K M

SS3

"t/Ay
^ lamp unto mf jutania
Jiuf wovliAa^L
lujh. unto
lujk.
utUo mjnuj fxilk."
faiA '-"Tiolmi 119:105

M M

mm t A|^V

aFMcaN
Caryl, Dina, and Dawn Stanley stand at the
guardrail uverluohing the main cataract at
Augrabics Falls nn the Orange Ricer. After the
youth camp at Upington the Michael Stanleys
took Ezra Mbali to visit the Augrabies Falls

TORCH

Republic of

Port Shepstone

South Africa

Trariskei

lUmzumbe BibleJnstitute)

National Park, which is near the South-West

Africa Namibia border.

Cape Town

East London*

Volume 35

First Quarter, 1984

Number 1

CHURCH BUILDINGS THROUGH THE YEARS by Alvin Nicholson

'tiS.

.-S. I""

so the people did not see any need to

increase their giving or to do a better job
of giving. Then all at once we began to
have more places that were asking for
help.
Along with this the cost of
providing the doors, windows and roof

>

has taken a great jump. At the close of

the 1950's, we built a new church in Port
Michael Stanley took the wood for the roof to the
Mbandane (Transkei) church in

Alvin

Nicholson's Isuzu lorry. Dina went along to keep

Dad company on the trip.

One of the early questions to be faced on

any mission field is how church buildings
are going to be built and by whom. When
Max Randall arrived in South Africa in

1950, the number of permanent buildings

(those of brick or cement block walls and

iron roof) could be counted on one hand.

The brethren already had a fund that
they paid into for the use of the churches,
but most of this money they spent for food
for their annual meetings.
Brother Randall helped the people set
an amount that they would pay for table
money when they came to the Annual
Conference. They named the account,
into which they were to pay the
equivalent of one rand per member, the
Building and the Evangelism Fund. On
an average, about one-third of the people
have contributed year by year.
It was agreed by the people that when a
church had a recognized site, that is, one
where government or local authority
have given them permission to occupy, if
they built a permanent building, brick or
cement block, they would receive money
from this fund to buy the windows, doors
and roof. To explain how to obtain a
permit to occupy, it is the following: The
congregation must have 100 members of
15 years of age and overliving within five
miles of the place to build.
Since about 1954, twenty-five church
buildings have received help from this B
& E Fund. There are three buildings
being erected at the present time which
have just received help or will get it.
The Building and Evangelism Fund is
being a bit hard pressed at the present
time. For some years it was possible each
year to lay aside some money in savings

Elizabeth for $4000 and that included

labor and all. Today that amount will be

used just to buy the roof alone.

The people have increased the amount
that each member is to pay and we are
working toward the raising of this money
early in the year rather than waiting
until the last minute when many find it
difficult to give this help. I believe today
the people are beginning to understand

Lynn Stanley and Nic Qwemesha went to

Mbandane to help put the roof on the church
building.

Randalls arrived on the field.

There are three places today just

waiting to receive their designated

building sites from the local authorities;

some of them have much of the money on

better what it means to give to help

hand to build their church houses. So we

others. A list has been prepared and a

map showing where all are located which
is a big help in showing the churches how
much they have really done over the
years in erecting new buildings. A very
small amount of overseas money has
been put into church building since the

pray that the brethren may carry on with

A NEW TENT
A great new Christmas gift has come
for the work in South Africa. On the 17th

of December, Lynn Stanley and Alvin

Nicholson took their vehicles to Durban

and took delivery of a brand new blue and

yellow tent, with a net metal center pole
and tackle for pulling the tent up. Our
first great boost came with a check for
$1000 from friends in Hanoverton, Ohio.
When

checked

with

their own work as they have in the past.

During this time the churches have also
built seven homes for ministers and more

churches are planning to do the same as

they can.

by Alvin Nicholson
have here plus money saved from renting
the tent in years gone by, the tent is all
paid for. We even have money on hand to
get more steel stakes, which we now find
that we need. This tent will continue to

bless the work here as the others have

before.

the company

making tents, they gave me a price of

about $5000 for just the top.

