May Newsletter

It started off as a security measure. Petty theft and violent crime is commonplace in South Africa and it is on the rise. While many people have been given homes, water, and electricity, there are just not enough jobs to go around…especially in the farming areas where most jobs are seasonal. Add to this the uncontrolled influx of non-South Africans and the explosive population growth in areas where water is already scarce and you can only imagine where this is all heading.

But I digress…the security measure. Our home has a wall facing a farm road and, while it is a rather high wall, people have been known to scale them in the past to secure anything that may have a black market value…like copper pipes. Most folks have opted for razor wire or an electric fence, but I really don’t think living in a prison-like structure is conducive to happy living. So, we resorted to a natural deterrent…cacti. This soon became a hobby of ours and now we have a growing collection of the prickly beauties. Every time we work with them we are reminded of our Lord’s amazing creative genius. The added benefit is that this helps us unwind after our trips and trainings. Louise is exploring the possibility of making our own pots now as well!

 Jesus’ disciple making method, the method we teach, shows us that He first addressed the masses…teaching them, healing them, driving out demons. We call this the “cast wide” period of His ministry. But soon we find Him “narrowing down” as He selects specific men and women to participate in what He was doing (12 men to represent the 12 tribes, and a group of women who accompanied them and supported the ministry). From about halfway through the Gospels, Jesus begins to spend more and more time with this smaller group. However, He also begins to “go deep” with only three…only Peter, James, and John are with Him when He heals Jairus’ daughter, is transfigured on a mountain and has a tête-à-tête with Moses and Elijah, and when He is in crisis in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Louise and I have been “casting wide” for two and half years now, in Mozambique, Swaziland, Namibia, various parts of South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia. We have also begun to narrow down with a few responisve clergy and follow-up with them via email, WhatsApp and Zoom. This has been a very positive experience and, I dare to say, we have grown as much as the brethren we train. I am sure we will still do many more of these cast wide trainings, but we believe the Lord is wanting us to go deep with a few key people. While one can narrow down long distance using social media, I really don’t think one can go deep without walking alongside people in their lives as they live them.

We have been involved in our local Anglican church ever since we moved to Villiersdorp, but only when we were available. We have a Bible Study in our home on Tuesday evenings as well. But recently, we have begun to get involved with more and more local people. The most exciting developing relationship is one with a local farmer who has a group of young Xhosa men he meets with on a regular basis. He has taken them through Alpha, but was wondering if we could begin to train them as disciple makers. This may mean fewer long range trips in the future, but who knows where this could lead? Jesus poured His life into a few and look what they did!

We have been trying to train folks in the Pretoria Diocese for over two years, and this dream became reality this month. Their Bishop made attendance compulsory, so we had most of their clergy in training. Then we trained a few how to train others. That weekend, these freshly trained clergy trained representatives of their own laity. How amazing is that? We are looking forward to furthering our relationship with this Diocese in the future as we take them through each of the four modules.

Bishop Mouneer has asked us to train the Gambellan clergy in basic biblical knowledge. We are praying about when to do this, but it is likely that this will happen in June coinciding with the St Frumentius’ College graduation.

Personally, things are going well. I am the healtheist I have been in a long time, praise God! Probably all the gardening! Louise is loving her correspondence biblical studies through GWC. The Queen has moved into the Nursing Home and is happy. Our children and grandchildren are doing well.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We are so grateful to each one who prays for us and supports us financially and otherwise. Our SAMS account could be better, but then again it could be worse. The Lord knows our needs and we leave that in His hands. Bless you and thank you.

All our love

Johann and Louise