The Poor Can Be So Grateful ...

Imagine being so poor that all your life you have never owned your own bible and only ever slept on the floor...

This exciting email was received from Gary Deetlefs, our South African regional Leader (Gary spoke at the Rivergum 5pm service in early July):

"Praise the Lord for one of our partners being so generous and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

What an encouragement that he was able to send funds for Beds and Bibles for the pastors of 24 churches in Southern Malawi and Mozambique.

Imagine what they are going to tell their family, friends and neighbours!

What a joy to see men like Lino who are in their 70’s get a bed for the first time in their lives

I just wonder what his wife has to say about that - Her man brings home a bed for her when she is in her twilight years.

Never had the budget to buy a bed before...

What an encouragement to have partners like him, who are able to see with the eyes of Jesus concerning these everyday practical necessities.

I am convinced that this will lead to amazing thanksgiving and testimonies of hope that will impact others..

Thank you so much,

Pastor Garydee”

Another Update from Pastor Mvovo in South Africa (Nov 2014)

Rivergum Church of Christ,

Greetings bretheren in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It's been a journey of blessings for this year and the Lord has been with us and we thank him as we move towards the end of the year.

I am so greatful for all the support you have been giving me, the Lord sees your great work and he will award you. My family is doing well and  I believe that you also well.

The church is gradually growing and we are trusting God for a great harvest in the new year.

We continue to reach out to our community and share the love of Christ with the people.

We pray for the sick and God is been miraculously healing so many people.

I have been to the leadership Holy Spirit conference in Durban - I was so touched and being encouraged. Just re-submitted my life again into Christ as I lead the children of God. Wanna see God change the way I think and the way I do things. Yes, of course we have seen a much different in our lives and the lives of the people. We have set up a strategy on how we gonna impact our community and grow the church.

Please pray with us as we are daily praying for you. We wish you all the best festive season and great year 2015.

God bless you.

Yours in Christ,

Phuthuma Mvovo

A Sept Update from Pastor Mvovo

Rivergum Church of Christ,

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I and my family are doing well, we trust you are also well.

Its been a blessing for us, my wife has started a pre-school. She's now have about 15 children. It is growing and we trust God for more children to come. Once again thank you for your financial support we receiving from you it goes a long way.

The church is doing well. We had a tent crusade for three weeks in August. Many came to know the Lord. Many were healed and delivered from evil forces.

The church has grown numerical and spiritual. We continue do the follow-up

by visiting each and every new convert, pray and encourage them to continue serve God.

We  have also started some foundation classes to groom them in the things of God.

Do pray with us as we continiue do Lord's work.

Yours in Christ, Phuthuma Mvovo

A Church Building Emerges in Flagstaff, RSA

Please see below the latest letter we have received from our Live Connection paster in Flagstaff, South Africa. It turns out that Phuthuma comes under the care of  Gary Deetlefs who visited Rivergum (5pm Service) on June 29 this year.

Be blessed as you read of what's happening in that place!

"We greet you all in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I and my family are doing well - hopeful the church as a whole there is doing well.  It' s been a pleasure for me to write to you once again.  We are praying that the Lord blesses you with all that you need for the

ministry with a blessing that comes through giving.

The church in Flagstaff continues to stand strong even through storms by the grace of God.

We did attended the Easter Conference in Durban combined with Mike Zondi's Church,

people were so blessed to travel and were blessed in the conference through worship and the Word of God.  They came back revived and encouraged.

Our strength for our church is door to door evangelism where we meet with people one to one and share the gospel with them.  The Lord is gracious - people got saved.

We are in process where we  pleging towards the building of walls in our church building since it is just a roof structure. Please do pray with us as we are trusting God for the material to build the walls.  We are planning to start building in August. Have attached the church pic.

Thank you once again for your support May the good Lord richly bless you all.

Yours in His Service,

Phuthuma Mvovo"

News from South Sudan - May 2014

Even though our sponsored pastor is in South Africa, it's also good to keep in touch with what's happening in South Sudan because of our partnership with them at the agricultural training centre in Bor. Anne Ferrar has provided the following update -

"As you know, many of the pastors from the Sudan have had to flee their homes, taking nothing, or very little with them, so this is a very special “Thank you” to our partners who faithfully partner even in the absence of letters..

After months of waiting, we have finally received this letter from Bishop John, who is now back in Kenya. Amazingly, none of our pastors have lost their lives, but none are left in Duk.
9 have fled to Bor, 9 to Juba (the capital) and 6 to the refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya.

To most of our Sudanese supporters, Please receive this in place of a letter from your own pastor:

Dear Anne, Paul, John and faithful Partners,

Grace greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ Holy Name Amen.

