(Picture: Steve & Pat Zimmerman)It’s a cold, windy and wet winter. Not that we have room to complain! For the past few years, during the long summer months, there have been strict water restrictions. So God has blessed the Western Cape with plenty of badly needed water, filling up all the dams and piles of snow on the eastern mountain peaks!
“May the Lord bless you!” This is a typical greeting among our African brethren. It always reminds me of Paul’s greetings in his letters, “Grace and peace!”
Cape Bible Seminary
The classes in various part of the city are continuing with increasing pace. It seems that every time I turn around, more groups and churches want solid Biblical instruction. By agreement, I have suspended the Wednesday evening studies in Mitchell’s Plain in order to accommodate a new congregation.
It is the policy of the CBS to teach, train and equip Christians to participate in their own ministries. Many Christians, although dedicated and willing, do not know how to serve their Lord effectively. They attend the services and enjoy the preaching – that is about the extent of their participation.
Ntobie and I teach by invitation to those who want to use their talents and abilities to evangelize and serve people in need. So far, our efforts have been effective and, in some cases, substantial.
Thompson Ntobie is 84 this year. As much as I have tried to advise him to do more translation and teaching work in Cape Town, he is like a Paul of the New Testament. There is nothing more satisfying to him than to go into new areas and preach Christ.
My goal is to replace him (and me, too, for that matter) with dedicated young Christian men and women. In 2008, Ntobie and I have agreed to concentrate on a few willing Christians for this very task. There are currently three who have volunteered for training and teaching. We ask for your prayers for them as I see this as a vital task, both for them and for Ntobie and I.
Evangelism
Two new congregations have made contact. Initially these invitations are for a Sunday worship service for preaching and perhaps a class. All make contact by word of mouth, usually through a Cape Bible Seminary student.
Bro Phillips lives and works in Mossel Bay, about four hours east of Cape Town on the south coast. His wife is one of Ntobie’s relatives and during a brief visit this year, Bro Phillips discovered Thompson’s little office and the teaching materials that are translated into Afrikaans and Xhosa. He immediately extended an invitation to us.
It was a long ride for a Sunday. Bro Eric Ngzinyathi (one of the CBS volunteers), Ntobie and I drove to Mossel Bay, leaving at about 5am. We were welcomed with songs and a dance. The people had been waiting for our arrival for hours and they were eager and enthusiastic to hear the Word. We each took a part in the preaching and teaching, which lasted the entire day.
Afterwards, Bro Phillips discussed a quarterly visit for further teaching and training. He will be vacationing in Cape Town during December and wants to have personal classes every day!
Another church led by a former CBS student, Bro David Swart, invited me for an initial Sunday service. David began a brand new work in Parklands, a blue collar township about thirty minutes away. The Christians meet in a school room and really need foundation teaching – they have the enthusiasm and zeal for Christ but are short on knowledge. After the service, fifteen people came forward to accept Jesus as their Savior.
In 2008, Bro David’s congregation will take the Wednesday evening CBS class times. I have confidence that this group will grow in leaps and bounds as they learn the Word.
Steve and Pat Zimmerman
S.A. Christian Mission, Cape Town
