Senkbile Scoop: June 2009

Urban 40

This month, JD was invited by the PJ Smyth, the lead pastor of God First Church in Johannesburg, to speak at the Urban 40 pastors’ conference. The conference was 40 hours focused on church planting in urban contexts, and JD was asked to speak, specifically on the topic of understanding culture and the art of contextualizing the gospel. JD was not only excited to share but also thankful for the opportunity to network with pastors all over South Africa.

Second Quarterly

The day after returning to Cape Town, JD hosted the second Acts 29 Quarterly luncheon. This month’s topic was “Preaching to the Heart,” and we were thankful to have Al Barth from Redeemer Church Planting Center in New York sharing with our local pastors. As with the first quarterly meeting, this proved to be a good time of fellowship with local pastors and a chance to network with and encourage each other in the work of church planting.

Upcoming Travel

The next few months JD will be traveling a fair bit. At the end of June, he leaves for a 10-day trip back to the States. He will be attending the A29 pastors’ retreat in Colorado and will be speaking at two A29 churches in Omaha. June 21 he will be at Core Community Church, and June 28 he will be back at our church Coram Deo.

Two weeks after returning from America, he will leave again for Uganda and will be joined by Jonathan Dodson (A29 pastor) and four others, visiting some local, rural villages and joining Gerald, a fellow A29 pastor, in his ministry in Kampala.

Welcome, Lacy!

This week, we had the privilege of welcoming our summer intern Lacy Barker. Lacy will be living with us until mid-August and will be getting a taste of ministry in South Africa, as well as traveling with JD to Uganda in July. Pray for us, that our family will be a blessing to Lacy, who has given up her summer vacation to expand her vision for church planting.

At Home

Our little Cohen continues to be an explosion of new words every day. Some of our favorites: jucks = ducks, chakchurs = tractors, bishees = fishies, and hairmo = remote. He is a true delight, and we never lack for evening entertainment when he is around.

Sloane is almost four months old and is a girgling, happy, smiling baby who can’t get enough of her dad. She is easy-going, soft, chubby, and just so precious. We just can’t imagine what life was like before she came along, and the poor girl is so smothered with hugs and kisses–especially from her brother. (Side note: Some of you won’t even recognize JD when you see him at the end of this month. He is a total softy these days; it’s ridiculous!)

Much love to each of you and thank you for your support of us…
The Senkbiles