and 2 small very lovely girls, temporary accommodation.  A few days after they had settled down into the room we provided them, the husband started demanding things that were against the guidelines and rules for living in the center. We tried to accommodate his demands as far as we could, but on Tuesday 2nd March he was very rude to Yvonne and I issued him and his family with a termination of residence order.

He went and laid a charge against Yvonne and I at the police for violating his human rights. The police came to our center and heard his side of the story, but we were no permitted to give our side. We were told that we have no rights as an Upliftment Center and we have to let the residents do what ever they feel is their right to do.

Well the result of that saga was that I called a special meeting of the Board of Kempton Christian Action (which is the company registered Non Profit Organisation, and of which I am a Director) and it was decided that we should shut down the operation of the Upliftment Center on the 2nd April 2011. This is very sad as it gives everyone 30 day notice to find other accommodation and 7 other families that appreciate all that we do for them are also going to loose their temporary accommodation on 2 April 2011.

This is a very sad time for Yvonne and I, as we know our Father called us to this ministry, but is seems that the human rights laws in South Africa have changed and we have to submit to these laws. It seems that now everything that was right 10 years ago is now wrong and the wrong is now right. Times are a changing.

We ask our Christ Life family to pray for us that those who are against us will see Christ in us, that we may through this circumstance and situation come to know our Father in a deeper and more meaningful way. We have no malice nor unforgiveness towards these people, for they do not know Him, who is Love and Grace. They know only Law, and I am afraid for them, that they would leave our center without hearing about and getting to know the Christ that is their salvation and their Life. Our cry is, "Let them see Christ."

We have not retaliated against them, but we also won’t be bullied into their wishes. We need so much wisdom in this situation, as we do not want to bring the Name of our Father into disrepute.
Yvonne is sick with stress, ulcers on her lips and in her mouth, she cannot eat, she still works physically very hard and then has to prepare supper for 25 people every day. I am helping her where ever I can, but I am not the world’s best cook!!!!  Our health and strength is going down, but we have the Healer living in us, we will walk with Jesus through this situation, and no matter what happens to us, WE TRUST HIM. He is our Life, not circumstances and situations.

Praise God, what a great Life to live.
All our love,  Chris and Yvonne Goosen.