WATCH: POP marks its first Ascension Day

Place of Purpose (POP) celebrated its first-ever Ascension Day in a unique and special style at the Alberton Methodist Church on May 26.

The Ascension Day, also known as Ascension of Jesus Christ Feast, honours the Christian belief in Jesus’ bodily journey into heaven.

The day is 40 days after the Easter holiday and is always a Thursday.

According to Deborah Bezuidenhout of POP, Ascension Day, which comes 10 days before Pentecost, symbolises the end of the Easter season.

POP is a non-profit institution with the mission of improving the lives of young people (16 and older) who are intellectually and academically challenged by offering a secure and supportive learning environment.

Members of POP released helium-filled biodegradable balloons with tiny messages. Most of the messages were that the Lord blesses them with everything their heart desires.

According to Bezuidenhout, the children first had to climb a ladder to release the balloons.

“According to the Christian bible, Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven. The angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

“The ladder that they climbed on was made as a donation by a potential sponsor to the organisation. The youngsters refurbished the ladder to make it work in their favour as they have been practising for the whole week.”

While learners took turns in releasing the balloons, the Ascension song by Phil Wickham was playing in the background.

The institution provides different skills to eight students who work hard to ensure that their dreams come true.

According to the founder of POP, Gwen Mc Kechnie, the reason they teach the learners different skills is to ensure that they find each individual’s specific strengths to ensure that they provide him/her with all the necessary knowledge about that desired skill.

“We are a more visually based college. When we generate the skills to the challenged young adults, we ensure that we work with something they can see, feel and touch rather than giving them instructions like traditional schools,” Mc Kechnie explained.

Cooking is one of the skills offered and the learners were put to the test of baking a pizza and making jelly before the Ascension activities.

One of the organisation’s members, Mandla, told the Alberton RECORD that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that he makes his dreams come true.

He believes he is on the right path to discovering his journey as an individual.

The youngsters were able to enjoy their mouthwatering meal.