Se que ha pasado tiempo desde la última vez que me comuniqué, pero las cosas han pasado tan rápido, estando aquí es difícil lograr mantenernos en contacto con todos.

Pero permítanme darles algunos detalles que están sucediendo. Desde que empezamos con la Escuela del Ministerio, acabamos de comenzar el segundo trimestre. Hemos introducido dos nuevos cursos incluyendo Ministerio Pastoral y Vida en Cristo para aquellos que estén interesados. En este trimestre estamos enseñando Introducción a la Consejería Bíblica y el Libro de los Hechos. Y continuamos un curso llamado Cristianismo Victorioso que tiene que ver con los fundamentos del cristianismo.

La Iglesia continua en su crecimiento a paso rápido, estamos haciendo planes para tener 3 servicios en domingo, mientras tanto hacemos todo lo que está a nuestro alcance para maximizar el aforo en nuestro auditorium y lo mismo con los parqueos. Hemos hecho una solicitud al gobierno para obtenerterreno adyacente y alquilarlo para más parqueos. Cuando lo obtengamos habremos solucionado un gran conflicto.
Acabamos de finalizar un Encuentro

We just finished an Encounter weekend with about 50 people. Lives are really changed during these times. Many people are being baptized in water and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Our ministry continues to grow to the Clay Oven Village (an informal settlement that is near the church). This little community has about 120 people some of whom have lived there for over 15 years. We began an outreach starting with one man. From that we have expanded and now have seen wonderful things. We started a Sunday afternoon service in the Village in the Lesotho language. We now average about 80 people in that service with the highest attendance having been 93.

We are believing for the whole village to come to the Lord. Most of these people do not have jobs and the living conditions are very bad. We are doing what we can to improve them and teaching the people to take pride in what they have. They are already responding to our encouragement. We have provided trash receptacles and now some portable toilets. We are also working with the city to help get some fresh water to the village as well as electricity. Actually we would like the government to give us the land to ensure the security of these individuals. We need to pray for favor from the government. In the mean time we are transporting water from the church to the village in large containers a couple of days a week. Our ultimate goal would be to have permanently installed taps, toilets and showers.

We help them with food, clothing, blankets and may things. Many of the residents come to the main services of the church and many have received the Lord and have been baptized. We are also trying to get them more job ready. We are now assessing their living structures and assembling a list of needed supplies to ensure that the dwellings are secure and that they are dry. We will also be repairing doors and installing fencing. We will be going to some businesses to raise the funds needed for this project. The people who live in the village will be used for labor so that they can begin to fix up and beautify their own village. I have attached a few pictures that will help you see the village.

We know that one way to reach out to the poor is to help with transportation. Many people cannot access School of Ministry and our services because they cannot afford taxis and the taxis will not take them home at night. For the last while we have been praying for buses so that we can help those who want to get to church to do so. God has answered our prayers and today two 30 passenger buses were delivered to the church. This is going to accelerate things dramatically. God is good. One major challenge in the nation right now is a new wave of violence.

They have indicated that there has not been such an outbreak of violence since the days of Apartheid. With all of the refugees coming into the country from Zimbabwe and other nations there is a lot of competition for already scarce jobs. In Alexandra (a nearby township) violent broke out against foreigners. It is labeled xenophobia. People are being beaten and killed especially at night. The violence has been spreading to other townships where most of the refugees end up. It is a serious problem and the government does not know what to do.

Over 3000 refugees are coming into the country every single day (over a million a year). In a context where the culture they are coming into has an unemployment rate of 50% it is creating a lot of resentment. Often the refugees are actually better educated and more qualified for the available jobs. Our greatest need in the church is for the land that we need to be opened up to us. We have really outgrown our present site. The owners of the land we need have been reluctant to sell it to us. With the economy sliding, perhaps they will change their mind. It is become a desperate need. That's all for now. Enjoy the pictures. Visit our website for sermons, School of Ministry and other resources.
In His Service

Bill Scheidler