Written by: Joseph Jansen
Article source: JOY! Magazine
On the 16th May 2018 at 7 in the morning I was driving to church after dropping my pastor’s daughter off at the taxi rank. I parked my car in the church parking lot and took out my phone to read a few messages that I had received. Whilst busy on my cell phone, I heard a knock on my driver’s window. There was a man standing there, saying “Sir, there’s something wrong with your back tyre.” Confused, I opened the door to have a look. The man immediately pulled a gun out and pointed it at me.
Hijacked by angry fools
The gunman ordered me to get over to the passenger side, which I did, and he climbed into the driver’s side, ready to hijack me and drive away. The two of us were in the car and he wanted to start the car, but because of the technology features of the car, he did not know what to do. It’s an automatic car and the gear was still in drive, but the engine was switched off. It starts with the pressing of a button. He could not figure out how to start the car. He was getting irritated and more angry by the second. I offered him my cell phone and wallet, but the man did not want any of that. He was still pointing the gun at me. There were so many things going through my mind, such as to make a move and grab the firearm, but I decided not to do it.
“If God didn’t want me to be a part of this life and part of what He’s still going to do on the earth, then He would’ve let me die. Now I am part of the future generation who is going to lead the great revival of transformation and winning souls for Jesus in South Africa.”
Shot and left for dead
There was a short moment when we were getting a bit physical, but he overpowered me. He was in charge and armed with a gun, ready to shoot. He shouted at me, telling me that I was frustrating him. He then pointed the gun at my head and shot me, narrowly missing my ear. The second shot was aimed at my stomach. He jumped out the car and ran away, leaving me to bleed out. I leant over to the hooter and held it in, praying that someone in the church would hear me. I hobbled out of the car, and some of the church staff ran out to help me. My eldest brother, Marvyn, came and he rushed me to the NetCare hospital in Kuilsriver.
Months of hospital treatment
While the nurses were busy with me, I asked the one if I was going to die. I was confused and worried. From there I was transferred to Tygerberg hospital by ambulance, where I spent two months. During that time I received four operations, including a leaking kidney removal. One morning when the doctor did his rounds, he came to talk to me about my situation. The doctor said to me, “Mr Jansen, I need to be honest with you regarding your health condition. I am not sure as to how long you will still live. You are not getting better and something is drastically wrong with you.” I was constantly vomiting up bile and was nauseous all the time.
“I thought I was going to die, but God had a plan for my life.”
In God’s Hands
After hearing this, I immediately gave everything over to the Lord. I prayed and said, “Lord please be in control of this. If You agree with what the doctor says and if this is Your will, then let it be done.”
Spiritual attack
While sleeping, I went through an attack whereby it felt like I was going insane. I believe that it was an attack from the enemy because he couldn’t get it right to steal my life from me, so now the other option was to make me insane. During that night, whilst all the patients in the room were already asleep, I could not sleep. I started seeing things, I shouted and banged the cupboard next to my bed until the nursing sister came to check on me. I had no control. When she got to my bedside I asked her to urgently call my mother because I needed someone to pray with me.
Comforted with prayer
I spoke to my mother and told her what was happening to me. She immediately started praying and I agreed over the phone as I heard her prayer. The nursing sister also started engaging in prayer with me. After that prayer I had a real peaceful sleep. I could sense that the nursing sister also had a deep relationship with the Lord Jesus. We were three together praying, and the Bible says in Matthew chapter 18:19, “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
“My relationship with Jesus is now stronger and greater than ever.”
A glimmer of hope
The next morning the doctor visited me again. He said, “Mr Jansen, we have to get you to theatre as soon as possible. We have discovered that your one kidney is leaking, and that is the reason why you are vomiting bile and are nauseous all the time. He also said that the fluids of the leaking kidney were making me more ill, and that would eventually cause me to die. They rushed me to the emergency surgery and removed my kidney. The next morning the doctor smiled at me and said, “Mr Jansen, your kidney removal was a huge success; you will now recover and get better.” He explained the health complications and told me that because I am still young, I can still live for years with one kidney.
Restored to health
After I was discharged from hospital I was still under their supervision with monthly follow up visits. I was sent home with two bags on my stomach, which I had to carry and take care of for one year to collect waste from my body. My last operation, which was the fifth one, was done in May 2019 whereby these bags were removed. After the operation I was out of action for a while, but quickly recovered because God’s assignment on my life is huge. I realised my calling and God sped up my healing. My family, Pastor Marion, my brothers, Marvyn and Luke, and my sister Keilah are witnesses of how God took me smoothly through the whole process. My church, New Life Apostolic House International, the Malibu Village community in which I live where the incident happened, they are all witnesses of how God quickly healed me.
“My goodness, there were hundreds of people praying for me when they learnt of my incident. I am so thankful for all the wonderful people that God has blessed me with.”
Prayer changes circumstances!
My goodness, there were hundreds of people praying for me when they learnt of my incident. I am so thankful for all the wonderful people that God has blessed me with. Anuschka Poole is my significant other who devotedly stood with me throughout my hospitalisation. I am truly thankful to my family for their support throughout every process. My church leadership and members have really shown how much they love and care about me. My community, the schools, and churches all over who prayed for me, I am filled with gratitude.
“Thank you Jesus for saving my life and for giving me a second chance.”
From a death report of doctors to a living testimony by the grace of God
If God didn’t want me to be a part of this life and part of what He’s still going to do on the earth, then He would’ve let me die. Instead, God decided otherwise about my life. Now I am part of the future generation who is going to lead the great revival of transformation and winning souls for Jesus in South Africa. Thank you Jesus for saving my life and for giving me a second chance of facing life. I love the Lord Jesus Christ and I love serving and helping people. My relationship with Jesus is even stronger and greater and I am growing in the grace of God and in the gift that God has blessed me with. This is all to the glory of the Name of Jesus.
Joseph Jansen is a JOY! reader and can be contacted on josephjansen.jj@gmail.com
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Date published: 23/10/2019
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