We are WITH Africa:
Finding and partnering with local heroes
to impact communities with the tangible love of Jesus, together.
Finding and partnering with local heroes
to impact communities with the tangible love of Jesus, together.
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It's a new dream. One cooked up God and a local hero from Zimbabwe... THE DREAM: PURCHASE A SAFE & SECURE PROPERTY IN MASIPHUMELELE FOR REFUGEE MOMS AND KIDS THE NEED: $40,000 US dollars (the 1st $20,000 is pledged!) Thousands of African refugees came to Cape Town hoping for a better life only to find themselves living in inhumane conditions in the wetlands of Masiphumelele (Masi). Picture tin shacks with dirt floors which turn into mud when it rains. No plumbing. Fire destroys hundreds of shacks every few months and these brave people lose everything. The mothers and children are especially vulnerable as South Africa's violence against women is the highest in the world for nation that is not at war. Refugees are routinely overcharged for rent, even in conditions like these.
After 16 years of working in Masi, the Lord has led us to respond by building Houses of Refuge for the most vulnerable refugee families! With our African partners, we are dreaming of building a property that will offer safety from crime and fire. A place where the Gospel of Love is shared freely with marginalized refugees who are often single moms with kids. A place where prayer and trauma counseling are offered by our African-led team. A safe haven where violence won't be tolerated. The estimated cost to purchase our first property is $60,000. We have already raised $20K! So only $40k is needed to get started. If God stirred your heart, considering praying about being a partner with us in making this goodness happen.  After 16 years in South Africa, 21 years in missions, and 26 years in full-time ministry, we are launching WITH Africa (a 501-C3)! This will simply allow us to better continue doing what we are already doing from a legal and funding standpoint. We feel called to South Africa and this continent as whole, so we’re creating the framework for us and our (nearly) adult children to be able to stay, grow, and thrive while remaining in partnership with so many we love here. We are WITH Africa. South Africa has a word, Ubuntu, which translates: “I am because we are.”
Why the name WITH Africa?We know Africans reach Africa best. This nation is full of industrious, warm-hearted South Africans who know the best way to serve their communities. Many are living and loving like Jesus and desire to make more impact. What they most often lack is resources and encouragement in the form of partnership, mentorship, or training. The lasting effects of Apartheid (modern day segregation) plague millions and have caused South Africa to have the most economic disparity between the races in the world. This history of colonization, slavery and Apartheid are front and center in the consciousness of all South Africans, young and old. While most are polite and gracious to foreigners who want to help, they are also deeply sensitive to the attitude behind the helping hand: Are you reaching down? Or, are you walking with me? WITH Africa is finding, partnering, and resourcing local heroes who are creating lasting change through their grassroots efforts. Together, we care for the most vulnerable and oppressed by supporting leaders who know their communities best. Together, we are making the love of Jesus tangible. What does WITH Africa do? |
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We met Mama Edith during the COVID hard lock down, when most the country was out of work. She was cooking for 150 neighborhood children three times per week! We partnered with her, providing food and help. Here she is getting a new stove! Today, she continues to be the eyes of God in her challenged community, directing resources and the love of Jesus to those most in need.
"To a hungry person, the Gospel is a loaf of bread." - Arch Desmond Tutu
We offer support to local leaders and full-time ministry/NGO workers in the form of: long-term discipleship, spiritual direction, enneagram coaching, and hosting retreats.
African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
We met 'M' as a refugee in Masi. He'd left his island nation after tragedy and nearly become a jihadist. He was pretty skeptical of us. After a year or so, one day he declared he wanted to follow Jesus. As time rolled on, he enrolled himself in bible school; we shared holidays together; Kevin was best man in his wedding. A decade of discipleship and friendship later, he's got a Masters in bible translation and has translated 7 books into his home language! Together with "M" we are carefully sharing the Gospel Without Words by uplifting the same village he fled from in rage. Jesus truly is the Price of Peace. (Above he is teaching his first bible class! )
We offer formal trainings and/or coaching in the areas of: fundraising, restorative justice & peacemaking, counter-human trafficking, worship leading, and spiritual formation.
African Proverb: “He who learns, teaches.”
