Greetings, brothers and sisters, in Christ.

Please find herewith the latest ministry news from Nelspruit Bible Church (NBC) in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Ten years ago, we arrived in Nelspruit bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, eager to plant an English-speaking, Bible-teaching church. A decade has proved to us that it is not in vain that we trust the Lord. He has built his church just as he has promised.

Nelspruit Bible Church in 2024

When we first arrived in South Africa, we tried many different tactics to connect with people. We went street preaching. We visited hospitals, universities, and malls. We handed out invitations at traffic lights. Everything we tried failed. Then our wise God slowly sent us people by word-of-mouth. He started to build his church. Right from the start the Lord humbled us, showing us that he needed to do the work. The same truth applies today.

Ten years culminated in NBC generously granting Richard a three-month sabbatical. Richard and Telda went to the UK and America (where Richard completed his doctorate), we returned home to scoop up Charlie, and ventured off on a South African road trip. We drove thousands of miles, walked incredible beaches, enjoyed vast tracts of beautiful land, breathtaking rainbows, lakes and caves. We read thousands of pages, built numerous puzzles, slept long hours and enjoyed delicious South African cuisine. Above all this, our highlight was the people we visited (too many to include in a newsletter) and the many local churches. The Lord has kept, grown, and used his saints throughout the world. As expected, many are enduring promised trials. They are persevering, trusting, and even rejoicing as they look to Christ in their struggles. How our hearts were warmed as we witnessed the joy and steadfastness of our Christian friends. As we travelled far and wide we were reminded that this is God’s world. He never sleeps nor slumbers. He is constantly at work in every corner of the globe.

After three months away, we were eager to get back to our “natural habitat” and church family. Our first Sunday back we enjoyed three testimonies, two baptisms, and seven new members being welcomed to the NBC family. What a great final reminder that the Lord continues his work whether the Pesketts are there or not. We are privileged to be used by him in whatever way he deems fit.

In South Africa, God is viewed as a taxi driver because it is his job is to get people from A to B. He is needed only when there is a problem. If God does not deliver, then the local witchdoctor is the next port of call. Jesus is a mantra to be chanted to evoke good power. The greatest perceived power is the devil. There is no fear of God. There is no understanding of sin. There is no true repentance. There is no desire to live a holy life. There is no love for Christ. God exists to meet human needs rather than humans existing to glorify him. Africa is considered a Christian continent, but what many identify as Christianity is wind. It is no gospel at all. The masses are deceived as they blindly run towards eternal damnation. We are increasingly burdened for the lost and the need for faithful pastors.

Lord, have mercy on our nation! Lord, send believing men into pulpits! These men will need to be courageous and true, come what may.

This continues to be the yearning of our souls, as well as the NBC elders. At times Richard wants to drag men by their ears into the ministry! But the Lord needs to give them a burning passion for his word and his people. He has recently approached three men in the church, but none of them feel ready to train. Our hopeful Kenyan intern had his visa denied last month. We are ready with finances, accommodation and training material, but we have nobody to train. May the Lord give us divine contact with the people he would be pleased to send.

Word Partners with local pastors

Earlier this year we started our first Word Partners meeting. This is a two-year programme with men meeting for intensive training three-days twice per year. It is a new initiative, and we pray that it will bear fruit. Please pray that the Lord would raise up men to go into the ripe harvest fields.

Richard was called last week by “Bishop” Themba asking for monthly Saturday training to start again. When Richard asked him why he wanted to continue meeting, he was quick to reply, “We need to learn how to do expository preaching every week.” This gives us great hope.

Biblical counselling course. Eighteen people are attending a one-year intensive course. There is a book to read every month and 120 memory verses. Participants always finish transformed by the course and with a new respect for God’s word.

Partners. Every person completes this thorough ten-week book before they become members. We are heartened by how many are doing the course with other members and how they are growing in their understanding through it. This older couple were recently saved. They are nearly finished the course, there is much fruit evident in their lives, and they are eager to share their knowledge with others. We love their energetic enthusiasm to make up for lost time.

Keith and Margie

Tangible spiritual growth. One grandmother has started reading her Bible daily for the first time in her life. Another grandmother started showing signs of growth and holiness. It became evident that the change was due to her reading through the Bible in a year. It was the first time in her life that she read the Bible cover to cover.

