Exciting Ministry Growth in South Africa's Prisons!

In March 2009 I took my third trip to the Johannesburg area of South Africa. The focus of this trip was to build up the ministry that has been started by Rod Shiers out of Acts Christian Church in Midrand. (see earlier blogs) What an amazing trip!! It was as if the Holy Spirit walked to each place I went the week before I got there to prepare hearts and OPEN DOORS for His ministry!

I find it difficult to describe how I felt as I met couples whose marriages had been restored, couples who now accepted Jesus and we're married and individuals who had found freedom from addiction and were now baptized as Acts Christian Church. I had to brush back the tears as I saw the joy on these children of God for the Lord. What a humbling experience as wives thanked me for our ministry and my books which God had used to pour out His blessings into their lives. I praise God for the willingness and faithfulness of Rod Shiers to walk in this ministry with us.

During my time at Acts Christian Church I spent much time sharing with their counseling staff and held an addictions training workshop open to the counselors from the community at large. Also I held a group for men and women struggling with addictions similar to our Tuesday night groups in Leola, PA. Then I held a group for families affected by the addiction of a loved one.

I was truly blessed to link with Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in the township of Tembisa. The ministry of Pastor Vincent Mathews there was an inspiration to me as was the heart and ministry of Manda Twala, a young man who has been ministering to the police who serve that community. This church has joined in the ministry into addiction and in the prisons.

Another great link was formed with Pastor John Baptiste at Fremar rehab in Turffontein. Fremar runs a men's and women's rehab in the area and there is an awesome match of hearts and ministry there. I look forward to continued growth of relationship and opportunity with them.

But WOW did God amaze me as I was off with Rod to visit Leeukop and Krugersdorp Prisons to discuss holding group meetings using the Addict to Disciple discipleship program that we use at Lancaster County Prison in Lancaster, PA. Again the Holy Spirit had preceeded us. We had a tour of the facility and met with men in the maximum security facility. Approval was received to start a group in that unit. Since that time, the medium security facility has also requested a group and 70 men have signed up!!

At Krugersdorp Prison we were given a tour and paperwork to fill out for evaluation of the program. But God moves in mysterious ways! As Rod and I were driving away from the prison on Thursday, we hadn't been gone 10 minutes when his phone rang and it was Krugersdorp saying "We checked out the 'Etsah website. Cna you come back in on Monday and hold your first group!" So on Monday we held our first group and 21 men attended! You should have seen the tears streaming down their faces as I shared that men and women who had been in the discipleship as inmates in Pennsylvania in 2008 had purchased 52 books for inmates in South Africa in hopes that they too would be set free and healed of their addiction by Jesus Christ!

Since I have returned home to the states, those prisons in South Africa have signed a contractual operational agreement with Acts Christian Church to provide the Addict to Disciple discipleship program in their facilities!! This is an awesome step forward as our ministry in the states is on an informal volunteer chaplaincy basis rather than an official contract.

WE ASK FOR YOUR PRAYERS. Our entire family will be going to South Africa for the month of July to further equip those ministering into the prisons and their families through Acts Chrisitan Church. In addition we will be looking into possible expansion of the Addict to Disciple discipleship program into other prisons in South Africa. Our family is praying into God's will for the expansion of the ministry there and whether or not He is calling for us to move their as full time missionaries in 2010.