Sunday School Closing Program and Baptismal Service

". . . baptizing them and teaching them . . . ." Matthew 28:19

Our Sunday school children gave a closing program for the year on Sunday, 12 December 2010.

The title of the program was "Die Name van Jesus van A tot Z." (The Names of Jesus from A to Z) The students quoted verses on the various names of Christ in the Scripture. One of Mgoduse's verses was II Corinthians 9:5, "Thanks be to God for His UNSPEAKABLE gift."

One of Miche's verses was John 14:6 " . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." Miche's mom was present to hear each of her 4 daughters quote verses about the Lord Jesus who has the name which is above every name.

One of their favourite songs, "Jesus, the Lamb of God," says that He came to die as the perfect Lamb of God.

Tony preached a gospel message at the close of the program from Matthew 1:21. Pray that lost visitors will come to know Him who came to take away the sins of the world.

Our ladies prepared plates of eats which were served to everyone at the close of the service. Some enjoyed a cup of coffee, but many preferred the ice-cold juice since our summer temperature was over 30 C!

That evening we enjoyed witnessing 4 people follow the Lord in believer's baptism at the monthly fellowship service at Immanuel Baptiste Kerk. June was baptized first.

Then Bro. Donny baptized his daughter, Loren, whom we have have the privilege of seeing grow up these 16 years. Donny was one of the first people to trust Christ in the early outreaches in Eerstervier in 1992. Two other teens, Melvin and M-Jay, were baptized by Pastor Kevin.

I thank the Lord for the growth June has had in these 2 years we have worked together.

There was a great time of fellowshipping together after the service. As usual, the men and the women each gather in separate groups to share what the Lord has been doing in the past month.

New Convert and Thanksgiving

" . . . joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth . . . Luke 15:7"

Early in November I received a call from Valencia. She told me she had been putting off calling me for almost a year and wanted to know when she could come talk to me. Receiving such a call hasn't happened often in our 22 years in South Africa, but it is an amazing testimony to the fact that God does the drawing of a soul to Himself! Valencia's son asked me late in 2009, if I would be willing to share Christ with his mother. When I spoke to her about doing a Bible study, she said she would phone me. I had nearly forgotten about her promise. When Valencia arrived at our home, she told me before she got in the door that she wanted to study the Bible and begin attending our church. We went to our lounge and I shared Christ with her from the Bible. About an hour later, Valencia prayed and repented of her sin and put her faith in Christ alone for salvation. What a joy to have her begin to worship with the believers at Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk the following Sunday (below in white on left).

Valencia and I are working through the "Inquirer's Bible Study" series on Wednesday mornings. It is thrilling from week to week to witness her joy over what she is learning about God. She shared that never understood her son's testimony before, but now she does. What a delight to see God answer his prayers for his mother's salvation!

The Eric Graham family and Jeff and Judy Blanton shared Thanksgiving Day with us. Tony enjoyed playing cowboys-and-indians with the youngest Graham, Ben, who is almost 4. We wonder if our grandson in America heard the squealing going on here whenever Tony would sneak up on Ben! Maybe you did!

How thankful we are for these faithful missionary friends serving in Northpine and Mitchell's Plain. Below the Graham's lovely daughters pose at their table.

The day after Thanksgiving, we had lunch at the University of the Western Cape with Liz. Liz has been one of our "girls" for a long time, growing up sharing a close friendship with our youngest daughter, Emily. We thank the Lord for His enabling Liz to finish her Master's degree in Child Law this year. We are praying for God to have His way in her life. She is a talented young lady with so much potential.

We thank the Lord for the men God has given to the work at Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk. Among the men are Brandon, Jason, Jeremy and Clive (below from left to right), who attended a seminar on the resurrection and heaven this past Sunday evening.

A Time for Everything

"To everything there is a season . . . Ecclesiastes 1:1"

On 6 November, our young people and Sunday school children of Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk enjoyed an outing to the Tygerberg Nature Reserve which overlooks the city of Cape Town and the harbour. The afternoon included a hike,

a picnic, a lesson on George Washington Carver's life and various team games. We thank the Lord for providing beautiful weather and a wonderful day to remember.

The next day at Sunday school we three teachers realized that we'd all dressed alike! Pray that the Lord will enable me and Jason and June to present the gospel as clearly as black and white.

