Bits and Bytes with the Bagleys

~ Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers - June/July 2010 ~
Swaziland Glimpses Our recent trip to southern Africa finished up with a whirlwind visit to Swaziland where we started our missionary career 28 years ago. We were thrilled with a number of positive signs of growth and development in the church there. Pastor Walter Malaza (pictured above), a former student of ours, showed us around several "care points" he had established in rural areas. The ten "care points" serve as feeding stations for orphans, education centers for the community, and all have churches established or being planted. We saw several significant church building projects underway - all at local initiative using local resources. The white building in the foreground in the photo below is the current church building at Ntabamhloshana, which has been outgrown by the congregation necessitating the construction of the larger building at the top of the photo. Despite no longer being sponsored by World Hope Canada, the ministry of the Fortress and the Children's Village continues under the leadership of Mrs. Thabsile Thwala. Some of those ministries have been scaled back due to a decrease in funding, but orphans are still be cared for and counseling services are still be offered to abused women and children. Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College is facing challenging times, having recently lost several missionary staff members, leaving Dorcas Croft as the sole missionary at the college. Enrollment is down to 12 students, and the college is facing related financial stress. However, a solid African staff is in place giving good leadership, including newly appointed Principal, Bhekisisa Maziya (below). In This Issue Swaziland Glimpses Ministry Vehicle Donated Prayer Requests Praise Points Our Event Calendar Support Team Forward to a Friend Our Event Calendar June 13-18, 23-25 - Indianapolis, IN, Missionary Training Institute June 20 a.m. -- Jersey Shore, PA - Lighthouse Wesleyan Church June 20 p.m. -- Loganton, PA - Loganton Wesleyan Church June 27 -- Bellaire, OH - United Wesleyan Church July 2-11 -- Browns Flat, NB - Beulah Camp July 18 -- Norton, NB - Norton Wesleyan Church July 24-26 -- Denton, MD - Champlain District Camp Aug. 23-Sep. 10 -- Manzini, Swaziland - Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College (Brenda) Aug. 26-29 -- Lusaka, Zambia - National Conference Sept. 16-19 -- Likasi, Democratic Republic of Congo - National Conference Oct. 17 -- Xai Xai, Mozambique - Xai Xai Bible College graduation Oct. 30 -- Manzini, Swaziland - EWBC graduation Nov. 21 -- Truro, NS - Central Nova Wesleyan Church Support Team We are grateful for all who have made a commitment to become part of our regular prayer and/or financial support team. If you haven't done so, you can join the team by clicking the link below. Thanks! Forward to a Friend You can help us by forwarding "Bits & Bytes" to friends who will be interested in the work of Global Partners in Africa. Just click on the link below. Friends who receive the email will also be given an opportunity to sign up to receive it in the future. Forward this message to a friend An easy to print version of this email can be found here. Ministry Vehicle Donated During the recent Regional Board meeting held in South Africa, Boksburg Wesleyan Church, a local South African congregation, presented a new ministry vehicle to the Southern Africa church for use in ministry in a needy District. The photo shows lay leader, Tom Eloff, making the presentation to Pastor Bill Niemack, District Superintendent of the Transkei District. Prayer Requests Please help us pray for the following needs: We leave August 3rd for a three-month stint in Africa. Please pray that God will help us to plan and prepare appropriately and that our ministry on the field will be productive. Graduation at Pilgrim Wesleyan Bible College in Zambia is July 24th. Pray for God's blessings to be on the graduates as they make the transition to ministry positions. Pray for the leadership of the Zambian church as they strategize and plan for integrating the Ugandan churches into the wider church and as they look for ways of effectively providing training for the pastors of those congregations. Recent surgery on Mrs. Thabsile Thwala, Director of the Fortress and the Children's Village in Swaziland revealed much more extensive concerns than originally expected. Please continue to pray that God will grant her a full recovery. Praise Points Assistant Africa Area Director, Jerry Manwaring, reported a very encouraging visit to the new church work in Uganda where there are 60 churches/preaching points. Our support level has now passed the two-thirds point. Thank God for those who have responded to the need. (Full support still needs to be raised before we will be given clearance to deploy to the field long-term.) Recently Bob met with the International Partnership Team for Ghana in Brockville, ON. The team consists of several Districts and local churches, Project Reach Out, and Rev. Joe Ocran, the national superintendent of Ghana and meets to help coordinate efforts to assist in the development of the Wesleyan Standard Church of Ghana. An exciting atmosphere prevailed as the team explored ways to not only strengthen the Ghana work, but discussed the vision for Ghana becoming a launching pad for outreach in countries to the north and east.
Bob & Brenda Bagley | rbagley112@gmail.com