Dear brethren,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am grateful that you are taking time to read my report on how God is working in our ministry his wonders to perform.
Family
It is always a blessing to have your wife’s support in the work of ministry and to listen to her prayers for you. I praise God for the long road that he carried us as a couple. We are heading for the end of the year now so everything is slowing down. Please pray for us that we will stay alert and focuses on what God has called us to do for him.
An Open Door
So for a few years now, we made it a habit to preach opposite a few drug outlets where all kinds of evils are happening. You will find a chop shop there, drugs and alcohol, and all kinds of evils. A few months ago, we heard that the guy that use to run that whole premises made a profession of faith. Whether he is using it for a cover I don’t really know, but we immediately took the opportunity and moved in to share the gospel. Without us realising what has happened, God has opened a door for the gospel. For the past few months, we have been ministering there on a Friday and God has provided a regular audience.
A few of the men and women who gather with us are men and woman that I use to hang out with in my BC (before Christ) days. This is so amazing! Recently, we had a question-and-answer session where they could ask anything about the Bible and Christianity that they did not understand. The questions came in a flood, particularly from one gentleman who wanted to know why must we be born again and why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Another lady wanted to know why Jesus had to carry a cross—what is so significant about the cross?
We had a fabulous time answering all these questions. One of our sisters, a new member in the church, also joined us. She described her experience as fantastic. God is really working, even in the darkest places where we cannot see. Let me just say that we ended our time together with a nice plate of potjie around a Ludo board game.
Oupa
“Oupa” is one of the guys who has been attending our open-air services for years now and he would always come out for prayer. You should know that Oupa is an alcoholic and has been for many years now. People used to laugh at him and make fun whenever he would come out for prayer. He was desperate to be sober, he lost his wife and home, and his children despise him.
I learned that he decided to stop drinking and to go to the doctors for help. I spoke to him recently and he said, “I am drinking less each day.” Please keep him in your prayers that he will look to Jesus for salvation and freedom from his addiction.
Prayer Requests
- Praise God for this new open door at a former drug den.
- Pray for my weekly outreach and for God’s protection as I reach out to gangs in the area.
- Pray that God will save gang members through our gospel witness. For the past two weeks, there have been no shooting and we praise God.
- Please pray for us as we are busy negotiating to buy an old church building.
- Pray that we as a church will live lives that are worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for taking time to read this brief report. I apologise for not always being able to add pictures.
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
Yours in his service,
Quinton Maneville
Associate pastor
Reformed Faith Mission Community Church