Our ladies held a special "friend" afternoon on November 20. Each of us invited a lost or unchurched friend to join us for our braai. Unfortunately a couple of ladies had to cancel at the last minute. There were nine of us who spent the afternoon together. We had lots of laughs over the ice breaker games we played before the meal of braaied chicken, wors (sausage) and chops along with a spread of salads of every description.

After the meal, Judy Blanton shared her testimony with the ladies and challenged them to make sure they have a testimony that their sins are forgiven and that they have placed their faith in Christ alone for salvation.

I was very thankful to have my friend, Aneesa, as my guest. Below, Aneesa and I posed while I tried on the poncho which had been her daughter's. I overheard her tell one of the ladies that I had been with her every step of the way in this year of so many sad losses (her daughter, mom and breast). Continue to pray for her.

In our last blog post, I shared that we visited Sister Rosie Hendricks when we went to Onrus. Before we prayed with Rosie and the Christian couple who took her in after her husband died, Rosie asked Tony if he would preach her funeral when she died. That was 21 October. Although Rosie was past her three score and ten years, we never dreamed that less than a month later she would be with her Saviour.

Rosie's funeral service on Sunday, 21 November, was a tribute to the Lord who reached down and brought this former "bergie" (hobo) to faith in Christ. Every testimony spoke of God's wonderful saving grace. Tony preached from John 11 on the reason for Christ's tears--lost man's unbelief. Pray for the gospel to bring life any who attended Rosie's funeral yet in unbelief.

When we speak of "burying the dead" in South Africa, we literally do. Above, Tony took his turn filling the grave. Thankfully, we know that the grave is not the end. We do not sorrow as those who have no hope.

Pleasant places, people and participation

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places . . . Psalm 16:6"

Three weeks ago, friends allowed us to spend 4 nights at their holiday home in Onrus, about 1 hour away.

We had many hours for reading, walking, memorizing, praying, and resting; we were also able to complete a course syllabus in Afrikaans and a translation of a soul-winning booklet.

On one of our seaside walks we even got to see 4 whales frolicking in the waters not far off the coastline. Unfortunately, we didn't have the camera with us! Before we returned home, we visited our dear sister Rosie, who lives near Onrus.

Rosie and her husband, Harold, were a part of the work in Eersterivier, until the Lord took him home in February 2002.

We returned from our "working holiday" in time for Tony to teach the third session of the course, Minor Prophets II, at Oostenberg Bybel Instituut. Below is a group of some of the men during their tea break.

On the 24th, the men gathered for their second meeting to work through the church covenant and constitution in preparation for voting to constitute the new church plant.

In addition to their time of prayer and discussion of the church covenant, the men enjoyed some rounds of croquet and a meal of braaied chicken, wors and salads.

Recently June asked me to go with her to visit a neighbour. Fadous (below with Kevin), opened her door for us to visit her.

After several visits, she asked Jason if we would hold a service in her home on 20 October.
After the service, I took a photo of Jeremy, Clive, and Jason who happened to be seated in front of a wall hanging with portions of the Koran. Christ was proclaimed where once Mohammed was followed. Pray for this family to come to know Christ.

Last Wednesday, after Tony and Jason' s evangelism in Delft, Mgoduse came home with us and spent two hours working with Tony to get a Bible. After supper, I took a photo of Mgoduse when he read John 1 to me.

Our friends, Benedict and Tina, asked us to come welcome their new baby, Ijeoma.

Tony had the privilege of sharing the gospel with Benedict again after several years and was thankful to hear Benedict confess that he has placed his faith in Christ alone--not in the Roman Catholic church.

What God begins!

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6"


Last Saturday I enjoyed attending a birthday tea for Theresa van Besouw (second from left, below) which her family organized to surprise her. Everyone had a lovely time sharing something that reminded them of Theresa. Because Theresa loves God's Word, I shared a few verses from I John about the confidence that we have that we will be like Christ when we see Him, as well as the promise above that He will complete what He begins in us.

