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BCM Teams Makes Whirlwind Stops in Africa

Posted on: 10 Nov 2011 at 10:04 am

On September 11^th, 2011, when most Americans were commemorating the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 and thus reluctant to fly, BCM President Dr. Marty Windle, International Vice President Dr. Vararuchi Dalavai and ISMT (In Step With the Master Teacher) trainer Steve King had been traveling for three days. After 30 hours of planes and connecting flights, the team began the ten-hour drive to Fort Beaufort, South Africa, to begin a week of ministry commissioning and missionary encouragement.

South Africa

The team arrived in Fort Beaufort for an 11 a.m. service at a church plant started by Pastor Fullman, where they enjoyed a beautiful performance by a men’s choir. After service, there was a time for Sunday school and then soup was offered for the children who attended. By two in the afternoon, Dr. Windle, Dr. Dalavai and Mr. King left to begin travel to their next destination. The church service was still going strong.

By Monday, the team came to Lusiksiki where Dr. Windle and Mr. King spoke at a countryside school for about 500 students between the grades of 10 and 12, sharing the story of Jesus healing the paralytic. Dr. Windle spent some time encouraging the teachers there, as teachers are a rare commodity.

The following day, the team delivered a much-needed, donated laptop to BCM missionary and ISMT trainer Pat Govender. That evening, the team sat in on the BCM Board of Africa Meeting and shared dinner with those in attendance.

By Wednesday, it was time to travel again. The team made a six-hour drive to Lanasia, a suburb of Johannesburg. There they attended a prayer meeting at the Harvest BCM church with BCM missionary Colin Lepere and his wife, Tensi. The church roof covers only a third of the building, making the time of worship there a true focus on God, instead of the lack of protection from the cold weather.

Swaziland

The team left South Africa on Thursday to travel to Swaziland, meeting with BCM missionaries Martha Tsabedze and Assiena Maseko, two women who coordinate about 100 volunteers for Bible Clubs. Poverty is a major issue there; rural people crowd into shantytowns as they’ve come to the city to find work. Bible Clubs are held in schools and once a week, the evening meal is served to the children who attend. However, due to a lack of funding, the schools were all closed. Closed schools mean no way to bring all the children together in one place for Bible Club, and no evening meal.

Zambia

The team spent Friday and Saturday driving to Zambia and met with and encouraged BCM Missionary Titus Mambwe. Titus delivered a report on the work in Zambia. On Sunday, Dr. Windle and Mr. King shared from 1 Peter at three different churches before beginning the trip to the Johannesburg airport, and home.

About forty-five minutes from the airport, the pastor’s car broke down. The pastor flagged down a stranger who was passing by and arranged for the team to be taken the rest of the way to the airport. God protected them each step of the way and they arrived at the airport without further excitement.