John ('00 MABS), Nancy, Nathan, Evan, Rachel, and Ben Moore
Contact Information
Mr. and Mrs. John Moore
PO Box 2452
Bedfordview 2008
Gauteng, SOUTH AFRICA
Email: jmoore@baptistworldmission.org
Visit their website.
Mission Agency
Baptist World Mission
November 4, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
Six Month Anniversary
As churches in the States have their fall missions conferences it has given us an opportunity to look back at the work thus far. Here is how we summarized New Hope Baptist at this the six-month mark:
The church has been doing better than I ever could have dreamed. Our highlights include two South African families and multiple individuals who are charter church members. Our first salvation decisions, first baptisms, first Lord's Supper, and many completed discipleships are recent warm memories. We memorize a Bible verse a month as a church. Our first verse was Mt 16:18b
"... I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Our Jerusalem is filled with people who have experienced religion and found it wanting. We have to work to build opportunities. We find that our Bible-centered conduct does much for us in reaching others. We have frequent new visitors (including one new family and two individuals), many coming from the testimony of our people. We have one parenting and two marriage advanced discipleships just beginning that Nancy and I are conducting. We have three members doing their first evangelistic discipleships with people they hope to lead to the Lord. We are starting a new children's ministry this Sunday. The challenges include one family who are thinking about immigrating out of the country (a very common thought here because of all of the crime). It would really hurt if we lost one of our families. I believe the only reason we have them is because church life has been so good to them. Otherwise, the economics, the thought of their children's future, and the crime would likely have them leave.
Children’s Ministry
We are happy with our new Children’s Church that began on October 25th. We will have the same program the last Sunday of each month. Pray for visitors and for our members to learn how to minister to children through this opportunity.
Nathan in College
Nathan has an on-campus job of snow removal. He told his boss that he is going to pray for snow!
The Moore Family BWM – South Africa
October 5, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
Founder’s Month
We have much to be thankful for in our short church history! September was a great month of unity with our first baptisms, our first Lord’s Supper, and a church constitution being formed. We have trained a member individual and two couples to evangelize others through a four lesson Bible study. Two individuals will soon begin the course with our members being the teachers. This is very exciting for us because it expands the church’s ability to do more.
Meanwhile, we have had a new family visit. They have a familiar story. They are interested in Bible truth but do not like disorder in the service. It has been difficult for them to find the right church. We have enjoyed two Sundays with them and hope we can minister further to their family. Nancy and I will begin a discipleship series with the parents as they have expressed interest in membership.
Pray for Doreen and Tommy as we do not know if they are saved.
Children’s Ministry
We will begin a Children’s Church type ministry in October. Saundra Smith will do much of the work in this new department but we expect many church members to help and learn as well. Children’s Church begins October 25th.
Nathan in College
Nathan is doing well at college. He is learning both in the classroom and outside of it. He has a job prospect but as of today he does not know if it will result in employment for him.
The Moore Family
Sept 8, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners
Founder’s Month
September is a special month for our new church. We have met and agreed upon a church constitution. This upcoming Sunday will be our first baptism (13th). Our first Lord’s Supper is the third Sunday of the month (20th). And we finish the month with a charter signing and special fellowship meal (27th). At the request of our church people we will have an American Thanksgiving for our “founder’s meal” at the end of the month.
We have finished three discipleships as of the end of August. Two new persons have asked about being discipled. I have asked some of our regular attendees to consider discipling these new prospects.
One couple has asked about what one does to enter into the ministry. I pray that they continue to grow in basic truths so that they can receive what the Lord has laid upon their heart.
Nathan in College
Nathan is now a freshman at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. If you would like to mail him his address is: Nathan Moore, Box 371, 745 W Main Street, Watertown, Wisconsin, 53094.
His biggest prayer need is for a job while in college.
The Moore Family BWM – South Africa
PO Box 2452, Bedfordview 2008, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 4, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
Children’s Object Lessons
Saundra Smith, our friend and coworker, taught her first children’s object lesson during a church service in July. The lesson featured the tongue and how one cannot take back words once they are spoken. We have special families in our assembly who are working on their parenting skills. We have a future generation of Christians and possible ministers in our midst.
Vryburger School Assembly
Thank you for your labors together with me in prayer during the July assembly message! The 800 students gathered before me do not have much Bible knowledge. They don’t know who Paul is, or any of the twelve disciples. But they are experts in the things of the world. Three girls begin this school quarter pregnant. One girl, who lives in a one-room shack, just lost her only known relative – her mother.
