CENTRE SPECIAL | Soweto News June/July 2014
We are delighted to start our news with the baptism of Vusi Tshabalala. Bro Vusi has been a student since 2010 having heard about us in the newspaper. He has to work over weekends so before our Tuesday Bible Class he was baptized in the bath in Bro John Shezi’s flat and after that we broke bread together in our classroom and he was given the right hand of fellowship. We rejoice as we welcome another brother into God’s precious family.
June was a busy month on the outreach preaching and pastoral front. Bro Ollie Mahopo went to visit the brothers in Kroonstad, followed a few weeks later by Bre Paul Verster and Emmanuel Mphambo. Bre Daniel Makhado and Austen Mataka went to Limpopo to encourage Bro Charlie Golele and visit students. Bro Paul and Sis Leonie Verster visited the Maputo ecclesia with Bro Gary Smith of Yeoville who gave a very good seminar on the Saturday afternoon and which was very ably translated into Portuguese by local Bro Eugenio. It was a special treat for Paul and Leonie to visit, after a gap of 12, years, and meet the new members. It is so encouraging that many brothers are keen and able to take on these preaching activities and come back excited and even more fired up to share the gospel. Much to our surprise and delight we witnessed another baptism despite the day dawning at minus 5 degrees. Sis Kim Buthelezi, however, was resolute in her desire to be immersed in our portable pool at the school. We rejoice with the angels that another young person is remembering her Creator in the days of her youth and has committed to a purposeful life in Christ with the amazing hope of the Kingdom before her. She heard of the truth from Bro Lucky Sekhasembe while both were attending a school to improve their Matric results. Sis Kim asked Bro Lucky to help her with her Maths and was intrigued when Lucky offered a prayer before starting the lesson. Our prayers are that both Bro Vusi and Sis Kim grow in grace and remain steadfast till our Lord returns.
Sister Kim’s baptism
Brother Vusi’s baptism
The Soweto Fraternal Gathering
On Saturday 5 July we hosted a special fellowship study day to which we invited all the local ecclesias and some brothers from isolation. At this school we are blessed in having the use of a double classroom when needed and that day with 84 in attendance it was certainly a blessing. Our guest speaker for the weekend was Bro Barry Van Heerden and it was a wonderful day of fellowship and study. We thank the Yeoville ecclesia especially for their great support and it was encouraging, too, for our local students. Our Sisters did a sterling job of catering and providing teas and a hot lunch, though we don’t have kitchen facilities. Bro Barry did the exhortation and study on the Sunday and we all very much enjoyed and benefited from his ministrations over the weekend.
Bro Barry Van Heerden speaking at the Fraternal Gathering
Sis Leonie Verster
