How Shall They Hear Without a Preacher?

It is a skill of unusual difficulty to craft a 45-minute speech that both accurately explains the meaning of a particular verse of the Bible while also touching the heart of the hearers. Desks help as do computers, printers, a well-stocked personal library, time for reflection, and at least a decade (hopefully several) of immersion in a culture where this kind of teaching has permeated into all the cracks of life. But these advantages are rare in rural areas, and yet we must make disciples and gather them into groups that practice this kind of Bible work. 

Sunday, Thabiso Mashaba preached for about 30 minutes from Hebrews 11:23-29 on the faith of Moses. Owing to a full week at GYM Camp, he and I spent less time than usual, and yet he said Sunday morning (pardon my paraphrase from Tsonga), “My main point is that true faith sees the One who is invisible like Moses did. Then we can live like he did.” He did not get that thesis statement from me because when I did stop by to help him at his house on Saturday, I promptly fell asleep. 

He also raised the question, though he did not have an answer for it, “How is it that Moses was reproached for Christ since he lived before Jesus?” Thanks to a study Bible that Paul gave him years ago, he showed 6 other cross references to explain the 7 verses that were his text. 

After the sermon, we usually have a time of review and prayer from the passage. The prayer requests of the 20 people present makes me think they are growing in the knowledge of our Lord from the preaching of His Word. One woman told me, “Brother Thabiso is growing. God is answering our prayers because he was not able to preach before, but he is getting better.” 

Yesterday morning he and I met before he started work at a business near our house. 

Thabiso: “What counsel can you give sister Ntsako and mother Eunice with these problems they have brought to me?” 

Seth: “When did they bring these problems to you?” 

Thabiso: “I was visiting the members Saturday after the prayer meeting.” 

Seth: “But those two women live about 45 minutes apart from each other. Were they both at the prayer meeting?” 

Thabiso: “Ntsako was at the prayer meeting [since it is held near her house], but then I walked over to the other side to visit the others.” 

While I have the next section of Hebrews 11 this Lord’s Day, he will return to the pulpit for the final section of the Faith Chapter. Please pray that his logic and rhetoric would grow along with his practical obedience. Please ask God to give conversions through his efforts. 

Currently, he and two others have a Bible study with about 10 adults in Valdezia every Saturday afternoon, but he said he does not see any of them interested in repentance. 

I have highlighted Thabiso here at Valdezia Rock Baptist Church, but do pray for Reginal Ntuli who was ordained at Trinity Baptist last year. Matimba Siweya is preaching once per month at Makhasa Baptist Church. For each of these men pray that they would do the work of evangelists. Pray that their lives would be louder and clearer than their words—we want no more Talkatives in this people group. 

What hinders me from being baptized?”

Lord-willing, several from different church plants will be baptized on Easter Sunday. Two women from Valdezia were both evangelized by other women speaking to them in their homes. Two men from street evangelism in Elim have been attending for over a year. And a mother and her son in Tiyani have been counting the cost for several years now. 

Even with this group of 6 on the 20th, from all 8 churchplants there are roughly 30-40 others who come each week and read their Bibles, but they are not ready to say what God has done for their souls (Psalm 66:16). Must I rephrase that into a prayer request? Certainly not for those who have read this far, but to quicken your faith in Him who is invisible, let these quotes water your prayers: 

• “Before they call I will answer.” Is. 65:24

• “Ask and it shall be given.” Matt. 7:7

• “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he turn.” Ez. 33:11

• “Prayers [should] be made for all men… [for He] desires all men to be saved.” 1 Tim. 2:1, 4

• And for the candidates for baptism, “I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.” Luke 22:32

Last week, about 80 men met for GYM Camp under Paul Schlehlein’s leadership. It was a joy to hear several earnest testimonies and numerous other spiritual conversations. May husbands, fathers, and missionaries come from this annual camp. 

In service of the Word that saves, 

Seth and Amy

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