30 Jan The Beginnings of the No Greater Love Project

In 2016 God spoke to my husband, and put it on His heart that we should help my parents out on their farm in Namibia for a period of 3 months.

At that time we were living in Stoughton (a quaint little town in Wisconsin). At the beginning of 2017 we ended our lease, packed all our earthly belongings into a storage unit and travelled to Namibia.

As our time of serving my parents was nearing its end, we were seeking God together daily regarding His plans for our future. We both knew that we would not return to Stoughton but were not quite sure what the next step would be either. It was a time of sweet uncertainty — of seeking the Father’s will and really desiring nothing more than to fully surrender our own. We asked God to give us direction and to align our plans with His.

Since everything was packed up already and we were technically homeless at that time, we really meant it when we said: “Father, you can send us wherever! Now is a good time… We are excited and open to be used by you in whatever way you choose.”

One day as I was driving in the car on one of Namibia’s wide-open roads, the Lord spoke very clearly to me and instructed me to start documenting the stories of His servants across the world. My first reaction was disbelief that God would choose me to this — I had graduated from film school in Cape Town in 2011, but had not been involved in making any real films since. I also had majored in acting and screenwriting (narrative film) — and really had no experience whatsoever in documentary film making. But in my heart I knew for certain that God was speaking to me and almost immediately the skepticism turned into curiosity and excitement to see HOW God would pull this off. I was willing to jump to it but did not have the slightest idea of where or how to begin.

The first question I remember asking God in response to this was: “Father, you have many servants — which ones?”

He told me that these would be men and women all over the world that had fully surrendered their life to serve Him and serve others.

I said to Him, “Father, I really don’t know many people like that at all. Where will I find them?”

He replied, “If you look for them, you will not find them. Trust me. I will bring you to them.”

And so the journey began.

I only told a hand full of people about this encounter — but about three weeks later, God confirmed the calling that He had given me through a prophetic word from a pastor who did not really know me — and much less knew anything about this. God said that the urgency for telling these stories was great and that I should waste no more time but start immediately. He also told me: “Don’t look at what you don’t have but look at what you have and start with that. — And as you go and do what I have called you to do, I will provide all that you need to do this work effectively.”

I just love how intimately the Father knows our hearts — because “looking at what I didn’t have” was exactly what I was doing at that time.

This confirmation and encouragement from the Lord was precious and powerful and was exactly what I needed to put my doubts and excuses aside and step into action.

The very next day I borrowed my father’s car and stepped out in faith to start documenting the first story the Lord had connected me with. I say “in faith” because at the time I only had my camera — but no money, no team, no mic, no plan… the only plan I had was to trust the Lord and to believe that He would deliver on His promise to “provide me with all that I needed to do His work effectively.” Unsurprisingly, God was faithful and miraculously brought to me three stories of servants in Namibia. He continued to amaze me by introducing me — in a “chance” meeting — with the Namibian Film Commissioner and his lovely wife (who are both born-again believers.) He gave me just enough money to film some pre-production. He led me to some gentlemen — in an unlikely place — who generously let me rent their microphone for close to no money. And He began to form in me the start of a plan…

The heart and vision of No Greater Love Project is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the stories of his servants in every country of the world and to see His servants equipped and supported by the global church to keep doing the good work they are doing.

We also believe that these stories will inspire, embolden and encourage more of God’s children to step into their calling; to live a life of faith and to show a hurting world the love and power of Jesus in action.

We hope that the servants and ministries we are documenting will gain more exposure through these films, that individuals and churches all over the world will be compelled to support these faithful “warriors on the ground.” Naturally, it is not possible for all of us to start an orphanage, to free sex-slaves, to run soup-kitchens, to lead crusades and preach to thousands… but we all can play a part in doing these things by supporting our brothers and sisters who do.