Then we

received an offer from two men who make

tents on the side. They offered to do the top

and sides for just over $3110. This offer
we quickly took and at the same time
ordered the center pole and everything
else except the side poles and the steel
stakes. Total cost was $3700 with sales
tax.

Our friends from Ohio sent us

another offering and the church in

Edmonds, Washingtion took a special
offering. With the money from the
Sunday evening services we missionaries

The new mission tent which was purchased in

December will make big mission events much
nicer. Pray with us that it may be used to bring the
Gospel to many people in areas where there are not
buildings in which to meet.

YOUTH CAMP IN THE WILDERNESS

On the 1st of December we left on our

annual trek to Upington and the youth

camp which is held there. Our new
Toyota pickup was loaded with luggage
and supplies for the camp as well as
Michael, Caryl, Dina, Dawn and Ezra

by Michael M. Stanley

Mbali. (Diane was left with Grandpa and

Grandma because she had just had an
operation to remove her appendix.) Ezra
is an African school teacher who agreed
to help with the camp.
Just under 1000 miles of driving took us
through Natal, over the Drakensburg
mountains, across the Orange Free State
and into the Northern Cape. After
passing Kimberley, the scenery became
more and more monotonous. Fields,
grass and trees gradually gave way to
sand, rocks and small thorn bushes.
When a band of green irrigated land
(primarily vineyards) appeared in front
of us we knew that we had come to the

Orange River. From there to Upington

the road
Ezra Mbali (left) helped leach at the youth camp at
Upinpton. It seems stra/ipe to think of an African
havinp to use an interpreter, but Ezra spoke Zulu
and Enptish and the campers spoke Afrikaans
and Xhosa. John Mpompo, a former Umzumbe
Bible institute student, translated for him.

followed

the river and

its

winding path slowed us down. What was

only about 70 miles seemed much longer,
but eventually the lights of Upington
twinkled in the distance and our journey
drew to a close. The heat was oppressive
and we were cramped from spending
hours in the pickup. It was good to get out
and stretch our legs. The heat in
combination with a very low humidity
left us constantly thirsty and during the
next

two

weeks

we

drank

as

much

cooldrink (pop) as we normally would

Since furniture is nut available at our camp-site,

the children sat on the floor. This is something
which the campers take in stride.

during four months at home.

Sunday morning I preached at
Paballelo for the congregation of
Africans and then in the evening it was
over to Louisvale to preach for the
Coloured (mixed race) congregation
there. There were still final preparations
to be made for camp and Monday found
us visiting the campsite.
Most
everything looked just as we had left it
the previous year, but improvements had
been made to the water system.
A
reservoir on the campsite had water in it,
but it was also apparent that we would
not have running water in the kitchen or
the toilets.

Michael taught in Afrikaans. It is nice to be able

to communicate in the home language of the

people, but teaching in Afrikaans is alsoastrain.

On Tuesday morning while the cooks

and I bought supplies for the camp, the
bus carried the campers to Keimoes and
then onto the islands in the Orange
River. The road is narrow and winding
as it passes between vineyards and fields
of wheat, cotton, lentils and alfalfa. The
bridges which join the islands are very
narrow and at one point on the trip
everyone got a great fright when the
driver misjudged his approach to a

bridge. Some of the campers said thatthe

bus nearly overturned.
Ezra Mbali can speak Zulu and
English, but not Afrikaans. The result
was that he had to teach in English and
use an interpreter. It was a consolation to
know that even the Africans have to use

an interpreter sometimes. Fortunately

Ezra enjoyed singing, so he worked with
the choir each afternoon. His help was
particularly appreciated since Bill Weber
was on furlough and therefore did not
help with the camp.
For the second year in a row we had a
deaf student at camp. We did not have a
deaf interpreter so we had to
communicate through signs and writing.
It was a slow process, but it allowed
Frank to benefit both from the social and

the teaching aspects of camp.

