The Story

God's Story
See what He has done!

I am pictured with Ronas Marule of Mpumalanga YFC along with Bishop Israel Malele of the Word of Life Bible Churches in Northern South Africa.

Israel is a true pioneer of the Christian church in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Over the last thirty years he has planted fifteen churches in various villages around Bushbuckridge.

Amazingly he comes from a family where his father was a pastor in the ZCC. That is called the Zion Christian church and is a mixture of Christianity and the Bantu ancestral worship. Israel stepped away from the cultural roots of Africa and elevated the Word of God to its appropriate position. Thus, came the Word of Life Bible Churches.

Ronas guided those contacts and selected places for me to preach and share the Word of God. In my mind’s Eye, I can see the growth of those churches in the northern section of Mpumalanga. The first year I visited a village where the church was under a tent.

The second and third year I visited the building was little more than a shack. Gumtree poles were used to construct the frame, roof, joists, windows and doors. Random boards and a tin roof completed the structure. I’ll never forget the Sunday morning when a rooster landed on the open window while I was preaching. He began to crow and announce the rising morning sun.

The fourth time I had the privilege to open God’s word at this location, I arrived at a completed building that had been constructed on the original site of the tent. Unfortunately, the night before heavy winds and a strong storm came through the area. The roof had blown away in the uncontrolled gusts.

I walked into the shell of a church structure and thought to myself. . . how amazing! Jesus knew that I would be preaching on John the disciple whom he named Boanerges or Son of Thunder!

Jesus nicknamed James and John with this unique label. The word meant wild, stormy, emotional, passionate and uncontrolled. God provided the damaged roof to illustrate the nature of John!

What a joy it is to come beside such great pioneers in the Christian faith. Our friendship, respect and love has grown by leaps and bounds.

We thank you for sending us and allowing us to share the Word of God in so many remote places! Cathy and I are deeply grateful.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions

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