2012 Easter Weekend

During April, the Zion Evangelical Bible Schools are normally on break due to the Easter season.  This is the time of year when many of the branches of amaZioni churches come together for a weekend of events.  For us missionaries to the amaZioni people, this presents a great open door to visit with some of the churches, to preach and share about the Bible Schools.  During this weekend we were very happy to have Pastor Mike McDowell, the missions pastor at Christ Community Church and Executive Director of ZEMA, come to visit with us and the Goosen family.  It was an exciting weekend packed with visiting church services.  Below is a slide show of some pictures taken during a few of the church visits and a video of a sermon I was able to give in Xhosa based on Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus found in John chapter 3.  This weekend was the first time I have given a sermon in Xhosa.  I give God all the glory for helping me.  As believers say in Xhosa, “UThixo uyasinceda” (God is helping us).

Easter Slideshow

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Xhosa Sermon

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Click here to view the 2012 April Prayer Calendar

Click here to view the 2012 May Prayer Calendar

It’s Our Pleasure To Introduce To You…

Mr. and Mrs. Jilingesi

This month, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jilingesi to you.  They are a wonderful example of how the Lord is working here among the amaZioni.

We first met Mr. Jilingesi last April.  He regularly attended one of the This We Believe classes taught by Rev. Goosen, a fellow ZEMA missionary.  Since then Mr. Jilingesi has participated in other This We Believe classes just to be refreshed!  In fact, he and his wife both attended the most recent set of classes held in Mdantsane.   Mr. Jilingesi is also a student at the Mdanstane Zion Evangelical Bible School, ZEBS.

We are glad to tell you that they have not only been attending the classes, but have been listening carefully and looking to make applications in their lives.  For example, in response to the lesson on the great commission, they have organized a Bible study that meets on Wednesday evenings which they get to by foot.  Along with this one, they are looking to organize another Bible study that will meet on some Saturdays.  Mr. Jilingesi loves to speak about Matthew 28:19 where Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations.

Just the other day I transported Mr. Jilingesi to his employer’s house where he works as a gardener.  He needed my help to collect a bicycle that was being given to him.  He is hoping to use the bicycle to better get around to the places he wishes to teach God’s word.

Pray for them as they grow in their knowledge and understanding of God’s word and for safety as they travel to share the gospel.

Click here to view the March 2012 Prayer Calendar

Welcome 2012!

A new year of Zion Evangelical Bible Schools (ZEBS) has officially begun.  This past week, Bible school classes were held in Keiskammahoek, Peddie and Fort Beaufort.  It was great to see all of the students back for another year of studying God’s word together.  It was encouraging to hear from a second year student in the Peddie class how his understanding of God’s word is really starting to expand.  It was also very exciting to see the students at Keiskammahoek attending ZEBS for the very first time.  Below are some photos taken at the new school in Keiskammahoek.

A New ZEBS Begins at Keiskammahoek

Keiskammahoek Zion Evangelical Bible School

We are also happy to tell you that in the beginning of the month we had a great ZEMA missionary conference at Sunbury Christian Camp.  It is so encouraging to see all the fellow ZEMA missionaries and to be able to hear what God is doing among the amaZioni throughout southern Africa.

2012 Annual ZEMA Missionary Conference at Sunbury

Click here to see ministry events happening next month:  February Prayer Calendar 

Click here to see our  December 2011 Newsletter

ZEFA Conference 2011

Continue to Pray for Our Family

Last Saturday, ZEMA hosted the annual conference for Zion Evangelical Fellowship of Africa, also known as ZEFA.  The purpose of ZEFA is to provide fellowship and accountability for Christian amaZioni.  There are over 6,000 separate amaZioni churches in South Africa alone and ZEFA aims to unite those who are accepting the truth of God’s word.  To join ZEFA, the leader of the church must complete either one year of ZEBS or a thourough course on Bible doctrine called “This We Believe.”  Along with this, each leader is interviewed by the ZEFA executive committee where their understanding of salvation through faith in Christ alone can be examined.