On Wednesday evening the two
congregations from Upington got
together, hired a bus and came out to the
camp-site to join us in a worship service. I
brought the message, and Ezra Mbali
and the camp choir provided the special
music. Several of the people who came
that evening complained about the roads
and the quality of the driving that was
done. Next year we will have to ensure
that we get a more experienced driver.
A popular recreational activity this
year was jumping rope. The children
obviously put in a lot of practice at home.
They could enter the game when the rope
was moving at a speed that did not even
give Dina and Dawn a chance. Caryl
took her turn working the rope and
learned some new rhymes and songs at
the same time.

This year we had our usual Bible

memory work competition and

participation was good. Katrina Visser

won first prize for the second year in a
row. We congratulate her on receiving a
well-deserved prize.
The youth camp continues to provide
Christian teaching and fellowship for the
interracial group in Upington. This year
I was pleased to see John Mpompo accept
more responsibility in helping with the
camp. John is a former student of
Umzumbe

Bible

Institute

who

presently completing high school.

is

Our

trip to Upington each year also means

that two isolated congregations are
visited and encouraged each year.

Mrs. Jaxa (left) is an

African
and
has

helped with camp for

two years. She was
head cook this year.
Mrs.

Visser

helped

has

year.

Rope-jumping is a favorite recreation and we

enjoyed hearing their rhymes (English and

On Wednesday evening the local congregations

She is Coloured and

Afrikaans). Caryl took a turn at swinging the rope

hired a bus and came out to join us for a service.

her stature is typical

one afternoon. The boy at the other end of the rope

The older campers. .African and Coloured, joined

together to form a choir for the occasion.

of Coloureds i/i the

is Frank Pampoen. He is deaf, but has attended

Northern Cape.

camp for two years.

CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICAN CULTURE

by Lynn Stanley and Michael Stanley

Africa the more conscious we are of the

completed two years of study at Umzumbe

Bihle Institute, was recommended to a

obstacles that must be overcome by the

church as she attempts to evangelize the

him. Today he has little interest in entering

African people and then lead the converts

the ministry.

The longer we live and work in South

on to Christian maturity. In some areas we

have been able to develop a definite plan of
action. In other areas trying to reconcile
Christianity and African culture becomes
so complex that we find ourselves unable to
develop a workable program.
Historically, the African is tribal and is
involved in subsistence farming. The land
is owned by the tribe and is allocated to fam
ilies as they can use it. Traditionally culti
vation was done by hand and a man
received as much land as his wife (or wives)
could cultivate. This situation encouraged

polygamy as two wives could hoe twice as

large an area as one. In the past each man
was limited to about one acre of ground per
wife.
A man who ministered in King
Williams Town wanted to supplement his
income by raising crops, and came to me to
ask why he could not get more land since he

church.

The church did not even contact

No culture continues to exist without

change, and in African society change is

coming very rapidly. As Africans receive
more education and move to the cities to

work they tend to discard the old restraints

and stabilizing factors in their culture.

Often this is done without accepting new

South Africa is not sufficient to meet the

restraints into their lives.

The

church

has

As young people get higher education and

occupy positions of leadership in business
or professional services like nursing, so the
status of young people is improving, hut the
church still has a real shortage of trained
leaders. Some younger men have received
training but are not accepted as leaders.
Many of the older men who are in the
ministry or other positions of leadership
have little or no training. The shortage
promises to be with us for some time as the
number of men who are being trained in

maintained

con

sistent stand in opposition to

polygamy and monogamy is generally
practiced today, although royal family
members and chiefs still take additional
wives because of the traditional status

attached to a plurality of wives.

As culture has changed and as wages
in urban areas have increased so the need

for more productive farming methods has

become greater. Since taking an extra wife
is no longer a solution to the agricultural
problem, methods have had to change, but
improvements to farming have not come as
rapidly as cultural changes. Oxen are still
used extensively in farming although
tractors are being used more and more.
Some are privately owned and then rented
out to individuals for plowing and hauling.
The government is also making more

need. At Umzumbe Bible Institute a large

proportion of the students are young which
means that it will be several years before
they could be accepted as leaders. In
response to these needs and the cultural
circumstances in South Africa we at
Umzumbe Bible Institute are committed to

