Sold Out to Serve

Good day friends,

At the moment our house is silent. The only sound that can be heard is my own sniffling and sneezing, and that of my husband in the next room.

We hope and pray that all is well in whatever part of the world you find yourself in today. The first month of the year is nearly over, yet I’m sure it’s been a significant one.

Our “Year of Your Life” program has gotten off to a great start. In the second week of January, we went away with our 4 students for an orientation week filled with team building games and preparing our hearts for a year full of service to the Lord. We were blessed to be given a camp ground free of charge, with some of our food sponsored as well!

Shortly after our opening week, we gained a 5^th student. The five students (4 girls and 1 guy)

are between the ages of 18 and 22 and have a heart for giving back to the Lord. They have incredible attitudes and have given 101%. They have great ideas and we know that God brought them under our care for a specific purpose. For God to work IN them and THROUGH them.

The year is heavily focused on children’s ministry in our church as they are the future of our country and our world. Statistics show that if a child does not receive Christ in their lives by the age of 14, the chances of salvation later in life are marginal. The team serves in children’s church, weekly kids club, and the youth group.

The second of three “branches” of our ministry is to the local schools. Beginning next week, we will be involved in sports coaching and after school tutoring with primary school kids. Because these extra mural activities haven’t begun yet, we have been availing ourselves to help the teachers in whatever way possible for the time being. We spent the whole of last week covering text books for math students.

The third branch we are giving a great effort into is reaching out to our surrounding community. Community life in South Africa is so different from that of America, or even of SA several years ago. Every house has securely gated and barred itself in, away from the outside world. The realities of crime have made this absolutely necessary, but in the same way, have kept potential friends out as well. The students themselves have come up with creative ideas to connect with our neighbors and see the need for consistent prayer walks. We have plans to revamp a public park just across the road from our church in a few months as well as other outreach initiatives to bring people together.

Here are a few highlighted events of the months to come that we will either be planning or helping to execute: Wonder Women’s Tea (for all ladies 13 and up), Dad’s and Lad’s event, Silver Ring Thing (abstinence program for teens), and Engulfed Music Festival.

Blessings to you as YOU TOO make a difference in the lives of those around you.   

All our love,

The Bakers