Lawley Family Fellowship

For the last two weeks I've had the privilege to speak at a church in Lawley, about 40 min. southwest of where we live; if you have ever heard of Soweto, it is down below there. Lawley Family Fellowship is a group of believers who are mostly from an informal settlement, which is a plot of land where a group of people have set up shacks. As they become more organized they often then gain the government's approval, and water and electricity are brought in for them. It is really a sad situation, but it becomes a new community. Here is a picture of the area.

We have had a wonderful time with them and their pastor and his wife. Here are the Jardins. Please pray for them as Pastor Jardin is battling colan cancer and his wife battles a number of ailments that make it difficult for her to move around. They are a great example of servants of our Lord.

As Pastor Jardin battles his illness, his son Francois has come to help out and has established an AWANA program at the church. These people live on nothing and so it is very difficult to raise funds for the program and the families don't have the funds. We went to a fundraiser that the youth put on to raise money and then the Lord opened the door through my father to raise some more funds so that 27 children and youth leaders could attend AWANA camp. They were so thankful for the graciousness of those who gave. Thanks Dad for your submission to the Holy Spirit's leading. In the next picture you see the inside of the church building with empty chairs for 27 people. The building they are using is an old farmhouse on abandoned land and they are so grateful for it despite the fact that they have no electricity (at the moment) and no running water. They come to their evening service with candles. There is no complaining; there is only gratitude for God's goodness.

This morning before I spoke the lady in white on the left-hand side gave a testimony of her gratitude to the Lord that she knew where her children were today--they were at camp hearing the Word of God and not out stealing to get money for drugs like so many of the youth of the area. Crime is staggering here in South Africa and the only thing that will change this is by the work of God in and through believers like those in Lawley Family Fellowship. Thank you Lord for what you are doing!!