two things. We will continue to train young

and old alike as they are available to come
to a formal school because this is the most

especially among younger people. In some

cases the couples plan to marry eventually
but in most cases this is just another new
freedom which they can enjoy. The children

effective means of providing Bible training

in a Christian atmosphere and with
Christian supervision. Training young
people now is vital because it is the only way
that we can provide qualified and
experienced leaders for the future.
Secondly, we will train existing leaders in
their home areas as we have opportunity.
The process of teaching in home areas is
limited because the teaching periods are
comparatively short and the intervals
between teaching sessions are usually long,
but it has the advantage that the benefits of
teaching can be put into practice
immediately.
In spite of all the difficulties, there is still
hope for the future. Four young people who
received training at Umzumbe Bible
Institute since 1979 have not only remained
faithful to Christ, but have gone on to
complete high school. In the last year four
men have entered the ministry.
One is a young man whose wife has also
received Bible training. The other three are
about 40 years of age, still young enough
that they should have many years ofservice
ahead of them, and yet old enough to have
the benefits of maturity and experience. A
missionary who had known one of the men

lobolo in the church. Others have seen the

which are born from such relationships are

before he came to Umzumbe Bible Institute

problems involved and come out strongly

often sent back to a grandmother in a rural

area to be cared for. The grandmother may
not be financially or physically able to look
after small children. The problem is so
extensive that Zipakamise, a local
organization that is founded by World
Vision, has four staff members whose
primary work is to find and organize care
for neglected and starving children.

commented that he was not happy for him

felt that the land was too small to suit his

needs.

Lobolo is also an important factor in

society. Traditionally, it was the number of
cattle which a man had to "pay" for his wife
before he could get married. (The number
ranged from about five for a girl who had
not gone farther than 7th grade to fifteen for
an educated girl such as a trained nurse.)
The bride-price for a member of the royal
family can be much higher. Lobolo does not
really represent the purchasing of a bride.
It has a lot of other implications. It makes
the children of the couple legitimate and
because of family implications if the couple
separates, it helps to ensure that the
marriage is permanent. For the family of
the bride, the bride-price serves as a type of
Social Security or pension for the father.
Some girls and their parents still want the
bride-price to be high. They want the
prospective husband to know that the bride
is not a worthless individual. Missionaries
have been divided on the correctness of

lobolo for Christians. Some have realized

its importance in African society and have

therefore encouraged the continuation of

opposed to lobolo. The result has been that

many African Christians are confused
about the issue. Whichever emphasis you
accept, it certainly is true that lobolo
represents a very big debt for a young man
to meet. Because of the social system, some
of the debt may remain for several years.
Some couples see the problem as
insurmountable, especially when the young
man is an orphan or comes from a poor
family, and so they opt to live together
without being formally married. This is not
acceptable to the church or African society.
In African society it is only with age that
a man can have influence and authority.
Many of the churches want an older man as
a minister. Even in cases where a younger
man is accepted as minister, he often finds it
very difficult to work because he is not
accepted as a mature individual. Two years

ago Elias Zumana, a young man who had

tractors available on a rental basis.

Two things which influence farming

methods are the tenacity with which the
Africans hold on to certain traditions and

the fact that normal credit is not readily

available. Practical factors as well as laws
make it difficult to collect when debtors

default on payments and so credit facilities

are limited for Africans.

makes it difficult
equipment.

to

Lack of credit

purchase

new

As Africans have moved to the cities so

tribal ties and cultural restraints have been
shed. One of the results of this is that

immorality has become common-place,

Even the ministers are not free of the

problems. Several ministers have cared for

illegitimate grandchildren. One is presently

looking after three such children.
As
missionaries we find the Biblical position
on immorality clear, but how to deal with
the problem at its roots is extremely difficult,
especially as two important factors are: 1.
the fact that Africans generally have large
families (five or more children) and 2. the
lack of consistent discipline and parental
control in the home (fathers are often

migrant labourers).

to return as a minister. After the man had

served for a while, the missionary admitted

that he was "a changed man" and that the
changes were for the better.
This is
encouraging. We are still ready to do all we
can to help make improvements and to train
men who can become leaders knowing that
some will use their training in positions of
leadership, while others will hopefully be
better Christians wherever they are even if
they never serve a local church. We only

have to step back and look objectively at the

situation

to

see

that

there

has

been

improvement, however slowly it may have

come. The churches are stronger and more
self-reliant than they were when we came to
the mission field.