I am hereby presenting my shepherding work as well. The report needs our prayers due to civil war in South Sudan, especially the politicians in the Government that is in place.
Because this civil war which occurred on 15/12/2013 and this was damaging development that had began in the country. But I have faith in God that things will come back to normal in peaceful ways as He will answer our prayers.

The spiritual servanthood work is going on well in Juba and at the moment we have three churches. In Bor we have resumed our church services as it was before. In Yei, we also have two parishes and in Kakuma camp, Kenya, we have a bigger church attended by a congregation of 1,200.

Therefore, we have lost services in Duk because all people have run away of gun across fire. For this reason, I had asign all pastors and they are still doing their  pastoral work, wherever they have run to. I myself visiting with training comforting them, encouraging them, in the word of God. Most of them have lost their relatives, children, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters etc. Even myself, I have brought my mother, mother-in-law, brother with his family and my spiritual Son with his family and sister's children so I have brought them to Kakuma - their number is 19 people.

Thanks and may God bless you. Yours sincerely in Christ service. Bishop John Thon."

Live Connection Fundraising Dinner

There's a wonderful dinner opportunity coming up on Friday April 4th - are you able to come? I'm going, so why not give me a call - maybe we can travel to Epping together! (Greg Tebbutt 0425117761) Even if you can't afford a donation, it will be just great to hear about what's been happening in the Live Connection world and they have a great speaker as well - see below.

The following are the details of an email from Anne Ferrar -


"The Annual Live Connection Fund Raising Dinner is now only 3 weeks away! A very big Thank You to all who have already sent their payments and registered for this event.

Come along and hear the latest news about Live Connection Aid - including an update on the team's recent trip to Zambia, Malawi and Uganda.

Please will you let us know ASAP if you will be coming to the dinner, as we do want to make sure
you do not miss out on what promises to be a great evening...we will send out the list of Auction items well before the night so you can plan ahead...

Details again:
Where?  The Epping Club,  Rawson Street, Epping
When?  Friday 4th April; 7 for 7:30

Dress? Smart Casual    Cost?  $50 per person
Guest Speaker: The Hon Mike Baird MP – NSW Treasurer

Method of Payment:
Bank Details:  ANZ BSB 012298  Acc: Live Connection  No. 24954 8661

PLEASE mark "Dinner and your NAME" as reference OR Credit Card or Cheque

RSVP glenyce.gers@liveconnection.org

Really looking forward to seeing you there!"

To see a bigger version of the invitation, just click HERE.

January 2014 Letter from Pastor Mvovo

The following correspondence has recently been received from our Live Connection partners. As you know, Pastor Mvovo lives and ministers in South Africa and you can read about him in greater detail by going to our first post (See RH sidebar).

If you're interested in out partnership with Live Connection, why not receive posts direct to your Inbox? Just type your email address into the Subscribe box at the top of the RH sidebar.

From Anne Ferrar / Live Connection, Sydney

"Dear Rivergum Church of Christ,

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus! Herewith a lovely, warm letter from your pastor, Phuthuma.

I do love the little insights we receive into their lives, realising that we take so much for granted,

and knowing that God can take the little from us, and make it go a very long way over there...

Situations around the world vary so very much - as we know from the agony of the pastors in South Sudan, and the trauma of those in the Philippines as well.. but God is working His purposes and we are blessed to play a vital part in it all.

Thank you for standing with Pastor Phuthuma - I know he would love to hear from you if you are able to write back to him.

Blessings,  Anne"

From Phuthuma Mvovo, Jan 2014

"Rivergum Church of Christ,

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Compliments of the season, have entered well in the year 2014. Strongly believe the church there in Rivergum is doing well. Thank you for the letter you have sent me informing me that you are now partnering with us. Once again Jeff, thanks you been a good partner to me for many years. God's blessings be upon you. We are doing well with my family. Our kids are growing bigger and bigger.

The church in Flagstaff is growing spiritual and numerical. We have closed the year last year with a 11 Days Tent Crusade Revival. It was successfull, people gave their powerful testimonies of what God was doing in their lives, God solving difficult problems in their lives. Many were healed in their illnesses and many accepted Christ as the personal Savior. We also had kids Christmas Party which was sponsored by House of Prayer Durban. Our kids were blessed with Christmas presents, cakes and sweets. Some of these kids never ever received any presents from anyone before. As the kids see God's love they share the story with their parents and it is where we come reach-out to the parents with the gospel. We are expecting great things to happen this year among the church and community as such. 

Please do keep us in your prayers as we pray for you as well.

God bless you. Yours in Christ Service, Phuthuma and Wandile Mvovo"