Partnership Type
Church planting
Sending Church
Living Hope Bible Church
Status
In planning
Living Hope Bible Church (LHBC) is preparing for a Zulu church plant in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. A Zulu-speaking Bible study began earlier this year with about fifteen Zulu-speaking members of LHBC preparing themselves as the core group to be sent out in the coming year. The group is currently translating and teaching through LHBC’s doctrinal statement, constitution, and membership class. There is no stable and mature Zulu-speaking church known among the more than half a million Zulu-speaking people in the greater Pietermaritzburg area.
The Vision
The plant will most likely share the facilities of LHBC, due to its convenient location close to the central business district, until another venue is found for either the plant or LHBC.
The Team
Sanele Ngobese, an elder of LHBC, is currently completing his training within the church and will serve as the church planter, alongside Pastor Andrew Zekveld.
Sanele Ngobese, church planter
Zulu Bible study
The Prayer Requests
- Thanksgiving for the organic development of this work over the past two years of preparation, and continued spiritual growth of the core group as LHBC remains strong and faithful when the Zulu-speaking members are sent out.
- Vitality for Sanele as he continues to function as an LHBC elder, shepherd the Zulu-speaking members, and work on the Zulu translation of the foundational documents.
- Increased giving within LHBC to maintain Sanele’s salary until the plant can support its own ministry, and wisdom in sharing LHBC’s limited premises during preparation and beyond.
The Needs
For the plant’s first year, Living Hope Bible Church has proposed the following monthly budget to cover basic costs:
- Basic monthly costs: R50,000
- Plant contribution: approximately R10,000
- Sending church (LHBC) contribution: R25,000
- Remaining need: R15,000 per month for the first year
LHBC remains fully committed to this plant and will cover the balance if needed, but welcomes partnership from other churches both to strengthen the work and to allow LHBC to move forward on other ministry priorities already awaiting funding.
- Continued partnership with other KwaZulu-Natal churches translating theological works into Zulu, including the MacArthur Study Bible notes, the Fundamentals of the Faith manual, and the Becoming a Biblical Leader XL training materials.
Contact
Pastor Andrew Zekveld