Christmas 2008

Thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of the group that celebrated Christmas with us. I think we had 27 people in all. Some of the guys from the Congo that were with us mentioned that it was the first Christmas that they had ever received a present at.

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for Sybrand and me as we begin our married life together. Pray that we will be a couple that honors God. Additionally, pray for us as we settle into ministry at a new church and with new people.

2. Pray for wisdom for Sybrand as he preaches to a wide spectrum of people and desires to make God’s Word practical to all that come.

3. Please pray that God will give us wisdom as to what to do about my house. We had thought we had sold it but some complications came up this week that have made us need to rethink this decision. We are evaluating whether we should rent it for awhile and sell it later when the real estate market has recovered some. Pray that if Lambano does purchase it, the sale will go through quickly and smoothly.

4. Please pray that God would give Sybrand and me wisdom as we decide what my ministry should entail.
   

5. Continue to pray for Martha as she takes over my responsibilities. Pray that God will use her greatly as she ministers among the people of Katlehong.

More Changes

Change in Mission’s Agency: One additional change that came about very recently was due to the news that GMI will not allow me as a married woman to stay on as a missionary. While this came as a surprise to me, I know it was not one to God and have seen His work through all of this. Shortly after I heard this news, I came into contact with Biblical Ministries Worldwide which is a mission’s agency operating out of Atlanta, Georgia. As I interacted with the field director here, I was encouraged by the passion they have to plant churches in the townships. The more we talked the more I saw that our philosophy of ministry was very similar. For many reasons, coming under their leadership seemed a natural fit and as of January all of my support will be channeled through them. This has been a sudden change and I have seen God work to bring together many pieces of the puzzle and continue to care for Sybrand and I. If you have more questions about this, please contact me. I am so grateful to God for those of you who have supported me through out the years.

Your giving has made my work here possible and your continued giving will help to make my continued ministry possible. If you would like to continue to support us, you can do so by mailing your checks to:

Biblical Ministries Worldwide
1595 Herrington Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5616

Checks should be made out to Biblical Ministries Worldwide with a note attached that they are for the support of Sybrand and Beth de Swardt. Additionally, you can find information about automated giving at http://www.biblicalministries.org/support/automated.htm.

Looking Ahead

When I look ahead one word comes to mind: Change!

1. Change in status: In a little less then a month, I will be a married woman and on top of that be a pastor’s wife. While it at times in a little scary, I am thrilled with where God has brought me.

2. Change in Location and Ministry: A little over a year ago, I spoke at a women’s retreat. I came home and told my mom that it was a church I would love to be part of. Little did I know that a year later God would call my future husband to be their pastor. We are excited to become part of Lynwood Baptist Church in Pretoria for many reasons. It is a small church of about 100 people that has been without a pastor for almost three years. The unique thing about this church is that it is a mix of color and race which is very unusual for a church in South Africa. We are thankful for the opportunity that God has given us to minister at this church.

In many ways, God has uniquely prepared this church to reach out with the message of salvation specifically and to reach the black community where the gospel is desperately needed. This is especially true given the mixture of traditional (ancestral) worship, the prevalence of witchcraft, the HIV crisis, and tremendous poverty in these communities. The church is eager to get involved where very few are willing to go. Several factors have helped to lay the foundation for this kind of ministry in the church.

· The church has been involved in a church plant in the township in the past and is open to being involved again in this with the added component of training and equipping pastors in that specific context.

· The previous pastor was a Zambian who helped to lay a wonderful foundation of interracial relationships within the church. (Please note that while this is not unusual in an American church context, it is in a South African church context.) The church is well integrated both in the congregation and on the leadership and this gives added credibility as we reach out .

· The church is already involved in a ministry to domestic workers and hosts a weekly service for them.

· The leadership is desiring to develop in its outreach ministry. We have had several conversations with the leadership within the church recently where they have indicated that they believe the church really needs to grow and develop in reaching out effectively to the black community.

Sybrand and I have spent a great deal of time thinking through and praying about my potential ministry in the church. There have been many opportunities presented to us. I will just share a few of them with you.

