Orange Farm Reformed Baptist Church (Orange Farm Township, South Africa): Church Strengthening Partnership Opportunity

Status
In process

This church plant emerged from both a need and an opportunity to establish a gospel-preaching church in a township setting. The vision is for this church plant to serve as a gospel light to the township, where false churches such as prosperity gospel ministries, traditional churches, and cults like the Universal Church abound.

Athi Mgqibelo is married to Nomvula. They have no children yet but are expecting soon. He holds a B-Com Accounting degree and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Theology degree. He serves as full-time sole pastor and teacher in the sending church while also serving as the church planter.

The Mashininis are a family with three sons. The father serves as principal of a Matric-rewrite centre. Their garage serves as the church’s meeting place.

The Bhengus are a family with one child whose father is a high school teacher. The family is very supportive of the ministry.

Pray for:

• qualified men and young professional families to be raised or sent to the church the plant to serve in the ministry;
• spiritual maturity of existing attendees;
• true conversions of regular visitors; and
• prevention of burnout and exhaustion for the current church planter.

Monthly financial investment of R16,000 to cover:

• support for a missionary to take over the church plant;
• weekly operational needs; and
• transportation costs.

A well-qualified individual holding the following credentials:

• currently fluent in or willing to learn IsiZulu, Sesotho, or IsiXhosa (languages used for services and preaching);
• willingness to relocate closer to the area for better responsiveness to community needs;
• commitment to serving the risen Lord in a township setting; and
• capability of eventually relieving the current church planter from the challenging dual oversight role.