Nelson Mandela and the Iconic man

It is with a grieved heart that we pen this article. It is day seventeen (17) since June 8, 2013, when ex-president of the Republic of South Africa Mr. Nelson Mandela was admitted to Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria for a recurring lung infection. The medical prognosis does not look good at all, in fact it looks very bleak even with all the professional medical practitioners at hand, whilst the presidential administration has also given us news that ‘Madiba’ now finds himself in a critical condition. An article that appeared in The Witness newspaper today reads: “Zuma: Madiba’s condition is critical”. Other press reports: “Zuma: Mandela remains in a critical condition” and “Presidency: Mandela in critical condition“.

Whilst the South African President Mr Jacob Zuma has called on the local and international communities to pray for Mandela, which we would understand that in this request it is for a “healthy recovery,” the question arises: How is that going to help? We need to see what God says about this!

Firstly, the tens of thousands upon thousands of religious groups, sects, cults, organisations, et al, do not all pray to the same God – NO! Not at all! This is confirmed and reflected in each of their religious practices, belief systems, ideologies and faiths that the gods of religion, to which the world over are requested to pray to, are not the One True God of Creation. ALMIGHTY GOD, YHVH, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel) is not the One True God that all will be praying to!

We also read of the One True God in Exodus 3:6; 6:2,3; as follows:

Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Exodus 6:2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:

Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

This is where the problem lies. God gave commandment that His creation should have no other gods before Him and that they are not to make any graven image in the likeness of things in the heaven, of things on the earth and of things under the earth, and they are not to worship and bow down to them – that would be gods in deity and idol form and image. This is the case throughout the world today with all these religious practices – idolatry prevails. It is also an abomination that not only will wicked and evil mankind adopt praying to these false gods thinking they are praying to the ecumenical ‘God’ – the TRUE God of Creation will not hear these blasphemous prayers, and in fact He will turn His ear from the babbling of the masses. Here is a clear indictment that God brings against His people when Israel did not want Him to rule them, but they wanted a king to rule them. In 1 Samuel 8:18 we read, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures which is God’s Word:

1 Samuel 8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

This is sadly the case what we have today where governments rule through presidents, prime ministers, monarchs, emissaries and the like, governed by man made customs, traditions, commandments, laws, statutes, edicts, acts and decrees, instead of living and abiding in the Commandments and the Way of GOD ALMIGHTY! You see, be it an individual or a people group, hear the Word of God you stiff-necked generation:

Jeremiah 7:16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

Jeremiah 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Do not be blaspheming GOD ALMIGHTY with your ecumenical debauchery, for HE will not hear your pleas in prayer. You have been warned! You have done ill in your doings in the sight of God. You think by your much speaking you will be heard. Oh foolish generation of vipers. Let HIM speak:

Micah 3:4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

Secondly, you the worldly enemies of God have made Nelson Mandela an idol, an icon that has been worshipped and raised upon a pedestal, you have bowed to him and worshipped and revered him as a god. GOD ALMIGHTY has this to say to your idolatrise behaviour that not only includes the person of Nelson Mandela, but the graven images made by men’s hands fashioned out of gold, silver, stone, wood, plastic and many other materials:

2 Kings 17:8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

2 Kings 17:9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

2 Kings 17:10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:

2 Kings 17:11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:

2 Kings 17:12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

2 Kings 17:13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

2 Kings 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

Thirdly, whilst prayer can be made to the One True God in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for physical healing, this can only be done through the One mediator who makes intercession between God and men by the man Christ Jesus, as we read:

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

If one does not believe in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God and God in human form, then you are condemned already as we read, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures:

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Our prayers are to be first and foremost for the saving of the soul of a person. If God so wishes to heal a person physically according to HIS will and purpose, so be it! All Glory belongs to GOD ALMIGHTY and physical healings is not something mere mortals can demand of God. Whilst God can heal as HE pleases, we should be praying for God to grant HIS grace and save a soul. That is the greatest miracle any person can receive is receiving eternal life. As the Apostle Paul was speaking about true believers in God, we read in Romans 14:7-9 the following:

Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Fourthly, if all religions, differ in their theology, customs, traditions and commandments, and have rejected GOD ALMIGHTY’s way which is bringing glory to and through HIS Son Jesus the Christ, be assured GOD ALMIGHTY does not hear your feeble attempts of trying to be heard with your much speech. In the end times, which we are clearly in, the ecumenism that prevails where all the man-made religious systems of the world that are controlled by the

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5)

the whore of Babylon the Roman Catholic ‘mother church’ can not reach God as it is idolatrise before GOD ALMIGHTY and HE will not hear you. This is what we see continually on the SABC news that the popish men of the cloth are pushing their agenda to no avail on their part. God will be glorified even in the destruction of wicked men, women and children for every knee should bow and every tongue should confess Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We, my brother Lungisa Zondi and myself (Eastern Cape Mission and South Africa: Hilary Clinton pops in for lunch), have on a few occasions tried to have an audience with Nelson Mandela to make sure he understands the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to call him to repentance towards God and his faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, as we are still aware that he needs to repent for the ungodly laws that he promulgated as the then President of South Africa, which includes acts that allow abortion, homosexuality (same-sex marriages – The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa guarantees equal protection before the law to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation) and idolatry (religious freedom). Mr Mandela, true repentance will show a brokenness over one’s sins and a recanting of past abominations. These are three abominations that are leading citizens of South Africa straight to hell should they die before Judgment Day and ultimately into the lake of fire. You have been forewarned. Here is a further indictment against South Africa and the world community at large:

Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

South Africa, Repent and Believe upon our Lord Jesus Christ – it is your only hope! Penduka!!

Eastern Cape – Xmas / Holidays’ Evangelism

This is our praise report to our Great God and King, our Lord Jesus Christ – and may all boasting be for the works our LORD wrought and that no attention – be it prideful or any other – be diverted to us. This is solely for God’s Glory! Brothers Ndumiso Illathan Mndayi of Burden4Souls ministry and Gary (Repent and Believe South Africa ministries) joined up in Umtata in the Eastern Cape on Friday December 28, 2012. After fellowship, prayer, examining of Scriptures, and a sleep over, we left on a further three days’ mission trip that would take in three holiday hotspots being East London, Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey’s Bay. The circuit would encompass a total distance from leaving my base of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal to returning on December 31, 2012 – in total 2,081kms.

The Holy Spirit worked through two men willing to be fools for Christ – servants of the Most High God as we read in Scripture:

1Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Cor 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Cor 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

During the course of our time in our Lord’s harvest we witnessed the Hand of God and the Holy Spirit’s moving as men and women came under conviction by the power of Almighty God. There were priceless encounters where we found ourselves being used as vessels of mercy to minister into the very lives of the souls standing before us – in one-on-one witnessing encounters and in the open-air environment by the preaching of Law to the proud, Grace to the humble. We had free course as the Word of God was shared with all who our gracious Lord would have us confront! Brethren, what we learnt, for mission work is also about our growth in Christ, is that when you “Go” step out in faith expecting God to work miracles and meet individuals on the streets and see lives converted and changed. Some souls will be challenged, and we know when God touches people and draws them to Himself there will be no rest for that weary soul, the conscience will be active and it will not let the person rest until they call out to their loving Creator. We also know that the good seed of the Word will be planted, and brethren coming after will be used of God to water the seed sown and God will bring the increase in His time! Salvation is of the Lord! Know this brethren, God’s Word never returns void and He uses His Word to accomplish what He has sent it to do. We also read:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

We experienced even believers – some lukewarm – who were challenged as to what their faith stands for. There were also the usual mockers, scoffers and blasphemers and there were also those who encouraged us, praised God and rejoiced in the Lord through listening to His Word! We thank all our fellow good-fighters of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, contenders of the faith who stood alongside us in spirit and prayed for God’s divine workings, for His protection and for His mercy for lost souls and ultimately for those who heard the living words of Truth, as some were drawn to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and faith by our just and loving God! No other religion offers such compassion and the ministry of reconciliation of sinful man back to their Creator who adopts them into His family as children of God! All glory and praise to our Majestic and Sovereign Creator and God Almighty – the Risen and Living Lord Jesus Christ!

