Look closely at the picture. The story is not in what you see, but in what you don't see. At first glance you will notice Sonja diligently teaching a group of adults how to manipulate a puppet. You see people sitting in the audience waiting their turn to go behind the puppet stage and you notice others obviously trying hard to open the puppets mouth without "flipping their lid." (that's puppet talk!)
What you don't see is our brand new Lecture Hall. During our deputation cycle, many of you heard us talk of our desperate need to renovate an existing garage into a lecture hall. Previously, we had conducted all of our children's ministries training conferences in the living room of the house and outside on the veranda. But now thanks to the hard work of Missionary Associate Wayne Peercy, we now have a beautiful, carpeted lecture hall that can handle up to 100 people. Now we can teach comfortably and in style. Total cost for this project was right at $6000. Thank you for your sacrificial giving!!!
Another thing you cannot see in this picture is the lives that are being touched and the ministries that are being equipped and energized. There are black, colored, indian and white delegates in the audience....a sight which is becoming more and more common in the new South Africa. Some are Assemblies of God, some are independent charismatic and some are main line Dutch reformed. But, each person represents a church or a ministry that touches a group of children.. a group that we may never personally minister to...but our ministry touches these children through the lives of our students. We are making disciples and reproducing ourselves in the lives of others. This is what missions is all about!
Louise Eloff is a good example. She was Afrikaans Dutch Reformed, but was Spirit filled. She came to our seminars to learn how to construct and manipulate puppets. She went back to her church and started a puppet ministry team. At her very first outreach program she had nearly 1000 children in attendance. She then went on to begin her own independent ministry called "Wings." She now trains others how to use puppets and minister to children. That's "reproduction!" Thanks for being a part of Louise's life through your faithful support of our ministry.
For those of you who have not heard, my father Cecil, who had fought cancer for over five years went on to be with the Lord on February 29. God was merciful and took him home quickly. Thank you so much for your prayers! Today I drive to the airport to pick up a group of Royal Ranger commanders from Illinois who are coming to assist in the construction of a bath house for our children's discipleship camping program I will give you an update in our next newsletter Please continue to pray and be faithful in your financial support.
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