Author: admin

Recently we had a small group from other churches visit our discipleship program for a 5-day visit. While our program currently runs for a full year, the Lord has been showing us how much He can do in shorter periods through what He has entrusted to us.

I asked our students to prayerfully consider how they would approach teaching and imparting the heart of our program to a group of people if they only had 5 days to do so, realizing that this activity would also reveal a lot of what the Lord has done in our current students this year.

Not only did they create the plan for the week, I also asked them to lead, teach, and execute all of the classes and activities while I simply sat in to observe. It is one thing to teach about leadership. It’s another thing to actually activate people to walk boldly and confidently with the Lord in leading others.

My heart was so full watching each of our students step up and do an incredible job with this 5-day “bootcamp.” I’ve heard testimonies from some of the attendees that their lives will be forever changed by what they caught and learned during their visit.

Praise the Lord!

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ – Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

As we continue to see incredible fruit in our discipleship school student’s lives, I find myself often sharing with others what we actually do at the school.

We haven’t discovered some breakthrough discipleship technique or curriculum. It’s actually quite the opposite. I feel like we have rediscovered the ancient paths that are rapidly being forgotten in our current world and culture.

The Lord has asked us to prioritize things like reading the Bible daily, listening for His Voice, and responding in prayer and obedience. We allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us each day and constantly create space for Him to do so.

Our students read the entire Bible in their 10 months with us. We felt led not to assign any other books that may hinder them from engaging the Lord in the living Word itself during their year at the school.

After seeing how fruitful last year was, 5 local church congregations have felt led to join our 2024 student class in journeying with the Lord through the Bible together as a church over 10 months. 

One of my highlights of the year so far has been hearing testimonies from many people in these churches who are falling in love with the Word of God and developing a deep intimacy with the Lord in the secret place!

⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. – 1 John 2:5-6 (NIV)

Last week we celebrated and rejoiced in what the Lord has done in and through the lives of 40 students at our ministry school this past year. I truly am in awe and wonder at the growth and  godly fruit I’ve seen in these students lives as we’ve reached the end of this year.

At our year-end event, some of our students surprised me and our staff by writing and sharing encouraging poems and words about how the Lord worked through us. As I heard the words shared about me, my heart was so full and encouraged:

“Pete –
A man of faith and conviction
A man who yields to the leadership of the Spirit
A man who models the humility of Jesus
A man who stands for the truth
A man who shapes the Bride to look beautiful for the King
A man who doesn’t plateau or stop growing, but continues to press on
A man who is present in the moment like Jesus would be
A man who loves like Jesus would love

We have seen Christ in Pete, and we have all grown because of the obedience he has walked in to be here in South Africa with us. Thank you for a life that screams, ‘He is worth it’”

He is worth it! I desire for my life to scream it, both in words and deeds. And I pray that those individuals whose lives I am so honored and blessed to touch on my journey, will imitate me as I imitate Christ as they go and make disciples of all nations and bring glory to the Lord across the earth.

Thank you to each one of you who has partnered in the gospel with us by sowing into and contributing to the work the Lord is doing here in South Africa. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for all the Lord wants to do in 2022!

24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” – Genesis 32:24–26 (CSB)

Recently, I felt the Lord asking us to open our home every day at 5 AM for people to come and begin their day by beholding the Lord in prayer and worship. We obeyed Him despite it seeming to be a bit daunting, and He faithfully gave us the grace to wake up and open our home each morning for 4 straight weeks.

Most mornings we would have 10-15 people join us from the ministry school and various congregations in the area. The Holy Spirit would lead us differently each morning, with some mornings resulting in the sound of loud praise and singing carrying out into the neighborhood surrounding our home as the sun began to rise.

I’ve never felt so close to the Lord and so full of the Spirit on a sustained basis as I did in these 4 weeks, and we saw incredible fruit in the lives of many of the people who joined us during this time. As we realized this season of daily corporate prayer was ending, a leader in the church shared a prophetic word with me that he believed God wanted to dislocate my hip like Jacob.

As soon as he shared the word with me, I immediately sensed that it was in fact an accurate description of what the Lord wanted to do. As I read Jacob’s story in Genesis again, I was struck by Jacob’s resolve to not let go of God even after getting a dislocated hip.