Marriages. We finally have three NBC marriages on the horizon. Our first ones after ten years! We have become acutely aware of the struggles of dear saints who desire to honour Christ in their marriages. Traditional black African families have ungodly cultural expectations of bride price rituals, ancestor involvement and ungodly counsel. Ubuntu (literally “I am because we are”) dictates that standing against your family or community is the worst crime that can be committed. Ancestors are not pleased, and the family will be cursed. Anything bad that happens after this “neglect” of ancestors means that the blame is placed squarely at the feet of the perpetrators (Christians). Please pray for these couples to be humble, wise, and courageous as they seek to please Christ alone. It is hard to stand against an ungodly culture.

Katlego and Thando

Melissa. Melissa has been living with us for six months. When she arrived, she thought she was a Christian. Richard requested she read the booklet Am I Really a Christian? She was offended. While we were away on sabbatical, the Lord graciously saved her. We returned to a new creation and the transformation in her thinking and in her life is palpable. She is now looking forward to marrying Frederick and enjoying a truly Christian marriage.

We were given notice to vacate our rented church building just before Richard went on sabbatical. The elders pursued every possible place they could think of in Nelspruit, but we returned with two Sundays to go and still no viable meeting place. A local church has kindly agreed to let us use their premises temporarily. Our chairs and equipment are now stored in our garage as we seek a place that we can call our own. Once again, we are reminded of our great need for the Lord’s favour.

Please pray that he will provide a permanent building for NBC, whether we buy, rent, build or are given a building. We are eager to avoid the building issue from being a distraction from the real work, but we do need a place to gather! Please pray that we would not get drawn into this time-consuming necessity of finding a suitable home for NBC.

Elders and wives still love spending time together

Richard was refreshed by the sabbatical and valued time to think about the important without being dominated by the tyranny of the urgent. He has returned to NBC fresh and eager for the next decade, more determined than ever to keep preaching and teaching God’s word as well as passing on the baton to faithful men. “Please pray that all my efforts would honour Christ and bear eternal fruit.”

Telda loved having Richard and Charlie all to herself for three months! It was also a joy to spend much more time in the word and prayer. She returned loving Christ more. “Please pray that I would pursue and maintain the priorities that were decided upon when I was away from the busyness of life.”

Charlie P (age 12) is learning to trust the promises of Christ, rather than his feelings. He is despising his sin more, and he is quick to take responsibility for his actions. We have had hours of soul-conversation while away together and we are thankful for his transparency. “Please pray that I will be faithful as Christ was faithful to the end.”

Lethu (age 18) was baptised by Richard last year. He is strong in his faith and loves telling people about Jesus. The farm where he works continues to invest in him and be kind to him. They have taught him to drive and put him in charge of a team of farm workers. “Please pray that I will continue holding onto the truth and that I would be a brave and courageous man.”

Andrew (age 18) continues to be estranged from our family as he lives on and off with his birth parents. Please pray for his salvation. It is heartbreaking to watch him make destructive decisions and reap what he sows. We connect with him occasionally when he wants to make contact.

Nama (age 84) will be leaving the Peskett home after living with us for eight years. She is moving to live with Telda’s sister seven hours away. She has part time employment there and loves to be useful. The Peskett home is too comfortable! We will miss her gentleness, helpfulness and kindness, and we will continue to earnestly pray for her soul.

This will probably be the last time that we mention Andrew, Lethu and Nama in our newsletters as they are now living independently of us.

• Praise the Lord for growing his church in number, but more importantly, in devotion to Jesus.
• Praise God for an amazing sabbatical enjoying each other’s company and resting well.
• Praise Gor for the encouragement of saints throughout the world living wholeheartedly for Christ.
• Praise God for his kindness in saving sinners and opening the eyes of others to the meaning and joy of church.
• Pray for God to send men who will train and go into rural areas to plant bible teaching churches.
• Pray for a central, permanent building in which NBC can gather.
• Pray that the Lord will use our home for his eternal purposes.
• Pray that we will depend more on the Lord by praying more as a church.

Thank you for your prayers,

Richard and Telda Peskett

Nelspruit Bible Church