God is Merciful

The LORD is good. Keep us in prayer. We have had many trials and triumphs over these past 8 months. God is working strongly to prepare our hearts and souls and minds and bodies to be fit and ready to walk with him and serve him in righteousness and true holiness. I am shocked at how much fleshiness we still carry and how unfit we are for so many aspects of life and ministry (even just from an earthly standpoint). May God have mercy on us and on all those who name the name of Jesus Christ.  

Sicily Trip

The LORD opened the door for me to go to Sicily for a missions trip to join the Leib family and assist with their ministry for a week back in May. This was a neat and blessed experience. It was a blessing to meet other believers who are seeking to serve the Lord and grow in HIM. Many tracts were distributed and the word was preached. And of course, people got to eat lots of Italian food which was a highlight for many.

School

The LORD opened the door for me to help at a little Baptist School here in Port Elizabeth where Adelaide and Hudson are attending. I am teaching/tutoring Math to the students in grades 6-9 (grade 9 is the highest grade in the school so far). Working at this little school has been a blessing in many ways. And the LORD has opened the door for me to minister to some young men in the fear of the LORD; praise HIS name.  

Homeless Shelters

The ministries in the homeless shelters have been quite an experience. My friend Jan and I are currently ministering in 3 homeless shelters in PE and in 1 outside of Grahamstown. The labour is steady and the work is good. There are many ups and downs and it goes through cycles (as people leave and new people come in). However, the number of the men has steadily grown and the understanding of the gospel and the true call of a Christian is becoming more and more clear to many real souls. Hannah is also ministering once a week to the ladies in one of the shelters as well. We have seen many make professions of repentance and faith; and some seem to be on a good trajectory; but with this labour we know that it takes time often to see the true fruit that comes forth (whether good unto everlasting life or evil unto the fire). But by God’s grace the word is being preached and plowed into the hearts of men and women; and for this we give thanks.

Hospital Ministry

The ministry at Livingstone Hospital has been also quite an open door. The LORD has opened the door for me to go into the wards where men are either pre or post-op and where some are awaiting death. There have been times where God’s Spirit has moved mightily to pull men’s souls out of darkness and into faith in Christ. One of the men that I minister to in the MES homeless shelter asked me to go see his father as he was not doing well. I was able to pray and speak to him twice before he passed two days later. He was weeping and saying he wanted to be with Christ. He called upon the name of the Lord and I believe God’s mercy was abundant. This is just one of the many opportunities the LORD has afforded me.

Visits from Overseas

We’ve had the privilege of hosting some visitors from the States over the past few months. A preacher by the name of Lou DiFilippantonio and his friend Bill Pownell came through here to spend a week here after spending 3 weeks in Zimbabwe ministering with brother Rozert. The men were a blessing to the work here and I believe they were blessed as well. And then my friend and brother in Christ, Raymond Nagel, came to spend almost a month with us. Our time was blessed for sure. Raymond was a blessing to our family and to the labour here in PE. While Raymond was here we were able to go up to Johannesburg for a long weekend and visit the church up there. Our time together was blessed. How we miss the fellowship of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ who have yielded themselves fully to the will of God and the work of HIS Spirit within them. Raymond is praying about God’s will in his life moving forward and we appreciate your prayers in this matter.

Afflictions & Opposition

There have been many times throughout the year where I thought I had reached the end of my rope in Africa. “Without were fightings, within were fears,” as our beloved brother Paul said. The LORD has unveiled my utter weakness and wretchedness of the flesh. But God’s grace has been upon me in just stripping me down to nothing so that I might truly be found in HIM. To cleanse myself of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and perfect holiness in the fear of God is one of the primary pursuits of my life. This has not been an easy and pleasant experience, but truly I can see the pleasant fruit of seeking to be pure and holy in Christ so that HE might be all in all within me. The afflictions that we have experienced in the spirit due to our commitment to be wholly consecrated and sanctified to our Lord have been at times almost too much to bear. But somehow, every time I think there is no hope to move forward any more in Christ, the Spirit of the LORD lifts my heart and spirit once again above the groaning and agonies of my wretched flesh. Oh the clearness and holiness and joy that only the Spirit of the living God can lift us to when we continue in HIS word with no compromise in heart and soul. Would to God that all those who claim the name of Christ would yield to the inner work of the Spirit to prepare HIS bride to be ready to stand before him in holiness and love. I fear for all those who have a form of godliness that does not include such work of the Spirit in their lives. May God have mercy on all those with an “easy-come, easy-go” faith and assurance of heaven. For truly to stand before the One whose eyes are as a flame of fire should cause us to yield to his fiery gaze now in the Spirit so that all filthiness of flesh and spirit be removed. There are other saints here in South Africa who have also committed themselves and the keeping and cleansing of their souls unto their faithful Creator and are thus experiencing many fiery trials of their faith. Please pray for them (Jonathan, Andrew, Jonathan, Jan, Natasha, Geraldine, Matthew, Candise) that they might endure the fires and not draw back unto perdition, but rather, be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.  

Family

Amidst all of this very intense and sober life that we live, Hannah and I have a very tender (and often chaotic) family with 5 children 8 years old and under. We are severely unfit for this work of rearing these children in the way of righteousness when compared to the saints of old…. We appreciate all your prayers. Please pray the LORD’s mercy and grace would continue to be upon us and that he would make us wise and prudent to make sound decisions that would lead to good and lasting fruit in our Father’s eyes. We are so insufficient for these things, but Christ is all. May the LORD bless all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May none of you lean to your own understanding in any area of your life (including your Bible reading). May you all seek to be 100% consecrated and holy unto the living God for his will to be wrought in you so that HE might dwell in you and walk in you for his eternal glory and purposes. And we greatly appreciate all those who pray for us and help support us here in South Africa. May Christ richly bless you all in the inner man!