We pray and ask our brethren to join us in lifting up the souls, not only of these listed here, but every soul that heard Christ’s living Word and commandments being proclaimed as we, like John the Baptist that went before our Lord Jesus Christ in the power of Elijah, as righteous Noah preached before the flood, and as Paul preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and as many more prophets spoke God’s Word, we lift up all who had an ear to hear, bringing our petitions for them before the throne of God for mercy upon their souls and to keep those born again of His Spirit, strengthening them and keeping them from Satan’s evil schemes and devices. They are:

In East London – December 29

• Vido, a petrol attendant in Umtata;
• Bernadette, a refugee Christian from the DR Congo;
• Muhammed – a young Muslim street merchant who heard the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ clearly, yet he wants to hold to his works’ religion;
• Zingisa – a reporter from the “Daily Sun” who took our picture wanting to run an article in this daily. We have not heard from him yet, but we do pray that an opportunity will present itself for the Gospel to be shared nationally!
• The crowds of holiday revellers soaking up the sun who heard the Gospel preached to them and who received literature. Belinda from East London, was one such hearer who heard me sharing our Lord Christ with a group of coloured folk on the grass bank in the shade. She said she would pray for God’s forgiveness of her sins, but at home!
• An elderly coloured lady named Zolie from Cape Town who was encouraged by the boldness of these two men. She is a believer.

In Port Elizabeth – December 29

• On arriving at Port Elizabeth’s Summerstrand, King’s Beach, we were just walking to set up when we hadn’t even uttered a word concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I carried the “Are You Ready” cross when a cyclist, a white man shouted at us with much hatred from his heart as venomous profanity spewed from his mouth calling us “@#&^*%$ Messianic Jews”! This was obviously the devil showing himself. Please pray for this man’s soul! It was a wonderful way to start, for much fruit followed all Glory to God!
• Nontando – just before sunset, brother Illathan preached open-air walking about on the beachfront walkway when I engaged an older African lady in conversation, who when she heard the Word confronting her sins she opened up and was close to tears about her lust. She openly spoke in the presence of her young adolescent son. She was truly shaken and said she must repent and turn back to God as she is a Christian! The Lord had me share my own sins with lust as a wicked man as I gave a testimony in a mini open-air preach that had others stop and listen. Please keep all in prayer.
• As the sun went down our Lord had me preach open-air “As in the Days of Noah” using the Law Grace preaching of old! A large crowd gathered around with groups of people standing and sitting about! It was truly God’s Hand moving upon people – all people groups were present – later we found out there were believers and unbelievers alike. What we did not know was that in the crowd somewhere was a man named ‘Gideon’ Qhaki.
• Andile and Mongameli Nqunqutha – two brothers who are Christians. We pray that they will share the true Gospel as according to the Holy Scriptures and be bold witnesses.
• Dane from Port Elizabeth – this is all he shared about himself by writing this in our “missions’ prayer book” as he approached us saying he would meet us the next day to share, but he never showed! Please pray for his safety and conversion!

In Port Elizabeth – December 30

• Gideon Qhaki – This man approached us Sunday morning after hearing the preaching last night, and this is the testimony by brother Illathan as recorded on his Facebook wall:

• I am in tears, I just got a call from a brother we preached to in Port Elizabeth, he got miraculously converted by the power and grace of God the same day after he heard Brother Gary preached on the Law of God and Grace, so the next day he came to hear us preach at the beach, after the sermon he spoke to us telling us that he had a sleepless night convicted by his conscience, tormented by his sins, he told us his life story. This man sleeps on the streets, he eats from garbage bins, he spent 3 years [of a 6 year term] in Jail for robbery and house breaking, he stole his mother’s possessions. He is currently on parole and he broke his parole law by running away to another city, he now is in Port Elizabeth. I am stunned by the conversion of this man, he came after the sermon the next day confessing all his crimes and asked us to pray for him and call his mother who now hates him and rejects him. He was in tears and agony seeking the Lord for mercy and forgiveness for his sins and we were also in tears because this man was so grieved, feeling so guilty, saying he wants to go back home to his mom to apologize for his actions and he wants to go see his parole officer back home.

  We gave him Gospel tracts with our numbers on them, so he calls us and asks for our prayers. He called me to say Happy new year to me and Brother Gary Stephen Crous. Please pray for this brother.

  Grace and peace to you.

