1 January 2019
Falling Away
The history of missionary work is a long and jagged trek where two steps forward are followed by one step back. Sometimes the uneven composition of this masterpiece has 3 or 4 or 5 setbacks for every hard-earned advance. After completing the first translations of the Scripture into Burmese, Felix Carey lost his wife and children and copies of the new Scriptures and manuscripts for a Burmese dictionary in 1814. His father William had lost a fortune and scores of new translation manuscripts and a decade’s work on a dictionary in 1812 when an unattended candle burnt down their print shop.
The one person we had baptized in Valdezia in 2017 after studying together since 2015 fell prey to the fear of witchcraft, that ancient African juggernaut who has damned more souls than a servant of the cross can count. In an hour-long interview in December, I watched as I saw her struggling to get out of the lifeboat and back into the safety of the shark-infested sea.
Since that time and in the midst of numerous complications, we have moved our Sunday services about 5 kilometers away to a home that was willing to let us meet each week under their shade trees. We have also learned a little more of what Paul meant by the “concern for all the churches.”
The last two weeks the five young men who have been considering the claims of Christ for 18 months were present as well as a number of others from the surrounding houses. A number of times in these letters, I have written the names of the most interested and showed their pictures: Masana, Langu, Hluleko, Thabiso, and Themba.
Compelling Them to Come
About the same time as that sad meeting in December, I also went to another village 90 minutes away to help Reginald Mabasa whom I have mentioned in previous letters. This pastor of the Old Gospel Church had thought to preach in the open air in some villages near his house. I agreed to join him, although I have only limited experience in open air preaching and none at all for the last 15 years. When I arrived, he asked me to preach on a certain street corner after he had sung a song. So, we quickly invited the people in the area to the corner where Reginald first sang a cappella and then I raised my voice to as many homes as could hear. Within 30 minutes a crowd of 30 or so people had gathered, and they complained when I stopped that the sermon was too short.
Since then, over the last month, I have tried that same method about a score of times and have found sometimes 20-30 people will draw near to listen. At least an equal number listen standing at their fences or sitting in their homes. Thursdays and Saturdays over the last month I have given to this kind of evangelism. Tomorrow I return to a poor village where about five adults actually asked me to return.
For years, my chief method of evangelism has been home Bible studies where I work patiently through a section of Scripture like the book of Romans over 4 meetings. Though I am confident that I am giving the gospel in that way, very few have been converted, and I often wonder at how many other people I am missing while I spend prolonged time at a house with maybe no real interest. Perhaps a public call with a trumpet will draw interested sinners. Do pray for felicity of speech, unflagging vocal cords, and the power of God.
I take both conviction and comfort from John Livingstone who at 27-years-old in the 1700’s preached to a great crowd for 2 ½ hours in a field during which it “rained in torrents during a considerable part of the time.” Spurgeon also tells us that Livingstone had “spent the night before in prayer” and saw “not less than 500 of his hearers” soundly converted. (Lectures to My Students, vol. 2, lec. 4) To be fair, this sermon came after a conference where many Christians in Scotland gathered to take the Lord’s Table.)
May we go on seeing no such similar grace for the Tsongas if we are guilty of not asking for it? Do pray for a quickening, divine work of repentance in these and other villages. Ask God to break sinners away from the fear of spirits and dedicate themselves wholly to His service.
With a New Year
Just a few days ago, my wife and I were startled as we received the monthly statements from our mission board. For the duration of our ministry here, God has always proved Himself to be a generous Father, but we would be remiss if we did not extend our deepest gratitude to each family and church who so consistently and charitably remember us. It may please you to know that our hearts lifted with thanksgiving to God on your behalf. May we be able to say with Paul that we desire not the gift, but that fruit may abound to your account.
Usually each year someone tells me that they will try a book that I have recommended, so here are two spiritual treats that I enjoyed this year. Richard Baxter wrote The Reformed Pastor as a single sermon to inspire pastors to godly living and evangelism. Nearly every page of my copy has something underlined. Secondly, there are a few fictional tales that strike with both pin-point precision and the force of a hammer. C. S. Lewis’ novel Till We Have Faces is both sharp and blunt. Please let me know if you read either of them.
Receiving and Giving Blows for our Master,
Seth and Amy
4 April 2019
Signs of Life
A poor farmer checks his newly planted ground constantly to see the first arrival of some green indication that his crops will fulfill his hopes. I had baptized a woman in Valdezia back in April 2017 after 20 months of Bible studies, but as I reported in January, she had no firm root, but after a while, in the time of temptation, she fell away (Luke 8:13). Around the time of her baptism, a cluster of young men began attending the Sunday services.
