Sunday, October 26, 2008

October Update

This is our new prayer card. If your church/SS class would like some,
let me know and I can email them to your
closest Wal-Mart.





What a busy time it has been these last weeks. For the past 2 weeks, we have hosted 14 people from the United States. They were part of a group sent out by World-Wide Church Planters. Dr. Steve Wilkes from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN, founder and president and one of my professors when I attended, lead the group. From October 5 - 11th, Lyle Seltman came and taught Church Planting concepts to about 14 participants. What a joy it was to spend a week with man full of so much knowledge and experience. As he taught the seminar, it easy to understand why he so well liked. He put everyone at ease with his likable personality. He would be considered an expert by his peers. He is now working as a National Church Planter for NAMB. Being a grandfather himself, he adjusted easily into our household, getting down on the floor with both Melody and Bethany.

As I took Lyle back to the airport on Saturday, I spent the night in Johannesburg and picked up a team of 13 on Sunday evening. Our ride home was not without incident as the other vehicle transporting half the team had some mechanical problems. It only delayed us only 3 hours - but 3 hours at a gas station in the middle of Africa in the middle of the night could have been a little unnerving - but the team coped, shared the Gospel with whoever was at the gas station and made the best of it. For the next week, as much as we could, with the participants of the Church Planting seminar in the lead, they were out witnessing. With numbers exceeding 350 professions of faith, we had a good week. The best part of the week is that most that made decisions were immediately introduced to pastors/leaders that would be planting a church in that area. I am looking forward to see what God is going to do with all the work from this last week. They all some pretty incredible stories of people coming to Christ. There was a corner in one of the villages that became known as the "Holy Corner" as several people - in the teens/twenties - came to Christ in a period of an hour or so. This happened, I believe 2 days in a row.

I now have a big job on following on up those that live in Extension 39 - this is our area that both Jody and I feel called to. Jody has started a T4T group in that area - discipling the believers and training them to eventually start and lead groups themselves. I have talked,prayed for, and witnessed to many people out there, only to find out that many don't live there or are attending church somewhere else. Kagiso and I have have spent the last 2 1/2 months out there before this seminar prayer walking and witnessing. I believe this area was open to the Gospel because of the prayers before hand.

Jody continues her work out in Moshawane and Extension 39. She continues to have her successes and failures coupled with frustrations and joys. Throughout the last couple of weeks, several have professed Jesus has their Lord and Savior. Pray for her as she tries to determine the best direction to take in Moshawane.


PRAYER REQUESTS:
--JODY - that she have the necessary wisdom, discernment, and understanding for her ministry.
--DENNIS - that he will make progress in follow-up in Extension 39 and that some T4T groups will be started as a result.
THE BOYS - They have about 5 weeks of school left for the year.
BETHANY AND MELODY - Bethany turned 4 last month - Pray for her salvation. Melody turned 2 yesterday - Pray for her safety as she is not afraid to climb anywhere and do most anything. She will be a bold witness for the Lord.

2 comments:

Theresa Walters said...

Dennis and Jody: Thank you so much for your hospitality while I was in Mmabatho. You carted us around and the lunch at your house was wonderful. To be able to be a part of this team with World Wide Church Planters was such a blessing.

I thought you would like to know that I partnered with Shun Abram on Saturday, 11-1 to help him plant churches in the Binghampton area in Memphis. Pastor Phifer met us there and we saw 11 professions of faith in about 2 hours. We also met a guy in his late teens that we invited to go around witnessing with us. He was so on-fire for God when we left. He is going to start attending that church and helping the pastor. This trip has definetly shown me that church planting is my true passion and I can't get enough of it. Pastor Phifer was so excited that he wants us to come back this weekend!

Love you guys and thanks again for all that you did for us.
Theresa

Hedley and Karen Daniels said...

Hi Dennis and Jody !
Wanted to let both of you know how much we enjoyed your friendship and support at CBC .
Those boys and blondes of yours were something else ! We have your'lls picture as well as a very life - like picture of Hedley drawn by Caleb on our notice board
Please know that you are often in our prayers as we praise God for what He is doing thru you in that area He has called you .
With much love
Hedley and Karen
ps we DON'T have to drive 2hrs 15mins to the nearest MACDONALDS