  [Amended punctuation and prison term corrected – Repent and Believe South Africa]

• Jake – a Jehovah Witness who said he would examine what we have told him, even checking the Scriptures we referred to in the JW’s “NWT” book. He still wants to hold to what he has always been taught, and we pleaded with him that he has been taught wrong! He was really confident in an arrogant type of way when he arrived and as we spoke to him – as he was marketing some ‘television-type-sport-event’ gadget, but by the time he was leaving us he had been humbled by the Word! His demeanour wasn’t arrogant, but quiet and almost embarrassed in a shy type of way! His mouth had been stopped (see Romans 3:19). Praise God! Even as I observed him later speaking to his friend, he looked ‘sheepish’!
• Abaash – an Islamic young man who was confronted at the boardwalk pier. He had told me when I stopped him he had just been praying to ‘Allah’! After showing Abaash the Scriptures our Lord gave me to share, we know he has many things to examine now, and he definitely said he would. Even when his bearded dad came over to call him to leave, Abaash raised his hand to his dad to say “wait”, smiling, but stayed a while longer as I shared more with him. Then he left with literature to read. Pray for his soul to be reconciled with the True God!
• Family members Cara Belle Fourie and her son Caleb Johnathan Fourie and her brother Adriaan Fourie. A Christian woman who needs encouragement and prayers in the Lord with many trials in her life. Pray that she will assume the role of a Proverb 31 woman. Also encouraged her to dress modestly as commanded by God! Pray also that she can overcome her unforgiveness. Pray also for her brother to come to faith in Christ!

In Jeffrey’s Bay – December 30

• Many people who received Gospel tracts in conversations and open-air preaching where we did not receive their names.
• Two Algerian Muslim men who had the Word of Truth speak to them. They have no excuse yet they hold fast to Islam. Whilst preaching Christ with them a teenage boy named David came by and listened to the conversation. Later he was engaged by Illathan and went away convicted.

These are brief encounters that I can recall and there were many, many more where Illathan engaged others upon the beachfronts. We pray that they all will be brought before God’s Throne – our Father knows each by name!

In East London – December 31

The day before we had received a request from a Christian friend of mine named Adrie Reynolds to possibly get someone in the East London area to pray for or visit her mother Elizabeth Fouche, who had fallen and fractured her hip. I requested the particulars to be sent through to me and on our way home we stopped in at East London to visit and pray with Mrs Fouche. She was doing well, but said it was very painful – she wouldn’t hope this on anyone! We prayed for her recovery and committed her spiritual and physical conditions to our Father. Praise be to God, we were able to hand out Gospel material at the Lily Kirchmann Home and at the St. Dominique Hospital (it is a Roman Catholic Hospital – the Mary statue outside is a give-away). We gave out Gospel tracts to many staff members, patients in the ward we visited, and visitors sitting around! Praise be to God for opportunities to reach everyone! Redeem the time at every given opportunity presented, my brethren!

We thank all the soldiers of Christ who have been interceding in prayer fighting the spiritual war that befalls each of us as we have conquered in the Name of Jesus Christ! We also thank those who have kindly given support for the work of this ministry to keep the “wheels rolling” (God knows who you are – thank you my dear brothers and sisters), the many tracts from brother Louis Ackermann’s ministry and also to Illathan’s mom Siphokazi for her hospitality in Port Elizabeth.

Please also keep us in prayer as we continually seek God’s will concerning “Repent and Believe on Mission For Africa” in 2013, should our Lord Jesus Christ tarry. These mission outreaches are only the beginning of greater things to come! We Trust God!

Soli Deo Gloria!

_______________

Photos can be viewed HERE.

Eastern Cape Mission

Hole in the Wall, Wild Coast – Eastern Cape

As a reconnaissance mission for “On Mission For Africa”, Lungisa Zondi and I went on a two day Gospel sharing drive into the Eastern Cape. We left at 07H30 on Saturday 21^st July and arrived home in Pietermaritzburg at 18H30 on Sunday 22^nd July. Our mission was to go to Qunu, a village where the ex-President Nelson Mandela lives to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him, if our Father would open the door for us to do so.

