Ministry in Paarl

Hello dear friends and family!

Well, to say that we are in a whirlwind right now would be a bit of an understatement. First of all, our time in the U.S. was a great blessing for our family. It was so good to see so many of you while we were in California. By about the 3rd week of being away I was really starting to miss the church here in Paarl, obviously meaning the people. However it was difficult leaving all of our friends and family again, But it was great to get back to all of our friends here too. Misty and I want to thank you who support us financially and contributed for us toward coming home for a visit. We really appreciate your prayers and financial support as that is what keeps us going here. You can continue to support this ministry, first by praying for us (which is most practical) and also financially too as you are able.

So, what are we up to right now? To be honest we feel like we are just holding on a bit until the Emmerson family get here. Misty is busy being a mom and wife and also doing some administrative things as she is able. So it's pretty much just me (in Him, and through Him) doing church and keeping things running. It's no secret that starting a church is not the job of one guy, especially with a wife and young child to care for. The Lord has been confirming in me lately the absolute necessity of gathering a core group to help get the church off and running. Churches are started in lots of different ways practically, But one thing is always true and that is the fact that churches grow as people are inviting their friends and family to come and check it out. So the next season for us involves developing a core group out of the 20 or so people that have been coming to our services faithfully and sharing the vision more specifically with them and sending them out as missionaries so to speak, in their own circles of influence to share the gospel and invite people to be apart of what God is doing here in Paarl. The people who have been with us faithfully for the past year or so have been growing tremendously in their understanding of scripture and thus in their own personal holiness. I truly believe that God has within our group future church leaders and evangelists and that as they grow in His word and fall more in love with Jesus I know that they will begin to desire more passionately to serve Him. Please pray for these folks if you think about it.

We are encouraged with the growth we've seen in the few we have around us, But we also know that God wants to do much more in and through CC Paarl here in this valley. Please keep us in your prayers. Please pray for me, That the Lord will give me a greater burden for lost souls and that He would give our church a burden for them as well and boldness to share Christ unashamedly. Please pray for Misty as we are having some trouble with her Visa at the moment, We know that the Lord is on the throne. We just want God's will to be accomplished through us. Please pray for David and Vicky Emmerson and their new baby boy Elijah who will be moving here next month to work with us in Paarl. Thank you guys so much!

More to come...I promise some pic's too.

Blessings,
The Portlands