Dear friends,
Helen and I just returned from a month-long trip to Angola and South Africa. What a blessed time! Let me share with you some of the highlights.
We arrived in Luanda on the 29th of June and hit the ground running. This is the third time we have been invited to speak at the graduation of Rhema Bible School, (a two-year program) and School of Ministers, (a four-year program). The largest venue of Luanda was full as 270 graduates celebrated the finishing of their degrees. There were representatives of the government as well as a number of national church leaders present. Other than this event, we also ministered in a number of churches in the greater Luanda area. Luanda is a sprawling metro-plex with over 10 million residents with most living in deep poverty. Progress is being made as to the infra-structures, but yet so much to do.
We have been investing in Angola, consistently, for over 30 years and we are seeing such wonderful fruit. The churches are growing and their faith is rising to meet the challenges they are facing. Many are no longer dependent on foreign aid as they are building their own buildings for church functions as well as schools for the children. We have been privileged to work with true visionaries whose faith have set the standard high for others to follow. Their integrity is visible in their honesty, punctuality, and excellence in the way they do “church”. We may take these things for granted, but in many places of Africa, this is a Big step forward.
After ministering, for close to two weeks in Luanda, Helen and I went to Nelspruit, South Africa, (near the Mozambique border), where we brought young pastors from Eswatini and Mozambique together for a week’s retreat. Seth, Silvia and their daughter Lara, joined us for this time and it was so fulfilling to have three generations ministering together. It was life-changing for those present. It was great to see the two nations interacting and building relationships for the future. Thank you so much for those of you who helped make this week possible.
After Nelspruit, we returned to Angola and traveled by car to Malange, in the interior of the country. There we ministered in a local church as well at the graduation of another Bible school. We were there five days then returned to Luanda to minister in a national convention of M.E.R. churches with a dear friend and apostolic leader, Mawete Viticilo. We have walked together for 35 years and have seen God do so much in raising up leaders that have planted over 250 churches and have gone into other nations with the Gospel.
It was a very full month, ministering over 30 times, but now we are home and can rest a bit. We will get some beach time in, but also I am working on finishing writing my next book, as well as completing the final translation and editing of my book Ekklesia in German. I have two months home before the next trip which is to Pakistan in October, so pray I can get everything done that is on my “to do list”, (Helen also has her own list…). My next two trips, Helen will stay at home.
We will keep you all up on our news. Thanks for praying for us.
Be blessed
Jim and Helen