SACM Newsletter #2 2010

Bro. Robbi and his wife Katrina

Greetings to everyone in the name of our Lord!

This “new” year has opened with a bang! Already, so many things have happened and I have to hit the ground with my feet in motion.

BIBLES FOR AFRICA

This project has many different aspects to it. For many years now, 20’ Containers have been loaded and shipped to South Africa, every square inch filled to capacity with Bibles, commentaries, Sunday School materials, reference books and other Christian literature. There is such a demand for Bible in particular – New Testaments, study Bible, Thompson Chain References, NIVs, etc – and many African Christian as far away as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have been blessed with their own copies of the Word. The demand in enormous and there is always a great anticipation whenever a Container is sent.

Of course, I carefully target where these books and Bibles are sent. The first priority is the Cape Bible Seminary students, who get the pick of the study Bibles and commentaries. The youth favor the easy to read New Testaments with the same cover so they can recognize one another. Although all the Bibles are in English, there is an increasing demand for them. There is still one case of French Bibles waiting to be shipped from Michigan in the next Container for the Congolese Christians. I know there isn’t nearly enough to go around and these will have to be distributed via the pastors and church leaders.

Currently, there are two Container loads waiting for shipment, stored in a barn on the property of Bob and Roberta Snyder in Michigan. Once the funding has been received, the thousand boxes, packed and ready, will be shipped to Cape Town. Please pray that this can be done quickly. So many are waiting anxiously.

Baptism at Anathoth

WAREHOUSE

The last link in the long chain from Michigan to Cape Town is nearing completion. There has never been a secure facility to sort and distribute the boxes of books and Bibles since the project began. Two churches did offer space but the boxes ended up being pilfered and ransacked, which caused a lot of problems.

Late last year, the prayers of many Christians on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have been answered. Final approval was given by the Stellenbosch Municipality after many visits. The land was donated by Pat Stephenson who operates a Christian retreat center within 30 mins drive of my home. Funding was slow to come it but with a generous donation by the Zephyrhills church and contributions made after my father’s death, work began in earnest.

And old shed was torn down, the bricks donated to the farm laborers for their use. The land was cleared and bulldozed to level it. An enormous pine tree was cut down, dismembered and hauled away. The footings dug and the foundations set. Steelwork was placed inside the cement blocks as the walls rose. The excitement was palpable!

I anticipate that the warehouse will be completed by end of Feb or first week in March. There is still much to do – roof trusses to be constructed, roof sheets to be attached, a steel roller shutter door purchased, the floor skimmed and sealed, the structure sealed and painted inside and out.

Contributions would be most welcome. Already, Mattie McLaughlin has donated a generous amount for which we are extremely thankful! In fact, next month, Mattie McLaughlin and Mark Vernik will visit Cape Town. We are anticipating their arrival.

PERSONAL

A surprise “gift” came to me via a phone call from Hilton Head Island, SC. My son, Kent and his wife, Jen, live there and last August, presented me with my second grandson. (Brice and Louise had my first, Paxton Reed, in March 2009.) Jen told me that in Aug/Sept 2010, I’d expect a third grandchild! The Lord is so good!

The Lord’s work continues here. I want to thank everyone who has helped, encouraged and prayed for the mission. You are very much a co-worker alongside us here.

May God bless all of you,

Steve Zimmerman

S.A. Christian Mission, Cape Town