A New Lightstand shines

A new ecclesia has been born. Mariannhill ecclesia started last week with our first breaking of bread service. We had our 7 members there and 14 visitors. Not a bad ratio for a first Sunday. We met in the home of Bro Phinda and Sister Sylvester. We sang Zulu and English songs together and broke bread together.

We have decided that once a month we will, God willing, join Westville ecclesia to allow for continued fellowship among all the members.

The Sunday School is being led by Sylvester and the teachers are Precious, Kheta and Dumisani. Ilse will do teacher training at our home with Sylvester during the week.

On Wednesday evening we have baptism classes at which eight people attend plus the five members of the ecclesia. We had our first one during the week under candle light thanks to Eskom (power utility company). It all felt very apostolic! During the class someone interrupted and said that ‘they wanted to be baptised too’. I’ve never had that before!

There is so much exciting work to be done. We are developing a Zulu statement of faith. We are also collecting a set of Zulu and English songs that we can sing. We will be sharing this with the newly formed Lamontville ecclesia so that we create a Zulu song book.

As Ilse and I engage on this journey it is so clear to us that a great foundation has been laid before us. The work Mitch and Miriam Hardy did at Mariannhill when they were here was immense. A big ‘thank you’ again to Mitch and Miri for all their labours here. I hope we can effectively water the seed that they have sown.

Tim & Ilse Genders

Print this post