Hello! We are Pete, Sumari, and Arielle Witt, missionaries serving in South Africa. In July 2018, we moved from San Diego to Cape Town in response to God’s call to invest our lives in discipleship, local churches, and raising up believers who know Jesus deeply and live on mission.
Called to South Africa
Our journey toward South Africa began in 2016 while Pete was serving in a discipleship program in San Diego. During that season, God began stirring a clear call to Cape Town and a vision for helping believers grow in intimacy with Jesus, become grounded in Scripture, and learn to follow His voice in everyday life.
After a scouting trip in 2016 and a short-term ministry trip in 2017, our family took the step of moving to South Africa in July 2018.
South Africa is a nation we have come to love deeply. We are continually humbled by what God teaches us through the people, churches, and communities alongside whom we serve.
From Cape Town to Johannesburg
From 2018 through 2022, we served in Cape Town, helping lead a discipleship school and investing in the life of a local church. During that season, Pete also served as part of the church’s eldership team.
Those years strengthened our conviction that lasting ministry happens through long-term relationships: walking with people, opening Scripture together, creating space for God to work deeply, and helping believers put what they are learning into practice.
In 2022, God led our family into a new season and we relocated to Johannesburg. In February 2023, we helped launch the ROOTED Discipleship Journey as part of City on a Hill Johannesburg.
What Our Ministry Looks Like Today
Our ministry centers on helping people know Jesus deeply, become formed by His Word and Spirit, grow into mature Christian leaders, and strengthen the local churches and communities where God has placed them.
Today, this includes:
- discipleship and spiritual formation;
- mentoring and equipping emerging Christian leaders;
- teaching and preaching;
- serving and strengthening local churches;
- evangelism and gospel outreach;
- supporting and equipping church plants;
- ministry among children and young people;
- training believers to hear and obey God’s voice in accordance with Scripture; and
- partnering with churches and ministry leaders in South Africa and internationally.
The ROOTED Discipleship Journey
ROOTED is one significant expression of our wider missionary calling. It is a long-term discipleship journey designed to help believers grow in intimacy with Jesus, prayer and worship, obedience to God’s Word and voice, Christlike character, practical ministry, and self-sacrificial service.
Through teaching, mentoring, ministry experience, outreach, and life together, we help emerging leaders build foundations that will serve them wherever God sends them.
Rooted in the Local Church
Our family serves within City on a Hill Johannesburg, where Pete is an elder in the Bedfordview congregation. Pete also helps lead ROOTED, teaches and preaches, mentors emerging leaders, and serves in broader church and ministry partnerships.
Our work is carried out in relationship with local church leaders and as part of a wider partnership of churches committed to strengthening congregations, equipping believers, developing leaders, and planting churches.
Gospel, Outreach, and Church Partnerships
Alongside ROOTED and our responsibilities within City on a Hill, we serve through evangelism, school outreach, ministry among children and young people, support for church plants, and teaching and preaching in churches across South Africa.
God has also given us opportunities to encourage churches and leaders internationally. We are grateful to see people respond to the gospel, students begin discipling and teaching others, emerging leaders grow in character and confidence, and believers return to their churches better equipped to serve.
Missionary life is a family calling. Much of ministry happens through ordinary rhythms of life—sharing meals, welcoming people into our home, praying, listening, encouraging, travelling, and walking faithfully with people over time.
Accountability and Oversight
Our day-to-day ministry and pastoral accountability are rooted in the eldership of City on a Hill Johannesburg.
Our financial sending and donation oversight is provided through The Rock Church in San Diego. U.S. donations are received and administered through The Rock Church, a 501(c)(3) organization.
These relationships provide both local church accountability in South Africa and responsible financial oversight through our sending church in the United States.
Walk With Us
We are deeply grateful for the individuals, families, churches, ministries, and businesses who walk alongside us through prayer, encouragement, financial partnership, and friendship.
If you would like to stay connected, receive our ministry updates, or learn more about partnering with us, we would be honored to have you journey with us.
If you are a church or missions leader interested in learning more about our ministry or exploring a potential partnership, please start a conversation with us.