Rev Hendrik du Plessis
1. Bible Translation
We were recently able to fit in another intensive revision week. This time, we worked through the book of Song of Songs together with the translation team. It is a highly challenging book with complex translation possibilities. Slowly but surely, we are progressing through the Old Testament. Our goal is to publish the Old and New Testaments together within the next four years. The New Testament was already published in 2012, and we are now waiting for the completion of the Old Testament so that it can be printed as a complete Bible.
2. Strengthening of the Church Council and Congregational Growth
The past month was filled with exceptional grace and profound highlights for our congregational life, particularly regarding the equipping and induction of local church council members.
Induction of New church council members (Weekend of 14 June 2026):
- It was a major highlight for the congregation to officially induct two Herero brothers as elder and deacon. These brothers had faithfully attended the confirmation classes beforehand and made their confession of faith some time ago. After being presented to the congregation for approbation (approval) for the preceding three Sundays without any objection, they could finally be inducted into office.
- Continuity in local leadership: This induction follows the earlier election (as mentioned in the September 2025 report) of a Naro-speaking member as an elder, who also serves as the coordinator of the Naro Bible Translation Project. It is encouraging to see how the church council is being strengthened across language barriers to serve the respective communities. We trust that we will add more Herero people to our congregation in the future, as they too remain an unreached field for mission work here in Botswana.
3. Visit to Mababe (17–21 June 2026)
From 17 to 21 June, a visit was paid to the Mababe area. Although the trip was fruitful, it also brought about logistical challenges.
Travel and Road Conditions
The road to Mababe was in a very poor condition. At one particular spot, a large truck was stuck. Since it was already dark, we had to find an alternative route to get past. (The two photos downloaded from the web serve to illustrate the road conditions).
Due to the difficult road conditions, we were only able to reach our destination well after dark. It took us more than two hours to drive from Maun to Mababe.
Camp Visits and Scripture Teaching
During the outreach, several camps in the area were visited, where we found people with hearts hungry for the Word:
- Mokgotlho Lodge: We had a very blessed interaction here. For about an hour, two individuals asked probing questions about various aspects of the Bible that were unclear to them. It was encouraging for me to see that they do not just read their Bibles, but study them intensely.
- Film Ministry: Unfortunately, the screening of the film “Walking with Jesus” had to be cut short on two consecutive nights due to unexpected rain.
- Zeal for the Word: Samuel, our newly elected deacon who made the journey with a friend, stood out for his exceptional zeal during the Bible study sessions. (In the photo, he is standing in the middle). He faithfully recorded every scripture passage and key point in a notebook to ensure that nothing was lost. His great hunger to understand the Scriptures more deeply is highly encouraging.
A beautiful gesture: In the photo below is a Herero woman who was very desperate for a Herero Bible. Fortunately, Samuel had the Bible with him that I had given him some time ago. It was a beautiful gesture to me when he offered her his own Bible, since I still have a few Herero Bibles at home.
5. Our Comfort in the Proclamation of the Gospel
In Acts 18:9-10, the Lord Jesus speaks to Paul in a vision at night, telling him to go to the city of Corinth for the simple reason that there are many people who belong to Him:
“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.’” (ESV)
All Paul had to do was speak and not remain silent. It does not say that he had to try to convince or persuade them. No, even before Paul arrived there, they already belonged to the Lord Jesus; the proclamation of the Word among them merely confirmed it. As the Lord Jesus says in John 6:37:
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (ESV)
Paul goes to the city, proclaims the Gospel, and those who already belong to the Lord Jesus come to Him.
In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch in Pisidia. They first preached in the synagogue, but when many of the Jewish leaders rejected the message and opposed them, Paul and his companions announced that they were now turning to the Gentiles (the non-Jewish nations). Verse 48 describes the Gentiles’ joyful reaction to this:
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (ESV)
This is the motivation behind every outreach. We must go and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus and not remain silent. Those who belong to the Lord Jesus will come to Him, and those who are appointed to eternal life will believe. This makes Evangelism and Missionary work the most successful calling on earth.
Your brother in Christ,
Hendrik du Plessis