I have watched as the assembly begins. The audience can be like a riot waiting to break out. If things are not kept moving the students may just turn to their neighbor and begin their own conversations. Shouting can be common.
At times I feel like I am standing in front of the lion’s den. My ten minute sermon used only seven Bible words: the pleasures of sin for a season. I told the girls I knew why they roll the waistband of their uniform skirts, which brings the hemline up; for the Bible says there is pleasure in sin. I told the boys I knew why they have special pictures on their cell phones; for the Bible says there is pleasure in sin. But these pleasures are only for a brief season.
The school, where we also meet for church, has given us the keys to their facility. They have put up advertisements for our church in their hallways.
Our church regulars need to grow so that we can receive the fullness of what is in our midst.
The Moore Family BWM – South Africa
July 1, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
Future Ministers
One of the most difficult challenges of the church planter is to find new ministers. There are national churches here in South Africa that have taken three years of searching to find their next pastor! Yes, we are small since new works tend to begin that way, but we already have two couples who have yielded to full-time service if the Lord wills. Since recently responding at invitation, one of these couples has now testified that they have been asking the Lord where He wants them ten years from now. I appreciate this kind of questioning, because we naturally seek our own rather than the things of God. We look forward to training and encouraging these dedicated people.
Otherwise, we continue to grow numerically during the winter months here. We are encouraged because many churches struggle at this time of year.
Future College Scholar
Our oldest son, Nathan, is now graduated from his high school studies! He is preparing to attend Marantha Baptist Bible College this fall. The family is going to miss him, and the ministry will miss his labors. Grandparents will receive him with rejoicing, however!
Vryburger School Assembly
John will preach the public high school assembly message July 27th. It will be an evangelistic message before about 800 students.
The Moore Family BWM – South Africa
May 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
I’m Late, I’m Late, For a Very Important Date!
I see by the calendar that we recently accomplished something new. We have missed sending you an update at the beginning of the month of May. (At least by sending this now we are ahead for the month of June!) I guess in a way that may be a good sign because the opportunities have been so numerous that we have fallen behind on other important things. As you can see one item we have finished is a church emblem to use on stationary, outreach brochures, and our public signage. Another new person has asked to be discipled. This brings our total of personal disciplees to five each week. Two of these persons have just recently made a profession of faith.
Camp News
Thank you for your prayers for the sister church family camp last month! Our coworker, Saundra Smith did a great job with the children’s part of camp. At the final group meeting all of the church children recited a Bible memory verse and sang a children’s song. The church was amazed at how obedient and unified their children sang. (This was the first time the children had sung as a choir).
Our part of the camp as special speakers went quite well. We spent a great amount of time on parenting, but also entertained questions on television and the need for parents to grow spiritually as a leadership example to their children. Our team began to be referred to as “South African – Americans” during the camp. This tells us we have learned and adopted acceptable culture differences.
Soul Winning Training
One current topic of church study that we are tackling is soul winning. We want everyone to become more skilled in their soul winning ability so that all can be a part of the outreach. Church introductory brochures are almost done so we can increase our outreach in that manner as well.
New Address
We have a new PO Box address: John Moore, PO Box 2452, Bedfordview 2008, Gauteng, South Africa
The Moore Family BWM – South Africa
April 9, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
Opposition Works for Our Good!
We had just finished our March prayer letter and sent it out the previous day. The next to last line said, “We know that not everything will go smoothly as every spiritual work meets opposition.” Then we had an attempted house burglary. By the Hand of God even this has worked for good. Our neighbors expected us to leave South Africa after this experience. (Many people we meet for the first time ask why we would even come to such a crime ridden place). With our decision to stay we are seeing heightened interest from our neighbors in the new church.
New Hope Baptist Church Established
We have begun “core member” services at our house on Sundays and a prayer meeting on Fridays. On Sunday mornings we study truths about the church including its structure and purpose and on Sunday evenings we study personal growth keys. After one month we average 18 per service. We are also beginning basic discipleship with three persons.
Even though we have only had a few services we have seen God work in ways beyond our greatest expectations! Our people asked if we could have offerings as part of the service. They want an active part in paying for the expenses of the work! And we are seeing good spiritual growth. We are growing in our readiness to receive visitors and actively win them!
A Place to Meet
We now are approved to meet at the local high school. This is a great location with plenty of space to expand.
New Prayer Requests
Soon we will begin canvassing and inviting new people to New Hope Baptist. On April 24/25 John will be the main speaker for a sister church family camp. We have contact with a family who could join us but is undecided. We are developing a parenting home Bible study.
