ALON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

The history of Alôn

To give an accurate account of the diverse ministry of Alôn and what that entails in the present, we cannot but look back to the foundation and the years of training and preparation which God brought a single family through as He worked in their lives. The story would have to start many years ago when this certain couple, Davit and Sara Ben-Avi and their two children, Bianca, and Gad were challenged by the Lord to leave behind the comforts and security of a thriving business lifestyle in Cape Town. To leave behind family and friends in answer to God's call on their lives and to go where He would lead them, to a place He would show them … they received an Abrahamic call and were called to a land they did not know. Initially they thought that they might immigrate to Israel but God had different plans for them as His ways are not their ways (Isaiah 55:9).

Davit and Sara had a successful ministry and enjoyed an open relationship with the body of Messiah in the Cape and it would mean leaving all for the sake of following Him. Although there was a painful tearing in their hearts they did it, against much well meaning advice, and so began an adventure of sojourning around the world, to many nations, and to many people as the Lord led them into circumstance after circumstance which caused an enlarging of their hearts and a receiving of "the burden of the Lord" for peoples and a deep hunger for the reality of Jesus to be given out to many as He would entrust them into their care. During these years of sojourning they lived and worked in many different homes with church leaders and communities, submitting themselves to a unique, yet very hard school of learning the ways of God in real Christian living. Their third child, Alôna, was born during a brief visit back to South Africa in early January 1986. They left South Africa again when she was 6 weeks old for another short season in New Zealand and the USA before returning back to South Africa.

This adventure led them throughout the Middle East, Europe and America and eventually found them in a community in New Zealand called "Orama" which means "vision", where they gave themselves for a season and in so doing God eventually released more clear detailed vision into their hearts, separately yet simultaneously, they received the vision for what we now experience and call........ the "Alôn ministry - An Oak of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

In a divine way God entrusted into their care a vision of a discipleship school and a base where believers from all walks of life could grow together in fellowship and unity and enjoy the benefits of an environment of continuous prayer and worship, in a lifestyle of surrender unto the Lamb of God. A mandate was given to teach the ways of God in reality and truth, honouring the risen Messiah.

In obedience to this call they returned to South Africa with their three children and so the process of waiting began. They endured through much trial and testing and God led them by His sovereign hand as He met every detail of the specifics which He had given them for many years in dreams, visions, and the prophetic impartation through others in the wider body of believers. They found the place which they were to call the Alôn farm over the time of Passover 1987.

With zeal and by His Spirit they poured all they had into this farm laying foundations for accommodation and in faith going ahead to develop and restore it to serve God's purposes and calling for them.

Death of a Vision

About a year later and with other families and people from as far a field as New Zealand and Denmark, relying on God's direction, the Lord moved swiftly to bring a death to the vision and through a number of circumstances the farm was taken from them and they were "homeless" and in the hands of a God of providence. This was given as a test and to free them from any over-focus on anything, except on the centrality of the Lamb of God to lead them.

Davit felt that the Lord was going to take them through a "desert" experience and in fact led them, with their small group over a few months, by "cloud by day and pillar of fire by night" until they ended up in the semi-desert town of Oudtshoorn in the Karoo where Davit felt God released them to settle and to start the work of God again.

In no time a small community had sprung up with a flourishing Bible school and four beautiful rented homes and many students hungry for the living word … and God blessed them mightily and even used them to take a stand against man-made traditions and religion which denied the power of God unto salvation. They prospered and God "added to their number daily" (Acts 2:47), their testimony in the town also became unquestionable as they were a firm witness to the people of Oudtshoorn, and especially to the Jewish population who were intrigued by these believers, Jew and Gentile, who proclaimed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and who celebrated Shabbat and the Jewish biblical feasts and who had a clear Hebraic flavour. They were offered a farm from some believers to build a community and a work of God in the locality, but God would not release them in accepting what would appear to be a great blessing, but would nevertheless have become a distraction and a deviation.

1 Samuel 15:22 “To obey is better than sacrifice…”

Just as they were becoming successful and about to look at the possibility of a base in Oudtshoorn, the word of the Lord came to them, "Go up North!" and again they had to be willing to surrender what had now become comfortable and blessed. They responded to this word and went by faith, to "spy out the land", approximately 1700 km towards the most Northern region of South Africa, looking at farms and properties and prayerfully waiting on the Lord to quicken his witness upon their hearts …

1 Chron 21:19 “So David went up in obedience to the word…”

After viewing many farms they eventually came across an advertisement for a property in a very unique way. They were drawn by the Holy Spirit to investigate further. It was advertised as a "Gentlemen's country estate" and turned out to be an exceptionally beautiful avocado and macadamia nut farm situated in the hills overlooking the Tzaneen valley. Although run down and in need of much care and hard work the farm excited something in Davit's heart and soon after he received the word to go and walk it's boundaries. Immediately he felt the peace of God and went ahead by faith to begin the transaction of buying the farm.

As usual there was no money available for such a huge undertaking and they felt not to make their needs known to man, only to open wide their mouths to a living God who "owned the cattle on a thousand hills". Soon after, God's provision was made clear and we witnessed how the money came in. We were able to pay the full amount within two months after signing the papers for the sale.

Then in July of 1991, after releasing each member of the community to personally hear God’s voice, a small community of believers packed up vehicles of all shapes and sizes and started the "Great Trek" to the promised land. Our adventure had just begun!

Since then God has established through the work of our hands a wonderful base and home for us as we sojourn here on this earth, always looking forward to the city whose maker is God (Hebrews 11:10) !!! We have since taken on the two neighboring farms in the expansion of God's work here in the hills of Africa. It's a blessing to experience the Lord bringing forth his Lordship upon this portion of land in the hearts of real people that are in need of God.

Shortly after our arrival at our home base Alôn farm, Davit and Sara's 6 year old daughter became very sick and went to be with her Lord during her 7th year.

SO WE DEDICATE THIS SMALL PORTION IN THE HISTORY OF ALÔN TO ALÔNA.

God has granted so much into our hearts during Alôna's 6 years of virtual sickness-free health and vitality: her nine months of suffering and in her "thunderstorm" resurrection into Glory, that we will never find the fullness of expression in words worthy to be uttered, in order to bring Him glory. The holiness of God's presence experienced by many of us in the Alôn family at Alôna's "going" has without doubt left a mark upon our souls that has made heaven become more of a living reality to us. This testing caused us to focus our attention upon eternity and the reallocation of our time as measured by our human concept and understanding into His divine purpose and eternal destiny.

More and more our eyes, that have become dazzled by the glare of earth and what it can offer for a fleeting moment, are being adjusted to "heavenly constellations", so that together with the watchmen at night we may be partakers of the grandstand view of God's majestic kingdom and have the listening ear to discern the undertones of the Master's voice....... "That neither death nor life........nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord," and that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purposes." (from Romans 8).

However we can truly echo the words of Paul when he says that the suffering of this present hour are not and cannot be compared to the surpassing glory which awaits us as we continue to remain faithful to the Lord (Romans 8:18). Even so we have tasted of the goodness of the Lord and have experienced and continue to experience such heavenly bliss, blessings and the formation of the Kingdom of God in its reality within our hearts and amongst those of us to serve our Lord in a corporate expression of love and unity.