What a trip, what an experience, what an impact! Compassion South Africa: Conference On Care (August 22-25) is now history, but it could be called historic, as well. Host Pastor Emmanuel Moodley, of the 10,000-member Bethsaida Full Gospel Church in Durban, South Africa, was thrilled with the outcome of the conference. He stated he can’t remember a meeting in his city that ever generated such excitement or made such an impression on the participants. He also marveled at the quality of the teaching and materials, which were provided free of charge to the hundreds of pastors and delegates from churches across the country and across Africa. Some attendees were even given sponsorship, with all travel and lodging expenses covered. All involved were challenged to make care for others a daily part of their lives and ministries.
The team of ministers and business leaders, from America and South Africa, that was assembled for this monumental endeavor (see listing at the end of this article) was truly impressive, but each of them was touched and blessed as well by their involvement in the conference. The Lord reminded us often that our eyes must first look upward, then outward, if the Church is to touch the world for Christ.
The morning and evening plenary sessions were filled with exciting music from local church groups, great worship and praise, and strong preaching from the featured speakers. Video highlights of these services may be accessed by clicking on the links to the right.
Late mornings and early afternoons were dedicated to Super Seminar sessions dealing with every aspect of benevolent ministries, from funding to follow-up. Dynamic teaching and passionate discussions informed and challenged each participant. And this conference was more than just talk; pastors were given gift packets with additional helpful materials, and each church represented at the meeting was given a food package that would serve as the catalyst for a local food pantry in their home area.
Saturday morning, at the construction site of the new sanctuary, there was a dedication ceremony of a clinic and ministry center that will reach AIDS orphans and widows in the community. As a beautiful children’s choir led in worship, delegates praised the Lord for the powerful lighthouse of hope this place would be for their city.
The ministry continued on Sunday morning, as American members of the Leadership team were privileged to speak in worship services throughout the Durban metro area. There were exciting reports of souls saved and bodies healed as God worked among His people.
Then, it was off to the airport for the Americans, as they moved to another area of ministry - the Mpumalanga region. Here, the team visited New Hope Ministries, the mission station of Paul and Ellie van Zyl, 50-year veterans of working in the harvest fields of South Africa and Swaziland. On Monday, Paul and Ellie took the group to Tonga, near the Mozambique border, where they run Maranatha Children’s Home. The team saw first hand how they share food and love with the many orphans here in this area with the highest per capita incidence of HIV/AIDS in the world.
Additionally, two shipping containers of food, water, clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, and other needed items are on the way to South Africa; once clearance from government customs authorities is obtained, these items will be distributed to the neediest areas of South Africa, to continue the redemptive outreach of Compassion South Africa. Please join us in praising God for His wonderful favor and blessing during the trip and praying for continual inroads for ministry on the continent of Africa.
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Over 2000 delegates attended.
Gerald McGinnis speaks.
John Morgan in a Super Seminar.