While we are often

disappointed at what the African

Christians are able to do, they still are much
more effective in dealing with problems
than they were 30 years ago.

BITS AND PIECES

an African church, so we had made

Henry Lekivate, who has

completed two years at
Umzumbe

Bible

South African TORCH

Insti

tute, waspiuen the honor

student award in 1983.

He was fiiven a hook

which should be useful to

him in his ministry.

arrangements to be with the

congregation at Imvutshini where
Barnabas Songo ministers. Attendance

FORWARDING AGENTS

at the service was hindered by the

continuous rain throughout the morning.
We arrived very early and the service

Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Nicholson und family

Henry Lekwate received the honour

only began about 12. Ron brought the

morning message and with several of his
family provided special music, which the
folk enjoyed greatly. Some of Barnabas'
family treated us to their special music.

student award. Thirty years ago Henry

Lynn had the communion service.

School closed on the 25th of November

after the usual end of the year activities

At the school dinner held on the 17th

was a young man living in Kimberley

Published quarterly fortho following;

MISSIONARIES
and their

P.O. Hox 219

Port Shepstone
-1210 Rep. <if SOUTH AKRICA
Forwarding Agent
Mrs. Richard Hanson

16642 Gannon Ave.. W.

Rosemount. Minnesota .l.oOeh

Anna Songo, with the help of her

teenage daughters, served a delicious

and attended the Bible training school

for a couple of terms. Two years ago he
came to school to add to that training so

dinner about the middle of the afternoon.

P.O. Box 219

that he might serve as a minister. His

wife, Sylvia, was able to come with him

It was an especially enjoyable day, and

our visitors will not soon forget the
fellowship of the day.

Port Shepstone
1240 Rep. of SOUTH AKRICA

for the last two terms. She showed a gift

Mr. & Mrs. Lynn Stanley and family

Forwarding Agent
Mrs. Sybil Kvans

for teaching. At the end of the school year

in 1982 Henry began work with the
church at Papierstadt, and they gave him
financial help while he was here.
Now he has gone to a full time ministry
with this congregation. We were pleased

Box 181

St. Joseph. Illinois 61873

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Stanley and family

P.O. Box!, t
Umzumhe

to give this award to Henry for his

determination and commitment.

The Whisman clan with some of the members of

the church at Imvutshini.

122.^1 Rep. of SOUTH AFRICA

Forwarding Agent

Visitors with us during the month of

Mr. and Mrs, Richard Kckman

December were missionaries Ron and

Route 2

Margaret Whisman working with the

Kiml)aII, Minnesota

t.'i;1

Kimberley Road church in Johannes

burg and members of their family who

were visiting them from the States. Nine

extras in our home necessitated that

some sleep on the floor, which they

graciously did.
Ron was anxious for his folks to visit

The South African TORCH (r)i)1.82()l is a

Special music at the service which the Whismans

attended.

publication of the South African Church of

("hrist Mission, and is published four times
each year in February. May. AukusI. and
November by Mission Service.s Associa
tion. 7.")2b Hodges Ferry Road. Knoxville.
TN 37920. Second-class postage paid at

CHRISTMAS, 1983

Knoxville. TN

Just before noon on December 24th, Lynn, Lucille, Michael, P**

Caryl, Dina, Diane, and Dawn Stanley arrived at Lynton and ^

Debbie (Stanley)Neethling's home at Oribi (about 15 miles the

other side of Port Shepstone). Since it is summer here and the

temperature was in the 80's we enjoyed a light lunch under W >

a big shade tree in the front yard. Inside the house it was even m

warmer.

j-

The afternoon was spent in preparing our Christmas dinner.