· God has already brought people from the township to our church that are great vehicles to take the gospel to this context and so have a tremendous impact for Christ in the townships. Many of you have often heard me talk about how the gospel is really the only solution to the crisis facing South Africa’s townships. Because of the make-up of the church, I have a unique opportunity to combine my desire to be involved in women’s ministry and my passion to reach our townships for Christ. We would love to see these women more fully integrated into the life of the church which must be done through building relationships with these women and, Lord willing, to disciple some of them equipping them for the task because of the potential to have a tremendous impact for Christ in the townships. We have discussed beginning with a Women’s Bible Study specifically for them. We are thinking of starting with an evangelistic study that they could bring their friends to which would serve as a way to help them begin to reach out to those around them.

Our prayer is that God would equip these women and help us, as a church, to develop avenues into the townships they live in where we could begin to develop mercy ministries. They can serve as a bridge into these spiritually dark communities. We really desire to see our church more actively involved in meeting the needs (spiritual and physical) of our townships. These women could help us lay the foundation for this. Please pray that God gives us wisdom as to the best way to do this.

· We have also been encouraged by the contact we have had with a missionary couple relocating to South Africa from where they have been serving in Germany. They are part of a work called Thandanani (http://www.thandanani.org/default.aspx). Thandanani, from a Zulu word meaning "love one another," is a ministry begun by Biblical Ministries Worldwide-South Africa to foster a church-planting movement in the rural villages of South Africa, villages shattered by the AIDS epidemic and struggling to cope with the orphans that the scourge is leaving behind. The ministry they are involved in could be a wonderful one to partner with as we begin to reach out to the townships in practical ways.

· Additionally, Sybrand and myself have been approached about the opportunity to become involved in the Christian school that uses our church property. They are in the process of re-evaluating the purpose of the school and are thinking of using the school as an outreach into the community by providing children with a solid Christ-centered education. These children would then be equipped to go back into their communities and reach them with the gospel of Christ. We are working on building some bridges with the school by teaching some Bible classes once a week. The school is a mixture of black and white students and we hope in these classes to help deal with some of the issues that they are facing in a daily basis including issues like racial tension, AIDs, sexual purity and how to stand for Christ in a pagan world. Potentially, especially given my background in education, there are many opportunities for ministry at the school.

· I have been asked to help some with the administrative work of Grace School of Ministry (The counseling training program my father has started.) which is modeled after the counseling program I administrated for many years at The Master’s College. This year, they have 60 students involved from all over Africa (whites and blacks) and even parts of Europe. It is a great way for me to use some of my previous experiences to help in the training of nationals- many of whom will minister in the poorest areas. Given it is a distance learning program, there has been a need for someone to help in the area of student contact. I will be involved in helping to encourage the students in their studies and providing help in keeping them on track with their studies and helping to answer questions that arise in the course of their studies. Additionally, I will be helping with some of the grading.

· If you are aware of anything that is happening in Southern Africa, you know that things are a mess. Just look at Zimbabwe for example. Many are fleeing to South Africa and we have a unique opportunity as we minister to them to potentially not only influence South Africa but all of Africa. Our church has many refugees from various parts of Africa. Many of these refugees desire to go back to their home countries. As they are equipped, they have the potential to go back and influence their countries for Christ. It is a tremendous opportunity for our church.

Please pray that God would give Sybrand and me much wisdom as we decide what is the best investment of our time for the sake of the kingdom. Our first priority is settling into church life at Lynwood and focusing on our ministry there. Please pray for us as we get to know the people and especially for Sybrand as he begins to shepherd them.

There are many possibilities and we do not want to neglect what we believe to be our first priority right now – the church. Figuring all of this out will take some time to figure out especially has we settle into ministry at a new church.

Highlights of the last few months....

1. Teams: One of the biggest highlights was the two teams that came to minister here. The first was a team from The Masters College. They came primarily to minister at the two primary schools that I have been involved in. They were here for six weeks and had an incredible impact with the students and teachers at the schools. I can’t tell you how many comments I had about their attitudes and servant spirits. I was also told by a teacher that for the first time they saw what a Christian should look like. They were an amazing testimony to those they came in contact with.

The other team was the combined team from Grace Community and Calvary. They were a blessing and had many opportunities to share Christ and the gospel with many of the various schools in Katlehong. Keisha Reed who has been here ministering for a year along with our Malawian interns at the church have followed up with a Bible Study in one of the schools.

