Greetings in the Lord’s name! It has been a lovely hot summer, back to the usual Cape Town style. The months have flown past recently with many knew projects and aspects of the Lord’s work in South Africa.
GENERAL
The oil prices have slugged us real hard in South Africa. The government has raised gas prices many times in the last months, unconcerned for the ordinary guy in the street. (It is R8.60 per liter, which converts to approx $5.00/gal?) And more increases are forecast for the remainder of this year. All countries around the world have experienced this but here, it is horrific.
Also interest rates have risen steadily, too. Current overdraft rate is 15.5% and economists are predicting another hike mid-year. All of this is really squeezing our margins and the savings that were made in the past are gradually slipping away.
BOOK/CONTAINER PROJECT
It is now official: I have been appointed as a Trustee of “Anathoth” where we have been given a piece of land on which to build a storage facility. Pat Stephenson has been very gracious and a big help during this process. At a Trustees’ meeting held in Feb, we voted not only to approve of the building plans for the proposed storage facility but also to design a holistic overview of the entire property for future use.
At the end of March, Pat called me to say that the building plans submitted to the Stellenbosch Municipality had been verbally approved. She suggested that we might be able to lay the foundations in the meantime. This is a tremendous boost and an answer to prayer. Details must still be worked out but I am going ahead to mark out the foundation and organize the digging.
In addition, a 20’ Container has been purchased and will be sent with the first load of Bibles, books, etc. The Container will sit on an unused piece of the land until the storage facility can be erected. Afterwards, it can be used as a storage unit for other things. I want to personally thank the donors for their foresight and generosity. It appears as if this project is finally coming to fruition. Many prayers have been said and many Africans have great expectations for the teaching and studying tools they need for evangelism.
CAPE BIBLE SEMINARY
So many new contact churches and groups want solid teaching but there are only so many days in the week! This is why it is the policy of the CBS to shift emphasis to newer groups in order to kick-start their own projects. Last year, three CBS groups were terminated for the time being so that these newer contacts can be encouraged and taught.
A pilot CBS session was started in February 2008. Pastor Kiku, a Congolese Christian, asked me to minister a few times to his congregation in Eeersterivier (First River). It was a mixed group of refugees – Christians from the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Gabon, Mali, Brazzaville Congo and Cameroon. Amongst themselves, they probably speak a dozen different languages but they all speak French fluently. I took Thompson with me one Sunday and jokingly, asked him to translate. He said, “Give me a few weeks, brother Steve, and I’ll be able to help you!”
There are always translators during the worship services and all of them responded enthusiastically to the suggestion for a CBS class one evening during the week. We started in February for only four weeks. I taught the Gospel of John and gave them home assignments (my standard practice). It started slowly and gradually gained numbers. The classes are held in the shared apartment of one of the men, cordoned off by a sheet across the living room. Every week, more and more people came. When the last class was held, there were more than 20 people in the small room! I was asked to continue. We are busy with an overview of the gospels and all of them are really excited.
In addition, the Elsies River church has resumed CBS classes every 2nd and 4th Sunday morning instead of the worship service. New people have been added, including a few refugees from central Africa. I have told Pastor Samuel Jacobs that for the time being, I will continue the CBS teachings. This has been a very troubled congregation and split three ways. I am careful not to become entangled with opposing parties. This church really needs prayer.
A new group in Mitchell’s Plain, led by a former CBS student, Pastor David Swartz, is now hosting classes, too. This is a smaller group of factory and blue collar workers, perhaps 30-40 in all, and they are enthusiastic about learning the Word. Bro David is an eager and capable leader.
Thompson Ntobie has his own Cape Bible Seminary classes in various areas from Khayelitsha (Happy Home) to Nyanga (Moon). Also, he has a specialized course for young men on Saturday mornings for leadership training.
My schedule is CBS classes from Monday-Thursday nights plus every 2nd and 4th Sunday. Thompson’s schedule is Monday-Wednesday, then Saturday mornings.
BAVUMELENI CHILDRENS CENTER
“Colorado” Marty Wallace arrived in March from Denver to work at BCC permanently. Reinaldo Rutter and I met him at the airport and after a few hiccups he has settled into a place provided by Pat Stephenson at “Anatoth”. He is looking for a serviceable vehicle and has already taken over some of the work, which has made such a difference. Of course, he must adjust to the social differences of South Africa and also African cultures but he is enthusiastic, keen and very willing to help. We all know that the Lord has really provided a hard worker for BCC. Marty is such a blessing!
In addition, Sister Primrose will be getting married on April 20th! I don’t know the full story but I have met her future husband, Victor. He attended a meeting of the BCC Board and has already volunteered to help wherever he can! Primrose is so happy and can hardly contain her joy!
