November 2010 IRC Ministry update

December 2, 2010

We are just over half way through our time in Brazil and it has been fantastic.

Revelation 3:8 says,

8 "...I have put before you an open door which no one can shut..."

Our primary "door" in Brazil is Ari Cavalcanti. Through our relationship with him, we have worked with many different parts of the Body of Christ in the cities of Sao Paulo, Curitiba and San Francisco Du Sul. The bulk of our time has been spent in Curitiba working with many pastors and their fellowships. These groups are very diverse with pastors from mainline denominations like Methodist, Baptist, and non-denominational works as well. We are currently laying the ground work for a city wide leadership training time next year.

Please continue to pray for us as we finish our time in Brazil. We will have a short time with our family in December and then visit a number of churches in the USA during January.

Blessings in Christ,

Rodney, Trina and Bridget

Bridget's 14th Birthday

We had a great time celebrating Bridget's Birthday both in South Africa and in Brazil.

Fourteen years ago who would have thought that at this young age Bridget would have stepped foot on four different continents? I know she would never have dreamed she would be living in South Africa and traveling around the world.

We had a wonderful time celebrating her birthday with our South African family before we left for Brazil and what birthday would be complete without a celebration on the actual day. The family we are staying with took us to an all you can eat pizza place. The whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday in Portuguese as the waiter brought out an ice cream pizza with a sparkler on top.  What a treat!

We are all looking forward to spending Christmas in the USA.

IRC News Update, November 2, 2010

November 2, 2010

A young man gives his heart to Christ at Point Road

Recently we concluded a four day conference in the Point Road area of Durban, South Africa. We were able to accomplish a number of objectives such as:

1) Reach out to pastors in a part of Durban that we haven't yet done any leadership development.
2) Encourage both the lost and Christians with the transforming Gospel of Jesus
3) Consider future ministry by getting to know the spiritual climate of the Point Road area.

What a pleasure it is to announce that all three goals were more than met during our time. I was impressed with Zechariah 4:8-10 (NASB) which says,

8 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

10 "For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel�these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth."

These meetings have come out some of the "small things" we do with the bible study in the Etete area near our home. Several people who attend the bible study expressed an interest to see some of the things we teach communicated on a broader scale. Many of those that we work with had previously lived in the Point Road area and knew several pastors that had served the Lord in the area. As we prayed and reached out to the pastors, the Holy Spirit took over and everything fell into place. The area is heavily populated with immigrants to South Africa from other African nations and it is known for drug activity. Inspite of these things we were overwhelmingly encouraged by the presence of the Lord and the response of the people. Many were redeemed, restored and found Christ for the first time during the conference. The pastors were overwhelmingly supportive and inquiring about future events. Please continue to pray for unity among the leaders in this area and our part in encouraging the Church here.

We are leaving South Africa soon to visit the Church in Brazil and the USA. We are especially excited about the opportunity to get back to Brazil and South America. It has been several years since our last visit and this one is long overdue. We will visit old and new relationships in the USA. Please pray that we are led by the Holy Spirit in all that we do during the next three months.

Blessings in Christ Jesus...................Rodney, Trina, Bridget

IRC News update for October 25, 2010

October 25, 2010

Preaching with Emmanuel Kittay of Gilgal Assembly in Durban, SA

As many of you know we often find ourselves serving pastors and churches in the Indian areas around Durban. I cannot thank Jesus enough for the many open doors He has provided in these amazing communities. We were greatly encouraged while recently working with a church in the Claire Estate section of Durban. They were not only hungry for the word in the message but they also had an aggressive plan to share Christ in their community. After reflecting on our time and conversation I was impressed with Hebrews 13: 7-14 (NASB) which says,

7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city whichis to come.

The burden of Christ was never reserved for a select few, as scripture plainly tells us that He loved the entire world. To often the Church today sits in a "camp" of comfort zones that reproduce the same religiously exclusive culture that Jesus openly despised. We are praying for every church, ministry and individual believer that we are associated with to hear His voice and go "outside the camp" to show Christ's love!

