16 November 2010

The year started off quite difficult for us here in the Lowveld, the news that one of our elders, Julian Fisher & his family were being transferred to the UK finally came about.  Although we knew it was coming, it was still quite a wrench to see this wonderful godly couple leave our church.  But as in all things the Lord is in control and as He led them away to pastures new, so He led in other people to take their place, and who have settled in very well with us.

Like most churches today our growth has been slow, we have had people come in and stay for two or three weeks but then leave and not return.  We have also had several outreaches in the area but that too is becoming more difficult as the “man’s home is his castle” is being taken more literally these days with the prevalence of crime.  Homes that were once accessible by walking up the garden path have now been replaced with high walls, electric fences and fierce dogs; there are no longer letter boxes but post office boxes, and the days when you could speak over the garden fence or speak to people on the street now seem to be over in South Africa.  Because of this there is a dying generation out there who have not heard the gospel & who are living in ignorance.

However, we have had one new addition to our church as the Lord graciously brought De Jong Schreuder in the world through his parents Hugo & Gitte.  This was a joyous occasion for all of us at Grace. 

Every second Sunday of the month throughout the year we have fellowship meals after the morning service and these occasions are always enjoyed and ‘fed up’.  It is a chance to socialise with each other and to invite others to the church.  We will also be having our year end fellowship braai on the 27 November where again we all get together for the afternoon of fellowship and food.

On the 20 November I will be conducting our first marriage ceremony in the church and this too will be wonderful time of celebration & blessing from the Lord; please pray for Julian and Maureen on this day. 

On the personal front, going to Zimbabwe to the Sola 5 conference was one of the highlights of my year and is something I will not forget soon (apart from the fact that nine of us spent almost 24 hrs each way in a combi, but the fellowship was good and was worth the stiff necks and aching backs).  We hear so much about what is going on in that country so it was good to see first hand what was actually happening there and to be able to speak to some of the pastors and people who live there and find out there prayer requests.

In May I taught Elementary Hebrew to the students at the Bible Training College in Barbeton, & in October I was also asked to teach Elementary Greek.  These occasions were wonderful to behold as I saw the students struggle with these new concepts & languages but then appreciate them and enjoy them.

As a small church it is often difficult to begin and maintain certain ministries, and one of them for us has been to try and establish a youth ministry.  We have a young man who is eager and willing too run this group but at the moment we only have three youth and so trying to get them all together to meet is becoming somewhat of a problem, if one is missing one week then next week it’s someone else.  So please keep this group in your prayers that the Lord will work in them and through them to bring in others as well.

Other prayer items:

• That the Lord would be gracious to grow His church here at Grace.
• That He would continue to build up the people within the church in grace, spirit and truth.
• Please pray that the Lord would open physical and spiritual doors for the lost generation who are living in castles all over South Africa. 

Steve Whitaker