JOY News 01/2025
Dear Pastors & Praying Friends:
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season enjoying quality time with your family. 2024 was hectic for us, with an emergency trip to Botswana and meetings I had to cancel to attend Emelang’s funeral.
Even though it was a sad time for us in Botswana, God blessed us in a mighty way. We ministered to the family at the funeral and afterward to the many people who attended. Hundreds were there and we all shared about Emelang’s historical ministry.
It was a whirlwind when I got off the plane, driving six hours to Serowe. We were permitted to conduct the full funeral for the family and the many Deaf individuals in attendance, and we observed service after service with many who prayed during the invitation times. While we treat funerals like revival meetings, we don’t call for an altar call, but there were many praying and accepting Jesus into their hearts. One night, we preached until about 1:00 am.
On the day of the funeral, at the gravesite, one of Emlalng’s daughters fainted, and we had to rush her to the doctor. The hospital staff were terrific and amazed by a white pastor who arrived with a girl and carried her inside. I saw a lady there with her tiny baby and prayed with her as she sat next to her dear child. At times like this, God uses ministry to open doors to places you have never served. One day I believe God will guide us to this village for future ministry.
After the funeral, we visited our newest project led by Pastor Tshenolo in Francistown. Tshenolo is doing an excellent job there, and I love being around these new groups, as they are so passionate about God and eager for His word. This meeting was a wonderful time, and we had two people accept Christ as their Savior, along with others who needed to repent and find assurance in their faith in Christ. One girl saved during last year’s Silent J.O.Y. Saturday took me aside and asked me to explain what it meant to be a Christian. You could tell she had many questions about her new life in Christ. I plan to spend more time in Francistown this year and do some much-needed disciple-making alongside Tshenolo.
Please pray for Pastor Tshenolo, who will be married this year. We have raised over $1000 for his wedding and hope to raise an additional $1000 before the marriage. We have the money to move forward with the marriage and plan to wed them soon. Botswana marriages are not fast, they take some time. We are so happy that both families are working with this young couple and have reduced the number of cows needed for them to wed.
During our time there, we focused on transitioning the church in Ramotswa. Carella and his wife have done an exceptional job stepping into this ministry. Carella has established a strong rapport with the people of this village, and they will be a blessing in the future. Please pray with me as I work to raise support for Carella and his family. We are currently at about $300 of our $1,000 goal. I plan to bring him to the States to help with fundraising, but given the current situation in Botswana with a shortage of men who can preach and the fact that they have a child on the way, it is very challenging for us to bring him over now. He is not just a pastor; he is serving in three locations, and when I arrive in Botswana, he will be traveling with me full-time. To facilitate this, I must transition him from his position at the Botswana Society for the Deaf into full-time ministry. The Deaf offer donations, but most live at or below the poverty line, even by Botswana standards. Please pray that God will have you to help this dear family.
In my following letter, I will share our plans for Botswana and the vision God has given us to reach the country. Many things are in progress now, and God is truly blessing us with new individuals who desire to preach in the right places.
In Christ,
The Dykes Family