Building Up the Kingdom Conference

In November 2021, friends of COFA visited South Africa to experience the programs it sponsors and participate in the “Building Up The Kingdom Together” conference held on the St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church campus in Mhluzi, South Africa. Pastors from Illinois, Michigan, Idaho and South Africa conducted sessions designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of religious leaders in South Africa and inspire them to spread God’s Word.

In addition to the conference presenters, visitors included members of the COFA Michigan Advisory Board.

Here are the reflections on this inspirational visit by Kristin Wangelin:

It’s difficult to put into words everything that we saw and experienced while in South Africa. . .

We gave hugs to dear friends. Lyrical laments and joy-filled hollers. Deep wailing and tongue-trilled shouts of praise. The people of St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church are quick to sing their worship, to sing their prayers, to sing their joys and challenges. We were able to participate in several activities at Bethel Preschool and the church campus where children and adults sang praises to God and learned through visual faith components. Our group witnessed in our brothers and sisters at St. Peter an abundant faith and trust that Jesus Christ would be glorified and praised.

We saw students in school who are surrounded by loving teachers and administrators. We provided some school materials for teachers to incorporate faith into the classroom.

We helped with a dental clinic for elementary students to receive needed preventative care.

I was able to witness a sponsor reunite with a student who had been funded by this particular woman’s family. I watched as they saw each other after years apart, as they teared up and hugged so tightly, as they laughed and cried and caught up. I listened as the student recalled her accomplishments, talked about her upcoming graduation, and her future plans and dreams.This student had been able to attend St. Peter Christian College because of this American family’s generosity and commitment to Christian education.

We played with orphans who are in a stable, safe, and loving children’s home. We saw the work on the home’s new wing for college-aged kids who age out of the system but will continue to be welcomed there.

We gave hugs to dear friends. We sang with brothers and sisters in Christ who have endured so much and yet have hope in God’s promises. We prayed and worshiped together.

We cried as we visited the graves of dear saints who are now with the Lord.

We anointed four satellite sites with prayers and singing, asking God to expand the ministry in those locations and strengthen the faithful members of those communities.

We visited students and parishioners who look toward the future with hope and ask the Holy Spirit to guide the mission site in Moloto, South Africa where a group of leaders is working with youth to incorporate faith-based sports programs into the community. It is the desire of those church members to build a youth program founded on faith in Jesus, that young people in their community would become strong leaders and be active followers of Christ.

We witnessed the love of Jesus as we saw the people of St. Peter Confessional Church care for their community and provide Christian education for children aged 1-18. We strengthened relationships. We partnered together, and we saw God move in mighty ways. We are building up the kingdom together. 

- Kristin Wangelin