| Visitors!  Bob, Brenda, and Mary Beth at Adventure Golf One of the privileges of our position and location is that we have the honor of hosting many of our missionaries as they pass through Johannesburg to and from their places of service. This past month we have had more than the normal flow of visitors. They have included: - Sue Allport, Australian volunteer missionary to Mozambique, along with her daughter and granddaughter stayed with us overnight before heading to Mozambique for the Christmas holidays.
- Our youngest daughter, Mary Beth Bagley, visited with us over her Christmas break from Southern Wesleyan University where she has one year to go before graduating with a degree in elementary education.
- Zach, Lyndy, and Isaac Szmara, new missionaries to Mozambique spent Christmas with us. They have had a rough adjustment to life and ministry in Nampula and will be returning to the U.S. soon for a period of recovery and recuperation.
- Zambian missionaries, Mike and Cindy Helvie, spent about a week with us while they worked on mission books with Jerry Manwaring and had additional time to recover from repeated infections of malaria.
- Orai and Linda Lehman, veteran missionaries from Mozambique dropped by for a couple of days for a visit and consultations.
- Dorcas and Matthias Croft had a brief overnight stay with us on their way back to Swaziland after a seven-month stint on home ministry. It was obvious they were both anxious to get "home".
The Christmas season is often a lonely time for missionaries. But, thanks to the guests who passed through our home this past month, our lives were enriched as we celebrated the birth of Christ with members of our missionary family.
A New District is Launched in Southern Africa  Rev. Doctor Galela, Southern Africa Regional Superintendent at the recent Regional Youth Camp At the recent Regional Board of Administration meeting, the Wesleyan Church of Southern Africa launched a new Pioneer District, to be known as the Northern Free State and Lesotho District. This comes as an outgrowth and expansion from the Kimberly and Greater Mangaung District. Inclusion of Lesotho in the District is an expression of the vision of the church because we have not planted any churches there yet. However, the church has begun the process of laying the groundwoirk for a launch into western Lesotho.
Panama Conferences Coming Right Up
At the end of this month two conferences will take place in Panama City, Panama with major significance for the work of Global Partners in Africa.
The International Conference of the Wesleyan Church meets January 27-29, for the first time outside of North America. Representatives from the Wesleyan Church all across the world will spend time in fellowship together and discussing matters of significance for the global church.
African leaders in Panama for the ICWC will stay on for two additional days, January 30-31, for an African Leaders' Summit. The leaders will make presentations and be discussing issues of critical importance for the African church: "The Challenge of the Harvest"; "The Challenge of Financial Sustainability"; "The Challenge of NonBiblical Theologies"; and "The Challenge of Ministry Training". |
Praise Points 1. Mike & Cindy Helvie have returned to Zambia much improved in health and with their strength recovered.
2. The Southern Africa Regional Youth Camp saw an enrollment of over 300 campers and was marked by God's working in the lives of the young people.
3. With much travel over the Christmas period, God has again given our missionary family safety in their travels.
4. Dr. Alfred Kalembo, Zambian National Superintendent was the speaker at the Council of Churches retreat in Zambia.
5. Praise God for the new preaching point in Cold Water, Sierra Leone established through the Jesus Film Ministry.
Prayer Requests 1. Ask for God to help Zach & Lyndy Szmara as they spend time at home to recoup.
2. Pray that God will help Rev. Doctor Galela as he visits Zimbabwe and tries to encourage the church there.
3. Pray that visas will be granted to the ICWC delegates who have not yet received them.
4. Ask for God to watch over all of the delegates as they travel to Panama from across the globe.
5. Ask God to give the conference members wisdom as they debate and make decisions for the future of the Wesleyan Church worldwide.
6. Ask God to help African leaders to clearly identify the positive steps forward they need to take as they face the challenges of seeing the work in Africa continue to advance.
7. Pray that God will reward the leaders in Southern Africa with an abundant harvest as they begin work in Lesotho. Support Report As we write this newsletter, our support for the month is down from usual - perhaps due to the holiday season. But, for the financial year our support is still positive thanks to the generous and faithful giving of those who stand behind us. May God richly bless you for your faithfulness.
Online donations or monthly commitments can be made online by clicking here. |
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