Since we became an independent Area Council at Synod 2008 we have met quarterly under the chairmanship of our Area Bishop or Bishop’s chaplain. A visit to the outlying churches revealed huge poverty and tremendous needs, both financially and in operational skills. With this realization we have spent a lot of time at our Area Council meetings, not only for business, but in training sessions. We have endeavored to give instruction on subjects such as Bible handling and preaching, Sunday school training, how to handle applications for membership, what is required of lay preachers, how a church council is elected and what the functions and duties of council members entail, and such like. Realizing the great need  amongst children, both for Sunday school training as well as youth work, we have been able to appoint a full time GWC-trained Sotho children’s worker for next year, Kelebogile (Florence) Taunyane, who will be visiting the various churches in our region to help with children’s work.

Another project we are excited about is an evangelism training project whereby people are being trained for two by two evangelism outreach. There has been great blessing as the Jesus-film is shown and then using the trained workers to share the Gospel and invite enquirers to receive Jesus as their Saviour. We praise God for many who have already been saved this way and also for the impact those converts are making on the community. What a joy to hear farmers ask “What happened to my workers at the Jesus film? They are all different”. Praise God for His saving grace.

Written by Mario Marshall