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lead In our last school on restorative justice and peacemaking, we had the honor of learning from Father Michael Lapsley, an anti-apartheid leader who lost his hands when a letter bomb exploded. He said, "When the bomb went off, God was there." He spoke to a room full of ministry leaders, showing us how the Gospel is relevant to a suffering world. We can only take people as far as we've come ourselves. The trainings we provide offer both spiritual formation and practical skills that help us connect our faith to our contexts. "We are first about Jesus, and lives lived in obedience to Jesus, in love for each other, lead to and look like justice."
Such a joy to sponsor a new elementary school with 200 refugee kids from Zimbabwe!
"Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine...." Isaiah 58:10
"Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine...." Isaiah 58:10
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Our hearts were so moved this month to discover a school for undocumented refugee kids from Zimbabwe. Our hearts were also stirred to partner with the incredible leaders of this school. They knew, without documents, these children will be left behind. But their parents still feel the only real future they can offer their kids will be found here in South Africa. They begged this couple, with experience in education, to help. The next thing they knew, they had over 200 pupils, a dozen with autism and other special needs.
What an incredible joy to tangibly share the love of Jesus with these precious kids and their families! Over the past month our African led team has served over 6000 meals! We praise God for the opportunity that the community can experience the love of Christ through a hot meal.
"For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink." Matthew 25:35
"For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink." Matthew 25:35
Even in the midst of a pandemic, God can do more than we can ask or imagine. Spend 4 minutes learning about the unexpected ministry that began when COVID hit South African shores.
People often ask: "What does feeding the hungry have to do with sharing the Gospel?" We want to say: Everything! When you're poor, "Give us our daily bread" is prayer of anxiety coming from a place of hunger pain. When you're hungry, you can't think of anything else. Think about the last time you were really hungry. You knew where your next meal would come from, but you still couldn't function until you ate. You couldn't think clearly. You couldn't see clearly. Now, imagine you feel like that nearly every day. Imagine, it's your number one prayer: "God, I need food." "God, my child needs to eat." When we offer a hungry person a plate of hot food in the name of Jesus; they see. They know. They make the connection that each bite is the tangible love of Jesus. They are seen. God cares...
Mamma Edith, a local hero in Masiphumelele, approached us on behalf of 3 women in dire need, including an albino Zimbabwean mother who had just arrived, Hope. (Named changed for privacy) Everything she owned was stolen on the bus, including her ID and papers. Kevin and his local ministry partner, Okhuhle, bought 40 dollar food parcels for the 3 women, plus 2 other refugee families. 3+2=5. Right?
As Kevin and Okhuhle divided the shopping into equal piles... 5 chickens, 5 oils, 5 beans, etc., a new woman arrived... also in great need. As they sorted, they slowly realized there was 6 of EVERY item! But, they were certain they'd purchased five. When Kevin came home, I made him find the receipt. Look for yourself; they had purchased 5 of every item! Yet, there were 6 complete food parcels for 6 different families!!
No one went home hungry! Kevin had told these ladies, "God sees you. God has not forgotten you." But, honestly, it wasn't until we were staring at the receipt that we understood just how true those words are. God does see. God does care. And, sometimes, God wants to make certain we know. Isn't it just like our God to miraculously declare His love in the presence of an albino African refugee? Sometimes, I think He wants to remind us who comes first in His Kingdom. (Mt. 20:16)
As Kevin and Okhuhle divided the shopping into equal piles... 5 chickens, 5 oils, 5 beans, etc., a new woman arrived... also in great need. As they sorted, they slowly realized there was 6 of EVERY item! But, they were certain they'd purchased five. When Kevin came home, I made him find the receipt. Look for yourself; they had purchased 5 of every item! Yet, there were 6 complete food parcels for 6 different families!!
No one went home hungry! Kevin had told these ladies, "God sees you. God has not forgotten you." But, honestly, it wasn't until we were staring at the receipt that we understood just how true those words are. God does see. God does care. And, sometimes, God wants to make certain we know. Isn't it just like our God to miraculously declare His love in the presence of an albino African refugee? Sometimes, I think He wants to remind us who comes first in His Kingdom. (Mt. 20:16)
We could not have imagined we'd be a part of a network providing 4,000 to 5,000 meals per day for kids from our beloved township 4 months ago. But hey...even in the midst of COVID, God can do more than we can ask or imagine!
Case and Point:
This precious beauty just filled up her bowl and tummy at our brand new soup kitchen in Masiphumelele!!!
Case and Point:
This precious beauty just filled up her bowl and tummy at our brand new soup kitchen in Masiphumelele!!!
