Our first term in South Africa has drawn to a close. We feel extremely blessed and privileged to have been a part of the body of Christ in and among his people (our brothers and sisters) in South Africa. He has allowed us to use our gifts in a lot of different arenas during our stay here.

We have felt blessed to teach, preach and play a part in training and encouraging people for different jobs and vocations. Some of the people here, who had no hope, now have a new outlook on their future thanks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But we would be remiss if we did not thank you, who have supported us with prayer, cards and letters of encouragement, phone calls and of course financial support—without which none of this would have been possible.

One of the major arenas where Charles played a role is in the reconciliation meetings leading to the launch of an alliance of five separate South African Baptist groups. One of the groups is the convention with which we serve, the Baptist Convention of South Africa. The other groups involved are the Baptist Union—from whom the Baptist Convention broke away in 1987; the Afrikaans Baptist Kerk (Church) and two Indian groups, the Baptist Association of South Africa, and the Baptist Mission of South Africa. With a lot of prayer and a willingness to talk out their problems and humble themselves before God and to each other, these groups plan to enter into worship, theological education and mission work together in peace and model the gospel to the communities of the world.