Over the next two weeks, we will have a set of meetings in Durban with a number of churches and then host another missionary from Capetown. After this, please pray for our upcoming trip to Brazil and the USA. We will be gone for nearly 10 weeks and we would really covet your prayers concerning the many expenses and details associated with the travel. Please also pray that we will be able to raise the funds for a new vehicle. This is our most pressing need in the ministry.


Blessings in Christ Jesus.................Rodney, Trina, Bridget

August 23, 2010

August 23, 2010
                                                       

One of the primary aspects of our ministry is to "come along side" churches and ministries, encouraging their work to the degree that they request and in the way the Holy Spirit is leading us to do so. One of our longstanding relationships is with a Xhosa pastor named Mqokeleli in Wellington, SA. We've worked with him since the church was planted and seen the Lord raise a bright light from almost nothing. On our most recent trip to work with his church it was clear that they have turned the corner and are really beginning to impact their community with the good news of Jesus. Trina and I have cried with this man on more than one occasion concering the work of the Lord and it is most satisfying to see this brother's ministry touching both individuals and leaders on a significant scale. 

Praying with Mqokeleli Mntanga of Harvester Community Church

We also had the chance to recently work with our son in the faith, Jeron Pearson, as he facilitates training through Youth With a Mission here in South Africa.

Ministry with Jeron Pearson at YWAM Muizenberg in Cape Town, SA

Finally, I wanted to let everyone know that while it is challenging for me, Bridget is growing into a wonderful young lady. It is difficult to "grow up" in a place far from where you were born, but Bridget is doing great and continuing to be a joy to us every single day.

Bridget at her friend Jessica Bouwer's sixteenth birthday party

Blessings in Christ Jesus............................Rodney, Trina, Bridget

July 2010 News

Rodney praying for the poor and oppressed in Kampala Uganda

Psalms 23:5 (NASB)
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

Earlier this month we met a team from Texas in Kampala, Uganda for a Pastor's conference and preaching ministry to many in the city. It couldn't have gone better with many people saved, healed and delivered. This happened in the midst of a terrorist attack by muslim exstremists only four miles from where we were. While there were a number of people hurt and killed in the attacks, our estimates put the number touched by the Lord at ten times as much!

Bridget and Trina passing out toys and clothes to children

We've also just finished a toy and clothes distribution in the eTete area near our home in South Africa.It was awesome to see the presence of the Lord all around Bridget and Trina during the event. There was a lot of drunkeness and potential distraction during the work, but there was no noticeable effect and the children were so happy!

As I've considered these events in prayer I believe that there is a message not only to us but to Christians everywhere. If we will surrender to the Lord, He will use our lives to confront the despair and hopelessness that is so prevalent in the world. Christ's Love and power will literally be a "table before me (us) in the presence of my (our) enemies."

Blessings in Christ Jesus................................Rodney, Trina, Bridget

World Cup 2010

Holland - V - Slovakia

We had a great time watching all the goings on of the World Cup. Rodney even got to go to a game in Durban's new Moses Mabhida Stadium. It was a great time for Africa to shine. A lot of the local businesses had their staff wearing South Africa soccer shirts. I think there must be more South Africa pride in our area than before because the people are still wearing their soccer shirts and the games have been over for several weeks. We and many others spent countless evenings with friends huddled around a television screaming like the players and referees would really hear us and eating untill we just wanted to fall asleep. It reminded me of the many Texas Longhorn games we watched back home. It was all fun while it lasted now we will have to watch and see what comes next. Maybe the world got to see a different side of Africa. We do not all live National Geogaphic style. The economy here needed the boost that came with the tourism but in the end we all know that God is the only one that can turn a life or a country around.

