South Africa

What we are up to

NEW CHURCH PLANTED

The Randfontein City International Christian Church under the leadership of Ps Sonto, supported by her assistants Kookie and Rosetta has now been born.  We praise the Lord that this church has been founded as a result of the tent crusade in the Zenzela shanty town and that almost all the attenders are new converts. 

XENOPHOBIA STRIKES SOUTH AFRICA

Just a short time before we arrived in South Africa there was an outbreak of violence against foreigners in the country.  The wrath of a minority of South African citizens was directed against illegal immigrants from the troubled Zimbabwe in the North and Mozambique to the East.  The press reported the terrible violence in grisly detail even releasing photos of one man being burned alive. Riots occurred in many parts of the nation. 

The danger to illegal foreigners was so real that the South African government with the cooperation of the United Nations constructed refugee camps where foreign nationals were held in comparative safety

Much of the unrest was concentrated in “Informal Settlements” (Shanty Towns) and African Townships.  The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were warning against travel to the townships. 

But it was into one of these places of human desperation, Zenzela, that God had led us to conduct a tent crusade.

ZENZELA TENT CRUSADE

90 PEOPLE SAVED INCLUDING LOCAL WITCH DOCTOR

One week of meetings, days of visitation, in freezing weather in  the  Zenzela shanty town not far from the town of Randfontein, near Johannesburg, saw 90 people including a local witch doctor make decisions for Christ.

African Evangelist, Paul Mpobole,  had begun the meetings and spoke from the Sunday night until Tuesday night. Ralph ministered from Wednesday through Saturday ably assisted by Ps Wilma and local leaders Pastor Sonto, Kookie and Rosetta. The tent was packed every night with people from the Shanty Town eager to hear the Good News of Jesus.

The Lord led us to this place because it was here that land had been provided for a church.  Ps Sonto’s family land has been made available and a church building constructed.  So now Randfontein City International Christian Church  with Ps Sonto as Senior Pastor has been established.

MINISTRY AT PIENAAR
Living Rock Community Church in the township of Pienaar in Northern Mpumalanga, not far from the famous Kruger National Park, in South Africa was the location for a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit.  This beautiful area aches with the health problems of Africa – a high AIDS infection rate along with almost endemic TB as a result – yet there also beats the heartbeat of hope as a relatively young and free South Africa grapples with the challenges history has laid before it.
Living Rock Community Church has been established by Ps Kaiser and Ps Mavis Nyathi and the church has an effective outreach to young people in this troubled area.

Ralph  spoke and 20 people committed their lives to Christ.    Many   more   came forward   to  receive  ministry as the Holy Spirit moved in power.

The openness to the Spirit which we saw at Pienaar, we saw everywhere we ministered.  South Africa is a country where many thirst for a genuine touch from God.

GREAT BLESSING IN CAPETOWN

Possibly no other major city in South Africa expresses so well the contrasts which confront the visitor to modern South Africa.  While not quite as dangerous as the Johannesburg area, law and order remains a problem with high rates of violent crime including murder and rape. The wealthy and the shockingly poor can both be found in this beautiful city.  The ache of huge townships where people struggle to live in appalling conditions is contrasted by the wonderful natural beauty of the area.

Table Bay, surely one of the most striking harbours in the world, over looked by the  magnificent Table Mountain,   is a place of great beauty. Yet even  here   there   is  a    stark
reminder of  South Africa’s troubled past as Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, lies in sight of Table Bay surrounded by un-swimmable turbulent seas.

As a result of invitations organised by Apostle Israel Onoriobe, a dear brother from Port Elizabeth in South Africa, we were able to minister in four churches in Capetown. 

On Sunday morning 20th July we ministered in Prophet Aniekan Bassey’s Word Power Ministries church in Kraaifontein. This church is only a few years old and the blessing   of   God   is   evident   by the large crowd that attended.

We were moved by the service and the wonderful way that these South Africans of mixed racial background worship. As Ralph spoke, God moved powerfully and many people were touched by the Lord. 

That night saw us in the troubled area of Mitchell’s Plain where law and order has been a major problem and violent crime is all too often a companion of those who live and minister there.                                                

According to authorities, Mitchell’s Plain has almost 1.5 million people crammed into one suburb with many more illegal immigrants adding to the high population density. Here Ps George Paige runs a vibrant church.  Ps George testifies that through prayer the crime rate in the area where the church is located has actually decreased.  They are fighting a spiritual battle.  Again many, many people responded to the altar call after Ralph’s message and experienced the ministry of the Spirit that night.
We became aware that through the generosity of Apostle Israel, God was opening to us a door of ministry in Capetown. The next weekend saw times of great ministry in Millnerton  at  a church pastored by Bishop Prince  Dave  Okojie  and
that evening again in Kraaifontein at a church led by Ps Leon Petersen.

These services were all characterised by great worship and powerful ministry.  It was wonderful to see God stretch out His hand to touch His people physically, emotionally and spiritually.  The pain that many carried was eased during these  services,     and      people
again knew that the risen Lord was there to heal through the power of His Spirit.

As we left the beauty of Capetown and Table Mountain to head North, we knew that God was calling us to return.  He has placed before us an open door.  Many of these people have suffered much.  Today they continue to deal with extremes of poverty, drug taking and violence.  Their cry goes up to the Lord of all the earth. The fields are indeed ripe for the harvest!