View from Sondela, Conference Location

Missionary Richard Akers Leading the Business Meeting

The conference this year was held in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.  This is about three hours by car from where we are living.  It was a very positive time and God was definitely speaking through the preachers and teachers who shared God’s Word.  Something that greatly impacted me is the emerging quality of the African leaders who are helping teach at ZEMA’s Bible Schools and other ZEMA ministries.  We are seeing astonoshing fruit in the areas of Christian maturity in these people.  Robert Thunywashe is one example.  He started out working with fellow missionary, Richard Akers, several years ago and has also worked with a few others since then.  Mr. Thunywashe is not only teaching at ZEBS but is currently the President of ZEFA.  He is extremely sincere in his faith and concern for fellow believers and is soft spoken in his speech.  Not only are these fellow labourers very gifted teachers, they possess a genuine godliness that can only be traced back to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  God is working powerfully among the amaZioni, one person at a time.

Robert Thunywashe Speaking at the Conference

After one of  the times of preaching, five people (one woman and four men) accepted Christ as their Savior.  It is an incredible privilege to witness and report to you about how ETERNAL DESTINIES are being changed as a result of the preaching of the gospel here!  People are repenting of their sins and turning to the Lord.  Though much is being done among the amaZioni in three countries (South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique), so much more is yet to be done.  I encourage you to pray for this work among the amaZioni earnestly and daily.  Pray for all the missionary families that God would give us wisdom in daily decisions as the enemy is always trying to divide and prevent people from hearing God’s word.  Pray that we will be full of perseverance and continually growing in our walk with the Lord.  Pray also for the amaZioni, that all 15,000,000 would find Christ.

 

5 People Accept Christ as Their Savior

amaZioni Youth Conference

ZEMA’s Bible Schools and “This We Believe” Bible classes are continuing to go forward here in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.  These are two primary methods of ministry among the amaZioni.  Along with these, we have also seen the effectiveness of holding conferences focused on topics like leadership, marriage and youth. 

amaZioni Youth Conference ’11

amaZioni Youth Having Fun

 

 

 

 

 

The most recent conference we held was the Annual Youth Conference here in the Eastern Cape which took place June 18.  Here, many amaZioni youth met together in a town called Berlin.  The Bible study focused on the first couple chapters in the book of Romans and the youth were challenged to “Live for Christ.”

One highlight of this annual conference is the youth choir competition.  One important rule for the competition was that all songs must be Christ centered.  All of the choirs did a great job.   The whole event was a wonderful time of encouragement.  Click on the video below to see one of the amaZioni youth choirs.

amaZioni Choir

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Thank you for your continued prayers for us and ZEMA’s ministry among the amaZioni.

Click here to see our June Newsletter: June 2011

Easter Weekend Among the amaZioni

 

It is common for an amaZioni church to have many branches in different parts of the country, and the Easter weekend is a time when the different braches often attempt to meet together.  This creates a wonderful opportunity for ZEMA missionaries to meet many amaZioni leaders at one place when we are invited to attend these Easter services.  For example, one of the church services we and a fellow ZEMA missionary, Luaan Goosen,  attended had amaZioni people from twenty-two different locations. 

As a team, we were able to visit four different services in three days.  Over the weekend, we were able to share about the “This We Believe” classes and the Zion Evangelical Bible Schools (ZEBS), show the Jesus film, and begin building relationships.  While traveling, we were also able to see some beautiful scenery in the Eastern Cape.  Thank you for your prayers.  Hearts and lives are truly being changed as a result of hearing God’s powerful word.  To Him be all the glory!

Easter Sunday Service

 

Jesus Film – Easter Sunday

Traveling Saturday

Traveling Saturday

Luaan & amaZioni Leaders

amaZioni Good Friday Service

Good Friday – amaZioni Church

Wrapping-Up Our Time in Johannesburg

Lauren attended the Annual ZEMA/TEAM Ladies Missionary Retreat February 25-27.  It was a wonderful time to fellowship and study Psalm 23 together.  Altogether, 16 ladies met in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, for the weekend break.

Below are some pictures from the Zion Evangelical Bible Schools here in the Johannesburg area.  We really enjoyed seeing all of the locations and meeting the students.  We are very thankful for the time we were able to spend here and for all the help from fellow missionaries in getting us settled.

We are now getting prepared to move to King William’s Town on Friday, April 1^st.  Pray for travelling mercies as this will be about a 12 hour trip by car.  We are very excited to learn more about and join the ministry there.  

Thank you again for all of your prayers, which are greatly helping us and ZEMA’s ministry of making disciples among the amaZioni people. 

Click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.