In the evening Alvin Nicholson joined us for our traditional
turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. After dessert we
moved to the lounge and opened our gifts. Very few gifts from
overseas arrived in time for Christmas, but everyone still
received some gifts.
Then Lynton's grandmother, parents, three brothers and
sister-in-law joined us for coffee and a visit. The children were
soon tucked into bed-sleeping bags on the floor, as we Stanleys

all stayed overnight. The adults continued chatting until long

after "bedtime."

'F '

On Sunday morning after leisurely

Jpk

.0 coffee, rushed breakfast, and a hurried

packing of cars we headed for Port

f
i

I Shepstone for the9 a.m. church service,

J Lynton and Debbie then had Christmas
Neethlings and the Lynn
Stanleys hosted a cold meats and salads
lunch for the Michael Stanley family,
Alvin Nicholson and Mrs. Dot Guy and

Diane Stanley checks to her son, Gerald (mother and brother of

see tvhat is in Cirandpa foj-nier missionary to South Africa,Brian

Nicholson s packape. ^

i
j
Everyone enjoyed ou, Guy). We allenjoyed a delicious mealand
eveningtogether.

a relaxing afternoon together.

37901.

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to South African

. .1

^B|||
4

TORt.'H. c oMi.ssion Service.- Assfjciation.

PO Box 2427. Knoxville, TN :{7901.

First Quarter, 1984

Volume 35

Number 1

|
The table was set and
then covered with a
A'"''" ^ "rnuc
Form 3579 reau
requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901.

S^3

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TORCH

Republic of

Port Stiepstone

South Africa

Transkei

tUmzumtte Bitgejnstitute)

Tea time! At 10 a.m. each day, the students

gather in the kitchen for a welcome cup of tea.

>Cape Town

which is served with bread.

East London*

Second Quarter 1984

Number 2

Volume 35

Umzumbe Bible Institute 1984

by Alvin Nicholson

classrooms, dormitories, offices, and storerooms set in the midst of sugar

1984 student body and faculty. Back row (1. to r.) Lynn Stanley. Nic
Qwemesha, Alvin Nicholson, and Michael Stanley. Middle row (1. to r.)
Ollfeet Mkhundlu, Patrick Sithebe, Gabriel Kolberg, Percival Mazibuko,
Johannes Fortuin, and Abel Dube. Front row (1. to r.)i?osf A'da6a. Corina
Hintsa. Lucia Hadebe, l.indie Lusithi (secretary), Joyce Gwala, andMitah

cane fields.

Kolberg.

Umzumbe Bible Institute's campus consists of a church building, several

Each year as it is time for Umzumbe

Bible Institute to open we think of the
Bible verse, "For many are invited, but
few are chosen". We have many more
make applications to come to school
than finally make it.
This year I
received the application forms and

in

Johannesburg: Able

Ollfeet Mkhundlu.

young men from Natal.

Mazibuko

is

the

Dube

and

There are two

son

Percivale
of

Victor

Mazibuko of Ladysmith and Patrick

Sithebe is the nephew of Freddy
Sithebe, minister at Estcourt. Patrick

better Bible training than those before

them. Two have taken classes taught
by the missionaries and four have
received better teaching in their home
churches.

We are so thankful for this large

group of men and the prospects which

then wrote a letter to each of them.

has wanted to come to school for some

there are for them to preach the gospel.

Several replied saying they would not

be able to come this year.
I think we opened school on the 7th of
February with 5 students and after two

time and is being helped by one of the

missionaries. The Kolbergs are also
receiving help from one of the
missionaries.
Of the girls Corina
Hintsa is the only one from Transkei
this year. The other three girls are all

But still we pray that the Lord will send

us more workers for His vineyard, for
most of these men already have a place
to preach when they complete their

weeks we had 11. We were sure we were

going to have 12 as one man, who

attended half of last year, gave the date
for his coming, but then the man
driving his taxi quit and that left him
without income for himself and his

family.
We have only one second year
student, that is Johannes Fortuin, a
Coloured student from Port Elizabeth.

We have one married couple Gabriel

and Mitah Kolberg from Postmasburg.
There are two men from the churches

from Escourt.