Two days ago, three of them gave testimonies in front of all the Tsonga believers and were baptized by Alpheus who has had no small part in their discipleship though he does not live in their village.
God Uses Soccer
A burning bush attracted Moses to turn aside and 3,000 years later, a soccer ball attracted Hluleko Maluleke. I had finished a Bible study with some adults and a few young people, when I offered to play ball briefly with them. Since that time, he has been joining us each Saturday for our study and each Sunday afternoon for our quasi-church meeting. “I still need time,” was his usual reply when I would close our Bible studies with the question, “Are you ready to follow Christ, or do you need some time to think about it?” In March this year he told me after a Sunday sermon that he did not need any more time.
Just the Cross
His mother worshipped with us for a few months, and one Sunday as we dropped her off, I invited those who remained at her home to join us the next week. Langu Mashimbye, her second son, began coming at the same time that his mother and elder brother esteemed the cost to high to follow Christ. This year in January, we gave Bible reading checklists to aid in the creating of new habits. A few weeks later I saw he had written on his checklist a promise to always read his Bible. He has memorized a number of verses, carried on with the discipline of daily reading, attended church consistently, and held a humble demeanor in all my interactions with him. Recently, his mother—who fell away—told me that she thinks he is a true Christian.
I asked him last Saturday, “What did God use to save you?” expecting an answer like Hluleko’s including specific, practical motions of providence. Instead, he looked at me a little puzzled and replied, “The cross and the blood of Jesus.”
True Friends
Andrew famously brought Peter to Christ, and Thabiso began coming to the Bible studies because Langu invited him. All three of these young men live without the benefit of a father at home or anyone bringing a steady paycheck, but Thabiso may be the poorest. Further, owing in part to a problem with stuttering he is shy.
I have taken time to introduce these young men to you because they represent, we trust, the first results of God answering our prayers in that village. William Carey waited 6 years to see his first convert in India. We waited for 3 ½ to hear these testimonies. Yet Carey’s first convert eventually fell into sin and then returned to the faith in answer to many prayers. As we thank the Lord for their testimonies, we must not forget that they are not home yet. Do join us in prayer:
- That each of these men would continue to read their Bibles consistently.
- That they would resist the lust of the flesh and the pull of the world.
- That God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ so that the eyes of their hearts would be opened and they would know the hope of becoming like Christ at His return and the surpassing greatness of God’s power toward them (Eph. 1:17-19).
Making Disciples in Town
For over a year now we have been evangelizing and conducting services at our home with our family and 8 other believers known as the Grace Bible Church. Over the last year we have seen one man converted, and a number of unconverted attend. Last week, two boys aged 12 and 13 stayed behind after youth group in silent prayer for their own conversion when everyone else left. These boys live a few streets away from our house in Louis Trichardt, and have been studying with us Friday and Sunday for the past two years.
Another four adults are consistently learning the Bible here in town, and for them we pray that they would prove to be descendants of Ruth’s devotion rather than Orpah’s changeful mood.
Though this letter is late, I delayed so that I might include the reports of the baptisms. Please continue to labor with us in prayer for the conversion of the Tsongas and the growth of the Gospel in this place.
Anticipating a fuller harvest,
Seth and Amy
6 June 2019
Leading the services
How do you bring life to a religious service held under the shade of a fruit tree? After baptizing Hluleko, Thabiso, and Langu on Easter Sunday, each of these young men have been taking part in leading the Lord’s Day worship services. One brother told me he had been praying for them for nearly three years since I first mentioned their names. Finally having a few believers in Valdezia has encouraged my family and the believers from Elim Baptist who come each week. Masana shows signs of faith in Christ as do two other young men John and Nsuku.
The average attendance is 7-10 not including the believers from other churches. Each week Nyiko Elim’s pastor’s son plays the guitar for our singing, and Alpheus and I take turns preaching. We have just begun the book of Galatians. Please pray that these words by Paul would teach them how to read their Bibles and how to hold fast to Christ.
Fast fish
A “fast fish” in Moby Dick is a whale bound by harpoon and line to the hunters until it is either caught or “loose” by escaping. As our Lord has made us fishers of men a handful are presently fast who were originally seized by open air preaching. After about 4 months of studies, at least three of them appear to be under the Spirit’s conviction. Please pray for Mhana Xiviko, Rifilwe, and Thama. Last week, individually, each of these three adults said they were prepared to be baptized after having confessed Christ a few weeks ago. If they are willing, we would like to begin baptism classes with them this weekend. Often, Africans will confess Christ quickly, but they find it difficult to join the church because it will require them to break with cherished false religion. This was brought home vividly last December when a woman went back to spiritism. We will not allow them to be baptized unless they understand the gospel and are prepared to commit to the church. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”
I have also been looking for land in Valdezia, but despite all the green open land you can see on the map, the chief and tribal authority have told me “there is no land left.” In the picture, the red dot marks our current meeting place at a family’s home. The yellow circles are some of the open areas we requested to buy and were denied.