As amazing as these 4 weeks of early morning corporate prayer were, I knew that stopping them shouldn’t result in me experiencing less of God even if it looks differently now. I resolved like Jacob that I will not let go of God. I had tasted and seen something of Him that had brought me to even deeper levels of love, devotion, and surrender to Him.

Little did I know what the following 2 weeks would look like. Our whole family was immediately challenged in our health in various ways. I often pray Psalm 139:23 which reads – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Well, the Lord revealed many anxious thoughts within me during these health challenges. We felt like we were under immense spiritual attack. By God’s grace I persevered in praying and drawing close to God, even when He now felt much more distant than in the weeks prior.

I clung to His faithful promises. I clung to the truth of His Word. I clung to the truth of who He is. And I clung most importantly – to Him. And I believe that because I persevered through these challenges, God has strengthened me, increased my faith, and made me more into His image to prepare me for where He will lead us in the future to the glory of His name.

I will not let go of God. I will throw off every hindrance that stands between me and Him – from being aware of Him, His voice, His presence, and from being obedient to His Word and His ways.

He is worthy of it all, and He will have His glory.

26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire – Hebrews 12:26–29 (CSB)

Thank you to those of you who saw the news about South Africa a couple of weeks ago and were led to reach out to us and ensure we are safe. South Africa experienced a week of chaos with severe violence, rioting and looting across the country at levels that haven’t been seen here in a very long time. Fortunately the Lord protected us through it all.

Deaths and severe illnesses have also increased greatly in South Africa in the past couple of months. Fear, anxiety, and tensions are high as people face the reality of death and the uncertainty of both a virus and a vaccine. We’ve personally had to grapple with these things as we have had friends and partners in the gospel here pass away during this time.

As I prepared to preach one Sunday last month, I felt the Lord highlighting the verse 1 Peter 4:7 – The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. (CSB)

I asked the congregation that Sunday a question – If God by His sovereign grace and power was to reveal to you that He was in fact actually returning and coming back tomorrow, what would you then do differently today knowing that fact? Take a few moments and answer that question now for yourself.

As I pondered this question personally, I realized that a divine revelation of Christ’s imminent return the next day shouldn’t actually change what I do today. The reason why is because I should already be living in that reality. Jesus has told us to live our lives that way.

I should already be keeping in step with the Spirit as I seek to obey God in all things and partner with Him in the ways He is desiring me to partner with Him so that He may be glorified. I should already be loving the Lord my God with ALL of my heart, ALL of my soul, ALL of my strength, and ALL of my mind. I should already be alert and sober-minded so that I may pray continually.

Jesus is returning soon. I’ve heard a number of well-respected Christian leaders who believe that He will return during the lifetime of this current generation. Personally, I actually have that sense as well. Regardless of the actual timing of His return, we also know that our lives are like a vapor, here for a little while and then gone.

Live each day as if TODAY may be that glorious day that by God’s grace you will stand before the Lord and see Him in all of His majesty and beauty.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. – Revelation 3:11 (CSB)

26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
– John 10:26–28 (NIV)

How incredible it is for the Lord to know us – for us to be His sheep and to be called children of God!  As believers, we have such an amazing assurance of eternal life and protection from the Lord.

Jesus makes it clear in the above passage that if we are in fact His sheep, two things will be evident in our lives.  #1 – We will hear (and recognize) His voice.  #2 – We will follow Him (wherever He leads.)

As I grow closer to the Lord, I find myself crying out more and more to Him asking Him to search my heart and reveal anything in my life that is offensive to Him (Ps 139:23-24.) 

While it is solely by God’s grace and through the Holy Spirit that we can even hear God’s voice, I’ve had to ask myself this question – Am I actually trying to hear God throughout each day so that I can follow Him and only do what He desires of me in each moment and situation that I am facing?

In this season, God has called us to surrender and lay down more and more things of this world that may seem innocent to many, but in reality are distractions and temptations that are hindering us from hearing God and following Him with the whole-hearted devotion and surrender that He desires and deserves.

The Lord is coming back for a pure and spotless bride, and we are committed to preparing ourselves and His church for that glorious day. 

