Mission to Mpumalanga - March 2014

​Dear Friends
 
Mpumalanga Mission
Three of us drove up from Cape Town; Taryn, the Co-ordinator of Africa Christian Action, missionary intern, Ryno and I drove 5,000km to and around Mpumalanga and back. Michael and Renee drove up from KwaZulu/Natal for our intensive Mission to Mpumalanga.

​​Through Flooded Rivers
From the beginning, this Mission was complicated by unprecedentedly intense torrential rain, which swelled the rivers to bursting their banks and flooded large areas. Several of the key bridges we had to cross were rendered impassable by the swollen and fast-flowing rivers. Michael commented that not even on his Africa Overland Missions to Sudan, had he faced such obstacles in river crossing as our team had to deal with on this Mission to Mpumalanga!

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." Isaiah 43:2
 
School Outreaches
While I was presenting a week of lectures on Church History at Back to the Bible Training College, Michael, Renee, Taryn and Ryno were daily walking out along the train track and the high railway bridge to cross the raging Crocodile River, which wraps around Back to the Bible Training College and had rendered the road bridge completely impassable. By walking across the railway bridge, the rest of our team was able to make the 7 school meetings at 5 different schools in nearby Barberton, 30km from BBTC. We praise God that many government schools are still open to Gospel preaching. They also made the church services, Bible studies and youth outreaches in Barberton by travelling on foot and by taxis.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring Good News…" Isaiah 52:7
 
Church History Course
Sometimes the rainfall was so intense, that even with a PA system, it was hard to be heard. I presented 25 lectures on Church History to the 120 students from 20 countries at Back to the Bible Training College. These presentations included: The Importance of History, The Roman Empire, The Testimony of the Apostles, Polycarp, Perpetua, Patrick of Ireland, The Middle Ages, Columba - Missionary to Scotland, The Rise of Islam, Boniface - The Apostle to the Germans, King Alfred the Great, How the Vikings Were Won to Christ, Muhammad the Caliphas and Jihad, The Crusades, The Inquisition, Wycliffe and the Lollards, Anne Askew, William Tyndale, The Greatest Century of Reformation, Dr. Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany, The Greatest Century of the Puritans, Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War, The Greatest Century of Revival, George Whitefield and the Great Evangelical Awakening, The Greatest Century of Missions, and the Worst Century of Persecution. 

"Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted… Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition…" 1 Corinthians 10:6-11
 
Church History Manual
For this Church History course, we produced a 136 page, 26 chapter Church History Manual with 50 pictures and a full colour world map. Each student was given a copy of this Church History Manual. There were two exams and two assignments set for the Third Year students and two exams and one assignment for Second Years. First year students only needed to complete one exam. At the conclusion of the Church History Course at BBTC, numerous books were donated to the students to help build up their personal libraries. 

"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2
 
Reformation and Revival Seminar
To make the next appointment, our team had to 4 Wheel drive up and over the mountain ranges on very muddy and steep tracks, past some precipitous cliffs and across numerous farms, in order to go around the flooded bridges of the Crocodile River. Instead of a one hour drive in good weather, it took us four and a half hours to reach our next destination: KwaSizabantu Mission Schulzendal. There I presented a Reformation and Revival Seminar dealing with Whatever Happened to the Prayer Meeting? The Great Evangelical Awakening, Andrew Murray and the 1860 Revival and The Wondrous Works and Ways of the One We Worship. The Frontline team also conducted an Evangelism Workshop. At the same time Michael and Renee were conducting church and college meetings and services in Barberton and at Back to the Bible Training College.

"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" Psalm 85:6
 
Evangelising Animists Course
The intense rainfall continued and complicated travel to our next destination at Africa School of Missions, where I was invited to deal with Evangelising Animists. An international group of students received lectures on Understanding Animism, Evangelising Animists, Body Piercing and Tattoos, Deliverance and Reclaiming Surrendered Ground, as well as the comprehensive chronological method of Bible teaching to Animist villagers, and examples of excellence in Mary Slessor of Calabar and Samuel Ajai Crowther of Nigeria.

"…make disciples of all the nations... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..." Matthew 28:18-20
 
Mission Accomplished
In all our Frontline Fellowship Mission team conducted over 70 meetings at 5 schools, 4 churches, 3 Mission bases, 2 Bible Colleges and a Reformation and Revival Seminar. A tonne of Bibles, Gospel booklets, Christian books, audio visual materials and tracts were distributed during this outreach.

"So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
 
Wonderful Wildlife
Some of us had the privilege of seeing kudu, impala, wilderbees, buffalo, rhino, elephant, hyena, wild dogs, giraffe, snakes, eagles and lion as we drove to Africa School of Missions.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" Romans 1:20
 
Overcoming Obstacles
After the conclusion of the series of services, seminars and courses, our team faced the dilemma of how to extricate the Missions' trailer across the Crocodile River. Although the water had come down dramatically, it was still flowing very fast and no one had yet dared to drive across the narrow single lane low bridge. In other parts of Mpumalanga, vehicles had been washed away while attempting to cross the river. Michael and Ryno began by using the Missions' vehicle winch to pull huge uprooted trees, and other obstacles, out of the road and river. We then walked through the river to check for potential damage to the bridge and debris which could endanger the river crossing with both our vehicle and trailer. Finally, by God's grace, we managed to drive with the trailer across the still swollen river, despite the very strong cross current and begin the 2,000km journey back to our Mission base. You can see pictures and video clips of these outreaches and river crossings on www.frontline.org.za website and Frontline Fellowship social media page.

"And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one Word of them has failed." Joshua 23:14
 
Bibles to Zimbabwe
We praise God for another team which succeeded in delivering hundreds of Bibles and thousands of New Testaments and Bible Study booklets to Zimbabwe. Next week we anticipate another 17 tonne container shipment of Bibles and books to be offloaded and sorted through at our Mission base.

"The Gospel is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes." Romans 1:16
 
Thank You
We are very grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support, without which none of our ministries would be possible.
 
May the Lord continue to be your joy and strength.

Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission

Dr. Peter Hammond
 
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Fax: 021-685-5884
Email:  mission@frontline.org.za

Your support is needed and much appreciated. Our banking details are:
(For South African supporters)
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship
First National Bank - Rondebosch
Branch code: 201509
Acc. No: 5017 0589 260

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(For overseas supporters)
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship
First National Bank - Rondebosch
Branch code: ZA201509
Acc. No: 5017 0589 260
Swift No: FIRNZAJJ
Ref: initial and surname and what it is designated for