2. Martha: A real joy for me these past months has been to spend time training Martha to replace me in Katlehong. She and I have spent a great deal of time together and she is a real encouragement to me and a great asset to the ministry at Lambano. A particular joy for me has been the fact that Martha has started taking the Biblical counseling courses my father is teaching here in Pretoria. Seeing her grasp these truths has been thrilling and it is especially exciting to be leaving someone biblically trained to continue the ministry.

3. Evangelistic Bible Study: We started and have completed the evangelistic Bible Study in Katlehong. I taught the first week and it became clear that I was more of a hindrance then a help because of the language issues. Martha stepped in and has taught the class while I handed out food parcels so our worker could come. One woman made a profession of faith and about 10 others heard the gospel. Pray as Martha continues with this study in the New Year.

4. Katlehong Church: Many of you know that I have been praying for a church to be planted in Katlehong. Well, I recently found out that God answered my prayer 4 years ago and I didn’t know it. Through some new contacts, I heard of an American who has been ministering in Katlehong. I meet with him and his wife a few weeks ago and was encouraged by their love for the Lord and their selfless ministry to the people of Katlehong. It is even in the same area that the people we help live in. Martha visited the church and it seems solid. How exciting to finally have a church to send people to! Martha plans to go one Sunday shortly after Christmas with some of the children we sponsor in Katlehong. The pastor has offered to pick up the children for Sunday school in the weeks following.

5. Other opportunities: Other the past few months I have had many opportunities to minister to various women’s groups at several churches. Included in this was an opportunity to speak to a group of pastor’s wives on my favorite topic: discipleship. Additionally, I was able to be involved teaching a women’s class at Grace School of ministry (my father’s counseling course.) It was a real joy to be able to work with women from various parts of Africa.

Apologies....

I have been a very bad blogger and to the two of you who still read my blog, I am about to update. I'm not going to post pictures right now but will soon.

God's Faithfulness!

I'm engaged to Sybrand de Swardt!!!!!!

Many of you already know but in case you haven't heard, God has brought a wonderful godly man into my life and we are getting married on January 17th in Cape Town, South Africa.


The ring-

This is the view from where we got engaged in Kruger National Park last week. It was Olifants (Elphant) Camp in the park. It was an amazing site we looked down on.

A picture of the two of us from earlier in the day.

The first picture of us as an engaged couple. Sorry for the shadows.

The Story:

My dad teaches counseling courses in Grace School of Ministry in Pretoria four times a year. The classes started October 2006 with pastors and others coming to attend the classes for a week at a time. At the end of the March class, my dad realized that one of the men in the class was a single pastor. He mentioned it in passing at the end of the week to my mom and me. I found it kind of funny. I mean the guy lived in a small town outside of Cape Town. How was I going to meet him?

Well, while my dad was completely innocent in the next part of the story, my mom did a little scheming. She decided that it would be a good idea to invite the whole class over for dinner the next time the class met in October. She figured that way we would have a chance to meet. Once again, I found it all funny. I mean what was going to come of it. He wasn't going to meet me and want to date me.

So, that October about 50 to 60 people came over for dinner. We were introduced but it ended there that evening. I had come to the place in life where I really thought God had meant for me to be single. I even said that to my mother at the end of the evening. I wasn't upset about it but rather really wondered if I wasn't more effective in my ministry single then I would be married. I was content with where God had me. I loved my life and ministry. (Interestingly enough, Sybrand was at the same point in his life and thinking as well.)

(As an aside, the other part of the story I only found out later was that the summer before my mom had prayed faithfully every day while she did some physical therapy on her neck that involved being on her knees for an half hour a day that God would send me a godly husband. Amazing isn't it?)

Well, she gave it one more try and at the end of the November class had everyone over for dinner as well. It was at the end of the evening when Sybrand came into the room I was in. He was looking for the person he had come with to tell them it was time leave. He sat on the opposite side of the table from me and began talking to a couple sitting beside him. My mom and sister-in-law came in about that time and sat beside him and began talking to him. I knew I better join in the conversation or else I would be in trouble :). So, I joined in.