June IRC update

June 21, 2010

We have had a very fruitful time of ministry upon returning to South Africa from being in the USA. Our time has been spent with several groups of Christians in both the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal Provences of South Africa.

Battie Won-Goy reunited with his wife and child after 2 years

Our local work in the Tete area, near where we live, has seen a major prayer answered with the Lord finally bringing brother Battie's wife from the Congo to be with him permanently.

Johnny Willemse ministering at a meeting in Worcester, SA

The fellowships near Cape Town are continuing to find ways to influence their communities as the Holy Spirit leads them. The travel into the KZN provence has been great with Trina sharing her testimony and planning a ladies conference for Zulu speaking women later in September.

July will be a super busy month with a first trip to the nation of Uganda and several key meetings in the predominantly Indian area of Phoenix in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Please pray for us to do only what the Lord wants and not be distracted by anything that isn't part of His plan! We love and appreciate all of our Christian family and hope to hear from you over the internet whenever you get the chance.

Blessings in Christ Jesus,

Rodney, Trina, Bridget

Gifts of Love

 

The Congolese brothers and sisters here in Etete were very blessed with the Proclaimer in Lingala, their mother language. A Proclaimer is the New Testament on a solar powered audio device. The guys sit outside in a group and turn it up loud so that everyone passing buy can hear the Word of God. Thank you so much Randy and Gloria Moore of Lake Highlands Church in Dallas for making this possible.

There have been several donations come in this month to provide much needed beds, clothing, toys and  blankets for the families in our community. Everyone was excited when the truck drove up with the deliveries. As you know from the IRC news update,  Bathy's wife, Silvie and son, Perfect finally arrived form the Congo after two long years of waiting. Bathy says "now every day life is good". We know that God answers prayers.

There has been a new addition to our South African family. Levi and Kabibi had a baby girl on June 12th. Joy is a very appropriate name for this little bundle. The doctor told them they were having a boy but God had other plans. Now we are working on getting this little one some pink things to wear.

We will be doing a kids fun day in an area north of us in July. There has already been a donation of one hundred New Testaments in Zulu for this event. We would also like to provide each child with a blanket and a soft toy. If you would like to help with this please put a note in with your donation to let us know it is for the kids. Thank you all so much for you love and support.

Back in Africa

We had a great time visiting our friends and family in the US. March 13th was our oldest son's birthday which was celebrated with a family dinner at Anthony and Nattasha's house. One of the highlights of the trip was the arrival of our newest gran daughter "Alexis Taylor Tidwell". She is healthy and happy. Her big sister Riley calls her "my baby".

 We had a chance to be with churches and friends in our home town of Granbury, East Texas and California. The Lord is so faithful and His presence was evident in every meeting. It was great to see how the believers in every place are growing in His grace and walking in the destiny He has for each of them.

The ash cloud over Europe gave us an extra week to rest up before we returned to South Africa. Thank you so much to all of you for your hospitality and love. We are so blessed to have you all praying for us as we continue in the work the Lord has called us to.

March 5, 2010

It has been a busy start to this year with our ministry work in Durban and the greater Natal provence in South Africa. We have spent most traditional service times with different fellowships in the Indian areas surrounding Durban. Our work with these fellowships ranges from conducting services to giving varying degrees of counsel and direction to leaders for their ministries. The work is similar with the Zulu Christians although we've found there is a great need for bibles in their native language. We are partnering with a local ministry, JAB (Jesus and Business), to distribute these in the rural areas of the Northern Drakensburg Mountains of Kwazulu-Natal.

Because making disciples is part of our mission, we have been particularly encouraged by the way some of the men have progressed since coming to know Christ in our bible study in the Tete area. Brother Battie has started his own prayer meeting to pray for our area and the work that we are doing in the Indian area of Phoenix. Please pray for our trip home to the USA on March 10. We need the Lord to come through in many areas during the five weeks we are away on this trip.

A call to action!

