BERGVILLE MISSION TRIP

MARCH 2011

Foe eight days in early March Macedonian Ministries facilitated a short term mission trip to the above region. We were the guests of the ROOKDALE congregation. Pastor Thomas Hlongwane was our host.

The team consisted of nine students and two staff members from the Baptist Theological College [Johannesburg], Andy Peckham and Vernon Schmidt of Mac. Min., Pastor Thomas and his wife Lena, Pastor Joseph Kubeka and Mally and myself.

A typical day looked like this:-
7.30am Leave for evangelistic outreach at four different schools.
8.30am Breakfast
9.30am Devotions from Romans 1- 3
10.30am Evangelistic visitation in homes of the local community
1.30pm Lunch
3-5.00pm Children’s outreach/Bible school.
6.00pm Evening school of the Bible for members of the Rookdale Church and other Christians from the community


SCHOOL MEETINGS
We were privileged to have five schools in the area invite us to minister to their students at the outset of each school day. This offered teams time to share in song, testimony and preaching of the Word of God. Overall, these opportunities were blessed times of presenting Christ as the only true Savior and revealed a desire on the part of some students to seek the Lord in Salvation. Thank you Jesus.





EVANGELISM IN THE HOMES
This is always a most inspirational ministry among rural people. Their spontaneous hospitality coupled with openness to listen/reason/discuss the Christian Gospel makes each visit most worthwhile. Many wonderful memories of these engagements with people representing a vast variety of religious beliefs like Animism, Syncretism, and other interaction with cults like witchcraft.
Most team members find these encounters very stimulating, sometimes calling for a re-examination of their own theological convictions and what they are based on.
The ultimate blessing is enjoyed when some of these households request spiritual guidance, ask for prayer, even seek Christ in Salvation.



When a household revealed obvious poverty we were doubly blessed to be able to return with food parcels and gifts of clothing.

The households which tugged our hearts the most were those where family members were suffering from HIV/AIDS and other diseases or where the home was occupied by a sibling family, usually due to the death of both parents by HIV/AIDS.


When these visits resulted in days of restlessness and nights of sleeplessness as we struggled to come to terms with the immensity of the need, we were thankfully comforted by the knowledge that we had at least done what Jesus would do……we had shown Christian compassion and had pointed these dear people to the "Great Shepherd of the Sheep."




CHILDRENS OUTREACH

Always a highlight of any mission trip. Bergville was no different. About 250/300 attended each afternoon……sometimes in the cold. This was the perfect opportunity for us to pick out the children who were inadequately dressed for the cold weather. Each of them received a new woolen jersey, lovingly knitted by a group of senior ladies from the Scottsville Baptist Church in Pietermaritzburg.

The daily program included Games, Scripture memory, Bible stories, Craft activities and preaching of The Word.

When opportunity was given for these children to consider seeking Christ as their Eternal Savior many indicated their desire for help. This is always a most blessed moment for any Christian ministering the Gospel. Team members found great meaning in leading these children in receiving the Gift of Eternal Salvation. Thank you Jesus.


EVENING SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE
Each evening fundamental, foundational themes for church health were taught from the scriptures. Prayer, church membership, Tithing, assurance of salvation, were some of the subjects covered. It was most rewarding to see believers come night after night with a hunger to feed on the sincere meat of the Word.




TEAM DEVOTIONS
I had the privileged joy of leading the team in a study of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.
This exposition over the time we were together focused on the following subjects:-

1. Introduction, Authorship, Background to the Book of Romans
2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only Power of Salvation (Romans 1)
3. God’s wrath against Sin (Romans 2)
4. Judgment against Sin (Romans 3)

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

• Special appreciation needs to be expressed to our hosts and the church at Rookdale. Thank you very much.





• Sincere thanks to the team members….you were a blessing to the community.





• Thanks to those who contributed to the resources needed for this mission trip….without your giving this ministry would not have happened.





• To our faithful prayer warriors around the world…..without this empowerment nothing would have been achieved for the eternal kingdom….thank you.
  

TO OUR KING JESUS, MUST GO ALL THE PRAISE AND GLORY, FOR IT IS ONLY THROUGH HIS GREAT NAME THAT ANY ADVANCEMENT IS EVER MADE IN THE EXTENSION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

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