Please continue to keep our family and our ministry in prayer.  We have been so blessed to see God touch the hearts and lives of so many people already here in South Africa, and yet we know He wants to do so much more. 

Thank you for your prayers, love and financial support!

I told a friend recently that if I could go back in time and choose to not go through 2020, I would still go through it all over again. Why?

Because in the midst of trials and uncertainty, we have seen God move so powerfully both in our own hearts and lives, as well as in the lives of the churches and people we’ve been able to minister to this year.

Sometimes it takes a global pandemic and a shutdown of all major entertainment worldwide to shake us and help us realize how far we’ve actually drifted away from God and from living a life of complete obedience and devotion to Him and for Him.

There’s so many things happening in the world screaming for our attention. We must remember the hope we have in Him and keep our eyes fixed on Him, rather than fixing our eyes on the media and the world around us.

By God’s grace, opportunities to advance His Kingdom have continued to open up for us here in South Africa. While international travel became nearly impossible this year, we’ve still been able to travel this country and share God’s Word in churches across South Africa.

As we’ve ministered, we’ve seen such a hunger for the Lord and such an awareness of how great He is and how worthy He is to be praised and worshiped. We’ve also seen an outpouring of earnest repentance before the Lord as He has convicted hearts to fully turn back to Him.

The ministry school continues to produce disciples that are passionate and on fire for the Lord, and we are sending many of our interns and graduates into various roles within churches and congregations across the country. It’s incredible to see so much fruit from the school as many former graduates are now leading churches and church plants as well.

We are also now prayerfully exploring how to multiply the ministry school and create similar schools and experiences in other countries in Africa and beyond where we already have partnerships with healthy churches. The harvest is plentiful, and our burden in the Lord is to raise up and equip a movement of disciple-makers in the nations.

As this year draws to a close and we reflect with thanksgiving, we are overwhelmed with the awareness of how awesome and glorious our God is. And our prayer for each one of you reading this update is for you to truly know the Lord and His great love, and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

God bless you!

¹⁴ This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. – Matthew 24:14

While 2020 has certainly presented us with our share of trials and challenges, we are so grateful for the way that the Lord has used it to grow us in our character and bring us to a greater level of dependence on Him.

Now that travel has opened up a bit here in South Africa, I was able to visit a couple of churches in another province this past month to minister and preach. The troubling events across the world in this season only encourage me even more to share the hope of Jesus with others.

As I prayed about what the Lord wanted me to share, He highlighted John 15 – where Jesus tells the disciples that He is the true vine and that they are to remain in Him.

Jesus says that we can do nothing apart from Him. Now it’s one thing to acknowledge this truth. But it’s another thing for our lives to actually reflect this level of dependence on Him in the way we spend our time, prioritize our lives, and make decisions.

Jesus also tells them that the Father prunes and cuts us even when we are already bearing fruit in our lives, so that we we may be bear even more fruit and show ourselves to be His true disciples. Knowing this fact, we should both expect God’s pruning as well as actively seek it out as we go through different seasons in life.

May we remain in Him and may our lives bring glory to God in everything we do.

During these last few months, we have been surrounded by fear, injustice, uncertainty, change, discomfort, disease, and death.  I wish I can reflect on this time and say that through it all I have responded in a Christ-like manner at all times.  

But while I cannot say that, God’s grace has been sufficient.  I’ve repented often, received his forgiveness, and asked for His help to obey and follow Him during these times the way that He desires me to follow Him.  

Here are 3 things God has been teaching me during this time.  I pray that they encourage you as they have encouraged me.

1.  “Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one…” – Hebrews 11:16(a)
   
   Many times during this season of lockdown, I’ve longed for things I used to be able to do.  I longed for hugs from friends and family.  I longed to go for a walk without a mask on.  I longed to go sit by the beach and stare at God’s beautiful creation.  While all of these things seem reasonable, I’ve realized the more time I spend longing for them, the less time I spend focused on Him – abiding in Him and following Him.
   
   God is teaching me to “long” for Him and His Kingdom more – long for His presence, long to hear His voice, long to walk in His ways, and long to do His will.  The more that I long for those things and direct my focus and my energy towards Him, the less time I spend focusing on the things of this world as well as what I do or don’t have or can or can’t do on this side of heaven.
   
