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"

Another Letter from Pastor Mvovo

We recently received the following letter from Phuthuma (it's been reproduced for ease of reading) -

"Dear Jeff Deuble,

I greet you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ my Lord. I hope even for you too, all is well. I get your lovely gift each and every quarter and your gift is a big blessing to me, I meet my needs through it, please continue doing so, God bless you.

The church is growing in numbers and spiritually, we see new faces each and every Sundays. We are visiting those who are sick in their homes, give them prayers and the Word of God, some of them get healed. We are doing door-to-door evangelism, usually on Wednesdays. We have a fasting and prayer meeting, God is with us in a mighty way because people get saved daily. The whole of last month, I was teaching about the Holy Spirit and most of our members are getting baptised by the power of the Holy Spirit, even in my family as well.

Yours in Christ
Pst P Mvovo"

News on The Borehole in South Sudan

The Site in Bor, South Sudan

Some incredible news! One of the men in South Sudan who helps Live Connection out with all sorts of issues, was coming back from Kenya and bumped in to a South Sudanese Government official. Somehow at the end of their discussion, the official had offered to drill the borehole for Live Connection at a dramatically reduced cost. This is supposed to start over this weekend and means that, if this proceeds as expected, the money that Rivergum donated recently can be used to upgrade the borehole from a manual handpump to a solar-powered electric pump. This was always the plan but was on hold pending the availability of funds.Wow we know an awesome God!

Please be praying that this all continues as per plan.

With any luck, Greg Tebbutt, who is in Uganda at the moment, will be going to the site later in October to see what work has been completed and to assist Live Connection with other issues.

See this YouTube video showing some of the work that has already been completed.

An Update from Phuthuma in RSA - August 6, 2013

Just recently, we received the following letter from the young pastor Rivergum sponsors in South Africa. Isn't it great to hear what God is doing in other parts of the world and isn't He gracious to allow us to be involved in our small way!

"House of Prayer Community Centre
 Flagstaff 4810 RSA
 6 August 2013

Dear Jeff Deuble,

Let me take this opportunity to greet you in Jesus Mighty Name. I thank you a lot for your lovely gift, I get it each and every quarter and it helps me a lot. May God richly bless you. I am stay well with my family.

The church is continuing on in a mighty way, by July we had a big conference of youth. It was a national conference, Holy Spirit was working in a mighty way - those who were possessed by demons, they were delivered - and those who were not saved, they were saved - and the sick got healed. And before the conference, we had a tent crusade for two weeks.

The church is growing spiritually and in numbers, we are continuing with door-to-door evengelism and every Wednesday we have church prayers, and where we teach the believers.

Yours in Christ,

Pst Phuthuma Mvovo"

Introducing Live Connection & Live Connection Aid

See all our other Mission Connections

Introducing Live Connection & Live Connection Aid

Paul and Renee Ravesteyn are ministers at Northgate Church of Christ in Belrose and founders of Live Connection & Live Connection Aid. They have a heart for Africa. Renee grew up in the bush of Zambia until she was 18. Paul, at the age of 22, found himself in Africa building hospitals, schools and churches.

Live Connection Website

Live Connection is a 'not-for-profit' organisation established in 2000. It has grown rapidly since then. Whilst Western missionaries have their place in overseas evangelism, the cost of one Western missionary equates to approximately 80 rural pastors. More importantly, rural pastors are best placed to relate to their own culture and they do not need to maintain a costly Western lifestyle.

Live Connection's vision is to assist in the release of God’s resources to enable local pastors to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. By financially supporting rural pastors and providing leadership training opportunities, they are partnering with what they perceive as the 21st century approach to world-wide mission.   Their goal was to sponsor over 200 pastors by the end of 2012.

The following is the list of pastors that are currently sponsored –

•         South Africa              19
•          Zambia                       8
•          Uganda                      20
•          Philippines                 19
  
•          Indonesia                   9
•          Cameroon                  1
•          Zimbabwe                  14
•          Sudan                         24
•          Malawi                       3
•          Kenya                         12
•          Total                           129

Pastor Mvovo

At the moment, Rivergum is sponsoring one pastor in South Africa. His name is Phuthuma Mvovo, 21, from the town of Flagstaff. You can read more about him here.

Map Showing Flagstaff

Live Connection Aid Website

Live Connection Aid seeks to assist with agricultural training skills in South Sudan. Decades of civil war have resulted in people lacking even basic farming skills. The response to this problem is not to provide expensive mechanical equipment & amalgamate land holdings to create large farms, but rather to teach the local people how to farm sustainably on a small plot in their own village. This approach has already seen success elsewhere. Foundations for Farming, based in Zimbabwe, has achieved amazing results in that country and others in Africa.

The Land Near Bor

Live Connection has been granted two blocks of land in the Republic of South Sudan, one being 60 acres near Bor, 200 km north of the capital Juba. Development is planned to take place in two stages –

Sustainable Farming

     

      1.    The creation of an Agricultural Training Centre in partnership with Foundations for Farming.

      2.    The development and construction of a medical clinic & education centre

We'll be proving more detailed information and updates in later posts.

Rivergum Missions Task Group  (email us)