Missionary Spotlight

Jeff and Patty Borden, South Africa

Jeff is a teacher and facilitator at the Bible Institute of South Africa (BISA). There has never been a Bible training school in his specific area. His goal is to provide training school in the context and at a minimal cost. Most pastors in these areas have NO training at all, and many are hungry for Biblical training.

Two of Jeff and Patty’s children have been diagnosed with fairly serious health problems. Their oldest son did not cope very well in the US and is returning to South Africa. Please pray for his transition back to South Africa and for the Lord’s leading regarding his future. Their second son, Matthew is a senior and intends to study biology next year at Virginia Tech. Please also pray regarding his future. Their daughter Lydia has Celiac’s Disease (gluten intolerance), pray for her.

Please pray for Jeff’s wife as she prepares food regarding Lydia’s dietary restrictions (no wheat, barley, rye or oats). In South Africa, there are not very many ready-made gluten-free products available so this can be problematic.

Lastly, the past month has been very difficult for the Borden family. Please pray for some much-needed rest. .

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Missionary Spotlight

Tom and Ann Austin, South Africa

Tom was born and reared in Kingsport, TN. He grew up within the Presbyterian Church (PCUS) and after high school volunteered for a year’s service to the Presbyterian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was there that God used Tom’s experiences on the field and his relationships with the missionaries to call him to salvation. It was also in Congo that God began to develop within Tom a heart for missions, especially for Africa.

After the year in Congo, he entered King College in Bristol, TN where he graduated in 1970 with a degree in economics. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he greatly benefited from the Navigator ministry. For the next 8 years, he was involved with the Navigators at Ft. Bragg, Ft. Benning, and Vanderbilt University. During these years, involvement with missionaries and ministering to foreign nationals increased his heart for missions, which developed into a sense of call. In 1980 he entered seminary at Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions at CIU. Tom and Ann met while they were both studying there. In July 1983, they were married after Tom graduated with an M. Div. in cross-cultural studies. Later that year they were accepted as career missionaries by Mission to the World, and Tom was ordained by Palmetto Presbytery.
The Austins arived in Nairobi, Kenya in April, 1985. From 1987 to 1995, Tom was on loan to the Nairobi International School of Theology. There he taught missions, leadership development, church growth, management courses, and other practical theology courses and was heavily involved in the school administration. During this period, he earned a D. Min. in urban missions from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. In late 1995, MTW asked Tom to help develop a new model of theological education for Africa. This challenge involves developing a multifaceted ministry in theological education on the continent. In addition in mid 1999 Tom was asked to take the position of principal of the Bible Institute of South Africa, an MTW partner institution located near Cape Town, South Africa. He held this position until the end of 2004, taking the college through a period of transition and development in which the 83 year old Bible college became African in its vision and focus as well as in its staff and its student body. Tom is now serving MTW throughout sub-Saharan Africa concentrating on coordinating, facilitating and guiding MTW ministries in theological education.

Ann

Ann was born and reared in rural Chester County, S.C. and grew up within the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church there. It was while she was in college that she came to know Christ as her Lord and Savior. She received a degree in speech pathology in 1972 from Columbia College in Columbia, SC and was a public school speech pathologist in Berkley, Chester, and York counties of South Carolina. While living in Athens, Greece, she worked with a TEFL program for the U.S. Navy. With a view toward missions, she and her first husband entered seminary at Columbia Graduate School (CIU). After her husband died in 1981, she and daughter Anna (then 4 years old) remained at CIU, and Ann entered the M. Div. program. There she met Tom and in July 1983, they were married.
While living in Nairobi, Kenya Ann taught Bible courses to the wives of the M. Div. and M.A. students at the Nairobi International School of Theology. She taught such courses as Exodus, a survey of the New Testament from Acts to Revelation, and the Life of Christ every year in the Women’s Program at NIST. She also led a women’s Bible study and helped with teacher training at their church, Community Presbyterian Church, Madaraka. Since their moved to South Africa she has been involved in a variety of ministries. When they were ministering with the Bible Institute of South Africa, she led the faculty wives in developing a ministry to the women at the Bible college. She also began a ministry of speaking to women’s groups in the area, which is ongoing.
Tom and Ann are the parents of two daughters: Anna, who is married to David Von and Rebecca, a student at Covenant College.

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Missionary Spotlight

Stan and Donna Armes, South Africa

In the past year, the Armes have had a desire to take a year of reflection and ask God what he would want them to do for the next few years. Currently, the Armes are on HMA (Home Ministry Assignment) from Jan –July 2009 and will be living in Springfield, ILL.

Stan had been involved with teaching several classes in the past year: Missions, Introduction to Ethics, Advanced Ethics, O.T. Historical Books, and the Doctrines of Christ and Salvation. He also was responsible for the Practical Placement Programme which places students in churches under the leadership of a local pastor. These students are able to get training and experience in preaching and counseling, and in preparing for and leading worship services.

One of the highlights for Stan and Donna is teaching marriage seminars. A shocking statistic in Port Elizabeth, the city where they lived, was that it has been called the “Divorce Capital of the World” where up to 70% of the marriages end up in divorce.

When they return to South Africa, Donna and Stan desire to teach part-time at the Bible College and then spend their other time putting together a basic course on the Biblical view of marriage. They want this course to have a particular African flavor so it can be used in other parts of Africa, as well as South Africa. The Armes believe that if people in Africa get marriage and the family working on biblical principles, it will positively influence the rampant crime and HIV issues in South Africa.

Specific prayer requests
1. Pray for a comfortable and reliable car during their time on HMA. Stan is putting together a Power Point presentation that will adequately describe what they have been doing in South Africa.
2. Finishing up the work in South Africa and with the college. Please pray for the students and their continued sustenance in biblical teaching.
3. Pray for preparation for the marriage training when they return to Africa.

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Missionary Spotlight

Jeff and Patty Borden, South Africa

Jeff has just completed over eleven years at the Bible Institute of South Africa (BISA), and is now starting a new seminary in the second largest black township in Cape Town (population .75 million!). As far as he knows, there has never been a Bible training school at Cape Town. Most of the pastors do not have a high school diploma because they are usually very expensive.

Jeff’s goal is to provide a training school for future pastors in their context, on their level and at a minimal cost. Most pastors in these areas have NO training at all, and many are hungry for Biblical training.

A further update is that two of their family members have been diagnosed with cancer during the second half of the latter year. They have some serious health problems and ask for our prayers for better health.

Their oldest son is is in Africa and seeks to volunteer for the ministry. Please pray for his transition back to South Africa after a semester and for the Lord’s leading regarding his future.

Their second son, Matthew (18) is a senior and intends to study biology next year in the US, specifically Virginia Tech. Please pray in regards to his future.

Their daughter Lydia (11) has Celiac’s Disease (gluten intolerance). Please pray for her, and for his wife, Patty. She (Patty) has an abundant amount of food preparation due to Lydia’s dietary restrictions (no wheat, barley, rye or oats). This can be difficult due to the lack of ready-made gluten-free products available in South Africa.

Lastly, please pray for some much-needed rest during the holidays and for the next few weeks.

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