   
2. “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…” – Hebrews 12:1-2
   
   A couple of weeks into lockdown, I was feeling completely overwhelmed and mentally exhausted.  I realized that every time I checked the news, social media, or my group messages, it was stealing mental energy away from me.  It was hindering me from being fully present with my family and the people I minister to.  And it was hindering me from being present with the Lord.
   
   God is teaching me to be very intentional to throw off things that hinder me or cause me to sin.  In this case, it was all of the media inputs at my fingertips.  We’re called to think about and focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8).  Sadly, I rarely find those things in the news or on Facebook. So I’ve drastically reduced the amount of time I even allow my eyes to read these things and my mind to process then.
   
   God has reminded me to fix my eyes on Jesus – on what He did on the cross for us, on the way He lived His life, on the commands He has given me to obey, and on the fact that He is a risen King – now and forever.  I must remove anything that hinders my ability to fix my eyes on Him and follow Him.

3. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” – Hebrews 10:24-25
   
   When I haven’t been stuck in my own mind wrestling with the realities we have been facing in the world, I’ve been reaching out to others in the church and community that God has placed in my life and ministry.  However, early in lockdown I noticed a lot of my conversations were centered around just ensuring that the person was “OK.”
   
   God reminded me in this Scripture that he has called us to not only be “OK” and wait for things to return to “normal”, but that we should rather be considering and giving careful thought towards how we may encourage and spur one another on toward love and good deeds while God continues to work and be active around us. He wants us to persevere and grow more like Him, especially during trials.
   
   We are in a constant spiritual battle, and thankfully we don’t have to face that battle on our own.  We must encourage one another to trust and follow the Lord into the “new” he is leading us into, rather than try to hold on and hold out for a “normal” that may never return.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Just hours before the President of South Africa came on to television and announced that we would no longer be able to meet in large groups (and would one week later be forced to lock ourselves in our homes), God had continued to write an amazing testimony of His hand at work in my life.

Four years ago when I was just visiting South Africa, I was invited to preach in a church for the first time in my life. I only found out days before preaching that it was in Nyanga – an area known as the “murder capital of South Africa” – in the 15th most violent city in the world.

Four years later, we now we live and minister in South Africa – and the Lord has opened up so many opportunities to declare the gospel here and to make disciples focused on following the Lord and doing the same.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I found out last month that this same church in Nyanga that I preached at 4 years ago was one of 18 churches from the Cape Flats region – a notorious region in South Africa that continues to remain poverty stricken with disturbing levels of gang activity – coming together for a 3 day equipping time that we were helping to lead with our partner church here.

First, we joined church leaders from across all of Cape Town along with these 18 Cape Flats churches for two days to worship the Lord together and to examine the Scriptures to discuss God’s heart and blueprint for a healthy church. Sadly, many churches have distorted the gospel and led the people astray from God’s truth, especially in the Cape Flats region.

Next, we had leaders and teams minister to each of these 18 churches that Sunday. I was asked to return to the church in Nyanga and preach there once again. It was incredible to see Him bring this connection and relationship back into my life. This time I was accompanied by my wife as well as a team of 12 others leaders that we partner with.

It was so special to preach to this congregation again and to see God continue to do a beautiful work in the hearts and minds of the congregation – even as this church sits right in the center of one of the darkest areas in the world. Many people responded to the preach seeking more of Him through repentance and prayer, including a number of the teenagers which was amazing. We saw God move in power and bring both physical and emotional healing during this time as well.

I also got to see and catch up with MT, one of the former gangsters I met at Drakenstein prison 4 years ago who is now faithfully serving the Lord and proclaiming the gospel back in the same neighborhoods where he used to be caught up in the gang lifestyle.

As we now endure a lockdown here in South Africa and are making many adjustments to the way we minister for the next few weeks, I’m so grateful that God allowed us to be part of His beautiful work in the Cape Flats just before the lockdown happened.

Thank you all for your prayers and continued support of what God is doing here in South Africa through our ministry. Your partnership is truly special and treasured.