Serving Together in South Africa
A room full of women knitting dolls. Children playing at a community daycare. A library taking shape as part of a future theology school. Each stop on our visit to South Africa introduced us to people using their skills and resources to serve their neighbors.
We spent time alongside local families and ministry workers, participated in medical outreach, and learned about projects still being developed. These photographs and clips offer a glimpse of the people and places we visited—and specific ways to pray for the work ahead.
Community Life at the Thola Center
The yellow Thola Center building houses a crèche, or daycare, and a community room where local women gather to knit.
The crèche supports families in the surrounding community by providing care for their children. During our visit, we spent time with the children and those caring for them, sharing activities and getting to know this part of the center’s work.
In the community room, women create knitted dolls as a way to earn an income. Their work also provides toys for children who have never had one before.
Watching the women knit and seeing the finished dolls gave us a closer look at the skill behind each creation. Their work connects a practical source of income with an opportunity to bring joy to a child.
Medical Outreach with Dr Katie Haskell
Our visit included medical outreach in the local community, where Dr. Katie Haskell serves with 7 Rivers Outreach in rural South Africa.
Katie provides medical services to local Zulu people as part of the team’s ministry. Her work connects practical care with opportunities to share the Gospel, disciple believers, and support church planting.
A medical center is also being built next to the Thola Center. Please pray for Katie, the outreach team, and those preparing this new space to serve the community.
A Place for Theological Learning
Another stop brought us to a library being developed by the Browns as part of a theology school they are building out.
The visit offered a glimpse of the preparation involved in creating a place for study.
Behind the books and shelves is a longer-term investment in theological education.
Please pray for the Browns as they continue developing the school and preparing for the work ahead.
Working Alongside Our Hosts at Seven Rivers Farm
At Seven Rivers Farm, we stayed with a family whose work includes crops and sustainable farming. We had the opportunity to help with their crops and learn more about what they are working toward.
Sharing in that work was a meaningful part of our time together. It gave us an opportunity to support our hosts practically and understand more of their daily life.
A warehouse is also planned for the farm. Please pray for the family’s ongoing farming efforts and for wisdom as they consider the next steps in that project.
Pray With Us
Our visit gave us people and places to remember long after returning home.
Please join us in praying for:
The women creating dolls and earning an income through their knitting.
The children, families, and caregivers connected to the Thola Center’s crèche.
Dr. Katie Haskell, the medical outreach team, and the medical center under construction.
The Browns as they develop the library and theology school.
Our hosts at Seven Rivers Farm as they care for their crops and plan for the future.
To learn more about the people and ministries connected with Biblical Ministries Worldwide, explore our missionary directory and find someone you can get to know and pray for.
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