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| This is the way, walk in in it ! (Isaiah 30:21) |
NOVEMBER 2024
Dear friends
At the end of 2023, almost a year ago, I formally retired from the Eastside Baptist Church in Windhoek, Namibia following a ministry of 34 years (1990 -2023). Marcelle, my wife retired at the same time, following a long and satisfying career as a Pre Primary School teacher. We both have become official pensioners.
Our intention had never been to sit back and to watch the world go by. We live, after all, in a fallen world in which people continue to run from their Creator into a horrific future. Hell has no fire escape! We must continue to warn those that run headlong into such a dark future. We must continue to encourage those that trust in God to persevere in their earthly pilgrimage.
And so we decided to take a 6 month sabbatical, just to have a good break from ministry and school routines, and to prayerfully reassess the future and to wait upon the LORD for further direction.
We have had a wonderful time visiting friends and family in South Africa and also in Europe - in France, Belgium, Holland, the UK and in Germany. We were so encouraged by all our visits and loved every minute of it. We could see ourselves settling down almost anywhere. If the truth be told, wherever there are gospel opportunities present, there a pastor would find a meaningful work. And so it was. Wherever we went, Marcelle and I kept asking God, "Is this the place of your choosing?"
The doors have opened for us in South Africa in this new season. I was asked to supply the pulpit of two churches for a short term. The first assignment was with the Robertson Reformed Community Church. We spent 7 weeks here. It is this church that has now extended a call for me to become their pastor. After due prayer and consideration, Marcelle and I believe that this is God's calling.
And so, God willing, sometime early in 2025, we shall be moving to Robertson to help in the work there. Please pray for fruitful labour in this small agricultural hub in the Western Cape.
At heart I will remain a Namibian. Therefore the title of my blog wil not change. It is after all the country of my birth, and it is the country which I will have served for most of my life. Having said that, I can also confidently say in the words of John Wesley, 'the world is my parish'. This is after all God's world, and in God's world there are no boundaries. Therefore, wherever an effective door opens, there we must work.
I am acutely aware of the fact that I am no longer a young man. My best years are behind me, but God's Word is still before me, and to that end I will labour until my Master calls or comes.
I will endeavour to keep you updated and informed via this blog and other social media platforms.
Thank you so much for your prayers!
2 Corinthians 1:10,11
1 comment:
Wonderful Jochie! Exciting times! Grace and strength to you and Marcel!
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