Greetings!
It’s been a long time since our last update and I’m happy to be in touch to share the latest with you today.
Bottom line: It’s been an extremely challenging time in South Africa. AND, we are safe, healthy and seeing God powerfully bless us and our work here.
Pandemic and Rioting
As you may know, Covid is having a particularly brutal impact on Africa. Our beloved South Africa is currently experiencing a HUGE surge. Unfortunately, the healthcare system here is quite fragile and hospitalizations and deaths continue to soar.
Thankfully, Aladrian and I were fully vaccinated months ago, and, so far, not a single one of the students in our leadership development residency has been diagnosed with the virus!
Also, we continue to call on you to pray with us for this nation’s recovery from the extended (and continuing) political upheaval and violent uprisings that has resulted in much destruction and many deaths.
Make it stand out.
Grace Anyway
The immediate area where we live and work has remained safe, and this challenging season has not stopped our progress with our mission.
In fact, we are working with more emerging leaders than ever before and seeing them progress to higher and higher levels of personal opportunity and ministry impact.
Amazingly, in the last few months God has blessed us with new, state-of-the-art facilities for both of our main residential programs.
Also, our staff of co-workers continues to steadily increase , not only with Americans, but dedicated South Africans leaders as well!
We Celebrate!
The COP Scholars Residence
Is completely full with an outstanding cohort of 2021 young emerging leaders (Meet one in the video below).
Project Ekhaya
Our entrepreneurial initiative that assists struggling pastors and community leaders to financially support themselves by developing profitable income housing in their communities, is on track to break ground on the first project by year’s end.
House Church
Along with the university students we mentor, Aladrian and I have launched a unique and vibrant house church where relationship evangelism, holistic discipleship and intimate community have really taken off.
We consider EVERYONE in this “congregation” (not just the Elmores) to be an active minister of the Gospel. Period.
As always THANK YOU (!) for all your financial support, prayers and partnership with us. We LOVE what we get to do here each day and you are helping to make it all possible.
PLEASE, let’s keep praying for each other.
Introducing Chola Tshilanga, our newest Scholar-in-Residence.