Rose Ndaba was in

school for one term last year and is

related to Alpheus Ndaba, who is
ministering now at Hammersdale and
Durban. The other two girls are Lucia
Hadebe and Joyce Gwala.
As has been the case for the past few
years on an average these students
have spent more time at the
government school than those before
them. Iwouldalsosaythattheyhavea

school work and therefore we do not

have many men to use in filling vacant

pulpits.
We would ask you to pray for these
students by name and to continue to
pray to God that he shall call forth
more men to labour for Him. Also pray
for the teachers in the school -- that we
shall be able to fulfill our

responsibilities in teaching and

leading in preparing these people for
His service.

Lynn Stanley Furlough

Lynn and Lurille Stanley trill he on

furlouuh from May WH-L until after
C/irislnias.
They trill be reporting to
supporting churrhes and getting reacquainted irith children and grand
children in the States.
They can be
contacted: c o Dutine Stanley

:}<)l2-.Wlh Are. N.'K.

Minneapolis. MN nn-tSI
Phone (()l'2i 7SH-.'i(i77

Children's News

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Plot .iO. Pumula. Beginnings of foundations and stone and

sand waiting fur o busy day.

Stone was moved from the back of the truck to the cement
mixer by Gladys. (She must have a very strung neck'.) Lynn
Stanley manned the cement mixer,

Early in 1982 we decided to move

closer to town. One of the factors that

strongly
difficulty

influenced us was the

we had in getting our

children to the school bus in wet

weather.
We looked at houses but

prices were very high. Finally we

decided it was best to buy a plot of
ground and build our own house. We
looked at several places and readily
agreed on one which is just 3 blocks
from Dad and Mom Stanley's house in
Pumula.

In March, 1982 the title deed was

transferred to us and we became the

During the first 18 months that we

owned the property, we tried to keep the
weeds down and cleared the part of the
property which had grown up to dense
jungle, but we did not do any building.
We did plan our house and removed
three trees from the building site. A
friend of ours drew up plans which
were approved by the local authorities.
Money was very tight and interest
rates were very high so we didn't get a
loan at that time. Instead we used the

to have a servant.

servant's toilet weused a small cement

he

retired.

Unfortunately he did not live long

enough for their dream to be realized,
and so Mrs. Robertson decided to sell

the property.

most of the

students

Pumula

when

We will do

finishing work ourselves.

Our new house will have a kitchen,
dining room, lounge, 3 bedrooms, a
bathroom and a double garage. We are

also required by law to provide a

servant's toilet, whether or not we plan

Institute to dig and pour foundations.

We hired an African bricklayer to do
the building up to floor level, and then
using students again we ran the
subfloor (slab). For the garage and

live

plastering and then Michael will build

the roof.

money which we had been putting into

savings and started our house. In the
afternoons and on Saturdays we used

proud owners of Plot 50, Pumula. The

elderly couple that we bought the
property from had done a lot of work on
it. They had planted trees, bushes,
flowers and succulent gardens as well
as grass. They intended to come to
to

of the house we were anxious to get the

work done as quickly as possible so we
ordered ready mixed concrete.
At this stage we applied for and
obtained a loan to cover the remaining
cost of the building.
We will
subcontract the brickwork and

from

Umzumbe

Bible

mixer and a lot of hand labour and we

learned that the students get very

enthusiastic about this type of work.
When we ran the slab for the main part

We especially look forward to

moving into our new home since it will
have running water and be on a
hardsurfaced road. It will put us less
than a mile from the children's bus

stop instead of the present 5 miles of

very poor gravel roads. We hope to
move in by the end of July. Pray with
us that we will be able to use our new

home to God's glory and in His service.

-"liiklTii"'

iM-rc.
Concrete was carried down to the trenches in wheel barrows.

Michael put a lot of hours into the foundations and floors.

When the concrete arrived, he had to level it.

