 Reflections from Africa
Our hearts are full and sad as we leave the Dark Continent again. It has been almost six months of joy, challenges, spiritual battles and humility watching our Lord God do His work. Many moments in churches, homes, neighborhoods and missionary lives have left a clear memory on our hearts! The spiritual, mental and physical challenges are hard to put into words. Lurking below the surface in Africa is a spiritualism that is very deadly. Cathy and I saw several ZCC congregations, while riding the bus to Johannesburg, gathered in open fields wearing white robes and sitting for hours listening to leaders. The people are not aware of the twisted truth from the Bible. We visited Kruger National Park and captured the picture above as a herd of Zebra came to a water hole to drink. They seemed timid and unsure. Cathy said, watch. There is a crocodile in that area. I saw him go under the surface when the Zebra approached. The thirsty Zebras drank for several minutes and started to pull away and the crocodile jumped out of the water trying to get them. That is such a clear snapshot of the spiritual battles that Satan is just below the surface waiting for the moment to take us. We saw many salvation decisions in various churches around Mpumalanga. We also saw many eyes opened to the dangers of false prophets twisting the Word of God for personal gain. Thank you for sending us and we look forward to seeing many of you when we get home and recuperate from the time zone changes. Be blessed as you serve Him today. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.
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  I recently had the pleasure of loving on these two pups and watching them grow until they were ready for their new homes. Newborn and innocent, they were such a delight each day at my missionary friends’ home. I watched them grow and follow me everywhere I walked.
It was hard not to hold these two new lives every time I was with them. They would run and play, joyfully until they just dropped from exhaustion and immediately fall asleep. They especially liked to chew on my shoe laces and try to growl. One of them, the brown and white one, was born with a hernia that made one side push outwards. It didn’t bother him, though. He would run a little clumsily, but nothing stopped him. He would fall off the steps and keep on running. I just had to hold him after those times which he loved. Both pups loved chewing on the plants, herbs and flowers in the garden and trying to dig holes. These tiny little puppies climbed all over their big “brother”, Malachi, the giant great Dane. There were five dogs around in all, including a poodle, so there were lots of laughs. As the pups grew, it was funny watching them chase their mother to drink milk. She let them know she would feed them when she wanted to feed them. When the day came for them to go to new homes, I was sad for me but glad for them. They had brought joy and fun for all of us on the farm and made the hardest days a lot easier and comforting. We get the same joy from watching new spiritual births in the village churches of Mpumalanga. What a joy! Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. Life Nuggets are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  A Kingdom Leader is fully aware of the hazards of ministry. He knows the pressures and difficulties that push a leader in each ministry setting. Sometimes it can feel like the world is closing in on you.
Do you feel distressed and anxious? Have you been harassed and struck down by people? Each leader has moments like that. We need one another so that we have hope. Sometimes we need another, so we won't fall apart or be left behind. We need the buffer of ministry partners who keep us from being damaged irreparably. Paul certainly had his struggles with ministry on the road. He also had his struggles with immature young workers, like Mark, whom he removed from his team. But he never lost sight of him! We see that John Mark was with Paul at his first Roman imprisonment. (see Col. 4:10) The aging apostle gives this young leader one of the highest compliments he can give during his second imprisonment! 2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) 11 hLuke alone is with me. Get jMark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. There is value in each of us. Never lose sight of other leaders who could be of help to you! All of us face adversity. Seek others who will give you a buffer zone for the pressures of leadership. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmisisons.com _________________________ h [See ver. 10 above] j See Acts 12:12 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Ti 4:11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa. Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. |
Danny SartinFour decade veteran of youth ministry in churches, Youth For Christ and now is the Founder and Executive Director of Deeper Still Missions. Danny and his wife Cathy spend most of their time mentoring missionaries in Africa, Europe, Central America and North America. Future opportunities include South America and the Asia Pacific area. Archives
November 2023
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