Moving
In Louis Trichardt, Grace Bible Church will begin meeting in the Anglican’s building starting in July. Though a number of visitors joined us on Friend Day in May, none have yet been interested in Bible studies or returning. Amy however began a women’s Bible study with a few unconverted ladies. We await the gracious moving of God’s Spirit, and request your help in prayer to God for this town. Jeremiah warned the Israelites that their ongoing sin would result in a loss of the true religion from their society (Jer. 44:24-26). May we be spared such consequences.
Conferences
The leaders at Elim Baptist Church have planned a 3-day youth conference next week. We hope that the believing young people would find renewed minds and that the unconverted would smell the aroma of life.
Two weeks ago, Amy and I had the joy of participating at Antioch Bible Church’s first missions conference. From top to bottom, the believers there are interested in Christ, His work, and His servants. I posted Amy’s arrangement of “For the Sake of His Name”, and the sermons I preached are available on the church’s website.
Finally, while the Schlehlein’s are visiting churches and friends in the US, the believers at Trinity have been carrying on the work. Do pray that the Lord would open a path for that church to have Biblical national leadership.
Fishing for men,
Seth and Amy
7 July~ Ethical Issues
Balance
A wise friend of mine says, “Balance is overrated.” I think he means that people use balance as a way to get out of the hard statements of Scripture. Perhaps he has seen that people tend to look for nuance and a middle path when they should be bold for truth. So I invite him and each of you to peruse this list of dilemmas that have confronted me over the past year.
- Should I correct new believers as they minister in the church, or should I allow them to make their own judgments with the aim of promoting a self-governing spirit?
The young men who were baptized in April this year have begun leading parts of the Sunday worship service. I have sometimes corrected their speech techniques since “teaching them all things” includes principles of rhetoric. What if they persist in uncouth or inefficient practices? Should I speak to them again, speak to them in front of others, speak firmly, or relax and rejoice that they are believers trying to lead the group?
- Should I agree as much as possible with a false pastor trying to win his confidence, or should I clearly but kindly draw the line in the sand?
I cannot count the number of times that I have met a man who professes to be a pastor, but I can tell you the most recent meeting was Monday morning. He revealed his charismatic and prosperity leanings early on while still affirming the things that I was saying. “You are god,” he told me which, of course, did not surprise me since the majority of pastors believe this blasphemous rubbish. Should I deal with him in good faith hoping that when he has time to think over the gospel gold that I am giving him, he will see its value? Or should I take a page from Paul who told a witch-doctor, “thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
- Should I pay a pastoral intern, or should I encourage him from the beginning to support himself?
Last year a young man who is in seminary asked if he could work with me at Grace Bible Church to learn practically how to be a pastor. He is very poor, staying only temporarily. For his service to the church, should we pay him monthly? Give him food? Help him find a job? Or treat him like we treat every other person who comes to the church?
- Should I spend time trying to reform false churches, or should I shrewdly wait for them to seek help?
Can a false church be reformed into the model of the New Testament? But if they already have a group of people, wouldn’t it be much more efficient to see a mass conversion as the pastor begins to preach the truth of faith alone in Christ alone from the Bible alone? If they cannot be pulled toward the gospel, then is that basically saying that they are hopeless? Reforming a church would probably take many years of slow, patient Bible studies and prayer meetings. Is it worth it when it all might be lost in the end?
- Should I support Zimbabweans even though the country’s economic conditions are perennial, or should I expect them to make plans to live in the time and place in which God has placed them?
We have commonly followed the rule that natural disasters and emergencies can call for our financial support, but during normal conditions, we do not give money or pay salaries. Zimbabwe is again in a financial disaster. Lists online differ, but it is not uncommon to find this country in the top 10 poorest in the world. Should we offer help to those in Zimbabwe as if they are in an emergency again, or should we expect them to anticipate and prepare for themselves?
- Should I continue to improve my house, or should I give that money to poorer pastors?
Our family has set a budget for home improvements, so that we can increase the beauty and comfort of our home by degrees. At what point should that upward arc stop, freeing up the funds in that line item for investment in eternity?
