January 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from South Africa! Over the past month we have witnessed God’s faithfulness in many different ways. We are thankful for everyone who continues to pray for our ministry in South Africa. We are in a different season of ministry now. The ministries at the South African Theological Seminary (SATS) and iThemba School have been productive and rewarding, God has provided for our financial needs through the faithful giving of our ministry partners, and the burdens of the past years are lifting. Even as we adjust to the idea of becoming grandparents soon, we can see God’s continuing faithfulness to our family. As God promised Israel:

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)

Please join with us in praying for each item in this month’s newsletter.

Pray For Kristina’s Ministry at iThemba School

The new school year has started again after the Christmas break. Since South Africa is in the southern hemisphere we are currently in the middle of summer, and the new school year begins in January. This year Kristina will be volunteering at the school for an extra morning a week. Please pray for strength and patience as she ministers to a whole new group of children this year.

Pray For Tim’s Ministry at the South African Theological Seminary

The IT work at SATS is continuing. We have just completed an extensive review of our internal systems, which opens the door to a number of larger projects that must be completed by May. If everything continues to go well, these projects should save a very significant amount of money for SATS annually, with the added benefit that I will also be able to focus much more of my attention on working with students. However, I am still working with my research students and am also helping some of my former Zambian students as they continue their studies. Please also pray for strength and wisdom in completing the IT projects that should be a tremendous benefit for all SATS students.

Pray For Our Family

Please continue to pray for expectant mothers Rebecca and Anna, and also for their husbands John and Hannes, as their March due dates are getting close…

Praise That Our Support Needs Have Been Met!

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we had accumulated a significant deficit in our ministry account over the past year. After reviewing reports from SIM Canada and SIM USA, it appears that our ministry account is now in good standing as we begin 2020! This is a huge answer to prayer, made possible by many generous one-time gifts from a dozen different ministry parters. Thank you so much for your faithfulness to us as we continue to minister in South Africa. This reminds me of the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:4-6)

Thank you to all who have supported us in prayer and in giving. Your partnership in ministry has sustained us for many years now and I pray will continue to sustain us in the years to come.

Blessings in Christ,

Tim & Kristina Churchill