South Africa
Many of you already know that being a part of what God is doing in Stone Hill, South Africa through our partners Charl van Wyk and Mark Parris has been and continues to be an amazing experience.
The Lord continues to spread His Kingdom and all the goodness that goes with it to the people of this unofficial settlement outside Durbanville, South Africa.
Knowing He's taken our offerings - large and small - and multiplied them for the benefit of the poor, marginalized and considered the "least" in their culture is truly rewarding!
Five Big Things He's Done in Stone Hill
1.Raised up a group of faithful believers to invest in relationships in the township through youth outreaches such as crafts and sports.
Charl's brother in-law, Bradley, and many others visit the township regularly, investing in relationships with the youth.
Women visit the township regularly for outreaches to the young girls.
2.Provided for the construction of a community center where worship services can take place, food can be distributed, meetings and Bible studies can be done and outreach events can be held.
The Stone Hill Ministry facility.
The facility includes a community weight lifting center for the young men.
3.Established the "Soldiers for Christ" and group of young men who have come to faith and are at-the-ready to defend the weak and spread the Good News in the township.
ITMI's Mark Parris and Charl van Wyk disciple the Soldiers for Christ.
Stone Hill's Soldiers for Christ.
4.Provided mattresses and homes for many.
Mattresses for those who previously slept on the ground.
New shack for someone in Stone Hill. No cracks is a big improvement on their previous living arrangement!
5.Helped ITMI's Cindy Parris initiate a tutoring ministry for the students who struggle in school.
Volunteers tutor Stone Hill students every Saturday morning.
But that's not all...
We are thrilled to announce the latest in this string of amazing things the Lord has done! The Stone Hill Early Childhood Development Center is now open!
Before, the 34 children being cared for while their mothers work long hours on nearby farms were in a shack with a small outdoor play area. Exposed nails and wire fences posed dangers for these very young children.
But not any more!
Through your partnership and the generous match of one donor, the Stone Hill Early Childhood Development Center is now open!!!
Now these precious little ones have a safe place where their development is being stimulated every day!
Without you and your generosity, these children would still be playing near exposed nails, freezing inside their un-insulated shack in the winter and playing in an unsafe environment.
Without you and your generosity, these children would grow up slowly learning that they aren't valued and aren't important, leading to poor life choices and even violence.
But with this project, we've demonstrated to every one of these children, "You. Matter. You matter to us, because you matter to Him!"
The Stone Hill Early Childhood Development Center
The kids love the new center!
ITMI's Charl van Wyk with one of the caregivers.
Thanks for partnering with us to make this new facet of ministry possible! We wouldn't be seeing this amazing expansion of the Lord's Kingdom without you.