- Should I devote time for study and writing on theological issues like other pastors, or should I fill my schedule with direct evangelism?
The books that have changed my life have been written by godly pastors—usually Puritans. And it is every pastor’s responsibility to study and master theology. Ought I give time to this valuable discipline, or should I rather fill my days with speaking to the lost because of my calling?
- Should I tend to be skeptical of people’s words because so many lie, or should I tend to be hopeful since our Lord’s promises call for faith?
Though many people tell lies, my hunch is that they are not consciously lying. Rather they say what they think I want to hear without giving their words much thought. There are a great number of liars in the world, and more than an equal per capita share in the field in which I am plowing. Yet is there not a God in Heaven who hears and answers the prayers of His children? Did His Son not tell us that He will not give rocks or snakes when we ask for bread and fish? How can I find the balance between being Biblically prescient about human nature as well as full of faith in God’s promises?
- Should I accept a man as a church member who believes in evolution, or should I tell him that he can join us when he accepts the authority of Scripture?
Having been trained at a secular university, a man we know holds to the unbiblical idea that God used evolution to make all that we now see. He professes to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the authority of Scripture. However, our church doctrinal statement rejects evolution. If we do not allow him to join, there are no other gospel-preaching churches to which we could send him.
- Should I rebuke a Christian for living off government grants, or should I let economics sit on the side while I focus on faith, repentance, and the cross?
In South Africa, about as many people receive financial grants from the government as those who are working. Yet Paul tells us to work so that we can provide for our families (Eph. 4:28). The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 141 says that we break the eighth command when we do not work for our own support. However, many people with whom we work receive money for their food from taxes paid by others. How should a pastor deal with a growing culture of government dependence? What if they have a job, but they still receive funds from the government?
I don’t think there is a simple yes or no for any of these questions, so we would ask you to pray that we would have the mind of Christ, be wise as serpents, and live as men who understand the times so that these traits would be evident in the disciples God gives us. If you recall this exercise and find any pleasure in it, the entire list has grown to 70 ethical questions.
In constant search of the firmest ground,
Seth and Amy
8 August, 2019
Planting, Sowing, Watering
First Missions Conference
Though Grace Bible Church is still a toddler, about 25 adults gathered last Saturday and Sunday for the first missions conference. We invited Wastemore Sarireni, an LBI graduate and Shona-speaking churchplanter to speak twice, and I also preached twice. Our church’s Sunday school teacher Dineo Maleti read Amy Carmichael’s “The Cry of the Blood” which will only take you about 5 minutes to read if you are stranger to her writing. We sang Paul’s missionary hymn “All Nations Sing for Joy”, and finished our collection that will hopefully procure a well for Justice Sebola. Since April the offerings have greatly increased though we had been averaging about $150 per month. It was gratifying to see the people increase their giving and vote unanimously to pour all they had into a well with the hopes that the Whunga Baptist Church could become self-supporting. Possibly the greatest benefit were the four prayer meetings scheduled after each of the services.
Amy knocked one out of the park that weekend even though she was sick by hosting 6 men in our home with an extra three unannounced for Sunday dinner. I have often wondered if visitors take more from my sermon or her hospitality. Perhaps preaching and home visit complement each other in God’s work of grace in the soul.
Of eight church members at Grace, every one of them is a first generation Christian. Except for two, we had the joy of leading the rest to Christ. Elim Baptist also brought a group of believers on Saturday. No one present had been in a missions conference before save my family.
The “Short List”
When I first began serving at Bethel Baptist Church, the pastor encouraged me to keep a “short list” of the names of people that I was currently evangelizing. My list now holds a dozen names of those that are attending church or Bible studies consistently who are not yet born again.
Among the most remarkable are two men, a Venda and a Shona, who live on a farm. They received a flier in 2017, but one told me four weeks ago, “I suddenly wanted to learn the Bible.” So he called my number. They have been at each service for the last three weeks and even some home Bible studies. Their wives have also come.
Vanessa is a young Tsonga woman from Valdezia where we are laboring to plant a church in the village. She had heard of me in the village, but then she moved to town three doors away from our family. At the end of July, I approached her to speak about Christ, and she too has been coming for the past few weeks.
Four of the adults who have been coming speak Shona and struggle with English. Since we have one Shona member, I asked and he agreed to begin a Shona Bible class in September. Please pray for Mugove that he would be helped by God to teach the Bible. He has only been saved since March 2018. One of the class members will be his wife.
We have not baptized since 2018 in Louis Trichardt, and our hearts are sore to be thus empty-handed. With good reason did Paul say, “Pray without ceasing.”
