Our “All-Sufficient God”
Missions in Africa, Inc.
April 19, 2012
Greetings Friends and Family,
We pray that your “Easter” season was filled with a deeper revelation of the purpose for Christ’s life, death, burial and 3 days later his resurrection to new life! He lived and died so that we could have new life. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him will not die but have eternal life.” By God’s grace, through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins, he has given us new life. Jesus took upon himself our sins, so we are forgiven of our sins and made in right relationship with God our Father. When we repent of our sins and turn from living our own way, and turn to God and believe in Christ’s sacrifice and live for Him, we are born again by the Spirit of God and we too have new life! What a reason to rejoice!
In the gospel of John, Jesus says something remarkable. He says in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly”. Wow, Jesus says that we would have life in abundance. So what does that actually look like?
Jesus was revealing an aspect of Himself and His Father in heaven. He was speaking of “El-Shaddai”, meaning the All-Sufficient One. “El Shaddai” has the following meaning; the name is derived from the word “field” as in the fields produce abundance. It is also translated as “breast” or the “many breasted One” which signifies nourishment and productiveness. In this sense God is shown to be more than enough – “He who is all-sufficient”. When you see the name El-Shaddai, God is saying “I am more than enough to meet your needs in each situation.”
Being in Swaziland for 5 1/2 years now, we know by experience our God as “El-Shaddai”. The most recent example is this. Over the last 6-12 months, Pastor Mbongeni and his wife Charity, have been praying with us and asking the Lord to meet the increasing needs of the “I Am Not Forgotten” home in Mpolonjeni. God has answered that prayer in his perfect timing. We have received a donation from Giving Hope Worldwide, to build an additional home for the orphaned and vulnerable children in Swaziland. We see the Lord working in ways that we never could have imagined … but He is “El-Shaddai” the One who is more than enough to meet our needs in each situation. He is All-Sufficient!
Here are some pictures of the progress so far. This expansion will enable Bride of Christ and Children’s Cup to care for many more orphaned and vulnerable children. The orphans, poor and oppressed are so close to the Father’s heart. With God, ALL things are possible, because He see’s too it and does it in miraculous ways! Praise the Lord!
If the Lord prompts you to contribute financially to the “I Am Not Forgotten” homes, please let us know. Currently we have 3 homes and care for 46 children, with an additional capacity for 12 more children!!!
You can give 2 different ways, through Missions in Africa, Inc. or Children’s Cup:
Missions in Africa, Inc.
P.O. Box 264
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
“Karen and Randy Brennan” on the memo line
And through Paypal by visiting our website at www.missionsinafrica.com
You can also donate to Children’s Cup on line by visiting their website at www.childrenscup.org
Thank you for praying and thank you for giving! Each and every day it is making a difference and furthering the Kingdom of God here in the Kingdom of Swaziland! May the Lord bless each of you.
Randy and Karen Brennan
Missionaries in Swaziland, Africa
P.S. We have purchased our tickets to visit the Unites States this summer. We will be arriving in the US on July 5 and will be staying through August 28! We would love to see you! Please drop us an email and let us know when we can get together.
Sharing the Gospel by Sharing our Lives!
Missions in Africa, Inc.
March 24, 2012
http://www.missionsinafrica.com
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Wow! It has been a long time! We have been very busy and have seen the Lord doing amazing things every single day.
During the month of February, we had an amazing group of friends come to Swaziland from Crosspoint Community Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They had t-shirts made which gave the reason for their trip which read,“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
In the morning, time was spent at “The Bride of Christ” Church and the “I Am Not Forgotten” orphan home. They loved on the kids, planted a HUGE vegetable garden, built a two hole “long drop” or toilet, completed a barbed wire fence around the property to keep the cows out and put in a concrete bib on the back of the church building so the water wouldn’t seep into the church through the wall! This was just in the mornings!!!!!
Every afternoon we visited Mbekelweni CarePoint where the children learned about the life of Joseph. They learned that God was intimately involved in Joseph’s life, and that God is intimately involved in their lives too! They learned that everything that happened in Joseph’s life was for Joseph’s good and for God’s glory. They learned that God will do the same for them too! The children learned that God gives us hope, special abilities, wisdom, forgiveness and a family. Each and every day there was a time of worship and prayer, bibles lessons, games, fun and food. Friday was a special celebration as a family where the children were blessed with a chicken feast!
