Portraits of the New Ministry

Pastor Jeff, Robbin & I at Howick Falls,PMG

I am now serving with 

Pastor Jeff & Robbin Demarest.

Some of you have asked if I have moved.

No, our church is in Hillcrest,

which is only a 5 minute drive from my house.

We minister to people in Hillcrest and the surrounding areas.

Village Bible Baptist Church, Hillcrest South Africa.

I love our church!

It is just a taste of what Heaven will be like 

with so many people from all over the world.

Our church is made up of: 

South Africans (Afrikaans, English,...),

Zulu,

people from the UK,

others from Tanzania & Congo,

Americans,....

We have a wonderful group of faithful attenders.

Everyone seems hungry & tender to the Word of God.

My first Sunday Service at VBBC.

As you can see,

I am playing piano for services.

It has been a very humbling experience.

I like to do the very best at everything,

but piano playing is not one of my talents.

On my very first Sunday,

Pastor Jeff asked me to share my testimony with the church people.

That evening, We also viewed my missionary presentation.

It was a great blessing to share with them 

what the Lord has done in my life 

and how He has led me here to work in the ministry.

Vanessa & I with out SS & Junior church kids.

On Sunday mornings,

Vanessa, her husband (Peter) & I tag-team-teach the children.

Peter D. teaching the older SS class

Vanessa teaching the younger SS class

Me teaching Junior Church

Since these photos were taken,

the class has outgrown our room.

We now meet in a larger classroom.

Please pray for us as we teach these children the Word of God.

It is sometimes difficult to know how much they have really understood.

The Zulu children understand alot of English, 

but there is still a bit of a language barrier.

I try to shorten this barrier with my limited knowledge of Zulu.

Hopefully, as time goes by they will understand more 

and I will be able to say more in their language.

There are many more ministries I am a part of in this new work, but for now I will just leave you with a few pictures of our church people.

Me, Basil & Jean, Janine

Kirsten and her mom, Janine

Basil & Jeane (husband & wife) 

Pastor (USA), Peter N.(Tanzanian), Mfana (Zulu), Gabriel (Congo), & Basil (UK)

Les, Pastor Jeff, & Peter N.

Peter & Vanessa D.

Shannon, Michele (Vanessa's sister), Vanessa, Jessica & Juliane (Vanessa & Peter D.'s girls)

Please pray for each of us at Village Bible Baptist

(even those who I didn't get a picture of).

Pray for us as we grow and serve the Lord together.

DAY#3 Abambo VBS - June 27, 2013

The last day of VBS at Abambo was a cold and rainy one.

The faithful workers gathered up all of the goodies 

we have been collecting for the children

and filled small bags for them to take home at the end of the day.

Each bag contained-

a New Testament,

an orange,

and lots of sweets!

(thanks to Emily, her boss, Janine &Les, Heather, & Jean,...)

A gift for each child on the last day.

With the weather being so cold,

we wondered how many would really come today.

Then they started showing up,

dressed for Winter weather

and carrying their umbrellas.

Had to take a picture of this little girl. She was so cute!

A little while after a few kids had gathered,

I was working in the other room and heard the children start singing.

I peeked around the corner to see this-

Peter N. was leading the singing!

Peter N. leading some songs.

Although the early morning group was small,

he had them singing nice and loud, all together.

Peter N. did such a great job and the kids loved him!

Bible Lesson -

Today during the Bible lesson Pastor Jeff blindfolded a boy.

He walked around the room

calling to the boy and asking him to come toward his voice.

He even went outside once to see if the boy could find him.

We can't find our own way without Christ!

Then Pastor Jeff had the kids close their eyes.

They could not see and needed someone to guide them.

Just like we need the Bible to guide us!

To get the children ready for the lesson,

Pastor Jeff & Blessing lead them in "Thula Wazi Nginguthixo"

("Be Still and Know")

This was the best they have done all week!

Our lesson today was about the Samaritan woman.

Jesus explained to her that He is the Living Water.

Listen to the children saying our memory verse - John 3:16

During the invitation, a bunch of children responded to the Gospel.

Pastor Jeff had me & Blessing take the girls out to talk with about salvation.

