The piece, titled “Here I Am South African,” reflects on the tension between religious freedom and courage for evangelism. The piece notes the irony that many who live in places with religious freedom do not exercise this freedom by sharing their faith with others. However, in places where those who follow Jesus are persecuted, faith often grows like a wildfire, and the Jesus followers are often bold and unafraid.
We chatted with the author, Zilke Vrolick, and asked a few questions about the piece her writing process.
1. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Zilke Vrolick. I’m 19- years-old from Western Cape, South Africa. I’m for sure a coastal girl and recently learned that I struggle to live without the sight of blue waters for too long. More importantly I’m someone who has a passion for life and an even deeper passion for people. And these passions were surely ignited when I came to Christ between the four walls of my bedroom floor in 2020 – the best decision ever!
2. What is your artistic discipline?
My artistic discipline is something I’m definitely still exploring. But for now, the way I best express myself and respond to what may be happening around me is words! Whether that be writing poetry or short essays, it’s writing that I most often find myself doing.
3. What did you learn at CETA?
At CETA, we as participants got to learn many things. Together we dabbled in visual art, drawing a singular tree together which produced many fruits. Peaches, apples - you name it! We got to do linocuts, which was new for me. We even got to challenge ourselves by having conversations with entrepreneurs at a marketplace about art. In between all these learning endeavours, we would sit and learn about God’s artistic nature and how He is an artist and can be glorified and worshipped through art.
What I personally took away from the CETA was a definition of worship which I had heard before, but I think needed to hear again. It was this, “Worship is all that we are responding to all that He (God) is.” It was also beautiful to know that our art in response to God is also worship.
4. Can you tell us about the inspiration for your spoken word?
Throughout REACH, my eyes were really opened to the reality of least reached people groups and also the persecuted church. Even in knowing the little I knew, it created a tension emotionally knowing that I’m so free to practise my faith here in South Africa and I’m even encouraged to do so. But, then in other places in the world, a clear explanation of the gospel is so extremely rare. These emotions and thoughts were honestly a little overwhelming. I never knew what do with them or how to simply sit in the tension of my freedom and someone else’s persecution for a faith that is meant to save every soul.
At a point during the CETA, we looked at a world map. The map had countries match specific colours based on their level of persecution. It was the first time I visually saw how much of Africa faced persecution. I only saw the map for a brief moment or two, but it had a deep impact on me. Here I was in South Africa, able to freely praise Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, but if I found myself at the Horn of Africa, or North of Africa, that would not be my story. That really broke me.
For a while I had been putting that tension away, waiting for a moment to really just bring it to the Lord fully and to journey with Him and have Him help me process it. Then during the CETA we reached a point of the course called “Lament”. We were encouraged to bring a cry of lament to the Lord. Mine was for the persecuted church, especially in Africa. It was throughout this time I could really sit with the tension I felt and eventually write “Here I am South African.”
5. What were you hoping people would take away?
I would hope for people to take away a sense of gratitude, but also a call to action. Gratitude, because it’s wonderful to receive the good news of the gospel and to be in a country where one can praise the Lord, freely. A call to action, because though that may be true for some it’s not true for all. Those very brothers and sisters who are ready to hear the good news is the harvest waiting for us who have heard and now get to share it.
Below, find the text of Zilke’s spoken word!
“Here I Am South African”
I hear Acts 1:8
"I am a witness"
"I am sent"
I read Luke 10:2
Heck, I've got an alarm for it
"The harvest is ready, the workers are few"
Here I am in South Africa
Free to shout whatever
In her streets of rich diversity
Here I am in South Africa
Free to sing songs and melodies
To the True and Risen King
Where freedom of religion
Is a human right and not a
Rare commodity
Here I am in South Africa
Hearing "the harvest is ready"
Here I am, South African
Often times not saying
Anything
But then...
I hear the stories
And I hear the cries
In 2021, Ugandan pastor
Thomas Chikooma
Was slain after leading Muslims to Christ
Then I hear the stories
And I hear the cries
In 2004, Eritrean woman
Named Helen was imprisoned
In a container and tortured for her faith
YET
A container couldn't contain her
From being a witness for her saviour
Then I hear the stories
And I hear the cries
In 2024, 200 Eritrean Christians
Were arrested for believing in Jesus Christ
Then I hear the stories
and I hear the cries
In Niger they worship in silence
To avoid the threats of violence
Then I hear the stories
And I hear the cries
About how imprisonment
Or death
Is the result of Libyans saying
"I believe in Jesus Christ"
About how a Somalian Father
Turned to his son
And threatened to kill him
Because leaving Islam is something
That is so strictly forbidden
Here I am in South Africa
Free to shout whatever
In her streets of rich diversity
Here I am in South Africa
Free to sing songs and melodies
To the True and Risen King
Where freedom of religion
Is a human right and not a
Rare commodity
Here I am in South Africa
Knowing "the harvest is ready"
Here I am South African
Convinced that it has been time and it is
time for me to do something.
Interested in joining CETA? Visit our Incarnate page here to find out more about our upcoming run of this program!
