March was a busy month for our church, but we are excitedly getting ready for an even busier few months in April and May. Easter is coming up, and we are preparing for services on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Here in South Africa, most churches meet on both days to celebrate our Savior. Pray for us as we try to invite hundreds to our services. We are sure to have many visitors who have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. The following Sunday, will be the first of our "Special Meetings in May!" Every Sunday in May we will host a different guest preacher. Pastors Lubabalo Sitole, Kevin Hall, Sipho Bonga and Jeremy Hall have been so kind as to come and preach for us. I am very excited for the people of Motherwell to hear gospel preaching by National Pastors. Please pray with us for lots of visitors, souls to be saved, and a lasting impact on the community of Motherwell.
As we are slowly growing, we have began to look for a more permanent building. It was recommended to me by multiple missionaries to not build a large church in the beginning, but to start small and grow into a more permanent facility. We have been renting a small home that has worked for us until now. We are not a very large church; averaging only about 20-30 every Sunday. However, the home we are in now does not allow for growth. I have already viewed several places, and will continue to view more in the coming days. Help us pray that we can find the best location for a building before this summer.
In February we were able to have our first baptismal service. We baptized 10 people in all, and had a wonderful service on top of that. The Lord is good and He will build his church! Pray for us as we try to follow His leading and get this church established for the thousands who live in our area. We were also blessed to see about 8 people who finished their Bible Challenge. The goal was to memorize Psalms 119:105 and come the church for 4 straight weeks. The people seem to really join in on this, and we look forward to more challenges in the future. Lastly, please remember our 'Youth Nights", every Friday night we have a time of fellowship with our youth. We play fun games and give a lesson. It is our heart's desire that through time, we will give them "life on life," discipleship and they will see the joy in serving Jesus. Please pray that God will raise up one of these young men to become a man of God.