Hitting the Ground Running

It was gracious of God to get us in to Johannesburg only an hour late. We dodged an unseasonable hail storm on our approach, and arrived in Pretoria around 8 p.m., or as they call it, 20:00. Our plane barely made it in before it stormed. Hail was 3-4 inches deep on the side of the road. We immediately gave thanks for the safe journey. Barbara commented that we are wimps compared to the missionaries of old, who would say goodbye and get on boats to journey for weeks in order to serve for decades with little or no communication from family and friends.

What a surprise and delight as we arrived in Jo’berg and were met at the door of the plane by our friend Brian. I mentioned in my earlier blog that Brian came to faith in Christ at one of our conferences when I was last here speaking 25 years ago. Brian is a deacon in his Dutch Reformed Church, has served Christ in business and in ministries all over the continent, and just recently stepped down after 15 years as Chairman of the Board of Campus Crusade for Christ of South Africa. I paused and wondered if heaven will be an “instant replay” of how God has used each of us in one another’s lives.

Dinner was a delight with Brian and his wife, Edna, plus Quintus and Isolde Swanepoel, directors of the FamilyLife ministry in South Africa. It stormed all night.

Sleep was hard to come by. I got three hours before waking up for good. I spoke at a breakfast this morning to about 150 businessmen on “Stepping Up to Manhood.” Certain messages are cross-cultural. Men are in trouble globally. I challenged the men to live purposefully for Christ and be influencers for Christ in their homes, neighborhoods, communities, nation, and the continent of Africa. I’ve honestly done a better job speaking, but I sensed they were REALLY listening. I’m told that about 20 prayed to receive Christ.

I dashed out of the breakfast to do a live interview on THE major Christian radio station in S.A. It covers the entire nation. There is a concerted effort in government to shut them down. We talked about marriage and family issues, and then about the series of messages on the family that I’ll be delivering at a large Dutch Reformed Church, starting Sunday night, and at an arena event in Pretoria on September 9. The host of the broadcast shared how discouraging it is for S.A. to only have two Christian radio stations, while there are so many in America. I agreed with her, and here are two related prayer requests for you:

Please pray for this station that the government won’t shut it down, and that they’ll put FamilyLife Today in their daily lineup!

I speak tonight at an evangelistic banquet for about 200 here in Pretoria, and then again Saturday night in Jo’berg. Pray for both of these outreaches.

On Sunday night, I begin a four-night series at Moreleta Park Dutch Reformed Church. Several thousand will be attending these messages. This is an important time for the family in S.A. – please pray that these messages will be used by God to reach many non-Christians, to biblically equip those who attend, and give the Christian community courage to stand firm with convictions.

Thanks for praying.

Dennis