Pastor Sabelo Dladla leads the Heavenly Grace Church in KwaNdengezi, Durban, South Africa. The church is located in a rural area on the edge of a ravine. Heavy rains in 2022 and again in 2023 caused the old church building to collapse. When Paul Stanley (Carson Oaks Community Church, Stockton, CA) and I (Scott Soden) arrived at the church, Pastor Frank led us down the narrow, winding trail, past small homes, to Pastor Sabelo's home on the edge of a steep ravine. The church, a testament to resilience, was only partially rebuilt using prefabricated concrete slabs typically used to line highways. Stronger than wood, these slabs stand as a symbol of hope and endurance, ready to face any future challenge. Mount Olive Brethren Church (McGaheysville, VA) joined with Carson Oaks and others to contribute a new concrete floor to fortify the structure's foundation and a new corrugated steel roof, coated to prevent rust, to shield against rain and sun. This church building is home to a congregation of 40 to 50 local area residents who meet on Sundays for worship and throughout the week for outreach and evangelism. The church also holds weekly children's programs essential to the community's life. Although most of the community lives far below the poverty level, Pastor Sabelo and his wife often offer relief and help as they are able, and the whole community tries to help one another as the Lord has given to them. This is a powerful reminder of the impact of our prayers and our partnership with the Brethren in South Africa, India, South America, and indeed worldwide. Your support, generosity, and prayers have been instrumental in bringing about these life-changing results and transformations. We are deeply grateful for your continued support and prayers. Scott Soden Global Partners Coordinator

Hanna Strickland, lifelong Brethren member, arrived home from a 6-week mission trip to South Africa at the beginning of October. While there, alongside KJ Soden, Hanna had the opportunity to work with our partners in South Africa and learn how ministry is different in this unique context. Hanna and KJ served with Mission Partners Sandile and Abby Mkhwanazi, who run a church in Durban, South Africa. Sandile is completing the Brethren ordination process, as well as leading other South African pastors through the same process. Once Sandile is ordained, he will then ordain the other pastors as well. In her time working with these pastors, Hanna saw how robust their faith and worship is. She shared stories of crusade tent worship nights where pastors and visitors were dancing and shouting for the Lord. She explained how she learned what healthy conflict resolution looks like; the South Africans Hanna worked with showed that they tend to be a blunt people, and when they have issues with each other, they do not let it fester. Hanna shared, “They have a different perspective; we have to be close. We have to be in community. There is no, “Well, we’ll just work with someone else,” because there is no one else. Why would you want to be angry with someone you’re going to spend eternity with?” Hanna saw that when someone had an issue with their sister or brother in Christ, they would address it, pray about it, and then resolve it together. Hanna and KJ were also able to offer support in the ministries growing in South Africa. One ministry that takes place weekly is called “Kid’s Club” and it is a time where children coming home from school will gather outside with ministry leaders, hearing Bible stories and participating in various physical activities. Schools in this area do not have recess time, and many of the children’s homes do not have a yard big enough to run around in, so Kid’s Club offers a time for children to be children and run around and play, as well as hear stories about the love of Jesus. Hanna, a dancer back here in the states, had the opportunity to teach children how to dance, and even choreographed a dance with them. KJ was also able to play with the children, sometimes even letting them color in her tattoos, which they were enamored with. From working at Sandile’s church, to Kid’s Club, and participating in their door to door prayer ministry, and so much more, Hanna grew to love the differences of life in South Africa. Coming back to Ashland, Ohio, Hanna wants to continue to process her trip and all that the Lord did during her time away. She is excited to keep in contact with the friends she made; the work that was started is not over: “I want to see the Lord continue to work in their lives, and if I can be the vessel for that to happen, then I want to do that,” said Hanna. Hanna asks for prayers of peace and continued healing for her as she continues to process her trip. For our partners in South Africa, she asks for prayers of resilience for the pastors who have endured so much with the recent record-breaking floods and more. She also asks for prayers of empowerment and healing for all she was working alongside. Finally, continue to pray for KJ Soden, who remains in South Africa until this coming December.