We began to talk and as we did the others around us began to disappear. It wasn't a long conversation but it was nice. During it, he invited me down to Cape Town about three times. I didn't think much of it. Most South Africans want to show visitors their part of the country. My mom asked me what I thought after and I told her it I thought he was really nice but what was going to come of it? What I only found out later was that Sybrand went home and couldn't sleep after we met. I'll let him tell that part sometime.

That next week he wrote my dad and asked him for my contact information. I was sooo impressed with that. I knew there were other ways he could have gotten it but to go through my dad scored big points in my book! The next day (which was Friday) I heard from him for the first time. I kept thinking this is so different. There was no doubt that he was the one doing the pursuing and it was so wonderful to have it that way. We began writing and in the middle of December I went down for a long weekend.

It was a wonderful weekend. I think we talked almost every minute we were together. Its been an interesting, sanctifying journey since then. I certainly have realized I am a lot more sinful then I ever thought! But God has been so good to us and while we grow in holiness he has also knit our hearts together in a way that only He can. I know I am far better with Sybrand then I am without him in every way.
This last week we spent a few days in the Kruger National Park visiting a pastor friend and seeing animals. Wednesday we left the house at about 5am to get in the park early. We drove way up that day to a part called Olifants (Elephants). We walked all over the site. I couldn't figure out why. We finally came to this very quiet section with a wonderful view. We sat down and looked for a while. Then we prayed together. Earlier as we had walked around, Sybrand had shared the significance this site had had in his life while a child. He mentioned he thought it was an appropriate place for a new beginning. As we sat there, he gave me a small box with an amazing ring in it and we soon became an engaged couple.

Please pray for us as we enter this new stage in life. Pray that God would help us to glorify Him as we prepare for marriage.

TMC Team 2

TMC Team

I've been meaning to post these pictures for awhile. The TMC team left last week after being here for 6 weeks. What a blessing they were!!! I was so impressed and encouraged by their servant spirits and the way they faithfully ministered in difficult circumstances. The impact they had for Christ on the children and teachers at the schools where they taught was great. Both prinicpals came and shared with me the difference they had seen in the children since the team had come. More then that, I could see it on their last day at the schools. Everywhere I walked there seemed to be crowds of children gathered around the students clinging to them. They laid a wonderful foundation for others to build on as they lived out the gospel.

Katlehong Outreach

I have asked you to pray several times for an evangelistic Bible Study we are starting in Katlehong. Several weeks ago we started that study. I taught the first week and as I did it became very clear to me that my teaching the study was more of a hindrance to the study then a help because of the language barrier. Martha, who works in the Lambano office and has been helping in Katlehong, quickly agreed to teach it for me and she has been doing a wonderful job.

A real answer to prayer is that the second week we met one of the women, Anna, made a profession of faith. Pastor Vuyo and Keisha are beginning to meet with her to help her better understand the gospel and the commitment she made. Please pray that her conversion would be genuine and that she would stand strong in the midst of persecution that will come as she walks away from ancestral worship.

Please pray for Martha as she teaches each week. Pray that God would help her as she translates each lesson into an African language and that she would be able to explain the truths of the gospel clearly to those who come.

Please continue to pray for this study and the women who come. I have included a list of their names below so that you can pray specifically for them.

Nosisi Radebe

Bellinah Malinga

Phumzile Nkosi

Elizabeth Mthembu

Christina Mohlambe

Thandeka Msomi

Anna Monethi

Matshidiso Khabanyane

Sibongile Makhubo

Mpho Mokokodisi

Christina Mavuso Doreen

May 2008 Prayer Letter

I'm back. Sorry it has been such a long time. Below you will find a copy of my recent prayer letter. If you would like to be on my e-mail update list, please let me know!

About a week and a half ago, 8 tired students arrived from The Master’s College. They were joined a few days later by 2 others. The original plan was for them to teach English in the two schools we are connected with in Katlehong. The subject list that they are helping to teach rapidly expanded when we met with the principals. In addition to English, they are now teaching Science, Math, Art, Life Orientation, Computers and Music. The schools have been very excited to have them here and have made every effort to welcome them. One even went as far as to have a Welcome Ceremony that included singing, traditional dancing and other acts.

