Ministry News: Grace Baptist Church (Daveyton, South Africa) (September 2025)

It is such a privilege to partner with you in advancing the gospel. Indeed, this work is a team effort. We do not take it for granted that you pray for us, support us, and encourage us. Some of you have responded to our newsletters personally, which lifts our hearts. Others, when we meet, show how closely you follow what God is doing here. We are deeply grateful that you take time to read and rejoice with us in the Lord’s work.

Let us now tune in to what God has been doing at Grace Baptist Church (GBC).

The Pastor’s Home

It has been a great joy to do life with my wife. The gospel has been our anchor in everything we do. We remind ourselves daily that we are children of God first, before we are husband and wife. Living with a believer who lovingly points you back to Scripture is a true blessing.

Our children are the closest witnesses of our lives. They hear us teach others and observe if we live by the gospel we preach. With the arrival of our youngest, Funinkosi, now four months old, our nights have become busier. Yet even in the loss of sleep, we rejoice in seeing the Lord give us strength each morning. He reminds us that serving Christ often means serving sacrificially.

Our church has been a great support during this busy time, especially for the ladies my wife is discipling. There are two who have been an encouragement—Nokubonga and Charity. They visit my wife, helping her with her choices, and also assist with the children. This has been an excellent opportunity for my wife not only to teach them but also to show them practically what it means to be a wife and a mom.

Guard Your Life and Doctrine

Working through Romans in expository preaching has been a blessing to my soul. Chapter 16 especially struck me, showing the gospel as a team effort within the body of Christ. Paul’s greetings to his co-workers reminded me of those who have shaped my own walk. I took time to call and thank them. To my surprise, these calls also became moments of encouragement as they reflected back to me what God is continuing to do in my life. Faithful preaching always challenges us to pause and ask: Am I living in healthy fellowship within Christ’s body? Who has God used in my life? How am I relating to them today?

I Will Build My Church

Jesus’ promise to build his church remains true, and that keeps us going. We have seen God grow our church and deepen us as leaders through the steady teaching of Romans.

This year, we held our first holiday Bible club in our new venue. Hearing the words of Jesus—“Let the little children come to me”—became very real. Since many of the students who previously served have graduated and moved to university, we trained a new team of young people for the work. They embraced the opportunity with great excitement.

The holiday bible club not only reached many children but also made our church known in the community. On the first day, we welcomed over 100 children, and on the second day, about 150. Parents walked from nearby homes to bring them, which was a joy to see. Even more encouraging was the way our youth worked together, bonded as a team, and grew in their understanding of the gospel as they served. This showed us again that our people long for opportunities to serve Christ, and the Lord is faithful to provide them.

We also look forward to baptising two believers soon, as the winter season delayed us. New visitors continue to attend regularly, and we hope to encourage them toward church membership. At the same time, we are learning that protecting the gospel also means practicing church discipline when necessary. Recently, we had to address a member who repeatedly neglected the gathering of the saints. Though difficult, the church was united, and the process became a lesson in accountability, care, and obedience to Christ.

Make Disciples of All Nations

Two years ago, at the Sola 5 Conference, we were challenged to consider what holds us back from planting churches. Too often, our answer has been resources. But the reminder was clear: The souls of people are far more important than money.

Now, two of our seminary students are in their final year. One brother, originally from Kenya, is planning to return home to plant a church. Recently, he even travelled there to survey the land. Though his family has lived most of their lives in South Africa, they are trusting God to return and plant a gospel-preaching church in Kenya.

Another brother, Johannes, from a small village in Mpumalanga, hopes in five years to plant a church in his hometown. For now, he continues to serve faithfully with us.

Partnering for the Gospel

In September, we were blessed to receive a visitor from Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia—brother Chipita Sibale. More than just a friend, he is a man full of wisdom. Whenever he visits us, we spend time discussing the church plant and exploring how we can do this work more effectively. Over the years, I can truly say that he has been mentoring us.

We are thankful for your partnership in prayer, encouragement, and support. The gospel work is not ours alone—it belongs to Christ, and he uses his people together for his glory.

How to Pray for Us

Here is how you can pray for us.

Family Praise and Prayer: We thank God for our son who is growing well. Please pray that we may continue to raise our children in the ways of the Lord.
My Wife’s Health: My wife’s health has been a challenge over the years. Please continue to pray for her strength, and for the Lord to grant me grace upon grace to love her as Christ loves the church, and to lead my family well.
Young Men in Transition: Pray for Caleb and Johannes as they seek the Lord’s guidance in the next steps of their lives, as they approach the end of their studies. Pray especially for Caleb, that the Lord would grant him wisdom, and for us as a church to prepare him well for the step of planting a church in Kenya.
New Believers: Pray for Phina and Mahlatse, the two ladies we recently baptised, that they may continue to grow in the likeness of Christ.

Thank you for your prayers,

Chris Mnguni
Pastor-teacher
Grace Baptist Church
Daveyton, South Africa