February 25, 2009

Pictured to the right is a typical advertisement for a witch doctor/spiritualist in the greater Durban area of South Africa. While a large part of the population in Durban is traditionally drawn to this type of occultic evil, most Christians would think of it as a novelty or something that would never directly impact their lives. The noteworthy part about this flyer is that it was being circulated in one of the most conspicuously "Christian" communities in the greater Durban area. The men mentioned here are in business and have apparently found it worth their while to advertise their product in Salt Rock/Ballito.

God help us if we sit idly and let such brazen boasts of the enemy of Christ go unchallenged.

I'm currently challenged by 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NASB) which
says,
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to
the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

There are two conditions to effectively fighting the "war" every Christian is born into. To begin with we need to ask the Lord to search our own hearts and be sure that our own "obedience is complete." Then we need to take such boasts to the Lord in prayer and not stop until they are silenced by Him.

Blessings in Christ ----------------------Rodney,Trina,Bridget

Drakensberg Zulu Conference

We have just returned home from three days of teaching in a rural Zulu community. This village is at the base of the Drakensberg Mountains and is a very poor community. We had a great time and were very blessed to see the hunger for the Lord. In the first meeting we saw many people give their lives to the Lord and the second meeting most of those who were already believers received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We delivered 250 Zulu New Testaments and were asked to bring twice as many complete Bibles on the next trip up.

Pastor's Paul and Kumari Murugen of the Church of Philadelphia

We've just finished doing a four night revival session in the Indian area of Durban called Phoenix. We were

initially supposed to be involved for only one night, but as the Lord moved we were asked to continue for the

entire venue!

Speaking to Pastor Paul reminds me of the wisdom I used to hear from my own spiritual fathers. He has already given great insight into many important aspects of the spiritual history of Phoenix. It is my hope that we will work together significantly in the future to further God's Kingdom in this area.

John 8:12 (NASB)says,

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

One of the most exciting and sobering experiences of this past week came when I was asked by another Phoenix pastor to come with him and pray for a boy in a Hindu family. As soon as we reached the home, the "darkness" of Hinduism was on clear display through the shrine of idols that made up a corner of the main living area. We were told that the boy was so lacking in peace he couldn't sleep. As we spoke to him and shared that Christ was the only true way to experience relief, he and the family agreed that it was time to give Jesus a chance. There was an instant difference in his countenance as he prayed the sinner's prayer. I left the home encouraged, but also aware that there are multitudes in the same condition, desperately needing the "Light of life" that only Christ provides. Please continue to pray for boldness and power to exhort the Body of Christ to proclaim Christ to the lost in Phoenix and elsewhere. We are "the light to the world (see Matthew 5:14)" and it is vital that we shine Christ into the darkness that covers so many.

 We will minister in the Indian and Zulu churches and communities most days this month. It will be a very busy month but the rewards are great!

Thank you so much for your love and support as we endeavour to spread  the Word of God in the areas He has called us to.

Pastor John Mkhulise's Wedding

January 5, 2009

Between Christmas and the new year we had the privilege of sharing at the wedding of brother John Mkhulise. He is a leader to other Zulu pastors in the Drakensburg area and it has been a real joy to work along side him encouraging the leaders.

Upon arriving at the ceremony, we had an experience typical to our time in Africa. When John called he had asked if we would attend and share a "brief few words" as part of the time. In response to the request I had prepared some notes that I hoped would be encouraging to the newly wedded couple. Very soon we found that we were to give a full sermon to a very large crowd that expected nothing less! Needless to say the Lord didn't disappoint and the time was a real blessing to those who attended.

We also spent much of December praying about 2010. Several of the impressions we had during this time were:

1) Travel to areas outside of Africa, including South America and Asia.

2) Returning to the USA in March

3) Setting our schedule for ministry in Africa much more in advance

Please pray with us concerning these matters.

Blessings in Christ,


Rodney, Trina, Bridget