This summer, Pastor Maurice Berry and I had the privilege of ministering in three South African countries. My meetings began in Paarl. One man I met, Mark Africa, had lost his job over the Sabbath. When he heard the Three Angels’ Messages, it was a difficult time for him and his family, but with God’s help he began a little industry. Within a few months he’d acquired three employees, and he is currently netting about three times the amount of income he received in his former job. Mark and his wife are currently preparing for baptism.
I also visited the town of Ceres. There has been no Seventh-day Adventist company in that place, but Brother Ashwell Beaton, a very strong lay leader, has worked to establish a community of believers there. He is hoping to purchase a property for the church congregation.
I then traveled to Nelson Mandela Bay, and once again we had a wonderful fellowship. One of the highlights was meeting Brother Martin Rensburg who was brought up in the Dutch Reform Church, has ministered in the Pentecostal Church for twenty-three years, and has served in the South African Air Force, as well. Twelve years ago he accepted the Seventh-day Adventist faith and currently ministers to eleven SDA churches not far from Nelson Mandela Bay.
Pastor Berry joined me in Durban where we were blessed by the people’s enthusiastic response to the messages. It was then on to Botswana. The faithful people there are among the most inspiring of any I have found around the world. Led by young university graduates, these young people are far advanced in their understanding of Present Truth. They’ve opened a bookstore in the main mall of Gabarone, the capital. They are also producing an excellent bi-monthly magazine on Present Truth.
In Malawi the main meetings were held in Blantyre, the largest city in the country. Here, Pastor Kambwioi, who has been in self-supporting work since 1996, has taken a courageous stand on true Christian standards and has been a strong supporter of Present Truth. In Blantyre 160 people came to listen to the messages Pastor Berry and I preached on the Three Angels’ Messages.
Everywhere we went, the positive affect of Hartland Publications books and Last Generation magazine as witnessing tools could be seen. Every place we visited there were pleas for more of this literature.
In Malawi the believers have, by great sacrifice, begun a training college. Sadly, eight of the young people from the church in Lilongwi were disfellowshipped for attending the last Hartland extension school held at the training college. I met with all eight of these young people, and they are certainly fine young people. Some are powerful preachers.
Please pray for the ongoing work in Africa. Many souls will be in the Kingdom as a result of it. Of this we are assured.
