Interview with Gillian Fraser
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Alwyn Uys is no stranger to overcoming life’s toughest battles. A young man of unwavering faith, he has inspired many with his incredible journey from a tragic car accident to becoming a motivational speaker, athlete, and a passionate minister of God’s Word. Alwyn’s life is a testament to perseverance, determination, and a deep-rooted faith that continues to guide his path. We chatted to Alwyn to delve deeper into his faith journey, recent developments, and how he uses his platform to spread the message of hope and transformation.
Q. Your testimony has inspired so many people. Can you share how your faith has continued to evolve in recent years as you navigate new challenges in life and ministry?
“In the beginning, when I just had my accident ten years ago, I really felt that there was a foundation building for what God is doing now in my life,” says Alwyn. “That was the starting point of everything. God really used that initial traumatic period of my life to solidify a relationship grounded in Him, grounded in the Word. And yes, we all go through challenges in life and ministry, but I think that was by far the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced in my life. By overcoming that with the Lord through faith, everything after that kind of feels secondary.”
He continues, “Faith is also built up through these experiences. I learnt early on that I have to stay close to the Lord, close to Jesus. That is where we fight from, where we gain victory from – in those moments when we stay close to the Lord and navigate these difficult trials. It’s something that I learnt very early on in my walk with the Lord, going through the whole car accident and everything. So, I know where my strength comes from. If I want to put it plainly, I know that the key to overcoming is staying close to Jesus.”
Q Since your accident, you’ve accomplished remarkable things, from motivational speaking to athletic endeavours. What recent goals or projects have you been working on that excite you?
“For the past year, I have not been competing actively, but I have been busy acquiring an off-road hand cycle – a mountain bike that you pedal with your arms essentially,” Alwyn shares. “That really excites me – to move from road events, where I just did Ironman, transitioning now to mountain biking.”
He adds, “Another thing that excites me is that I want to form a team with both able-bodied and disabled individuals when we do mountain bike races. Some mountain bike races are done in teams of two, and I want to partner up with a friend who is perfectly able, and we’ll do the races together. I think that will be very unique and also a great challenge for me to keep up with someone that’s pedalling with their legs while I’m using my arms.”
Q Your relationship with God has been foundational throughout your journey. How has He been leading you in this new season of your life and career?
“All the challenges, athletic endeavours, and ministry efforts in my life flow from having a relationship with the Lord and being in covenant with Him,” Alwyn says. “Funny enough, I travel a lot to America now. My ministry has expanded a lot in America, which is something the Lord has been speaking to me about for probably a good five to six years. He told me that the door would open for me to go share my testimony and minister there, and now it’s happening.”
He continues, “I’m really trying to stay close to the Lord in terms of hearing His voice for what opportunities to take and what not to take. Having that discernment is very important – not just in life but also in ministry. We shouldn’t take every single opportunity that comes across our table. I just really want to be discerning of what God is doing and how He’s leading me.”
Photo: Nelis Engelbrecht | Light Lounge
Q You’ve shared about how God uses you not just in sports, but also in ministry. Can you tell us more about your recent ministry experiences and how you’ve seen God working through you?
“When I think of ministry and how God is moving in that aspect, I often wonder because I always thought that maybe sport and athletics were my main purpose and goal – how God wanted to use me,” says Alwyn. “But then He expanded the ministry into an international one that I can’t even fathom to believe. It was always the primary purpose of my life to glorify the Lord through ministry, and sport is just secondary to that.”
He adds, “I’m involved in prophetic ministry, and I see things that amaze me every single time. It keeps things exciting and fresh. We often see the Lord healing people – not just physical healing but emotional healing as well. I’ve got a big heart for the ministry of people hearing God’s voice and encouraging them, and also for seeing people healed. Those two pillars of the ministry – healing and prophecy – are very close to my heart because I’m still trusting for my own healing.”
Q Your YouTube channel is growing and reaching more people. What is your vision for this platform, and how are you using it to share your testimony and faith?
“The ministry is really being blessed; God’s hand is upon it, and we’re very thankful for that,” Alwyn says. “I’ve got a big heart for training and equipping, not just for hearing God myself but for teaching others to hear God’s voice. We’re rolling out online workshops where we teach and equip people, bringing in other ministers and trusted voices from both our country and internationally.”
He elaborates, “Our goal is to train and teach the body of Christ how to walk in ministry, how to flow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to Ephesians 4:11. We aim to make disciples of all nations by equipping them with skills for evangelism, prophecy, deliverance, and healing – not just ministering to them but empowering them to minister to others.”
Q You often speak about overcoming mental and spiritual barriers. What have been some of the biggest recent challenges you’ve faced, and how has God helped you to overcome them?
“Since the Lord really started expanding the ministry, it’s almost like you have a target on your back,” Alwyn reveals. “There’s an increased amount of resistance and spiritual warfare that we constantly experience. But one way that helps me overcome this is knowing that Jesus is building His Church. It’s not me; it’s not dependent upon my strength. I’m just a vessel, a servant.”
He continues, “It’s eye-opening when you actually have conversations with people in full-time ministry about the level of opposition they face. But God is good and faithful. His grace trumps any false witness that the enemy brings against us. How do I overcome? By realising who God has called me to be and keeping my eyes on Jesus.”
Q In your ministry, what message do you find resonates most with people today? How does your own experience help you connect with others who may be struggling?
“The main message I would say is hope – sharing hope in these dark times we live in,” Alwyn says. “I came from a place where I was hopeless, where I didn’t want to live anymore. The enemy had stolen all hope from me. So, that message resonates with me because I know how important it is.”
He adds, “I believe that many people connect with that because we all go through difficult times. It’s encouraging for them to see that even though I’m in a wheelchair, God is using me in a specific way, reminding them that they too can be used by God regardless of their circumstances.”