God continues to grow June (below) who helps in our Sunday school. Recently she has asked me on 3 different occasions to go with her to visit 3 neighbour ladies. Pray for her ministry with Baabsie, Fadous en Aneesa. It is a joy to see her extending the love of Christ to these women.
Our children's Sunday School class is studying the book of Acts. The children have learned that a witness tells what they personally know of Christ; however, the majority of our children have not yet professed faith in Christ. They are faithful to all our services and understand the gospel, but God must bring them to faith. Below is Sharlize, the youngest of Miche's sisters. Pray for Miche who is growing and is faithful to her discipleship class each Thursday evening.
Jason recently taught the children I John 3:23, which emphasizes that it is a command from God that "we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ." The Afrikaans is very strong. It says we MUST believe!! Our hearts yearn to see all these children come to salvation.

Many times, God allows us to sow and water for years before He brings about the fruit. Johannes came to Christ last year after a serious accident (see posting from September 30, 2009). He and Tony posed for a photo last Sunday night after Tony preached at the monthly fellowship evening at Immanuel Baptiste Kerk, where Pastor Kevin Simpson and his dear wife, Lydia, continue to faithfully serve the Lord. Johannes first heard the gospel when the men visited him after his children attended our holiday Bible school in 1999. In 2003, Johannes fell from a height of 5 meters when helping put up the roof of the church. Finally, in 2009, after he was the victim of a serious hit-and-run accident, he professed faith in Christ. God graciously spared him these many times and used it to save him. Pray for his continued growth.

Time for Tea and Planning for Leadership Camp

"Come unto me . . . and I will give you rest . . . learn of me . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29"

The past 12 months have been months of loss upon loss for my friend, Aneesa. We first met Aneesa and her only child, Shamiela, when we began going from house to house in Eindhoven in April 2008. From that intial meeting, we were always greeted warmly by both Shamiela and Aneesa each time we passed their way. It was quite a shock to everyone when 25 year-old Shamiela suddenly died of natural causes early one Sunday morning in October 2009. Early this year Aneesa was diagnosed with cancer and had a mastectomy.

In May 2010, Aneesa buried her mother. Over the past 4 months, I have had the joy of visiting Aneesa twice a week and our friendship has grown. Last Thursday, Aneesa and I spent about 3 hours together at a tea shop in town. The passage above is one of the verses I have shared with her. Yesterday Aneesa began a series of 20 radiation treatments. Please pray for my friend.

The plans for the end of year Pastors' and Spiritual leaders' retreat are beginning to take shape.

We have chosen the Hester Dororthea Conference Center in Genadendal as our venue. The facilities are clean and more than adequate for our needs.

The dates for the retreat are 28-31 December 2010.

We have invited about 40 South Africans who serve Lord in 15 local assemblies in the Western and Northern Cape. Pray for the Lord to direct us in His choosing for a guest speaker. One of out pastors from a supporting church in the USA planned to be with us, but recently he shared that he will not be able to come this year.

God So Loved the World!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16"

The men at their Bible study on Sunday were also all smiles when Mgoduse (above) quoted this verse. Although he doesn't yet have that "everlasting life," he is attending all the services and activities of Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk. We trust that it will not be long before he trusts Christ and has a lasting reason to smile so broadly!

Jason clearly presented the truth of John 3:16 during the last Thursday in the 7 weeks of Thursdays spent with 160+ grade six learners in the public school at Eindhoven.

Each learner received a Gospel of John and Romans and followed along as Jason shared the Gospel message with them.

We reminded them again of the important decision that each person must make regarding their eternal destiny. Our motto (above) was quoted week after week: You win or lose by the way you choose, so decide to decide right!

Pray that God will use His Word to draw some of these young people to Himself.

On Thursday evenings, while Tony and the men are at Oostenberg Bybel Institute, I have the joy of teaching discipleship to Miche, below. She is faithful to her classes and always prepares her lessons and learns her verses. Pray for God to protect her from the immorality and addictions that are so prevalent in Eindhoven.

Our friends and fellow labourers, Jeff and Judy Blanton (above), returned to South Africa on 7 September after a 6-month furlough in the USA. We met them at the airport upon their return and hosted them overnight and fellowshipped the next day before taking them to their home in Mitchells Plain, where they serve at Lentegeur Baptist Church.

Our youth enjoy their bi-monthly meetings. The evening passes quickly with a Bible lesson from Proverbs on wisdom and a number of games--above, "puff ball"and below, Uno Attack!

Pray that God will save those who are lost. We had two new teens attend youth, who also came to our Sunday service this past week. Pray for Chandre and Jasmine.