A New Opportunity!
Today, we serve on the Healthy Pastor/Healthy Church Initiative team. Started by Dr. Gordon Lebelo and the Executive Team of International Assemblies of God, this initiative focuses on helping pastors work towards spiritual, emotional, relational, and vocational health. Out of a healthy paradigm comes the fuel for leading healthy churches.
2024 Goals:
Expand network of relationships with pastors and churches in KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Develop Phase 2 of HPHC: What is A Healthy Church?
Provide “Blueprint for Marriage From An African Perspective” seminars in all nine provinces of South Africa within one year.
Provide “Discipleship Pathway” training seminars in all nine provinces of South Africa.
Endorsement:
Dear Friends,
Greetings in Jesus’ precious name. I just want to express my appreciation and service rendered by our missionary friends and co-workers, Rev Joel and Amy Slater in South Africa. Thank you so much for enabling them to do this great work through your prayers and financial support.
Our vision 2033 amongst others, focuses on “Healthy Pastors and Healthy Churches” and also preparing the next generation for various leadership roles. Healthy pastors who are well trained and equipped to do the work, will be able to plant and grow healthy churches.
The Slaters have been instrumental in working together with the national church leadership to train, develop and equip pastors throughout the country for this missional mandate. Prior to their recent itineration, Rev Slater was requested to lead the national team (HPHC team) assigned with this mammoth task of steering this initiative.
In addition to the above, he is also one of our educators at our Bible school. His invaluable contribution of investing in the lives of men and women who have responded to God’s calling will always be appreciated. The enormous gap left during their absence is greatly felt.
I pray as they continue to share our vision with you that God may touch your hearts to partner with them as they reach-out to the lost in our country and our continent.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours in His service
Dr. G. S. Lebelo, General President of the International Assemblies of God, South Africa
“Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
OUR PAST CONTRIBUTIONS:
As team members of Assemblies of God World Missions-Africa, we taught at the diploma and bachelor’s level in the Bible School as well as coached and encouraged church planting as part of the overall strategy for self-governing, self-propagating, self-supporting churches.
SAWYER INTERNATIONAL PILOT PROGRAM
In December, 2019, we were connected with Darrel Larson of NewBreak Church in San Diego, CA, and through him, Sawyer International. We were given the opportunity to spearhead a pilot program, distributing water filters, training local church leaders as trainers for greater distribution, and gathering data from the filters usage. Within four months, we distributed 250 water filters north and south of Lilongwe, conducted 2-week and 8-week follow-ups, and reported the data to Sawyer.
URBAN TRIBES
In early 2020, Joel and Amy noticed that their youngest, Jasper, was not reaching developmental markers. Due to the onset of the COVID19 pandemic and international lockdowns, they were unable to get a definitive diagnosis until late September, 2020. The diagnosis was Level 2 Autism. The choice: return to the USA or seek reassignment in Africa. The Slaters chose to seek reassignment. The result: relocate to Durban, South Africa.
Upon arrival, we served with Urban Tribes, helping strengthen and re-locate Northplace Church to its new home by raising $260,000 USD for renovations to its recent building purchase. During that time, the Slaters began developing a Discipleship Pathway for the purpose of helping people develop the habits of authentic, healthy disciples.