Ministry News: Free State Bible Church (May 2025)

Dear beloved, greetings

Please find herewith the latest pastoral update on the Kukunis and the Free State Bible Church (FSBC) flock.

God has been good to us as the Kukuni family. He has bountifully blessed us with all we need for life and godliness—whether at home, in church, or wherever we may be. In our household, I seek to lead spiritually by practising “anytime, anywhere” devotions (Deuteronomy 6:4–9; 11:18–21), so that gospel conversations and devotions are not limited to set times but are a natural part of our daily lives.

We thank the Lord that he has blessed us with obedient children and, by his grace, they are spared the need for discipline such as spanking. They read their Bibles independently every morning, and I’m amazed that they are almost through the New Testament. At present, I’ve asked them to pause and read the book of Job, sharing daily lessons they learn with me.

The reason I want them to read Job is to learn about blessed endurance, as taught in the helpful sermons Pastor Tebogo has preached on James 5:7–12, especially v. 11. This is to help prepare us for the road ahead as our family enters a period of transition and uncertainty. Though we are not facing trials like Job, we must learn patience and resolve not to complain about the changes life brings.

We celebrated our twelfth wedding anniversary on 30 March, and our daughter turned ten on 14 April. Witnessing all that the Lord has done fills us with awe at his faithfulness and his presence with us thus far. In all of this, we see the Lord’s fingerprints throughout our lives. Our children’s education is going well, as is our own learning and my academic work.

Whenever we think about this little church of Christ, we are filled with joy at what the Lord is doing through us. We thank our Father for sending the Spirit to remain with us until the work is complete. It is a great privilege to be part of the gospel work in the world.

Following a conviction drawn from Mark Dever’s book, we are committed to ensuring that the church is the gospel made visible. God has helped Pastor Tebogo and me to demonstrate, through clear and practical application, how everything we do in the church is tied to church membership. The notion of a Christian who is not a member of a local church is foreign to the New Testament.

As a result, we’ve heard from several members who have expressed appreciation and a deeper understanding of ecclesiology. Many have grown in confidence and are now able to encourage regular professing visitors to pursue membership, explaining both the why and how from Scripture. Even the students who attend—many of whom had previously seen no need for church membership—have shown new interest. Around half a dozen have already signed up for the upcoming discipleship-for-membership classes.

In our last report, we asked for prayer regarding Sisters Mathapelo and Zanele, whom the church was considering for membership. The church met to vote on their applications, and both were joyfully accepted as members of FSBC. As relatively new believers who have not yet been baptised, they will be baptised soon, Lord willing, since baptism and church membership go hand in hand.

Within the church, we can sense and see a deep appreciation for the covenantal relationship we share because of what Christ has done for us. There is a clear unity among the members, adherents, and regular visitors. The young adults—mainly students—form a particularly active group. They meet regularly to nurture their healthy, gospel-centred relationships. Their gatherings include Bible study, fun and games, and simply spending time together. They do this to affirm that they are family and friends because of Christ, and they find no need for worldly entertainment or companionship with unbelievers.

What we observe in many of them is a growing awareness of the seriousness with which they must approach their studies and work. They recognise that these opportunities are not something we deserve but are gifts of grace—a privilege entrusted to us by God.

The women continue to maintain a strong Bible study group. They faithfully apply the teaching they receive from the pulpit in their daily lives. The men also enjoy meaningful fellowship with one another. They meet regularly and encourage each other to be active within the church. This is an outworking of what we studied together in The Masculine Mandate, particularly the chapter titled “Man and His Friends.” We have now completed the book and are excited to begin studying African Christian Ethics by Samuel Waje Kunhiyop.

Please pray that our study bears fruit as we engage with the ethical issues that face us in our context.

• Thank God that his word that comes from his mouth never returns to him void, but accomplishes that which the Lord has designed the church to be, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
• Thank God for adding to our number not only those who are being saved, but believers whose eyes are open to see the importance of the local church.
• Thank God for the works of grace in ensuring we are united and foster strong relationships with one another.
• Thank God for his goodness towards us, the Kukunis.

• Pray for the Lord to provide the money we need to support the work of the gospel.
• Pray that the Lord would raise up men in the church to serve as elders and deacons.
• Pray for the future of both the Kukunis and the Molefis.

Grace and peace to you,

Tsholo