A Short History: [ Klik hier vir Afrikaans ]
STRAATWERK came into being in the late 1960’s developing out of a church youth organisation of the Dutch Reformed Church in Wynberg. These young people gathered every Friday evening for Bible study and other Christian activities. They were however, concerned about those who were not part of their group, those who were cast out by society, those who were broken and in distress and who yearned to be healed. With a borrowed van, a tray of sandwiches and a primus stove they went out and shared the love of Christ with anyone who was far away from the Church. Today STRAATWERK is a registered non-profit organisation with a strong evangelistic focus.
In view of the diversity of our city it is a privilege to be able to reach out to people irrespective of race, age, religion, culture or sexual orientation.
The ministry team of STRAATWERK reflects the rich diversity of our country’s population and represents a variety of different churches.
The focus area of STRAATWERK and the meeting area with our target population is the city centre of Cape Town, Green Point and Sea Point. Follow up visits are done across the whole Cape Peninsula.
Vision
The Body of Christ in Action
Mission
STRAATWERK believes Christ is the Word of God, Christ is the image of God and Christ is the wisdom of God. STRAATWERK believes the Word of God must reach fulfilment in our daily activities, in the way we are and in the way we interact.
The kingdom of God must come to earth as it is in heaven.
STRAATWERK views it as a priority in its outreaches to people in distress, to mobilise the Body of Christ through participation and active involvement. Our focus is always concrete and practical in terms of life skills, i.e., how to live in the spirit of Christ.
It is important for us to:
- be visible Christians in the city centre
- be willing to serve graciously and to ease the burden of distress
- speak on behalf of those who cannot make their voices heard
( Proverbs 31:8-9)
The nightlife of Cape Town introduced us to the darkness of the sinfulness in the lives of these people roaming around at night time. This was the lifestyle that many of our young people would be introduced to – some innocently and others with open eyes. Many of them would cross our paths. Some we would find in filthy, smelly dens, others in former reformatories, in police cells at police stations, jails, institutions for drug and alcohol addiction, escort agencies and many on the boats in the harbour of Cape Town. And some, the most severely abused, had to be identified by us in the State mortuary.
It was so peaceful in the room where we gathered to chat and pray, as friends in Christ. Exchanging the peacefulness by walking into the dark unknown wasn’t easy. Deafening music was playing everywhere and fed the uncertainty and rebelliousness of friends trapped in the clubbing culture. Late at night, conscious of our own inability and clumsiness in our outreaches to these people, we felt out of place. Yes, sometimes even scared in this weird world of pumping music, the smell of drugs everywhere and the sound of cuss-words in our ears.