August 29, 2011

August 29, 2011

We have recently returned from an annual leadership meeting in the Cape Town area of South Africa. Many of these leaders speak Xhosa and are part of the second largest tribal grouping in the nation. It has been very gratifying to see the relationships among many different Christian churches grow in recent years. 

Pastor Mqokeleli Mntanga of Harvester in Mbekweni Township, SA Pastor Mntanga, or "Clock" as we know him, is a significant bridge among different fellowships in the Mbeqweni Township. This year our conference was hosted by four different fellowships rather than just one as in the past. It is great to report that this part of the Body of Christ is growing in their devotion to the person of Jesus.

The praise team at our recent leadership conference

This trip completed one of the busiest periods of ministry we have ever had. We've been to Capetown (twice), Brazil, Johannesburg, the Drakensburg Mountains, and Zimbabwe all in the course of the last three months. In each location the pastors and leaders we relate with are making Christ known throughout the communities they serve. Please pray for our plans to visit the USA in November/December. Blessings in Christ..............Rodney,Trina,Bridget

Some of the rocks of Zimbabwe

In the month of July we had our good friend Pastor Jose Arimathea Cavalcanti from Brazil with us in Africa.  Rodney and Ari spent a weekend in Germiston, SA teaching and week in Zimbabwe teaching at the annual CUTFIC leadership gathering. There were leaders from all over Africa (and one from Brazil) in attendance. We also had a fun filled weekend in the Drakensberg Mountains with Pastor Mkolesi and some of the resident wild animals.

God stacked these rocks!

Some of the leaders.

Pastor John Mabunda and his family from Germiston, South Africa

More Zim rocks

"Have you seen a tasty aloe tree?"

"You might be good for desert!"

"Why are the stripes intruding on our spotted picture?"

"Do I look happy to see you?"

Mkulise Family Church

Snow on the Drakensberg Mountains means it is cold at the Mkulise home.

Several people received bibles thanks to a donation of 30 Zulu Bibles this month.

July 11, 2011

July 11, 2011

We have just come back from twenty days in several Brazilian cities.  Our primary focus in this nation is to encourage pastors that are already working on behalf of Christ.  During this time we saw many new pastors encouraged in the work they are doing.The "spirit of unity" referred to in Ephesians 4:3 was the regular theme as we spake with leaders from many different denominations in Brazil.

Pastor Eloi Lopes of Templo Deus Provedor in Joinville, Brazil

Over the eleven years that we have worked in this country, the number of evangelic Christians has nearly doubled! The question now facing the leadership is how to deal with the success. Many of the men and women serving the Lord are seeing that we must "love one another" in order to properly display we are as servants of Christ (see John 13:34-35). It is our hope to further solidify these relationships on our next visit to Brazil in March of 2012. Please pray for our covenant partner , Pastor Ari Cavalcanti, as he visits Africa for the first time July 14. We will be in many venues throughout South Africa and Zimbabwe over the weeks that he is here.

Pastors Ari Cavalcanti and Everaldo Borges in Curitiba, BR

Pastors Ari Cavalcanti and Everaldo Borges in Curitiba, BR



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

June 7, 2011

The Brothers and Sisters of Turning Point Church in Paarl East We've just returned from a triumphant trip to the Western Cape province. We have worked with several churches and ministries in the Borland area of the province for many years. There has been a notable strength come from these relationships over time. Ephesians 4:15-16 says,

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

The relationships we have with the Saints at First Love Church and His Grace International would be best described as "joint(s)" in the Body of Christ. Because we are received by these groups, our special relationship with them causes a spiritual "growth" in the people that helps them share Christ's love in their communities. We had a very exciting experience with a new Church in the city of Paarl. A young pastor, Morton Sias, asked if there was any way we could do a service with the church he has worked with over the last four years. We agreed to do Sunday evening service and the drive to the small meeting hall was ominous.  The fellowship is located in Paarl East which is notorious for crime, drugs and gang activity. It literally felt like we were sneaking "behind enemy lines" as we drove through the impoverished housing project to get to the church. What we found was a packed house of believers and a tangible presence  of the Holy Spirit. Not only was I filled with hope, it was clear to me that the appearance of "doom and gloom" was a lie of the enemy. Jesus is taking over this area and we got to participate in His assault that evening. It served as a pointed reminder that nothing can stop us when we are led by Him! We have an amazingly busy few months. On June 15, I'll go to Brazil for 20 days. This will be followed by a trip to Zimbabwe in July and another to Capetown in August. Please be in prayer for us as we do our best to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom!

May 3, 2011

 

  Our friends Bruce and Lil Dickson of Salt Rock, SA   One of the things that is difficult to explain to people who aren't in a missions context is the blessing we get from true relationships. Bruce and Lil are some of God's gifts to us in this area. To be able to spend time with friends like them takes a lot of the challenge out of being away from our natural family! The Dickson's, along with several other families, supply us with second hand clothes and other items that we are able to give to those in need.

 Some new additions from Congo to the Bible Study group in Etete  Here are two recent testimonies from a distribution of goods to some of the people we minister to in Etete: 1) A recent Congolese immigrant arrived with just enough money to buy a sewing machine. After attending our meeting the Lord touched her heart and she gave us a 20 rand ($2.5) offering (all she had). As we started going through the goods we had, there was a significant amount of unused fabric that we gave to her. We estimate that she'll be able to make 100 times what she gave from her heart. 2) One of the single mother's had a son that had been crying for shoes for more than a week. We had no idea, but the Lord obviously did because in her parcel of goods were three pairs of shoes that fit her young son!

It is very gratifying to simply serve people, but when you see the Holy Spirit truly organizing things it is awesome! Please pray for our trip to the Western Cape Provence this month and anything else the Lord lays on your heart for us. Blessings in Christ...........................................Rodney,Trina,Bridget