“THEY SENT THEM AWAY”

“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

Acts 13: 2-3

The Sunday before we left for South Africa our home church “sent us away” with a commissioning service. Every aspect of the service was a blessing to us. The God honoring music that was dedicated to us as a couple and sung by the Friendship Baptist Church Choir uplifted our hearts. Our pastor, Pastor Robert Vradenburgh, greatly encouraged us with a message from God’s Word specifically given to us as a couple. Our church family, Friendship Baptist Church’s love for us has been something we have never experienced before. We have greatly appreciated all that they have done for us. We will never forget that evening especially with it ending off with the “holding of the ropes” and praying together as a church family for the ministry the Lord has called us to do. We would like to thank Pastor Vradenburgh, the deacons and the congregation of Friendship Baptist Church for the spiritually uplifting commission service!

Laying on of Hands -
Praying for Deon and
 his call to the ministry

 We arrived back to Cape Town, South Africa on September 22. We are thankful to the Lord for giving us safety as we traveled especially for Michelle and our baby boy due to be born in November. We enjoyed our first Sunday back home with our “Church Planting Ministry,” the Swartland Baptiste Gemeente. It was wonderful to see how the church has grown and how the Lord has blessed in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ while we were away. We were also privileged to see Michelle’s brother, Michael, and his family for the first time in two years. We look forward to continue ministering with them here in the Western Cape. I was also able to see my Mom & sister, Lydia, who were on vacation here in Cape Town from Johannesburg and enjoyed hearing how my family has been in the last five months since I had last seen them. We are now searching for a home to live in during the next year and hope to find one before the baby arrives as well as preparing ourselves to continue serving the Lord in the town of Malmesbury.

We would like to thank all of our family and friends in the United States for your love and encouragement while we were on deputation. Please continue to pray for us as we serve the Lord in SOUTH AFRICA!