Camps, conferences, missions & everything in between

The last few months have been action-packed and filled with different ministry opportunities. Throughout the months of June and July we were able to hold 2 conferences, 2 satellite camps, host a missions team from the States, and serve at our church's Holiday Bible Club.

Women of Worth Conference

We started off the month of June with our first Women of Worth Conference for the year. As always it was an awesome time gathering with about 60 women young and old from 20 different churches. Our theme this year is Priscilla: Preserver of the Faith. We focused on practical aspects of discipleship and apologetics and how it should look in our daily lives and in our churches. It was so encouraging to receive feedback on how they were challenged in these areas and are seeking to grow and implement the things they learned.

Holiday Bible Club

At our local church, the last time we had Holiday Bible Club was before COVID started so it was great to have it again. I was able to lead a team of games leaders while Ashley helped in the kitchen to prepare lunch for our volunteers each day. It was great to see God work through this ministry again as a number of kids started to attend our weekly kids ministry as well including some of the kids we invited from the complex we live in. What an encouragement! We look forward to next year for this ministry again because it gives us an opportunity to share with many kids in our community during June/July holidays about God as well as reach out to their parents.

Satellite Camps

We started with youth week at True Word Bible Church. Our team of staff and interns along with  some members of the church had the opportunity to do kids, teens, and street evangelism ministry. We reached 100 kids plus teens and we had 35 salvation decisions. With street evangelism we reached 65 people and saw 39 people place their trust in Christ. We are thankful to the Lord for the partnership that we have with Pastor Lance in reaching the community at Potchefstroom. We continue to see the Lord work in the community as the kids ministry continues to grow. Now he meets with kids 4 times a week. He welcomes them to his home twice a week to help them with homework after school and ministers to them at kids ministry on Friday and church on Sunday. Thank you for praying for this ministry as we see God continues to even add adults to the church. Seeing Gods hand is amazing because it was a church for kids and now even adults keep on growing and being reached with the gospel of Christ. Continue to pray for Pastor Lance as he continues to involve himself in the community and follow up with those we have ministered to.

Getting ready to go share the gospel in the
community.

We also had an opportunity to help with our Winter Satellite Camp in Etwatwa led by Sibonelo along  with our interns and some alumni. Thato and I each had the opportunity to teach one of the split sessions and Thato was able to help support the team in the afternoons after we wrapped up Holiday Bible Club at our church. It was awesome to see over 100 teens from the community there, asking questions and seeking God.

Student Fusion

In July we had a group of students come from the States for a Student Fusion missions trip. I had  the privilege of leading the group in serving in different ministries that we do. We hit the ground running  and headed to the Free State where we had a kids fun day at a church where one of our alumni is  serving. The following day, we went to Alexander, a large township, where we exposed them to the  diversity of churches we work with as we served alongside the church for a special youth event. We  also involved them in our weekly kids ministries, giving them the opportunity to teach and lead games,  songs and small groups. We also took the advantage of our time with the team to explore some new ministry opportunities. The first location was Refilwe, an orphanage, where we ministered in the surrounding community of Joe Slovo by doing door to door evangelism and then doing maintenance work at the orphanage. Now we have the opportunity to do a kids ministry at the orphanage every second Wednesday at Refilwe to share the gospel to the young kids. Please pray with us as we look to get in the school of Joe Slovo to share the gospel at assembly to a 1000 kids who attend the school. We are thankful for out time with them and excited for how God will continue to work in their lives, especially those who will be attending the WOL Bible Institute starting next month.

There's so much more we could share about all God has been doing over the past few months  but for now we will close by saying thank you for continuing to be a part of our journey and a part of what God is doing here in South Africa. We are so thankful for your care, love and support. You are a blessing to us.

Please pray...

- for wisdom as we plan and prepare for next year

- Upcoming Alumni/camp counsellor reunion (Sept 2). Pray that we would be a blessing as we seek to encourage and connect with them

-Planning and prep for upcoming SMASH missions trip to Free State where we will be doing a youth camp (Sept 30 - Oct 7)

- For Ashley to recive her visa

- For Thato as he finishes his BA in Theology over the next several months