En route, we stopped off at Kokstad and preached and shared the Word of God outside a shopping centre on Hope Street. It was encouraging to hear Lungisa, a Zulu-speaking brother, conversing quiet fluently in Xhosa as he preached the Gospel of our Lord God – all praise to our Redeemer. It was also the first time that I had shared the Good News in depth in Afrikaans, although it was somewhat interspersed with some English words, when approached by an Afrikaans coloured man named David Hopp. He is from a broken home, who had done six months jail time for assault and now found himself as a drunkard who has unforgiveness, but he wants change in his life. We ministered to him and pointed him to the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk Kokstad – which we were able to locate prior to our conversation:

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9

where he would be able to hear the Word in his home language and where hopefully he could obtain an Afrikaans Bible and some counselling. Our Father gave us opportunity also to “rebuke” David’s son Estivan who came looking for his dad and who we learned from David that he beats his mother. Estivan was reminded that irrespective of what his parents are he was to honour them because God commanded it and that he must stop beating his mother. We also met with some Christian believers, including a security guard and his friend who came to faith in 2011, upon Hope Street, too, and encouraged them in sharing God’s Word with the lost.

We arrived at Qunu late Saturday afternoon and found Nelson Mandela’s home right next to the N2 highway. It was rather chilly outdoors, but we approached the security guardhouse at the entrance to the property and were met by a South African Police Services’ officer named Spho. We enquired whether the ex-President of South Africa was home and whether we could see him – the flag was up! The answer was an emphatic “No,” but we were told we could see him if we made an appointment through the Eastern Cape’s Premier’s office (Monday – Friday). This however allowed us to briefly share the Gospel with the officer and also express our concern that we have travelled from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal and we are concerned with the following: “What if Mr Mandela would die without hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ?” It was then that the SAPS official said we should not talk so negatively as Mr Mandela would live, even maybe to 100 years. It was at this comment that I mentioned that Nelson Mandela is a man who is not guaranteed he will live that long and as he is 94 years old, not getting any younger with a health that is deteriorating he would need to hear it. Whilst we spoke we noticed about five other SAPS law enforcement officers were seated in the comfort of the guardhouse out of the cold wind watching the Ajax Cape Town vs. Manchester United soccer match live in Cape Town. Well, we left after we gave the officer a Gospel tract for himself, a tract each for his colleagues and, yes, one extra tract for Mr Nelson Mandela, with the request: “Please give him this one.” He said he would; only time will tell. From there we crossed the highway in the “seed-sower” and we met some young children who we presented the Gospel to, some who had never heard the Gospel before. Please keep a girl named Lalisa Nelisa and a boy named Lwando in prayer. We also drove around the streets of Qunu handing out gospel tracts and having brief conversations with all we came in contact with as the sun set on our first day out.

We had no place to sleep, so we tried to get accommodation with a pastor Lungisa knows in East London which was too far to travel, so we headed off to Coffee Bay instead to see if we could stay there for the evening. On our way there in the early part of the winter evening, with it dark already, we saw many youngsters and especially young girls hitching lifts on the roadside. Later we started making the connection as we would come past some shebeens (drinking houses) alongside the roadside in these rural areas where there would be partying going on. We also wondered whether some of these girls were involved in prostitution. On the way we also had to negotiate some huge potholes that could, figuratively, swallow a vehicle. This is a request that we are praying to our Lord to provide us with a 4×4 vehicle to get to some out of the way places where the roads and rural terrain require vehicles built for toughness! At Coffee Bay we decided to spend the night in the comfort of the “seed-sower”. We praise God that we had a place to lay our weary bodies and He protected and cared for us.

In the morning we were pleasantly surprised to wake up to scenic surroundings – something we did not envisage in the night as we had never been to this place before. We took a pre-sunrise walk to the beach and captured some early morning photographs. After a morning prayer we asked our Father to lead us to where He wanted us to go. It was to the “Hole in the Wall”. We stopped at a T-junction on our way and got some directions from some locals that we would get lost if we went another way, but I was not sure if it had proper road markings, being a rural dirt road! I settled for the more “tried and tested” road where there was a proper road sign that read “Hole in the Wall.” A few kilometres up the road we came to the road we had seen the night before; and the road was also tarred and in great condition – off the potholed road of death! It would turn out to be a better option as our Lord lead us to witnessing to a young girl and boy we had noticed at a distance “groping” one-another in the middle of this road in the early hours of this Sunday morning. First we pulled up and spoke to the girl named Onele who was on her way home after sleeping with the boy. Lungisa in Xhosa shared the gospel with her and then as we drove off we pulled up on the same stretch of road and spoke to the boy named Unathi, who was walking in the opposite direction from Onele. Fornication appears rife in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape and our Lord was showing us that there is an urgency to speak to the people of these areas. There were so many “couples” of teenagers to young adults walking the highways and byways so early in the morning. God warns in His Word:

