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|| Newsletter Archive ||
March – April 2007
Dear Partners In Ministry,
Afraid to be baptized? Maybe you would be too if you thought a snake might join you in the tank! We had 7 baptized recently, but not in the Apies River due to the honest fear of the “noha” (large snakes) that the villagers say meander the quiet waters. Instead, we invited the church over to our house and used our chlorinated pool. Not nearly as adventurous J, but sometimes it is wise to not be too indigenous-minded. A couple Sundays after the baptism, while Dan and Nancy Bjokne were here visiting and ministering, we had a record attendance in church of 101 followed by the next week of 94. That was a bit unusual, as our attendance averages between 55 and 60 weekly, but if God sends us more we sure aren’t going to complain. Each number is a person and each person has a soul that will live eternally, a soul of unparalleled earthly value.
One Sunday, this past month, we put up two sheets Sarah had sewn together and hung them from one of the houses in a neighboring village. We had about 65 attend - nearly the entire village - and we showed them the Jesus film in Pedi. We had “interesting” times with drunken people walking in front of the screen, and we had to pray that the rain clouds over and around us would hold off their store (which they did), and at the end of the day many said they would be at church the following Sunday. God seems to be blessing Kopano Baptist Church!
We are reminded over and over of the partnerships we share with so many of you. Besides the regular support we receive, we have other gifts that are assisting in ministry. We could not have shown the Jesus film without a generator donated us from a supporting church and a video projector given to us by an individual family while on furlough. We have chairs at church and electrical lights - now four that work instead of just one - with the help of a supporting church in Japan and the visiting electrical expertise of Pastor Craig Muri from another supporting church. The Sunday school materials we rummaged from your missions closets while on furlough are being used by the churches, and we have been giving a children’s talk with the story materials at our church each Sunday. We have audio speakers that are waiting for us to pick up in town because of the giving of a supporting church in Minnesota. The computer I am using to write this letter to you with was a gift from a family while visiting in the states (given literally on my way out the door to the airport), and I ordered a picnic table today that will be used under the lapa by teams and individuals who will be coming this summer - a gift from family. We even had a family team come in March for 10 days that had been given money from their church to tile our front entryway and dining area. They also painted five rooms and made a carpet ball table out of spare lumber that has received much use since they left. Two days after their departure, the Graham family came to join us for 10 days ministering in Opperman (helping Pastor Nicholas restart an income generating grocery store), ministering at Kopano Baptist (where we had another record attendance - 114!), and speaking at the African Easter Conference in Soutpan. This is Pastor Graham’s second ministry trip here in South Africa with us, and he has been used of God to build some vital relationships with area pastors and ministries. When we say, “Dear Partners In Ministry”, we are truly blessed by so many partnerships and feel we are truly extending the ministries of supporting local churches in this southern part of Africa.
A Word From Caleb:
“I just got done with my school work and now have to take my Stanford Achievement Test. I am trying to read through my entire Bible this year and so far am pretty much on schedule. Four weeks ago I got baptized with 3 other African men and 3 African ladies. I wish there were snow here, but that it could stay warm so we could still go swimming. My cousin, uncle and two aunts, came to visit us. Bye for now, Caleb”
So far we have three college students venturing into Mozambique this winter (your summer), and there is room for more to join. The dates for our official college trip into Mozambique are July 17th through July 30th. If you are a college aged young adult interested in seeing and tasting and touching third world missions firsthand, why not contact us for more information. Maybe this summer will have you wintering and ministering in Mozambique!
Serving the King with Gladness,
Kevin, Sarah, Ben, Nathan, Caleb, Luke, Cortney, Jacob, & Josiah
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African Churches Rooted and Built up in Him. - Col. 2:6,7
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