Miles will be speaking at Lagoonside on the 16th July as we focus on Missions .
Miles & Shirley Schilder
Church Planting in Paarl
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Couple In The Middle East
We have a couple in the Middle east. To support them and or pray for them and want more details do not hesitate to approach one of our Pastors and Elders. |
Latest Update
A miracle happened!!!! We got our citizenship in record time. No questions asked!!!! Thank you so much for praying. We know that God has opened this door.
The weeks leading up to this were troubling. We were asked by well meaning believers why we applied at the particular office that we did as this is the office that was notorious for refusing believers entry. We had no idea that this was the case, and we could not retract anything because our application was already submitted. One lady told us that she personally knew several such people who had been denied.
Added to this, a pastor from another congregation called to ask if we needed to rent accommodation because a believing family who had paid the rental was denied citizenship and needed someone to take over the lease. Although the accommodation is not suitable, we were troubled by this because we knew in our hearts that God had called and he had promised, but we knew too that these people would very likely have felt the same.
Whilst we don’t understand why so many faithful people are not successful in obtaining citizenship, we do understand that we have a great responsibility to bring the gospel message to those around us in the place that he has put us.
We continue to spend much time with our neighbours. As we write, we are sitting with the lady at hospital. Last night we were invited by a young family to come to their school concert as their “grandparents.” We ourselves have adopted two “grandmothers” who have so many needs, particularly just to have a listening ear. It’s amazing how easy it is to infuse the Word into such conversations.
This is a very different field to the one we are used to. However we are thriving and realise our dependence upon the Spirit of God. We are learning the local language and now even able to hold a toddler level conversation and we are understanding even more, particularly if people speak slowly. We make sure that we have someone to talk to daily.
Last week as we were walking up the path, we met a woman who said that God had sent her to pray. Initially we were intrigued, but it turned out that she has some crazy ideas which she believes to be biblical and in our opinion brings disrepute upon the name of the Lord. However, we realize that she is lonely and struggling, so we have spent time with her offering food and trying to reason with her from the Scriptures.
Sadly, there are a number of people around like her that believe that they are the oracles of God. There is tremendous need for sound doctrine. We have met very few believers who are not influenced by some unsound teaching. We are so grateful for the excellent training we have had from BLI and our church. We believe that with the help of the Spirit, we may be of benefit to some.
We have realised that if there is one word that encapsulates what ministry has been so far, it is “inconvenience.” It is inconvenient to be with people whose doctrine bothers us. It is inconvenient to be with people who are so different to us, it is inconvenient to be available when we want to unwind, it is inconvenient to live in a room when we have had a beautiful home in South Africa, it is inconvenient to be amongst another culture trying to speak another language. And yet when we face these inconveniences, remembering that these are the challenges that God has set before us in order to reach people for Christ, it becomes one of the most enjoyable experiences of our lives and the pearl of great price. We have no regrets.
A miracle happened!!!! We got our citizenship in record time. No questions asked!!!! Thank you so much for praying. We know that God has opened this door.
The weeks leading up to this were troubling. We were asked by well meaning believers why we applied at the particular office that we did as this is the office that was notorious for refusing believers entry. We had no idea that this was the case, and we could not retract anything because our application was already submitted. One lady told us that she personally knew several such people who had been denied.
Added to this, a pastor from another congregation called to ask if we needed to rent accommodation because a believing family who had paid the rental was denied citizenship and needed someone to take over the lease. Although the accommodation is not suitable, we were troubled by this because we knew in our hearts that God had called and he had promised, but we knew too that these people would very likely have felt the same.
Whilst we don’t understand why so many faithful people are not successful in obtaining citizenship, we do understand that we have a great responsibility to bring the gospel message to those around us in the place that he has put us.
We continue to spend much time with our neighbours. As we write, we are sitting with the lady at hospital. Last night we were invited by a young family to come to their school concert as their “grandparents.” We ourselves have adopted two “grandmothers” who have so many needs, particularly just to have a listening ear. It’s amazing how easy it is to infuse the Word into such conversations.
This is a very different field to the one we are used to. However we are thriving and realise our dependence upon the Spirit of God. We are learning the local language and now even able to hold a toddler level conversation and we are understanding even more, particularly if people speak slowly. We make sure that we have someone to talk to daily.
Last week as we were walking up the path, we met a woman who said that God had sent her to pray. Initially we were intrigued, but it turned out that she has some crazy ideas which she believes to be biblical and in our opinion brings disrepute upon the name of the Lord. However, we realize that she is lonely and struggling, so we have spent time with her offering food and trying to reason with her from the Scriptures.
Sadly, there are a number of people around like her that believe that they are the oracles of God. There is tremendous need for sound doctrine. We have met very few believers who are not influenced by some unsound teaching. We are so grateful for the excellent training we have had from BLI and our church. We believe that with the help of the Spirit, we may be of benefit to some.
We have realised that if there is one word that encapsulates what ministry has been so far, it is “inconvenience.” It is inconvenient to be with people whose doctrine bothers us. It is inconvenient to be with people who are so different to us, it is inconvenient to be available when we want to unwind, it is inconvenient to live in a room when we have had a beautiful home in South Africa, it is inconvenient to be amongst another culture trying to speak another language. And yet when we face these inconveniences, remembering that these are the challenges that God has set before us in order to reach people for Christ, it becomes one of the most enjoyable experiences of our lives and the pearl of great price. We have no regrets.