In South Africa, unemployment has hit a historic high. Foreigners (asylum seekers and refugees) don't qualify for government help. Hunger is the greater pandemic the poor now face...
At first, it felt novel to be part of the strictest lockdown in the world.
41 days later, the novelty has worn off...
For our family, in a suburb of Cape Town, our lockdown life probably looks a lot like yours. Digi-school. Work via Zoom.
However, if you live in a township, (like the vast majority of South Africa) lockdown might mean you're facing starvation. There have been riots, grocery stores looted, and even a garbage truck was robbed... for food. There's few credit cards in townships. It's a cash only life. No work today = no food today.
41 days later, the novelty has worn off...
For our family, in a suburb of Cape Town, our lockdown life probably looks a lot like yours. Digi-school. Work via Zoom.
However, if you live in a township, (like the vast majority of South Africa) lockdown might mean you're facing starvation. There have been riots, grocery stores looted, and even a garbage truck was robbed... for food. There's few credit cards in townships. It's a cash only life. No work today = no food today.
You see, our lock down in military enforced. Police presence is always visible. Breaking lockdown results in fines or arrests. The nation has an 8pm curfew. Our only visitors have been baboons as they (and in some parts penguins) who have free reign of the quiet streets. This week, we've finally been allowed outdoors to walk dogs or exercise from 6 to 9 am. But, there's no work for those who depend on an hourly or daily wage.
For this pandemic season, we're shifting our focus to feeding folks in our beloved township of Masi... and a few others. (Including the neighborhood where the garbage truck was robbed... for food.)
For this pandemic season, we're shifting our focus to feeding folks in our beloved township of Masi... and a few others. (Including the neighborhood where the garbage truck was robbed... for food.)
We want to personally thank every one of you for the tremendous support you were this year. The list of ways you blessed us and partnered in our ministry is long and runs deep and rich in our hearts.
As most of you know, we’ve had a year for the record books. So, I’ve written a very personal update in hope that you will see…even so, God is good. First, a sad, quick recap of 2018… a looming financial challenge was followed by the suicide of Chesney’s best friend (Harry), was followed by visa fiascoes, was followed by the death of another close friend. Never-the-less, a beautiful truth has settled over our family: “Perfect love casts out fear.”
I’ve heard fear is friends with trauma… a natural by-product...
As most of you know, we’ve had a year for the record books. So, I’ve written a very personal update in hope that you will see…even so, God is good. First, a sad, quick recap of 2018… a looming financial challenge was followed by the suicide of Chesney’s best friend (Harry), was followed by visa fiascoes, was followed by the death of another close friend. Never-the-less, a beautiful truth has settled over our family: “Perfect love casts out fear.”
I’ve heard fear is friends with trauma… a natural by-product...
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It was an incredible honor for Sound of the Nations to be asked to lead worship for our organization’s largest global gathering yet…nearly 4000 people. Missionaries from over a 100 nations (China, Cambodia, Iraq, Brazil, USA, etc.) gathered for a week of training, networking, and encouragement. But, there weren’t many from Africa. Why? Africa in not a rich continent, and Thailand is really, really expensive to get to.
However, in Sound of the Nations we aren't only about leading worship; we're about empowerment, faith building, and South Africans discipling the nations. We think that's God's agenda as well because somehow these miracles... like an African band in Thailand seem to happen...
However, in Sound of the Nations we aren't only about leading worship; we're about empowerment, faith building, and South Africans discipling the nations. We think that's God's agenda as well because somehow these miracles... like an African band in Thailand seem to happen...
I couldn’t bring myself to sing a certain line in a worship song. The worship band settled on it, hovered over it – a melodic mantra. Hands were raised; eyes closed; voices intensified all around, and yet my mouth clamped shut.
“Nothing in this world can satisfy.”
Lately, I’ve noticed this particular phrase is popular in many worship songs. Israel Houghton likes it. Maranatha Music likes it… and the believers we partner with seem to like it. So, I searched for it in the Bible. I couldn’t find it.
“Nothing in this world can satisfy.”
Lately, I’ve noticed this particular phrase is popular in many worship songs. Israel Houghton likes it. Maranatha Music likes it… and the believers we partner with seem to like it. So, I searched for it in the Bible. I couldn’t find it.
Kevin and Tonya Stanfield
Serving in South Africa since 2007
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