“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

My husband Gideon and I (Shoshanna) had the pleasure of visiting South Africa last June for a second time on a P2P team trip with the WCF and Cuddle Trust. To say we felt God working in the efforts of the team and all those involved in the two-week trip would be an understatement.

We had visited the same area (Hopefield and Cape Town) two years prior, and it was a real blessing to see how the programs had progressed in those two years. We felt like we got to see the branches starting to bear fruit! The fruit had started to form from God blessing all the consistent hard work and dedication of the Cuddle Trust and beyond. One of the beautiful things about the brothers and sisters involved with the Cuddle Trust is that they fully believe that without God’s blessings and guidance the programs would not happen, and they trust that God will guide them where they need to be. I see this as “Remaining in Christ and having Christ remain in them to bear much fruit” from John 15.

We participated in many of the different programs and efforts of the area, some of these included:

Leading classes and participating in Women at the Well (A Women’s retreat from Sisters in Christ from all around South Africa and close interested friends and family.)
Kingdom Kids program (The local Sunday School program)
Bible clubs for the local kids in the community of Cape Town & Green Village (Hopefield Area)
Ran classes and activities for the Bible Youth Camp in Hopefield (Participants from the local Sunday School and the Fundani Bible Club.)

There were so many other things we got to do with the team that were edifying and helpful, but for this article I want to talk about one of my personal highlights which was meeting some more of Christ's branches, which was the South African Kempton Park Youth that joined the P2P team.

Above I mentioned that the members of Cuddle Trust daily and actively look for God’s direction with their programs and energy. I mention this because previously (until 2019) none of the current efforts or programs were happening in the Cape Town/Hopefield area, as Cuddle Trust was first formed in Johannesburg, South Africa and formed the Kempton Park Ecclesia.

This is where the baptized Kempton Park Ecclesia youth came from that was able to join the P2P team and we are so glad they did! They were some of the most helpful and dedicated to growing and
learning young people I have worked with.

Learning about the history of Kempton Park and the individuals there really made the following verse come alive that we often hear around special efforts to do with preaching, etc.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6

Soon we are going to hear from the four young brothers and sisters who joined our team: Bro. Lucky, Bro. Peter, Sis. Beatrice, and Sis. Tino about why they joined the Christadelphians.

So, in 2020 Bro. Peter and Bro. Lucky joined the Christadelphian community, but their story starts way before 2020.

Around 2015 Bro. Michael and Sis. Lilandi printed and leafleted 1,000 flyers & put up posters around the church hall, in the shopping center, etc for a holiday fun outreach day. Crafts were prepared for potentially hundreds of children but in the end only two boys arrived, William and Sipho.

Sipho continued being a part of the KINOS project, which was aimed at providing food parcels, school supplies, providing weekly games/crafts, and learning through educational play. This project was the connecting point for the children to then be invited to Sunday School on Sundays.

Sipho (located in middle - noted by white arrow)

Fast forward again quite a few years and Sipho (one of the only two children from the previous effort) introduced Peter and Lucky to the Kempton Park Ecclesia and they ended up joining and growing into strong individuals because of their friendship with Sipho, and God working in their lives.

Here is a letter from Bro. Lucky:

To Whom It May Concern
I'd like to share how I came to know about the Christadelphian faith and why I chose to stay.
Growing up, my childhood friends Peter, Tumelo, and I lived in the same neighborhood, forming a close bond. Tumelo and I are the same age, while Peter is a year younger. We all attended the same primary school, but when we transitioned to high school, Tumelo and I ended up in different schools while Peter and I eventually attended the same one. Despite this, the three of us remained best friends, as we lived close by and stayed in constant contact.
In 2020, during Tumelo and my 11th- grade year (Peter's 10th-grade year), Tumelo befriended a classmate named Sipho, who invited him to a Christadelphian church. Sipho had been part of the church since childhood. Tumelo then invited Peter and me to join him, and we decided to attend together.
From our very first visit, we were deeply drawn to the church. It stood out because of its unique approach and sense of community. In addition to the Sunday morning ecclesial services, we appreciated the youth class, where we could be ourselves without judgment, express our thoughts openly, and ask questions freely. As naturally curious and open-minded young men, we were intrigued by the church's doctrines and how everything was guided solely by scripture.
What truly resonated with us was the church's emphasis on studying scripture to understand the truth, rather than relying solely on what preachers say. It wasn't about dismissing preachers but rather about ensuring that every belief was rooted in God's Word. This approach challenged us but also gave us a firm foundation of faith, especially with complex doctrines like the Trinity and hell.