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:18

Later our enjoyment of a well-tarred road turned to surprise as we had to take to the off-road. On the dirt the road became decidedly more wretched that truly needed a 4×4 – but the front-wheel driven Ford Bantam 1.6i XLT pushed on and carried us along as we would hand out gospel tracts to people walking these rural dirt tracks. At one point the road was so “un-drivable” that I contemplated turning around, but we pressed on. We approached a steep incline with water coursed gouges cut in it and got going up, but then stopped a short way up to give some tracts to some people in a rondavel. As we continued our journey barely a meter or two up, problems started – and in hindsight it was not a wise choice to stop there. We could not get proper traction and the vehicle started to slide backwards. We would try a few times more before, as the driver, I attempted to back the vehicle up down the steep slope, but did not negotiate the line properly and fortunately stopped the vehicle just in time as it had come to rest precariously on a sliding-grass verge. We exited the vehicle very carefully as the vehicle tottered and we could hear the strain of the hand brake. Fortunately a large rock was under the vehicle which I managed to prop behind the right-back wheel to stop it from slipping over the edge as brother Lungisa pushed at the rear of the vehicle with some able young boys who came to help. Even as I write now that gut-turning feeling can be felt. It was at this point that I thought we were destined to be stuck out there for good and I had a sickening feeling that the vehicle could run away backwards down the steep gradient and plough through a rondavel below us. But Father God had other plans to rescue us as His Hand was in preserving the vehicle and us. Some fishermen from the KZN Angling club, returning from the “Hole in the Wall” were good Samaritans as we waved them down frantically, but praising God for them. They seemed calmer than us – well me at least – in dealing with the situation, and one guy said, “We will have this sorted out, no problem.” No one at first had a towrope, but then some refreshing news – a towrope was located in the one 4×4. And yes – after that, it was no problem as they dragged the “seed-sower” up the dirt track from the precarious position to a safer spot on smooth dirt. We praised God and it was a lesson in trusting Him and that He would send help. We barely waited ten or so minutes when the God-sent arrived. What a relief! God is Good!! The driver of the 4×4 Shaun was given a tract as the others were some distance from us, but we pray he will share the message with his ‘buddies’. We got rolling again in the right direction and it was plain sailing from that point onwards. One African man we had given a tract to in the valley had caught up with us and asked for a lift to the wild coast where we were headed, which we did. After all the events of the past hour we found that the sea was basically just over a few hills away. We enjoyed the view, spend a while in prayer and then started our way back home. While we travelled and took an alternative route – one we were given directions by the locals initially – we found many more people walking the dirt roads that we negotiated as we handed out tracts and had brief conversations with them. We were also able to be helpful in giving a few women a lift along the way before we got onto the potholed road leading inland towards the N2 highway. We wondered which was worse – the off-road dirt tracks? or potholed tar road? The good thing is, out of all of these adverse situations, God carried us faithfully to our destinations and looked after us. We give Him all the Glory for He is Worthy of all Praise!!! After one brief stop in Mthatha (Umtata) for a meal, we headed home to Pietermaritzburg on our last 360km trip arriving safely in the early evening.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: ~ Isaiah 26:4

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. ~ Nahum 1:7

We thank you for all your prayers, and we pray for the souls that heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and received the Word, and we know that trusting in God He will move to take the Gospel across South Africa – we do pray that you will partner with us in fulfilling the Lord’s work for His Glory! We cry for the souls that have yet not heard the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and how they can obtain Peace with God our Father. After travelling 1047.8kms, this would appear to be about a 1/18^th part of the Southern Africa commission of “On Mission For Africa” that lies ahead.

Please visit the link to see how you can partner with us and be a part of the TEAM = Together Evangelists Achieve Much.

** Photo Gallery of some sights along the way **

All Glory to our God JEHOVAH!