Criminal sentence reductions highten crime in Philippi

Under the pressure of various and sundry friends, I am compelled to post again. (We do intend to keep updates posted fairly regularly—although not daily. Also, nota bene, green text in all posts can be clicked on to link you to a site with the relevant info.) Following is some more-urgent news followed by some more mundane, less-urgent news.

Some More-Urgent News

We’d like to ask for your specific prayers regarding safety in Philippi. Over the past couple of months the South African government has reduced the sentences of all prisoners by six months with an additional 14 month reduction for those incarcerated for less serious crimes (i.e. no violence, murder, arson, use of guns, etc.). [read the article] These reductions are an effort to alleviate the gross overcrowding in the inhumane correctional facilities. As a result, there has been a massive influx of criminals into the community. And the township of Philippi, where we will be in a couple of weeks, has seen a rapid spike in crime. We have received confirmation of reports that that four of the major instigators of this recent crime wave were killed in gang violence this week. However our friends at St. Paul’s in Philippi are still wary and reeling from the insecurity. We received this email from a colleague in SA, Erik Anderson, earlier this week.

“It is with a heavy heart that I write to you, asking that you please fall on your knees for the community of Philippi. Yesterday we found out that for an undetermined amount of time BHSA is not allowed into Philippi. Last week the Correctional Facilities department, after overcrowding, released around 6,000 prisoners. Since then Philippi, has become a place too dangerous for the people and church there to allow us to come in. The skolies (the local gangsters ranging in ages from 14-30) have been going crazy, stealing and killing. All the shops in Philippi have been closed and there has been a mass exodus of shop owners out of the community. Last week, some skolies went to one shop, found not the owner but his 14 year old son. After demanding money, goods, and the store gun, and after receiving all of those things freely, they shot the boy executioner style in the shop/shack. Since then other shops and markets have been attacked, with deaths at almost every occasion. In one incident a shop owner was killed and his 8 year old child was shot and hospitalized.

“Needless to say, for the time-being the community decided it is unsafe for us to reenter Philippi until further notice. We have agreed not only for our own safety but also so as not to create a target out of St. Paul's Church in Philippi. This is a hard time for us as so much good was accomplished within the last month, and with so many of our ministries truly thriving, it seems apparent that the enemy is responding in the only way he knows how, ‘seeking to steal, kill and destroy’.

“Pray that the violence would stop. Pray that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. Pray for the mourning families of the victims of these crimes. Pray for the community to rise up in response and take charge of the situation. Pray that in our absence that the ministries we run would prove their self-sustainability and that those involved would be strengthened and encouraged to take their job as their own. Pray that we would be responsive to the community leaders and the Holy Spirit in deciding an appropriate return into the community as we consider arranging Police escorts for our reentry. Pray for Christ to claim the community of Philippi as His own and that he would reign there, letting His justice, mercy and love flow down like rain.

Thank you for your constant support, and thank you for joining all of our supporters in this campaign of prayer to take back Philippi for Christ.”

Melinda and I appreciate your prayers for Philippi, for the BHI team and for our safety and psyche as we head into a delicate situation. I firmly believe that we are no safer running our errands around Pleasanton than we will be in South Africa. God is in control and his plans prevail despite our best efforts to determine our own steps. Nevertheless, we struggle with fear and anxiety so we need to hear from and feel our savior and His mighty angels!

Some More Mundane, Less-Urgent News

These past few weeks have been full and, admittedly, I have not felt up to doing much of anything but the bare minimum to get through the week. I am so close to completing an entertainment center and full mantle that I have been working on for several weeks—a seemingly interminable project. But it looks really good and God provided the project for some income during these last two months. I guess I’m surprised at how tired I’ve felt lately. Melinda has been tired too, in part because of her ongoing struggle with periodic insomnia. Maybe it’s just exhausting being on the receiving end of non-stop blessing and provision?! We are almost daily surprised by a phone call or email from many of you dear friends asking how to pray for us, encouraging us, or telling us of your financial commitment to us. We are awed by God’s provision! We trust most of you received our last letter—God has built for us an incredible team of partners and we have just topped 80% of our total financial goal!

We’ve had the joy of spending time with family here in Pleasanton, in Alameda (SFO), and up in Spokane (as well as the exhaustion of all the commuting). And just yesterday we got to spend a beautiful day at Del Valle reservoir with dear friends Todd and Jennifer Johnson—Todd is a friend and old house-mate from Wheaton. So I guess the overwhelming sense that I get is one of constant blessing from God in the midst of this busy transition time. Yet underlying is a sense of urgency or unrest; I just want to get on with the work in South Africa! I am excited and ready to get over there. Each day ends with the creation of more and more orphans who have no hope for loving care or protection. With daily updates from our director in South Africa, this is a constant reality for us.