Category: - Deeper Still Missions | Missionary Training | Ministry Mentoring

Walking in Life

10/10/2019

Walking in Africa!

Pictured above is the traveling pulpit of the well known evangelist Andrew Murray. He would ride a circuit of churches to preach to the farmers. His trails carried him over the mountains and valleys of the rural areas of Wellington, Worcester, Robertson and other towns. The people would build him a church of reeds and circle it with their wagons for the duration of his stay.

In the 1860's he was called to be the pastor of a church in Worcester. The noted writer was the pastor of five different churches in in the Western Cape area of South Africa.He prayed fervently for revival among the peoples of Africa.When it came he was somewhat surprised. He struggled to respond to all the changes he witnessed.

Tomorrow Cathy and I drive to Worcester to run errands and gather groceries. We will drive by the church where that revival took place.

We have experienced a similar feeling as we have walked into farmer's homes in the Robertson area. We have opened the Word of God and our discussions have gone deep almost immediately!

Yesterday Johann the owner of the cottage where we stay dropped by and knocked on our door. He said, I just love looking deeper in the Bible and seeking to understand some difficult scriptures. I can't stop thinking about our discussion on Saturday.

Two German volunteers came into our flat yesterday and asked Cathy questions for hours on relationships, the Bible and the church. What a joy to walk in the steps of others who have been used by our Lord.

The next few weeks will speed up and we have a week with Darryl and Janine Mather-Pike at Amathunzi. Then we spend a week in Knysna teaching Bible and leadership to ministry leaders of the area.

Pray that our hearts and mind are ready for all the opportunities that will come. We are so thankful for you.

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.

Report from Africa #2

9/12/2019

This photo is a snapshot of the vines only twenty feet from our front door. You are looking down on multiple clusters of grapes that have appeared in the last few days.

They have started to blossom with new fresh leaves. At the end of my thumb is a baby cluster of grapes. The very small and tiny grapes will grow and become a sweet rich wine when harvest time arrives.

It is a great symbol of what is going on in the Robertson Valley and the Roux Le Chasseur farm. Rolf and Lizzie Weichardt are busy bringing in new young volunteers from German and a new ministry community is forming. Construction is hectic just like a beehive.

Tonight, we will have a community gathering with everyone to laugh, eat, play games, share encouragement and get to know one another. It will be a sweet time of fellowship.

Johann Roux, the elder father of the farm family, came by our cottage yesterday to show us the Spring Bok (antelope) that was killed for a special Braii soon. That is a special cookout that would be like a barbecue in America. Not only do they grow grapes, apricots and peaches but they tend a herd of Boks also.

The Roux family members have brought by olive oil, fruit from the trees, bread and pies. It is what the Bible calls Koinonia! Each time we open the Word of God you feel the growth all around you. One volunteer said, you lit a fire in my heart with the Bible!

Koinonia is wonderful but it also brings challenges. Todd Vanderpool, chairman of Deeper Still Missions, was given a hard prognosis after his brain surgery. We ask you to pray for him and his family as they walk a difficult path.

Manu Sarjaduk and a group of young missionaries are now at their mission school training center in England. The SMS yesterday highlighted their Bible Study and compared favorably with what we did seven years ago at Amathunzi.

We covet your prayers for the hard things and praise God for so many blessings all around us. Thank you for bringing us to the throne of grace!

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.

Who is Jesus?

8/29/2019

Report From Africa #1

This is the view outside our cottage on the Roux farm. The moon rises above the mountains in the distance.

The vineyards will be growing and full in a month or so just like the photo from a year ago. At this moment the vines have been "cleaned" (pruned) and prepared for the growing season. Young shoots are already coming out of the branches.

On the opposite side of our cottage are apricot trees in full bloom. Harvest will be coming after the flowers fall and develop new fruit. Workers are busy each day spraying and preparing the fields.

We will come to know each row of plants from the fruit that it bears. So we come to expect a certain fruit from our life that is the result of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The new buildings are up and there is a beehive of activity on the mountain above the Roux farm. The new Khanyisa Retreat center is sitting majestically on a hill that gives a stunning view of the valley. Just to walk around among the series of rooms, lodge and special homes is a treat. The fruit of that labor will be open for service in late November. Missionaries will be able to come and refresh, renew and refocus their walk with Christ on this special place.

We have met several new volunteers from Germany and opened God's Word to ask profound questions of Jesus Christ. Who is Jesus? What do you expect of Jesus? Are you surprised by what Jesus does in your heart, mind and soul? Is there a gap between your knowledge of Jesus and your understanding of Him?

Each day is a special opportunity for a new season in your life! Cathy and I are thrilled with our personal Bible Study and the new insights we get each day!

Pray as there are challenges with a particular farmer who is making the access road to the facility a difficult issue. I know we plan . . . but God directs the steps.