The Moore Family
BWM – South Africa
March 11, 2009
Prayer Partners,
I have a few moments to give you a brief report. My high school assembly preaching time went quite well. We may get the opportunity to provide counseling on site to students in the future. We are still waiting for word on the high school facility for use as a church meeting location. This would be in Dawnview, Johannesburg, South Africa.
We have two families who are interested in church services now with a third family needing prayer. I have received a great amount of interest in a parenting home bible study, which I would need to write.
Keep praying. Things are going well.
Pastor John Moore
BWM - South Africa
Feb 18, 2009- Perfect Timing
Dear Prayer Partners,
Every once in a while it seems you are the receiver of perfect timing. An example of this is when you are driving down a busy multi-lane street and you hit every traffic light green, or you walk up to the busy checkout lane overflowing with four heavily-burdened shoppers just at the same time a cashier is signaling you that she is opening a new lane.
We seem to be enjoying such a season of good timing as we have returned to South Africa for our second term. To this point we have concentrated on becoming re-established in the country, while seeking the counsel of others as to where we should plant a new church. One important task we immediately tackled was to correct mistakes made five years ago in our bank account that could have caused great future troubles. While doing this, we asked the banker a little bit about his life. Perfect timing. In an email he later said, “It is not often these days that you meet truly good folk that you immediately feel comfortable with.” We look forward to a dinner date with our banker and an opportunity to share Bible truths through the bridge built by caring. (This will be the first time in our life that we have had dinner with our banker!)
In terms of the new church plant, we are seeing the same kind of perfect timing. As we have spoken to national-pastor friends or those we trust (such as coworkers), the perceptions of others as to what God would have us to do have aligned in only one direction. A South African arranged a meeting for me at a facility in an area where a new church could meet. That facility, a public high school, has shown us a separate building on their property that they do not currently use as a possible place for us to meet. Not only that, but they asked me to preach 15-minute Bible messages during their school assembly times once a month. When I asked the school principal if he would be interested in American visitors conducting youth evangelistic events at his school in the future, he enthusiastically responded with the word “DEFINITELY!” All that remains is for the school board to approve what the principal and I have discussed. My first assembly message will be on February 23rd at 8:00 a.m. local time.
We thank you for your prayers and ask for your continued support. We know that not everything will go smoothly as every spiritual work meets opposition. But we are encouraged as the God of perfect timing ministers to our need.
The Moore Family
BWM – South Africa
February 5, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
We wanted to give you an update but we don't know if we can call this a prayer letter. We have email now but we have to be limited in our bandwidth use so we must be fairly brief.
We are doing well. Our necessary details like banking are coming together. We have been visiting national pastor friends each Sunday. That has been a great opportunity to encourage them, be in their service, and reestablish friendships. We are also receiving opportunities to call on those who ask us to visit.
Our survey work to establish where we should plant a new church has been coming together nicely as well. Today I had a meeting with a national pastor. When I asked him what he thought I should do he perfectly outlined the same direction we have been perceiving from the Lord. It was a blessing to also hear his thoughts on the challenges we will face and how to meet them.
Amen,
The Moore Family
BWM - South Africa
January 1, 2009
Dear Praying Friends,
Each January we have written a year-end letter. We have enjoyed the opportunity to look back and count our blessings and share some of those things with you. These blessings are shared amongst us as you pray. This year our letter will be text only (a computer crash combined in 2008 necessitated this route).
Church Meetings
Our furlough now complete we rejoice in having spent a full Sunday or a full conference at each of our supporting churches. We need to remember that the foundation of missions is the local church (Acts 14:26-28). Our prayer is that we have invested this furlough to be an encourager of you and the church.
We are thankful for the “extra” opportunities that came in addition to reporting meetings. Nancy spoke at a number of ladies meetings and we enjoyed Valentines and Thanksgiving banquet speaking engagements.
Summer Camp and VBS
Summer of 2008 brought opportunities to encourage young believers at summer camp and a VBS in Shannon, Illinois. The camps, comprised of four junior camps and one teen camp, set aside time to challenge young people to consider full-time ministry. As we met those currently on deputation whom we first met in their churches years ago we are reminded that we may get to see some of these young believers again in the days to come.
Our Children
This year brought many opportunities to build up our children in the Lord. Nathan grew through his opportunity to work at Martin’s Supermarket and in preparing for his 2009 freshman year at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Nathan, Evan, Rachel, and Benjamin grew to the point where we let them independently conduct junior church mission’s meetings during furlough visits. Many of you don’t know what a challenge this really is because these meetings are many times held at the same time as the morning service. The children “continued on” whenever the preacher “continued on.”
