By Brice Wilson, Africa Region Director

Three members of Grace Community Church, Tyler, TX, flew to South Africa to provide teaching, encouragement, and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). The trio led two conferences, totalling 48 pastors, church leaders, and spouses who were refreshed, refueled, rejuvenated, and released back into their communities. Danny, campus pastor, Michael, executive pastor, and Jennifer poured their hearts into teaching and loving people in Beaufort West and Cape Town.

During a two-day pastor’s conference in Beaufort West in partnership with ATAIM, 13 pastors dug into scripture to discuss topics like unity, spiritual health, servanthood, caring for your soul, needs and roles of pastors, and finishing the race well.

The next day, 34 church leaders learned about the importance of returning to our first love, our purpose in life, the pain of unforgiveness, and not compromising the truth of the gospel. This day saw amazing confession, reconciliation, and forgiveness among church leaders.

The people of Beaufort West will benefit from these teachings and the unifying spirit that resulted. While in Beaufort West, we also ministered to pastors one-on-one, fed hungry kids, and distributed food and water to members of the recycling community working in the local dump.

After returning to Cape Town, the team led a two-day conference with seven pastors and their wives from the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH-SA). These pastors are leading churches in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Situated in a lovely guest home on the ocean, the couples learned how marriage reflects the gospel, how to resolve conflict and unforgiveness, how to care for our souls, and the secret to a fulfilling marriage. One pastor put it this way: “I came expecting to see a bunch of PowerPoint slides about marriage. What I got was so much better as we opened the Bible and learned straight from God’s word.”

The group laughed, studied, ate, and had so much fun together.  It was refreshing for the pastors to focus on their marriage and not be burdened by the stresses of leading a church.

While in Cape Town, the team visited the Fish Hoek Dream Center where the team helped with homework, played a rousing game of BANG, danced with the kids, and loved on them.

We are grateful to Danny, Michael, and Jennifer for encouraging the people of South Africa and for being the hands and feet of Jesus!