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.

Our Heart!

10/29/2018

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.

Thinking of you...

9/27/2018

Report from Africa #8

I am standing and opening God's Word with leaders from ten different Word of Life Bible Churches in Leroro, South Africa. Several hundred attended and engaged the story of the African, Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross of Jesus. He was the first person to have the blood of Jesus flow down his back.

It seems that we have been going non stop in Mpumalanga since we arrived. I am speaking in village churches every Sunday! We have averaged two church services each Sunday. Bible teaching and training is scheduled in Bad Plass, Elukwatini and Bushbuckridge.

We are connected with four different ministries and coming alongside numerous missionaries. Their lives also are spinning at a high rate of speed. Pray as we address so many issues, hearts and minds.

In the midst of the busyness there comes a sobering moment every so often. One of our supports, prayer warriors and friends stepped into heaven. He has faithfully supported Deeper Still Missions since its inception. Then we are reminded that life goes on back home. It makes us miss home and you!

These moments make us want to speak with you and see what is going on in your world today. There are few things in life that are so important than friends and memories of our time together. It is sad when we can't honor our friend and attend his memorial.

Thank you for caring for us. We are so blessed by so many.

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.

Exciting Changes!

9/13/2018

Opening God's Word!

There was no piano or musical instrument being played with the singing. The boisterous sound bounced all through the little church of Graskop, South Africa.

The people sang and danced to worship the Lord! Half of the crowd was children from the neighborhood and the small orphanage established by the church and its’ pastor Ken Scrimnger.

At Ken’s invitation I stepped forward and opened the Word of God. Reading from the book of Numbers we introduced the story of Balaam and his talking donkey. You could see the children loved the story.

God wanted to kill Balaam and we focused on the change of heart he had through the whole experience. The donkey warned him, and the angel appeared to Balaam to let him know of the issue.

Our focus was chapter 24 verses 15-18. When Balaam finally spoke, God gave him a special glimpse into the future. He could see him, but not now. He beheld him, but not near. A star would come from Jacob and a scepter will rise out of Israel. Who was he talking about? It was the messiah to come, Jesus.

The star of Bethlehem would announce his coming and he would rule from Israel. Each person was asked to consider what change they needed to make. Pastor Ken invited individuals to come forward and seek prayer for their life and heart. Pictured above is the group who came forward and asked Cathy and I to pray with them and for them.

There is no greater moment than watching the Spirit of God move in the hearts of people. We were so humbled and excited to stand and pray with all of them. Thank you for sending us!

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.

The second day...

8/30/2018

Report from Africa #6

Cathy and I were sitting on the bus riding from Johannesburg to White River in Mpumalanga. We were leaving the limits of Johannesburg when I noticed a familiar scene. In an open field beside the highway was a snapshot out of the history of Africa.

A group of thirty to forty people were sitting in a circle wearing all white robes. I had come to learn of the ZCC and the Bantu religion practiced in many parts of Africa. This ancestral worshipping group make use of Sangomas (witch doctors) and Inyagas (medicine men) and blend their faith with some parts of the Bible. Its anchor of thinking has become the cornerstone of the African world view.

We saw the same thing in Zambia each time we drove to town in Livingstone. I had become accustomed to seeing the Sangoma mud house on the dirt road in and out of the community. A short distance away from the missionary home was another Sangoma that actively could be heard on occasion beating drums and chanting. Local people visit them as they would a doctor, fortune teller and spiritual guide.

We have been reminded many times that we are in a different world. Africa is deeply rooted in ancestral thought and influence. Yes, you see modern cars and trucks, but you also see donkey carts and oxen pulling wagons made from a car axle. When we visited a local Shoprite grocery in Livingstone you never knew what would be available on their shelves. You could only buy the stock that was available.

This Sunday I will be visiting two churches in small village areas and preaching the Bible. Africans love the Bible. They will sit for hours and listen to God’s Word. Unfortunately, many of the pastors have no formal Bible training.

It is a great privilege to provide glimpses of the Holy Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Pray as we open the Bible and teach over the next two months. We covet your thoughts and prayers during this time!

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.

Going Home

7/19/2018

Rest in the Vineyard!

This week marks two months in our current flat in the vineyard. It has been such a joy to live on the farm and watch the operations day by day. Currently the pruning process is going on and it is an amazing picture as you see above. They completely "clean" the vine for next years harvest. Hundreds of shoots are removed to focus future growth and make it more productive.

My personal picture of John chapter 15 has fresh meaning as we watch the process. It makes me think of my own life and the clutter of activity that can sometimes dominate my heart and mind. I can see why God the Father will prune each life so that the future fruit is better.

