Memories Then, Memories Now

This past Christmas Day Michelle, Ruan, Jesse & I celebrated Christ’s birth by being with family. Many missionaries across the world would normally leave their families to go to a foreign mission field to serve the Lord. We, the van Rensburgs, are a unique family: Michelle’s family, her parents and two brothers and their families are all church planters here in South Africa and well, my family are South Africans! This year we were privileged to enjoy Christmas with Michelle’s family on Christmas Eve and my family on Christmas Day.

Oupa Jan and Jesse
Meeting for the First Time
on Christmas Day!

One of the most memorable moments this Christmas was a gift Michelle received from her parents. This special gift was in the form of a book that included all of her parent’s prayer letters. These prayer letters had been written over the past forty years as they have served the Lord in Africa. We came before the Lord in prayer with thankful hearts for guiding Michelle’s parents to faithfully serve Him all these years. The Lord has truly blessed their efforts in serving Him. It is a blessing to know personally many of the souls who have been saved. Then, there are those pastors and leaders who were trained in God’s Word and that continue to faithfully serve the Lord to this day. We pray that we too will faithfully serve the Lord here in South Africa or where ever the Lord leads us in the future.

Oupa & Ruan
Playing with Oupa's Train

We are excited for my younger sister, Janet. She announced her engagement to Quintin Jacobs in December. It was great to be able to see them and congratulate them in person. We hope to attend their wedding this year in Johannesburg.

Janet & Quintin

We are now focusing on visiting thirteen churches here in South Africa as we continue our deputation ministry. Many of the churches are in the Gauteng Province but others are in Kwa-Zulu Natal, and the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces. We would appreciate your prayers that these churches will have open hearts towards our ministry of Church Planting in Malmesbury.  Please pray that they would join us in praying for our ministry and family, as well as supporting us financially.

We trust that each of our readers enjoyed the Christmas holidays, were able to find the time to reflect on the love the Lord has for each of us in sending His son to this earth so that we might have eternal life. Thank you for praying for us and please accept our thanks for your financial support and for your encouragement.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”