Church Stand
Israel would take the land “little by little.” The farmer plants and then goes about his business. The progress in Valdezia seems to be slow even for these patient words. I began work there in August 2015, and it is now four years later. Three young men are baptized and showing return on the investment already. Another two are considering baptism as we prepare for a baptism service on 22 September. But there are somewhere around 15,000 in that place who need Christ. The other hopeful contacts I wrote about in June have fallen away.
In the last letter, I told you how we were looking for land. Since then, we have found a beautiful piece on the mountain. They charged us much more than I had hoped to pay, but this Saturday the young men and I will continue clearing the land and digging fence posts. Previously, my philosophy had been to let the church grow until a building was the natural next step for the congregation. However, in this village, we have not been able to find either a place to rent or a house to use.
Perhaps you wonder if we should leave this place and try another? Maybe so, but the work in Elim and Mbhokota both took a long time before they grew. I think as long as we are digging in such dry rocky soil, we shall be confronted with similar apathy. Lord-willing, when we have finished cleaning the stand, we will try to put up a fence. Then we will either build a shack or use a tent that we have been given.
For all these labors and others not listed, we look expectantly for the Spirit’s unique blessing.
Seeking souls,
Seth and Amy
10 October 2019
The Quiz
Over the past few weeks, I have placed a few thousand papers with these questions, and a map to Grace Bible Church in town. Here are the five questions:
- Who is Jesus?
- Man
- God
- Both
- What is man like?
- Basically evil
- Basically good
- If a man wanted to go to Heaven, what would you tell him?
- Pray
- Go to church
- Live a good life
- Something else
- Will God accept a man who has a Bible, goes to church, and believes in God, yet he still fears witchcraft, and traditional religion?
- Yes, he is a Christian.
- No, God will not accept him.
- Where does Jesus say that most people will go when they die?
- To God in Heaven.
- To the fire of Hell.
Recently, an average man who said he consistently attends a “church” answered four of the five questions wrong. On another day, I picked up three people who needed rides and asked them all how often they attend church. All three: “Every week.”
Then I asked, “Does the Bible describe all men as little gods or children of Satan?”
“Little gods,” they each said.
The quiz seems to hold people’s attention, but we are in need of sovereign grace before it will drill down into their soul. About half a dozen people have already visited our church in response to these fliers. One of our members received a flier like this from an American missionary traveling through our town in 2016. In November 2017, he finally found our church and was converted in 2018. Please pray for these seeds to produce Bible studies and then fruit to life eternal.
We are in the midst of a new member’s class, and we hope to receive two or more members by Christmas. Please pray that each member would have the fear of God, faith in Christ, and commitment to the church.
Prayer for Muslims
Approximately 1,000-2,000 Muslims live in the town of Louis Trichardt. In March this year, a Muslim kindly introduced himself to me at a hardware store. Since then we have spoken about once per week in person or via text messages. I have written him a number of letters, and I am currently slogging through a beautiful edition of the Quran he gave me. Please pray that God would convert Muslims who mock the worldliness and ignorance of the professing Christians in this country.
New church property
In the village of Valdezia, we rejoiced to hear Themba’s testimony and see his commitment to Christ through baptism on 22 September. Since then, we have been slashing, cleaning, stump-removing, digging, fencing, brick-laying (for a toilet), and sweating. Lord-willing, Saturday’s sun will set on a finished toilet and a raised tent. Each work day ends as we recite Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
The plot of land overlooks the central part of Valdezia. 200 meters away a large rock stands sentry which may do more for us than passing out maps or GPS coordinates for those we invite.
Last Thursday I arrived for our weekly youth group meeting, and rejoiced to see over 20 young people listening as the four baptized young men taught them catechism questions and verses. They gathered 30 minutes earlier than the arranged time and spent nearly 90 minutes total reviewing catechism questions and memory verses. Afterward, I offered the pedagogical advice of shortening the extended review time, but as neither teachers nor students shared my concern, I withdrew my lame suggestion.
In response to a supporting church’s request, I uploaded short testimonies to YouTube from Thabiso, Langu, Hluleko, Themba, and John. In light of recent discouragements from men falling away, please pray that these young men might take root and bear fruit. Also, pray that our family and the Schlehlein’s would see a genuine work of God’s Spirit in the villages.
Finally, 30 years ago on 29 October 1989, I surrendered my life to serve God as a missionary at Independent Baptist Church in Pennsylvania. What kind providence the Father has given to our family to give both Amy and I a godly heritage in churches that took seriously both evangelism and the Bible. For each church and family who still graciously supports our labors, we thank you.
In hope of sinners truly converted,
Seth and Amy