Ministers' Week

South African TORCH

Published quarterly for the following

by Lynn Stanley

MISSIONARIES
and their

FORWARDING AGENTS

Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Nicholson and family

Several years ago this term

developed when the ministers started
meeting together at the same time the
Executive

P.O. Box 219

Port Shepstone
4240 Rep. of SOUTH AFRICA
Forwarding Agent
Mrs. Richard Hanson

16642 Gannon Ave., W.

Rosemount, Minnesota 55068

Mr. & Mrs. Lynn Stanley and family

P.O. Box 219

Port Shepstone

met.

They

have

an

organization of their own in which the

missionaries have no part.
This
meeting has also provided time for a
teaching program for the ministers. It
is now scheduled yearly. The mission
pays for the Executive members;
others must pay their own way. It can
be costly for those who must travel far,
but most of them try to attend.
Usually the host church issues the
invitation, but we try to go to a church
which

is

distant

from

where

the

beside the road and arrived at the

Mills' home in Alberton about 6 p.m.

Part of the way is four-lane highway,
but a large section is two-lane only and
it has deteriorated rapidly because of
the heavy traffic. Transport by huge
trucks has increased rapidly in the last
few years, and the roads aren't
standing up to it.
During the week members of the
Executive met, and classes were held.
All of the missionaries present taught
at various times: Mr. Kernan, Mr.
Nicholson, Mr. Mills, Mr. Stamm,
Michael, and myself. The ministers
met throughout the day and evening.

4240 Rep. of SOUTH AFRICA

conference will be held. It is possible

Ministers

Forwarding Agent
Mrs. Sybil Evans

for smaller churches to handle this

problems and mutually work for

solutions of them. They plan and

Box 181

St. Joseph, Illinois 61873

group, and it affords them the

opportunity to meet more of our
ministers, and ministers to know other

P.O. Box 13
Umzumbe

4225 Rep. of SOUTH AFRICA

Forwarding Agent
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Eckman
Route 2

Kimball, Minnesota 55353

The South African TORCH (501-820) is a

publication of the South African Church

of Christ Mission, and is published four
times each year in February, May, August,
and November by Mission Services
Association, 7525 Hodges Ferry Road,
Knoxville, TN
37920.
Second-class
postage paid at Knoxville, TN 37901.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to South African TORCH, c/o Mission
Services Association, PO Box 2427,
Knoxville, TN 37901.

First Quarter, 1984

Volume 35

Number 2

This year we went to Krugersdorp

near Johannesburg. The church itself
is an old one, but one that has been
sadly neglected. One of the men who
completed his work at Umzumbe Bible
Institute last year is the minister. The
church was started about 80 years ago,
but in the 1950's it broke away and has
only recently been an active part of the
mission again. At present there is a
question of "right to occupy" the
building. We are praying it can soon be
settled as the congregation is prepared
and waiting to put up a home for the
minister as soon as they have a right to
do so.

This

year

Mr.

review their work.

John Kernan

and

Each Tuesday a nurse cumes and holds a clinic

Umzumbe Bible Institute.
Depending on

weather and proximity to payday, she treats from

3 to 30 patients.

Mills

and instructed the men in the use of the

material. We are pleased to know that

they are buying and using material for
their own study and in the teaching of
their congregations.
The Executive dealt with their issues

and at times tempers rose a bit, but a

good spirit prevailed. They made the
necessary plans for this year's
conference which will be held about 90
miles south of us across the Transkei

border in a rural setting. This will

create problems for the missionaries
attending - there is no caravan park
nearer than 30 miles, but the roads are
tarred. The subject for the conference

Nicholson

and

will be The Beatitudes. I was not on

Michael drove from this area.

It is

Executive this year so did not have to

be a part of the seemingly endless
discussion of past and present church
problems. We have a long way to go,
but the Africans are finding more and
more of their own solutions. They still
need encouragement, direction and
help from the missionaries.

difficult to get things organized and

know how many will be coming, but in
the end we had 5 ministers (one flagged
us down after we were on the way),
three

students

who

went

to

their

various homes for the week, and five

missionaries. We ate a picnic lunch

Form 3579 requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901.

at

Bob

displayed and sold printed material

church situations.

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Stanley and family

meet with some of their