There were 8 girls who came with us.

Sadly, I didn't get a picture.

We worked with them first as a group and then one-on-one.

They each thought that they had been saved before, but now they were not sure.

We prayed with all 8 of them for reassurance of salvation.

This is why we are so burdened to plant a church in this area.

Many do not understand salvation or may believe in the ancestors & God.

They need a pastor to teach and lead them in the Truth.

Please pray with us about this need.

Pastor Jeff & Sam lead 5 boys to Christ on Thursday.

Pastor Jeff and Sam had 8 boys who responded to the invitation.

3 boys received assurance of salvation

and 5 boys were saved!

Craft Time -

Because of the rain, we decided to divide the kids into 2 groups

 to do some crafts with them.

The older children decorated cups.

Each cup had a water proof label on it with the day's verse - John 3:16 in Zulu.

Even Sam got into the craft.

As you can see, they had lots of fun.

I was pleased to see that they wrote things about God on their cups-

"I love you God."

"You are my Lord."

The little children were busy coloring a Bible picture in the other room.

Special Prizes -

These children said all of their memory verses.

 We awarded each of the children who said all of their memory verses 

with a 50cm long bubble gum rope.

Pastor Jeff handing a new Bible to each of the kids who were saved.

 Each of the children who were saved this week got a new Bible of their very own.

(Sorry, I took this picture with only the kids that were saved from Wednesday.)

Kids saved on Wednesday receive their very own Bible.

Now it is time for the kids to be dismissed.

They all lined up...

...and walked out the door...

 ...to receive a New Testament & treats.

We are so happy with all that the Lord has done 

in the lives of the children in Abambo this week.

A great big THANK YOU to everyone who

prayed;

gave of their time in preparation, teaching, interpreting, gametime;

gave of their finances for supplies & goodies for the kids;

made, bought, or brought snacks;

helped to clean the facilities;

poured juice;

took photos;

kept the children quiet and still (even that bad little boy);

even though you could not come to help

you prayed & encouraged those who were able to be there;

stayed home to do work so her husband could come;

stamped tracts;

kept the goats and village dogs from eating our snacks;

killed the big spiders,...

Every person is important and needed.

We could not have had such a great week 

if it wasn't for everyone behind the scenes.

This is not the end of the Lord's work in Abambo,

this is only the beginning!!!

DAY #2- Abambo VBS June 26, 2013

This morning, it was cooler than yesterday.

The children were slow to come in,

but we did have a final attendance of 78.

Memorizing Verses-

Kirsten helping Jordan

Peter N. helping Lorenzo

Me & the kids

Pastor Jeff & Wandisa

Sam & a little girl 

Song time - 

Bible Lesson-

Pastor Jeff teaches the Bible Lesson

Our lesson today was about Jesus calming the storm.

Pastor Jeff shows the children what faith is, in the video below.

After the Bible lesson,

6 kids came forward to receive Christ.

It was so exciting!

God's timing was so perfect, because we were low on interpreters that day

and my friend, Londiwe, was there to visit.

Me & Londiwe

We never expected we would need her help.

She had called me to tell me that she had a day off 

and wanted to spend time with me.

I told her about the VBS and asked her to get permission from her pastor to visit.

God had brought her here to be used by Him.

Londiwe & I talking with the 6 kids about salvation.

Londiwe had never expected that we would be leading 6 children to the Lord!

I love how God works things out!

6 kids saved!

We praise the Lord for these 6 kids being saved.

Two of these kids have been coming faithfully to Junior church.

God has been planting and watering the seed and now they have accepted Him.

These two ladies came every day!

Game Time-

Follow Peter D, he's the leader!

Pastor Jeff gave every child a coloring page to bring back.

They colored their papers so nicely!

These children said all of thier memory verses already!

We were so excited to have this many children say all of their Bible verses!

I wonder how many more will finish their's tomorrow?

We finished our day with the continued story of Ringu.

I love teaching the missionary story 

because you can stop at the most exciting part.

A tiger was ready to pounce on Ringu and some hunters.

They could not wait to see what might happen next.

You come back tomorrow too and find out what else the Lord does 

to finish out our first VBS in Abambo.