WELCOME
Izenzo looks at the theology of work and how work glorifies God. With 1 in 3 South Africans unemployed many cannot worship God through their work.God wants us to address this situation.
Izenzo assists churches to assess their employment situation, the needs and resources.
A local church team is then formed to set strategies and facilitate ongoing responses including:
- Ongoing prayer and the powerful intervention of The Holy Spirit
- Worker readiness programmes
- Mentoring and accessing work opportunities
- Business mentoring support for business growth and employment creation
The long term vision is to facilitate partnerships between churches and individuals so that materially well resourced churches can partner with materially poor, but spiritually rich churches.
Journeying together towards employment solutions is a fertile area for holistic discipleship and disciple making
A commitment to glorifying God through work
God worked in creation and work is part of His image which He placed in us. When we work, we glorify Him. The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship and service. Thus the church needs to reflect this concern for an integrated life where all can work, worship and serve together. Scripture exhorts us to be concerned that all have access to the resources to work and in today’s society that includes access to the networks providing work.
Enabling churches to minister to the unemployed or underemployed
While many are concerned for the unemployed they often do not know where to start. Do they tackle the large economic issues or do they start assisting one person at a time? Izenzo seeks to open this conversation at congregational level. Each person is invited to start on a journey whether the vision is improved job satisfaction and pay for their employees or to create or find work opportunities for themselves or others.
Facilitate partnerships between churches and individuals
In South Africa there are some churches where the unemployment rate is 100%. No one in the congregation has paid work. At other materially resourced churches the employment rate is close to 100%. Yet the materially poor often have vibrant faith which they readily share. The opportunity thus exists for mutual learning as congregations meet and share across these divides.
Embracing each other in holistic discipleship and disciple making
The conversations and journeys seek to address unemployment but the greater context also presents opportunities for exploring holistic living through a relationship with Jesus Christ. As the employed and unemployed reflect on and discover their calling they can discover their place in the Kingdom of God.
Our Manuals
Below are our next steps manual and job club manuals. click on them to download
Statistics
Unemployment in SA
- The total labour force (excluding discouraged job seekers) is approximately 22 million
- The total number employed is approximately 16 million
- The total number unemployed (including discouraged job seekers) is approximately 8 million
- Thus approximately 1 in 3 people are unemployed in South Africa
- Youth unemployment is above 54% and rising each year
Churches in South Africa
- A number of churches have responded in creative ways to the unemployment crisis
- Crucial issues are why the church should be involved and how far the church as an organisation goes in taking on a role.
- What the role of the church should be can then be defined.
- Partnerships with existing initiatives should be considered rather than re-inventing new initiatives.
- Ultimately the goal is to learn how best practice in churches addressing unemployment can be defined and adopted in a continuous learning process
Why the Church?
- Both government and business are well placed with resources to create employment but are often hard pressed or unable to do so.
- The church has Biblical teaching on the principles of a just society and economy.
- It is the caring community which emphasises relationship with God and each other as a way of healing of self worth and dignity.
- In the context of this restored self worth and dignity people can be built up as potential employees or participants in the economy.
- Self worth also allows for perseverance in creating new, or expanding existing businesses and so grow employment.