Completing One Chapter...Beginning a New Chapter

January 21, 2012

Completing One Chapter...Beginning a New Chapter

In November 2010 I began an internship at Paarl Valley Baptist Church in Paarl, South Africa. My internship gave me the opportunity to preach on Sunday mornings, teach at the Thursday night Bible studies and learn how to counsel or disciple people through observing my mentor, Dr. Marc S. Blackwell, Sr. I also continued to study through the Church Ministries Institute to work toward completing a Theology degree.

Paarl Vallei Baptiste Gemeente

Michelle was a great encouragement to me and assisted me by being a part of the music ministry at Paarl Valley Baptist Church. She has thoroughly enjoyed starting the children's choir and watching the children learn how to serve the Lord through their singing. She was given a few opportunities to speak to the ladies from God's Word. She was also able to share the gospel at a baby shower held for a lady in our church that was attended by many that did not know the Lord as their Savior.

Michelle at Bronwyn's Baby Shower

We can't believe one chapter of our lives has come to an end but we look forward to beginning a new chapter. We start ministering for the Lord at Swartland Baptiste Gemeente in Malmesbury, South Africa from January 2012.

I will continue to assist our colleagues by preaching on Sunday mornings and leading the Wednesday night Bible studies. We will be leading the junior youth, assisting in Sunday school and visiting the families in the church so that we can get to know them better.

We are so thankful for what the Lord has done in our lives and in the lives of the people in Paarl and we look forward to seeing how the Lord will use us for His glory in the town of Malmesbury this year. Please pray that we'll see many come to know Christ as their Savior. We thank all of our readers for praying for our family as we minister together.

Comments

Deon's Testimony

I was born in Boksburg, South Africa, and lived in Benoni and Roodepoort during my childhood and teenage years. I grew up hearing the gospel from my Dad. At the age of twelve, I realized I was a sinner and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin believing that He died for me and rose again so that I might have eternal life through Him. (John 3:16;Romans 10:9-10) Four years later in obedience to God's Word, I was baptized. During my high school years, I observed and assisted my dad and other men from our church in providing support at a local informal settlement in Johannesburg. Through this opportunity and upon meeting my wife and seeing her desire to serve the Lord I began to consider studying for the ministry. Shortly after Michelle and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary we moved to Cape Town so that I could study through the Church Ministries Institute. The Lord taught me so much during those years of studies and as I worked towards and completed a Theology degree. After completing an internship with Paarl Valley Baptist Church we attended the mission agency, Biblical Ministries Worldwide's candidate class. We have served with them for twelve years in Cape Town, South Africa. We have recently completed our church-planting efforts in Cape Town and have sought the Lord's Will for our future. We believe He is leading us to Australia. We covet your prayers as we make these new and exciting changes to our ministry.

Michelle's Testimony

I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and grew up in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa. I grew up as a missionary kid, witnessing my parents' dedication to serving the Lord and hearing them share the gospel with many people. Through their testimony and a Sunday school lesson from John 3:16-17 I realized that I needed to accept Christ as my Savior. At the age of nine, I prayed and asked the Lord to forgive me of my sin, and a year later in obedience to God's Word, I was baptized. My parents included my brothers and me in their church planting efforts. They allowed me at the age of twelve to teach Sunday school and since that year my desire has been to serve the Lord with my life. After high school, I attended the Church Ministries Institute. Upon completing my degree, I worked as a short-term missionary, assisting church planters and teaching at a Christian school in Cape Town. The Lord brought Deon into my life and has blessed us with three children. During the past twelve years, our family has been blessed to serve the Lord among various people groups in South Africa. We are now starting a new journey and look forward to joining teammates in Australia to continue our ministry.