Photo: Nelis Engelbrecht | Light Lounge
Q What has been one of the most impactful moments in your ministry over the past year?
“It’s quite difficult for me to pinpoint one specific moment as the most impactful,” says Alwyn. “I think it’s a general outflow of what we see very frequently happening in the ministry that always leaves me speechless and amazed.
Being involved in prophetic ministry, as well as praying a lot for people for healing, is a big passion of mine. I really pursue not just the gift of healing but also seeing people being set free and healed by the Lord.
“It’s something that we see quite often in meetings – a general state of being amazed by what God is doing. If we are willing to step out and be obedient to what the Lord is putting on our hearts, it’s a huge privilege and honour to see these things happening. The Lord uses people to heal the brokenhearted, to heal broken bodies, and to see people being restored and encouraged through the ministry.”
Q As someone who has endured both physical and emotional battles, what advice would you give to others who feel overwhelmed by life’s difficulties?
“Everyone goes through their own battles and faces their own challenges,” Alwyn acknowledges. “You can’t just tell someone, ‘Oh, it’s just going to be okay’, because at that moment, it really feels like your life is falling apart. But something that I have seen, no matter how bad it is or how dark it seems, is that God is still in control. He’s still fighting for us, still working everything out behind the scenes.”
He continues, “I often feel that the challenges and trials we go through are not forgotten by God. You haven’t slipped out of His hand. It’s a faith journey, a journey of trusting God and believing in His goodness, believing that we serve a good Father. I would encourage someone to see that in the process of going through trials, we can have a close and near relationship with the Father and see His goodness in every situation in our lives, no matter how deep and dark it looks.”
QWhat is your prayer focus in this season of your life?
“Something that is very big on my heart at this moment is youth and young adults – to really see them living for God,” shares Alwyn. “I’m now 34, and as I transition into a different phase of my life, it worries me to see that not so many people are necessarily zealous for the Lord or on fire for Him during the same transition process. So, I’m praying for kind of like a wake-up call – let the sleepers awake and arise in this time. I want to see people answer the calling of God upon their lives, to be zealous for the Lord, and to witness a mighty move of God amongst the youth and young adults specifically.”
Q How has God opened new doors for you? Can you share any specific stories of His provision or guidance in your life?
“A few good testimonies are about God connecting me with the right people that have opened the right doors in a very natural way,” Alwyn reveals. “It’s not something that I forced at all; it’s like meeting the right person at the right time, and you just know that it’s orchestrated by the Lord. One of the coolest testimonies for me is how God connected me with people internationally, specifically opening the door to America.”
He continues, “I’ve been going to America quite a bit over the past three years, and it’s been interesting to see how God unfolds things, connecting relationships, and building partnerships. I’m very grateful for that. Opening doors, meeting the right people, and having that connected to provision in international ministry have been blessings from the Lord. He has been incredibly faithful, and I’m super thankful for everything that He’s doing.”
Q What do you feel is the most important message God has placed on your heart for people today?
“Something that we see quite often is that people are becoming weary in the waiting. So many people feel like they’re in a constant wilderness state, where things aren’t moving quickly enough, and they’re stuck in this state of not progressing. That message is near to my heart because I’ve been there for a very long time.”
He adds, “I always encourage people that if you find yourself in a season of waiting or feeling weary in the wilderness, remember that God is equipping and preparing us. Waiting is not wasting time; it’s a season where God is teaching, training, and equipping you with spiritual gifts, natural gifts, and connections. The waiting period is also a place of intimacy with the Lord, and there is great value in building that relationship during this time.”
Q What practices or habits help you stay connected and grounded in your faith despite your busy schedule?
“I made the decision that no matter how busy I get, I can never be too busy to spend time with God every single day,” Alwyn states firmly. “You fill up your own schedule, so you can shift things around to make sure that spending time with God is a priority. Prayer, worship, studying the Word – whatever that looks like, that is on you. It’s your responsibility to stay connected to God.”
He continues, “There were seasons when I was super busy and didn’t spend the time I wanted with God, and I saw the effects of that. You cannot afford not to spend time with God. No matter how popular you get or how big your ministry grows, making time for Jesus is non-negotiable. For me, being practical means spending time with God in the morning because once the day kicks off, it’s very difficult to backtrack.”
Q You’ve been an advocate for perseverance and faith. What does perseverance look like for you now, especially as you step into new opportunities and challenges?
“Perseverance now definitely looks like keeping on believing in the plan that God has for you, despite seeing results or natural progress,” says Alwyn. “To me, true perseverance means that you keep on fighting, you keep on pushing the plough, even if things don’t seem to be moving. As long as you know that you’re on the right path with the Lord, you just have to keep your head down and keep pushing in the right direction.”
Q Looking ahead, what is next for you in terms of both your ministry and career? How do you sense God leading you into the future?
“A few things are on the horizon,” Alwyn explains. “God has really established a platform for international ministry. While we have a large online footprint, I want to focus more on in-person ministry events, specifically aimed at youth and young adults, to get them activated and zealous for the Lord. I want to lead people into an encounter with God, stepping into a relationship with Him and getting rid of religion.”
He adds, “I also have a few books that the Lord has put on my heart to write and publish, focusing on creating lasting impact and fruit. In terms of career, I’m really excited about getting into mountain biking and inspiring people through an active, adventurous lifestyle. I want to show people that life is good and that we serve a good God.”
Photo: Nelis Engelbrecht | Light Lounge
This article is featured in the November 2024 issue of JOY! Magazine, which can be purchased here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 02/04/2025
Feature image: Alwyn Uys | Nelis Engelbrecht Photography: lightlounge.co.za
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