“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
If there is anything that has stood out time and time again this year it has been the completely amazing faithfulness of our God! Though last year brought many trials our way, we did not face them without the confident assurance of God’s unfailing love and promises to us. At times our hearts could feel the daunting flames of seeming failure but just in those moments came rushing in a renewal of faith and strength from the Lord.
Looking back now after losing the building it is amazing to see God’s hand in the situation all along. As many already know, shortly after the loss of our premises, the Portuguese Baptist Church in Germiston invited us to come meet in their building on Sunday mornings and also help them to begin an English work in the church. We took them up on the offer and have been meeting there ever since while working to reach the surrounding community. Little did we know that God had a much bigger plan!
For quite a number of years the Brazilian Mission Board has been looking after the church and providing pastoral missionaries to care for and lead the church. The Brazilian Mission Board has been doing work in South Africa for many years but has recently felt led to invest in other areas where they see God at work. This has left the church in a position to either close the doors or hope for another to step in. Gospel Outreach felt led to take responsibility to care for the church. But before we could even present the possibility to the church the membership asked us if we could take them under the banner of Gospel Outreach. Beginning March 2nd, the church will officially become a Gospel Outreach church!
Isn’t our God so wonderfully amazing? When I look at the whole situation, I see the Father heart of our God and I am reminded of the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. When Gospel Outreach was “homeless” the Germiston church took us in and cared for us. Now we get the blessed opportunity of adopting this church for the glory of God! We have already begun to care for the church and are working to grow the Portuguese work and secure it’s longstanding legacy in the community. Please pray for us as we continue to seek the Lord’s specific guidance for the future of the church. We are still trusting the Lord, that in His timing, we will have a place back in the city for there is still much work there to be done. The Lord knows His plans for us and we will wait confidently on Him.
As a matter of prayer, please remember us as we are starting up our Bible college in three locations within the next couple of weeks. Also for the many teams that will be coming. Please pray for our three current South African locations: – Germiston, Soweto (in search of land and premises), and Cosmos. In regard to needs, please join us in praying for the provision for two opportunities that have arisen from the adoption of the Portuguese church: 1) The mission board has a van that they are now needing to sell. The cost of the van is around $3600.00. 2) Also they have a mission house that must be sold which would be perfect for housing our many mission teams each year. We currently have nothing that properly meets this need.
Thank you for your continued support and your labor for us in prayer!
The Deatherages
go reach africa 