Ourselves
I don’t think furlough is really much of a rest. It is a different kind of work. But with that work comes opportunities and blessings. One blessing is change within you. I can say Nancy and I are different now than one year ago. As we return January 12-13 to South Africa it will be exciting to see how those differences fit within our next work!
Thanks be to the Lord who gifts and does every good work!
Amen,
The Moore Family
November 1, 2008
Dear Praying Friends,
Call in the Closer
I really don’t enjoy the game of baseball. I am challenged even to watch the South African game of cricket (the forefather of baseball) especially the games that can last for several days! But today I feel like a closer, the last pitcher who is called upon to finish a game.
Furlough is almost over. November is our last full month of meetings and afterwards we will have only one meeting on the first Sunday of December. We thank you for your prayers for an effective furlough. We enjoyed our opportunities to minister to others. And we learned important truths during this time.
Second Term – A New Church
We have been in thought and prayer throughout our furlough about the important matter of what God would have us to do in our second term. Some things were clear to us. We believe God would have us to begin a new church. Other decisions have been more complicated. Where should the new church be located? While we do not have a community name to give you yet we are seeing direction in where we are to go. Continue to be in prayer for this important matter.
Another important question involves coworkers. We are looking forward to Ms. Saundra Smith joining us! One of her strengths is she has the fortitude to put up with John’s antics. One day during our first term she came by the house and brought her schedule book. While Saundra and Nancy were occupied John took Saundra’s schedule book, turned ahead several months, and wrote “Make John a cherry pie!” on a random weekday. Saundra actually baked a pie! But she doesn’t bring her schedule book to our house anymore.
In addition to Saundra there are some other coworker possibilities to consider. As you can see from the previous illustration it takes a special person who can survive being our coworkers.
Amen,
The Moore Family
South Africa Nov 2008 Specific Prayer Listing
Truth Baptist of Windsor, Connecticut (2)
Our final long trip begins at Truth Baptist. John teaches Sunday school and preaches the AM and PM services. Our children independently teach Junior Church during the AM service. The kids have requested that dad preach his one-page sermon during the morning service.
Cornerstone Baptist of Oakdale, Connecticut (5-6)
We report on Wednesday evening. Nancy is the Ladies Tea speaker for Thursday.
Calvary Baptist of Windsor Locks, Connecticut (9)
We finish our trip with an all-day meeting at Calvary. John teaches Sunday school and preaches the AM and PM services.
First Baptist of Tipton, Indiana (16-19)
Our last conference brings us close to our homeland, or place of birth, as some Africans would say. John opens the conference on Sunday and closes it on Wednesday. We also hope to be an encouragement to the two new missionary families on deputation who will be at the conference as well.
First Baptist of North Liberty, Indiana (22-23)
We share a special Thanksgiving with First Baptist on Saturday. Nathan will play viola during dinner. On Sunday we teach Sunday school, Junior Church, and John preaches the PM service.
Prairie Baptist of Scotts, Michigan (30)
John teaches Sunday school and preaches the AM and PM services. Our kids give a Junior Church report.
Fellowship Baptist of Whitmore Lake, Michigan (Dec 7)
Our last meeting of furlough will include John teraching Sunday school and preaching the AM and PM services. Our children will teach Junior Church.
October 1, 2008
Dear Praying Friends,
Government is Important
With the elections upcoming in November here in America it is impossible not to think often of how much impact government has on the life of the average person. Issues like taxes, social programs like healthcare, and the economy are talked about daily.
Now add to these issues things like the freedom to assemble or the freedom to talk about the Lord and you can appreciate the importance of government in every country. In America one can even meet refugees who have fled their homeland after a change in government.
South Africa has been prosperous since the end of Apartheid about ten years ago. This is one reason why Africans from other countries come there. Like America they too are in the process of national elections.
Pray with us for the continued stability and openness in South Africa. Pray that the country has good leadership and the blessings that come with it.
(As missionaries we do NOT get involved in the political process of the countries we are in other than to pray for the benefit of its leaders, workers, and people).
College for Nathan
Last month we asked you to remember Nathan’s college visit at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Nathan had a great visit including several interviews with college officials. At the end of our time Nathan submitted his application for fall 2009. He will study to be an educator. Nathan will accompany us to the field of South Africa and then return for his first year of college.
Amen,
The Moore Family