News & Appeal letter

Dear Brothers & Sisters Greeting! In his Grace and Love! At this time of the year we see it is appropriate to give thanks to the Lord God who has loved us so dearly by giving us brothers and sisters like you. We have come a very long way since we have started the journey of academics – seeking to understand the will and who He is (Ps. 65 & 66). We want to give thanks to the Lord in your behalf because you have taken such an initiative to look after us as a family in many ways. There were times that I have personally as a father did not think I will be able to provide for my family but, God made it possible through you to do so – who can ever imagine. As you know it has been a long work for me and Winnie – especially, as we have faced so many challenges and still have to face them as we live and seek our godliness as parent to our three ‘bambinos’. They themselves have gone through tough time as two of them – Lukhona & Yakhanani with their health challenges. Which recently we have celebrated Yakhanani’s 5th birthday on the 29/10/08 and soon to follow is Amzolele’s 7th one, on the 25/11/08, and before that we are celebrating our 8th anniversary in marriage with Winnie, and also upcoming is her 31st birthday and which she never really had a birthday and never really celebrated her years in marriage. Another edition to all these celebrations is my graduation an advanced certificate in theology which is a good foundation for further self studies that I can be involved with during my life time onwards. Prior to all of this we have no idea what are we to do next year and above all where are we to find a job that will keep me growing in understanding the Bible as the word of the Lord. Because pursuing such training was to be part of full time workers in ministry but because of trials and hardships that were for us gone through them, I am forced to search other ways of gaining such knowledge – which is fulltime study is seen not fitting with our life realities at present. In my thinking and talking with Winnie, we know that full time job and ministry for me did not work before and we are not convinced it will now. And we strived to look at other options and there were sum to consider. Firstly is to find sufficient monthly income and work as a home missionary with Muizenberg Community Church – giving help with administration which is one most of the positions which have no person to fill it in as the church is new and have no sufficient funds to run or to employ a fulltime person. And parallel with that we would be focused in planting a church in our local township which the work will be overseen by Rev. Brian Koela (and his team) who is giving pastoral care at MCC. This way we would be able to do the work that we believe the Lord gas called us for. Which I would like to partner with as leader and a father figure in ministry minded people and he needs extra hands in terms of administration and dear brothers and sisters he is in need. Secondly we have thought of starting a social development ministry which is more focused on children in light to reach the parent. This is by starting a home work club during the week and in the weekend the n run a Bible club parallel with the soup kitchen, as it is in our township there are many children who are neglected and end up selling drugs for the drug dealers. This is a great vision as it looking on protecting little lives that may end up in all sorts of wrong doings in life with no education and mostly no Jesus as Lord in their hearts. And in this project we will be working with Rev. Andrew and Nicole Barnes who are also working in a similar township which is few kilometres away from ours. Thirdly is to use sports as the way of communicating ‘the Gospel’ to the youth and be able to reach out to them and listen to their personal issues that make them think taking drugs or joining gangs or teenage pregnancy are the only beauties of life - and with organising tournaments with other sports ministries around the Cape, and other provinces, and many other relevant things for the youth to engage with, for a life time development. All these are life time changing ministries or opportunities for our community and also many young lives, is a way forward to initiate local missionaries work and promote inland missions. And it is also very easy to engage to any of these especially when someone is single with no dependents – some may know how it is when you are single and when you are married with children when it comes to ministry. So far we are praying and we are asking you to pray with us as we seek a faithful and Christ like way of God’s will on how to do ether of the mentioned ministries. Prior to all this I have not ceased looking for a fulltime job as it is crucial to do so with hopes that some of the two will work according to the Lord’s will. Dear brothers and sisters it is our conviction that the Lord has called us to some sort of ministry and which he has convinced us in many ways. And what is exactly we want to say to you is: As from the beginning you were and still are convinced of the Lord’s will in us you have trusted that the Lord is with us. Yes, he is and we are willing to serve under his wings of hope and righteousness. We appeal to you to continue with you fulltime faithfulness and send us as local missionaries within our own community and serve the Lord our God as he in delaying his coming as salvation to many: 2Peter 3:8-15a; 8But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10but the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13but, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. This is one of the reasons that we as a family come to the Lord on your behalf and appeal to you of your generosity and willingness to see the ‘the Word’ explained and reaching the world. “We take this OATH in the NAME of the LORD our GOD and present our selves faithful and trustworthy before him and you that we will sacrifice our lives and bodies as a living sacrifice for the will to make his Name known in the world. As I have mentioned above that we would not be alone in this there are people who will be countable tome and me to them, Brian & Andrew. With whom I share the same vision about our local areas and they are contactable for further assurance. May the Lord guide you in your prayers as you make such a commitment and that your prayers with us are the most first gift you can give us as we seek the Lords help. And prior to your love and friendship there will be newsletters of work evaluation from all the liable parties – McDonald & Winnie (and the kiddos); Rev. Brian Koela as my home church minister and trainer in terms of word expository and accountability partner in terms of faithfulness to the Lord and to you as providers of our living allowance and with wise influence and Rev. Andrew Barnes as a trainer in terms of inland missions work and accountability partner in terms of faithfulness to the Lord and to you as providers of our living allowance and with wise influence. We hope that all it is well with your souls and that as we have vowed and taken that oath in now and forever we will stand not on our own feet but on his as he is our refuge. References: 1. Rev. B. Koela Cell: 078 569 4350 Tel: 021 788 6081 E-mail: bkoela@xsinet.co.za 2. Rev. A. Barnes Cell: 084 389 1575 E-mail: nicolebarnes@telkomsa.net 3. Rev./Dr. J.B. Krohn Tell: 021 783 1780 E-mail: krohn@networld.co.za