But I must admit that we have had a special privilege to visit the homes of the farmers in the area. At their request we spend several hours opening the Word of God and giving them insight into the Bible. They had heard from the German volunteers about the substance of our studies and they wanted to hear also.

That Saturday sparked a firestorm of questions about how to read the Bible. Almost every day Johan comes by our flat and asks additional questions from our study. He says, I see there is so much more in the Bible than I understood. I never looked deeper still until this exercise! I was skiing across the Bible.

We plan another study this weekend. We only have two weeks left before we fly to Zambia. He wants to do as much as we can until we leave. This weekend we will look at the world before the flood of Noah and after the flood. What is different?

Johan's discussions with other believers has surfaced a group who wants to know more. Johan said, you are coming back next year aren't you? We must plan to do more studies next time.

Thank you for the prayers and support. We are being pruned in the vineyard.

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.

Back in South Africa!

6/15/2018

We drove on the dirt road headed to Amathunzi. It has been a familiar home for us in South Africa for the past few years.

We passed by the game reserve and went down the hill to a valley of vineyards owned and operated by the Roux families. The father, Yohann, had felt a strong call from God to provide facilities for volunteers working with farm children and a home for missionaries Rolf and Lizzie Weichardt. They were moving from Amathunzi in January of 2018.

Memories have been deep and touching in the past few years as we have hosted many missionaries at Amathunzi. The animals which live on the reserve have become fixtures in our hearts and minds. It had become a place for ministry leaders to rest, renew and refocus their call from God.

Here we drove up to a former storage building that has been renovated to house ministry leaders and volunteers. We walked into a flat that had been completed only weeks ago with a nice bed, small kitchen, shower and bathroom. This is to be our home for the next two months.

The building is nested with a vineyard to the West and an orchard to the East. There is a small gravel drive between our porch and the vineyard. Workers drive by our flat continually completing tasks in the fields and pruning the vines for next years harvest. Yesterday they were sorting olives near us.

The thrilling atmosphere has been one of great joy for the Roux family. They are excited to be engaged with the ministry. The volunteers from Germany have become like grand children for the older parents. Laughter, smiles, a few pranks with the volunteers and the sharing of meals is the norm.

You can see and feel the movement of the Spirit of God in this Robertson Valley. The son Yohan pointed out the Life Application Bible on his kitchen counter. He said, "I read it every day!" Most importantly the rains have returned. This drought and parched area of the Western Cape is now being soaked.

Pray as we minister to the missionaries, volunteers, farm families and workers. What a joy to be nestled among the mountains and in the vineyards of Le Chasseur.

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.

Drilling Deeper Still

10/19/2017

Churches in Mpumalanga!

Our work among leaders in this Northern Province of South Africa has been very fruitful. The last two weeks of our time in this area is going to be very busy.

Last Sunday I preached in the Calvary Church in White River among Afrikaans people and many missionaries who are working in the area. Cathy has been attending their ladies Bible Study each week that we have been here. When she emerged on Tuesday I could tell something had happened. The ladies were hugging Cathy and thanking her for coming to this group that is studying soul care.

Yesterday I drove 2 1/2 hours South to the village of Elukwatini. Twenty-five pastors awaited a two-hour Bible Study session. This was our third meeting this month. Despite our language differences they were laughing, smiling and enjoying an honest walk through difficult scriptures. Our friendships started over four years ago and have deepenedeach time we have visited this remote area. Inductive Bible Study is a new concept to them and deeply valued with these poor pastors.

Today, Ronas Marule and I met with Pastors in Nelspruit (now named Mbombela) and I had the joy to open God's Word with them. Comments of affirmation, excitement and thankfulness followed after our time. Then Ronas and I were off to new High School in the community of Tekswane South East of Nelspruit. Observing another ministry designed to reach out and give dignity to girls as they grow up. Tonight, I am preaching at a church in the community as they are conducting a revival. Pictured above (kneeling) is Bishop Israel Malele who set up this time at Sello's church.

Saturday will be a day of training at a church in Moramela in the escarpment mountains. I will be teaching leadership and Bible skills to youth leaders and pastors. They wanted to go from 9 to 5 with the training. Ronas suggested a shorter time so the group would learn, apply and not forget.

The exciting part of Saturday is the location. Six years ago I was the featured speaker at a youth rally in Moramela. No church existed at that remote village. Today it is the largest church on the entire escarpment. I can't wait to see it again.

Sunday will find us three hours South speaking in Pastor Maxwell's church in Moraplass. It will be our first time to visit his congregation. He was my interpreter four years ago in Elukwatini.

Through missionaries Ronas Marule and Darryl Mather-Pike we find ourselves involved in the lives of so many pastors, churches and other missionaries. Life on life transformation changes us from the inside out.

Thank you for sending us area so we could pitch our tent and live among them. The fruit just seems to multiply.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com