The hope is that their ministry would continue to help us build bridges into the community that would provide avenues for us to share the gospel. What a tremendous blessing they have been to the ministry here. Many of them have had the opportunity to share the gospel in conversations with teachers and students and some have had opportunities to share the gospel in their classes. They have built wonderful relationships with both the teachers and the students and have been wonderful examples to those around them of what it means to follow Christ! One of the assistant principals made a comment to one of the students that really sums up the impact they are beginning to have. She said that to some people church was a hobby but she could tell that to them it was their life.

Another exciting development in the township has been the community worker God has provided us with. Many of you prayed with me that God would provide someone who was trustworthy and who was a genuine believer and able to share Christ with those we minister too. God has answered that prayer. In February, Pastor Vuyo, who is a graduate of Christ Seminary and also pastor of the church plant associated with our church, began to work with us in this capacity. He has been a wonderful addition to the work there and shares my burden to see a church planted in Katlehong.

An additional exciting development has been the fact that, Lord willing, we should receive the funding in June to begin the hot lunch program at these schools. We will be feeding around 2500 students lunch every day. For many it will be the only meal they receive daily. This is a huge undertaking but we are very excited to have it come to fruition finally!

Praise and Prayer Requests:

1. Praise the Lord for the great team from The Master’s College and their wonderful attitudes and their servant spirits. Pray that God would bless their ministry and that they would have opportunities to share the gospel with those they come in contact with.

2. Please pray for the safety of the team and those of us who visit Katlehong regularly. I know news of the violence in the township has reached the states. So far the violence has been directed at those living in the townships that are from other African countries. Katlehong has been relatively quiet compared to some of the other townships in Johannesburg and we are taking every precaution to ensure their safety but your prayers are appreciated.

3. Please pray for the safety of some of our Lambano workers who have been impacted by the violence where they live.

4. Praise the Lord for providing us with a trustworthy community worker and please pray for Vuyo as he tries to develop relationships with those we are helping,

5. I am starting an evangelistic Bible Study in Katlehong in two weeks. Please pray that God would draw those who come to Himself.

6. Pray that God would give wisdom and help as we start the lunch program soon. The project begins with building kitchens at both schools in addition to a dining hall. Please pray that this process would go smoothly and that God would provide us with the right workers for this project.

Praying Children

One of the greatest encouragements to me is knowing that people are praying for me and the work here. An even greater encouragement is the two children below who faithfully pray for me every night. What a great thing for children at such a young age have a heart for mission and develop a pattern of prayer.



Mark prays faithfully that God will keep me safe.

Kyla began praying for me before I went to Africa and has continued to pray for me and the children here.

Catching Up 3

I spent the final part of my trip in Atlanta, Georgia with some dear friends (John and Connie Blackburn and Jack and Barbara Enter) from Providence Church. We had a wonderful weekend together in the mountains and I was given the opportunity to share about the work here in their services. It is a great joy to have this church now partnering with me in the work here.

I came home and was able to enjoy a few days of rest and relaxation with my frien, Sybrand De Swardt, in Cape Town.

Catching Up 2

One of the favorite parts of my trip was the week I spend in Napa with Tom and Dee Ellison.
We had great conversations, lots of laughs and made some great memories.



Tom with his grandson Mark who is one of my favorite kids.

I haven't been to Disneyland in years. I had a great day there with the Martson's.

Catching Up

I know I have been a very bad blogger lately and I and I am very sorry about that. Many of you know that I spent about 6 weeks in the states in January and February. It was a wonderful busy trip. I had a great time catching up with many of you and renewing friendships and sharing what God has allowed me to be part of here in South Africa. A big word of thanks to those of you who helped to make my trip so special. You truly refreshed my heart!

I thought I would show you in pictures some of the highlights of my trip. I started with a week at my oldest brother's. I had such a great time with them. Nothing beats spending time with family. It was a little shock to my body to go from summer to winter- especially the night we went tubing in the snow :).

Below I am pictured with some of my all time favorite people, Robert and Eilene Marston. I was so thankful for all the encouraging times I had with them and their family. What a blessing it was to me!

Eilene and Carol are like true sisters to me!

Sorry its been so long!

I know it has been a long time since I have posted and I apologize. I do plan on writing an update soon! In the meantime, here is a short video that a friend (Thanks Jesse!) put together for me with some highlights of my ministry.