While we are still transitioning to life in the United States and trying to lay roots here to do more focused ministry trips and raise support more easily for South Africa, we have been involved with several ministry groups here.
During lockdown, we led online Zoom Bible studies, focused on the parables of Jesus… which really helped us begin to establish a community here… which we call The Seed Sower Community (as Mtshali means Seed Sower and our project in Africa is the Seeds of Our Future, and it is our heart to connect what we are doing here to our work in South Africa).
We then led a foundational discipleship group immediately following lockdown, and from that we started our micro church. It is really just a small group based in homes or whatever venue is available for the time being, but we really hope to be able to fulfill the vision of having our own cafe for a church community and outreach hub both here and possibly in South Africa some day.
Sam also leads an accountability group for men who have struggled with sexual sin or pornography. And I lead a ministry group focused on arts and crafts to draw in people from the community.
God has really blessed all of these small groups in amazing ways. So many men have found freedom from pornography through Sam’s group. Many of them have struggled in silence for years and are just now speaking out for the first time. This is bringing healing to many marriages, as well.
My art group has consistently brought so many ladies together from the community, many who do not attend church. I had an event called Communion and Canvas, where we communed together while painting a scene of the empty tomb looking out at the crosses (during the season of Lent) and it was so beautiful going through Scripture and explaining the scene and events that took place to people who otherwise had no prior understanding.
Of course ministry is more than just what happens in these groups, but that is the majority of our focus for the time being. We plan to go back to South Africa for a nice long visit (and possibly form a mission team to go at the same time) as soon as Sam and Angel have all their papers to be able to leave the country.