October 2019 Newsletter

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from South Africa!! We thank God for granting us new South African visas. We arrived back in Cape Town two weeks ago after nearly four months away. It has taken time to get settled back into our home in Fish Hoek, but things are starting to get back to “normal” – whatever that may be! Thank you for all of your prayers over the past month, especially for our visas and for our travels back to Africa. Thank you too for each of the gifts that were given to support our ministry here. We know that it is a sacrifice to give, so we thank God for your faithfulness in giving as we strive to make the best use of your gifts.

Update from the South African Theological Seminary (SATS)

I will be spending several days next week at the SATS office in Johannesburg. A number of different meetings are scheduled, including two days with the technical team and the remainder involving academics. I am eager to jump in and start helping to address some of the ongoing technical issues and planning future projects, but also to clarify the expectations of my involvement on the academic side. In my new position I hope to be more involved with post-graduate students. I hope to be able to share the stories of some of my new students soon.

All of this comes with some degree of anticipation and uncertainty. It is not yet clear what my life will look like in the coming months, which also affects Kristina and the rest of our family. Please pray that God will give us opportunities for ministry that will allow Kristina and I to use our gifts for God’s glory through the relationships we are beginning to build with the faculty, staff, and students at SATS.

Family News

As we announced in last month’s newsletter, Kristina and I have the joy and anticipation of becoming double grandparents this coming March! Yet the miles of separation are difficult to bear sometimes. Please pray that God will watch over Rebecca and Anna in the coming months. Pray also for John and Hannes as they prepare to become fathers for the first time. And pray for Kristina and I as we come to terms the unavoidable miles of separation in our family.

Support Update

In Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus taught us how we should approach the needs of life: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” In the past God has provided for all of our needs. Therefore we have confidence that God will provide for our current needs.

Although it is difficult to pin down exactly, my best estimates are showing that we have an ongoing shortfall of $250 per month, as well as a one-time need of $5,000. This is actually incredible when we consider the extraordinary amount of one-time expenses that we have had over the past few months. But we have received our new South African visas, and we hope to submit our applications for permanent residence within the next few weeks. I have always tried to be a good steward of the gifts that God has given me, and my plan in applying for permanent residence was to eliminate the need for any more visa applications in the future (and the tremendous associated costs). By God’s grace we have nearly reached that goal. The current deficit in our ministry account includes all of the one-time expenses related to our applying for our latest visas and permanent residence in South Africa.

Prayer Requests

• Pray that our applications for permanent residence in South Africa will be granted (if it is God’s will), even as we give thanks to God that our new visas were granted
• Pray for expecting mothers Rebecca and Anna, and for their husbands John and Hannes
• Pray that my ministry at SATS will be a blessing
• Pray that Kristina will also find a way to use her gifts in ministry through SATS if possible
• Pray for Sarah and Katie as they continue their studies

Blessings in Christ,

Tim & Kristina Churchill

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)