The Lord ministered through the team in so many ways. The children’s lives were changed forever; they witnessed firsthand the love of those who are called by God to go and make disciples of all nations.
Please pray with us:
That the children will continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord, that they will know by experience this loving God who cares for them and that by His very nature, He is a Father at heart and he wants them to be a part of His family.
Finally, that just like God was with Joseph through good times and bad times, He is with them all the time to lead them, guide them, strengthen them and save them to spend eternity with HIM!
We are making plans to come and visit the Unites States in July and August. We look forward to seeing each of you and sharing in person what the Lord is doing in Swaziland!
May the Lord bless each of you.
Randy and Karen Brennan
Missionaries in Swaziland, Africa
God Answers Prayers!
God answers prayers . . . . .
Dear Friends and Family,
Below is a story about how God answers prayers. Nellie, one of our Children??s Cup staff has been watching and praying for twins from one of our CarePoints for over 4 years …. here is what happens when people pray …. God listens, then at the perfect time, he acts!!!
Let me introduce you to Alex and Alexinah, (in the photo above) a set of seven year old twins that would frequent one of Children’s Cup CarePoints for food. Nellie, one of our Children’s Cup staff, (in the photo above) recalls over 4 years ago when they were just 3 years old, how the children would come to the CarePoint early in the morning for food. She remembers them laying flat on the ground on their stomachs, hungry and filthy.
Alex and Alexinah are double orphans which means both of their parents have died as a result of HIV/AIDS. They have been staying with their grandmother and grandfather. The people in the community would describe the grandmother as a “drunkard”. The grandfather does what he can to provide, but there is never enough and the children are the ones who suffer.
The past few months, their attendance at the CarePoint was sporadic, and this showed up physically; the kids were looking thin and unhealthy. Nellie investigated and found out that the kids were not coming to the CarePoint because they were at home doing work around the house like fetching firewood and water, cooking and doing other chores. Something had to be done so Nellie gave us a call to see if there was room in the “I Am Not Forgotten” orphan homes for Alex and Alexinah.
Over the last 2-3 months the Lord has worked in a miraculous way and Alex and Alexinah are now staying at our newest orphan home in Mbekelweni. They arrived last week, just in time to start school in their new community with their new “brothers and sisters”. When we visited them on Tuesday, they were completely different children. They were happy, laughing, running and filled with a sense of hope. For them at this age, a roof over their heads and 3 nutritious meals a day, is something they have never experienced before. They have a bed to sleep in and they have clothes to wear. They are filled with such joy and know they are loved! Before we left, we circled up, joined hands and prayed . . . . . when we were finished, I bent down to give Alexinah a hug and she gave me a huge kiss on my cheek… one I’ll never forget.
Above is a picture of Alexinah, Ntombie (their new “Mother”) and Alex.
We thank God for answering our prayers and providing a home for Alex and Alexinah. A place where they are loved and cared for. A home where they can grow up learning about the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for them!
Blessings,
Randy and Karen Brennan
Missionaries in Swaziland, Africa
Merry Christmas from the Brennans!
Merry Christmas!
Luke 2:11 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!”
Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and realize why He humbled Himself and came to the earth. The fourfold ministry of Jesus Christ was revealed by the prophet Isaiah which says in Isaiah 61: 1-2;
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”
Jesus’s ministry was the preaching of the gospel to the poor the meek and afflicted.
“He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted”
While on the earth, Jesus ministered healing to those that were spiritually and physically sick and brokenhearted.
“To proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”
Breaking the bonds of evil and proclaiming freedom from sin and satanic dominion.
“To proclaim the year of the Lord??s favor”
Opening the spiritual eyes of the lost that they might see the light of the gospel and be saved, by God’s favor and grace!
Praying for each of you this Christmas season…. That you have received the good news of the gospel that Jesus Christ brought. That the joy of your salvation will be experienced each and every day as you live your life for Him. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!
To all of our family and friends, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Love, Randy and Karen Brennan
Christmas Celebrations and Graduations!
Dear Friends and Family,
Below is our latest update. We have made a few changes, we hope you enjoy.
December in Swaziland means the end of the school year. We share information about CarePoint graduation, International School of Ministry graduation, and Christmas Celebrations at the CarePoints.
Next update we will share with you what is happening at all 3 ??I Am Not Forgotten?? orphan homes.
Enjoy and be blessed!
With much love,
Randy and Karen
Welcome
Welcome to Missions in Africa, a ministry raised up by the Lord to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nation of Swaziland, Africa.
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