The acquisition of a plot of land across the street from Primrose’s home has still not been finalized. We applied for this vacant land years ago but it seems that there has been little or no progress. What hasn’t helped has been the change in city government from one political party to another – no one wants to take responsibility to make a decision. We truly need prayer warriors for this!
The tent where the children met on Sunday mornings and for feeding during the week has been taken down. It was being used by vagrants, drunks, etc which is a huge security risk in the township. Also, the tent was gradually being torn apart by the winds and had deteriorated in the strong African sun. Plans have been made for a temporary structure of wood to take its place.
TRANSLATORS
Thompson Ntobie always works hard in his office. Every time I visit him, he is typing away on his computer, churning out CBS notes, outlines, lessons and even whole book projects! When he needed a vehicle, which was being sold inexpensively by a Christian man, it was purchased for him. He was so delighted. Of course, the price of gasoline is affecting us both and prevents him from being more available.
The sad news concerns Simon Peter Mainze. Bro Simon is a really good translator and worked with Thompson for a few years. His sister distracted him by trying to get Simon to renounce the church and join hers (New Apostolic Church). Simon has already resisted because he knows the Bible very well but he lives in her home by her good graces. So, for the past year, his service as a translator has been very spotty.
At the end of December, Simon went missing. Thompson was asked to conduct a funeral in one of the townships and asked Simon to be his translator. He agreed but never arrived. Thompson did the service on his own. When he told me about the incident, we asked around but could not find Simon anywhere. Not with his sister, who was also worried, and none of his friends either. A few weeks passed without any news at all and we feared the worst. Then, our prayers were answered. Eric Ngczinyathi, one of the CBS students, was at Tygerberg Hospital and decided to look in a ward where the names of people were not know for some reason. He found Simon there, still in a coma – he’d been badly beaten, robbed of everything he had and left in a field near the train station. He had been on his way to help Thompson at the funeral. Gradually, he emerged from the coma and is still very confused. He becomes frightened with visitors and for this reason, the doctors have only allowed certain people to se
e him. Simon is gradually recovering his memory and we can only pray that God will heal him completely.
VISITORS
Walt and Bea Mielke have always hosted us during the Florida leg of furloughs. They have always opened their home, taken us around and even entertained us during our stays there. (Except the last time when they saddled us with a crazy dog which hated me! Explain, Walt!)
Walt and Bea have always been mission-minded and even serve the Lord in this capacity with a very special emphasis. Walt was the assistant minister at one of SACM’s supporting congregations, Zephyr Hills Christian Church, for several years. When they made it known that they wished to visit the mission, we welcomed them with open arms. As it is with any visitor, I asked Walt to preach and teach every class and Sunday morning. He did a wonderful job and every church, group and congregation really enjoyed his lessons and sermons. They both got the opportunity to see almost all of our projects in action. Thanks, Walt and Bea, for all your hard work and prayers!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I began writing this 18 months ago at the request of one of the workers with Team Dumez. At first, I thought it just a little private meditation but it has grown out of all proportion. It spread to Team Dumez, then their family, friends and relatives and after that was picked up by Radio Pulpit’s e-mailing list in SA. From there, African pastors, who have access to the internet, asked to use it in their sermons and Bible studies as well as pass it along to their leaders, elders and deacons – Zimbabwe, Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Then, an Australian woman asked for it. In March, another dozen strangers wrote to be included. The e-mail circulation stands at over 4,500 daily but no one knows to how many others it is given.
If anyone wishes to receive the “Thought for the Day”, please e-mail your request to me at: zimcko@gmail.com
PERSONAL
Since my father, Al, died in November 2007, my mother, Jean, is now living on her own in a smaller apartment on the ground floor and will not hear of going into assisted care or anything like it! My brother, Dr John, and his kids visit her regularly and my sister, Sara, tries to fly out from Michigan once a quarter to be with her. The whole family thanks all of you for your prayers and help during this time.
Our furlough is planned for Sept-Dec 2008. Mark Vernik is helping with the scheduling and I am the tardy one supplying him with the various congregations to visit. Pat will remain here until November due to her studies – she is trying to get her official qualification in personal counseling this year.
We have so much to be thankful for. So many of you have worked so hard and helped in various ways to accomplish and supply the Lord’s work in South Africa. We are not alone on this mission field – all of you are partners, co-workers and co-ministers for the thousands of Africans who have benefited from our projects.
The Word is being sent far afield from this country. Refugees who return home from here take the gospel with them in languages and amongst cultures we could never have dreamed would be reached.
Our thanks go to all of you who are making this happen. We pray regularly for you – but this time, we want to ask for your special prayers for Dave and Mattie McLaughlin. Many Africans are praying for them here.
If I begin to mention names for our thanks, I know I will miss someone. We are truly thankful for each and everyone of you to our Father!
Steve and Pat Zimmerman
S.A. Christian Mission
Cape Town, South Africa
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