Bible Institute of South Africa

An essential part of the Bible Institute's on-campus training is ministry experience - and notably the annual Ministry Outreach Week. This year, between 19th and 28th March, 7 ministry teams were hosted by churches in the Cape Town surrroundings and further afield, where they had hands-on exposure to various local ministries.  

Here are some of their responses: 

Our main task was to speak to everyone we could on the streets

Khayelitsha

Khayelitsha’s main train station, central shopping mall and suburbs around Spine Road are now familiar territory to eight Bible Institute students and one lecturer. We spent a whole week (Mon 22nd to Sun 28th March) with the Reforming Baptist Church in Khayelitsha, always felt safe, and even slept over and enjoyed warm hospitality in homes nearby. Our host church did a fantastic job keeping us well fed and introducing us to such traditional meals as ungqusho and mvubo.

Our work did not involve any familiar ministries such as preaching, leading home Bible studies, speaking at ladies meetings or teaching in schools, youth groups and Sunday school classes. Instead, our main task, mornings and afternoons, was to speak to everyone we could on the streets, at the shopping centre and in their homes, introducing ourselves, the church, its evangelistic Bible study programme and the Gospel, with the aim of getting as many contacts as possible for later follow-up.

We learnt that the people of Khayelitsha (mostly Xhosa-speaking) are very friendly and accepting and usually are willing to take time to listen and chat. In the end our team left the small church of about 30 members with a list of over 130 names and contact details of people interested in the Bible studies. If we obtained that many names of interested people, who knows how many strangers we actually had meaningful conversations with and how many times we were able to share the Gospel, at least in part?

Besides the obvious benefits of cross-cultural experience, one of the lessons of our partnership with the Reforming Baptist Church was simply sticking to the task and strategy given to us by the leadership. Our prayer is that God would use this outreach and the Reforming Baptist Church in Khayelitsha to bring many people into His Kingdom and that these would be faithfully nurtured in God’s word to become committed and fruitful disciples. We are very grateful to the Lord for our new friends in Khayelitsha and for an experience that has deeply enriched our lives.

- Rev Greg Phillips

Our week was both humbling and exhilarating...

Red Hill Informal Settlement

Our team started Ministry Week amid much excitement on Friday night by running the church’s Youth Programme. The programme went well.

On Saturday Lorna ran the Ladies Bible Study meeting, ably and enthusiastically assisted by Bridget and Sheri. We were thrilled that Daniel was able to join us and that he joined in too! A blessed time was had by all.

On Sunday morning Michael preached a fantastic sermon; we praise God for that! This was followed by a delicious lunch which was graciously prepared by some of the ladies.

On Monday night Steve shared with us about the "other" son in the parable of the Prodigal Son, and on Wednesday night Maurice shared on the Prodigal Son, and both, again with the Lord’s guidance and enabling, did wonderful jobs.

During the afternoons in the week we set about serving the Lord and the community by way of "Clean Up For Jesus" which involved evangelism and picking up litter. It was a real blessing to be able to spend some time working in the community.

Our week was both humbling and exhilarating - the love and joy with which we were received was overwhelming and we’ve all been touched in some way by our experience. We are all grateful for the leadership, support and encouragement received from Daniel, but most of all, we are thankful that we were chosen and equipped by the Lord to work for Him in the furtherance of His Kingdom at Red Hill.

  - Pastor Daniel Simango

Not only do we build meaningful relationships... but we come away greatly enriched

Strandfontein

Our fellowship team had been assigned to The Metropolitan Evangelistic Church in Strandfontein, pastored by Trevor Manuel a member of the BISA board. The team pictured were hosted in the community at the home of one of the members of the church and were well spoilt by their newly adopted mother!

The week comprised ministry opportunities and outreach at the church, in the homes of members at some of the surrounding informal settlements (Sewendelaan in Strandfontein and Chris Hani Park in Macassar). All the members were involved in sharing testimonies, ministering the word, leading Bible studies or devotions, speaking with folks on the street, running an impromptu street ministry to children and encouraging folks in an old age facility.

What great joy these ministry weeks bring: not only do we build meaningful relationships with the local church, but we do come away greatly enriched by the blessing of being served and cared for well by the church.

 - Rev Neil Henry 

This small church has a tremendous number of ministries

Villiersdorp

Our team went to Villiersdorp where we were involved in the weekly ministries of Villiersdorp Community Church, pastored by Syd Eaby.  This small church has a tremendous number of ministries they oversee each week.  We were hosted on the farm of Bruce and Heather Barrow.  We were shown incredible hospitality by both the Barrows and the church. 

Among the ministries we led for the week were daily Good News Club programs for children at the various farms in the greater Villiersdorp area, plus morning visits to two school assemblies in the region.  For these we did skits on forgiveness and casting our burdens on Jesus.  We provided the sermon for church Sunday morning and led an evening of pastor training for a dozen Xhosa pastors.  We also led three different Bible studies for the church throughout the week, and were guests at a church-wide braai.  Many of the ministries put our Afrikaans skills to the test!

Unfortunately, the planned visit to Helderstroom Maximum Security Prison fell through, but we were able to take one morning and visit Genadendal, the place where the first mission station in South Africa was founded in 1737, and we toured an apple packaging facility.  As a team, we also had daily morning devotions together.

- Dr Victor Kuligin

The week began with a baptismal service

Vrygrond 

Our team, led by Mr. Paul Karstens, served in Vrygrond Capricorn over Ministry week. The week was both eye opening and productive. It began on Sunday with a baptismal service at the Retreat Swimming pool. The team shared testimonies, did an item of song and brought God’s Word.  

On the Tuesday we began ministry at the Sharon Assembly of God in Vrygrond itself. We participated each morning in a ministry that provides breakfast for children from the community before they go to school. This was followed by daily devotions or visits to the local schools. Prior to lunch we would do street evangelistic tract drives. This was our opportunity to go out into the community and meet the people who would not necessarily come to the church. We met, conversed with and prayed for a number of the residents. On Wednesday morning Claudine led a women’s Bible study where women from the community met at the church for a time of sharing and prayer. 

Marilize headed up the ‘Kid’s Club’ each afternoon. 30-50 children joined us for games, skits, memory verses and Bible lessons. Although it was crazy at times, it went well and we hope that every child present heard the message of Jesus. From Wednesday to Friday there were different events at the church every evening. Gideon shared the Word at the Wednesday evangelistic meeting. On Thursday we ran "cottage meetings" which were evangelistic services in people’s homes. Finally, on Friday, Keith led the youth group in games and a Bible Study on prayer.  

The week was a blessing both to the community (we hope) and to ourselves. There are massive needs in the community, but most of all they need the message of the crucified Savior. We praise God for his work in and through Sharon Assembly of God and pray that he will continue to strengthen them as they shine the light in Vrygrond.

- Bradley Trout