Beyond the teachings, what kept us coming back was the overwhelming love and sense of community within the church. The members treated us like family, and over time, they became some of the closest and most treasured people in my life.
As I continued to grow in my understanding and appreciation of the Christadelphian faith, I decided to take the next step and get baptized, fully committing myself to this way of life. Peter followed suit a year and a few months later.
That's how I came to know about the Christadelphian faith and why I stayed. It has been a journey of discovery, growth, and love, and I'm grateful to God for leading me here.
Sincerely,
Lucky Motsepe

Here is Bro. Peter’s Story:

Peter's journey with the Christadelphian church began in 2020. At the time, he was in grade 10, while his friends Tumelo and Lucky were in grade 11. Tumelo, a close friend, had become friends with a long-serving church member named Sipho, who invited Tumelo to attend the church. Tumelo then decided to invite Peter and Lucky to join him.
Before attending, Peter was a believer in Christ and the Bible but lacked a strong foundation in scripture. He tried to live an honest life, relying on the limited Bible knowledge he had. His first visit to the church was sparked by curiosity, especially regarding the unique doctrinal views of the Christadelphians. What captivated Peter was the church's commitment to sticking strictly to scripture in support of their beliefs, which he found mind-blowing. He also appreciated the church's open and welcoming environment, where questions were encouraged, and no one feared judgment.
The youth class offered every Sunday, apart from the main service, provided a comfortable space for Peter to grow in his faith alongside his peers. The love and support shown by the church community also made a significant impact on him, demonstrating their Godly, loving nature. These aspects have kept Peter attending the church to this day, and he has been a member since late 2020, marking nearly four years of spiritual growth and commitment.

I think reading through why these young people committed their lives and their background is very inspirational and worth the read.

Now we hear from the Sis. Beatrice:

My name is Beatrice, I am 19, I have an incredible twin sister, and I currently work as a paralegal at a law firm. I joined the Kempton Park ecclesia at the age of 12 in 2017, after hearing about the church from a neighbor. The values and sense of community I found there have kept me actively involved ever since. Joining the ecclesia has been such a transformative experience for me, it has helped me navigate and build a strong foundation of faith and the support and fellowship I found there have not only been precious but also invaluable, and truly brought a sense of belonging.

From Sis. Tino,

My name is Tino Jeche. I have been a member of the Christadelphian Church (Basic Church) since June 2016. I heard about the church through close friends who already were part of the church. My first time was at the local park when they had a fun day filled with activities for kids around the community. My continuous attendance was because of its strong emphasis on Bible-based teachings and its supportive, family-like community. Over the years, this has become a place where I can grow spiritually and build meaningful connections. I continue to attend Christadelphian Church because it remains a cornerstone of my faith and personal development. It provides me with a sense of purpose and opportunities to engage in meaningful service. My first day at the church planted a seed of faith within me—a seed I wasn’t even aware had begun to grow. Each day, and with every opportunity to surround myself with Christ-minded people, that seed has flourished. My journey in faith has been one of continuous growth, exceeding all expectations and boundaries. It has deepened my relationship with God and shaped me into someone who seeks to live by His example daily.🤗

One of the lessons that I took away from the Johannesburg group (Kempton Park) was that we need to trust God with growing the seeds we sow and we never know how long something will take to grow or if something we plant will even grow, but the effort is worth it.

The projects and efforts in Johannesburg continue to happen with the Cuddle Trust families now moved to the Cape Town area and they continue to support the Ecclesia and programs. Watching Cuddle Trust build from ground zero in Cape Town & Hopefield by building relationships in their new communities, new programs, efforts, Sunday Schools, etc., has also been inspiring. Seeing the past programs successes and the amazing young people that came from Johannesburg has given motivation that the new young people from Hopefield, Kingdom Kids Sunday School Program, the Fundani Bible Club, and more can also produce strong inspiring young people who walk in Christ and become members of the Christadelphian world wide body.

It was a pleasure to be a part of the P2P team and pray the efforts of Cuddle Trust and the Brothers and Sisters in South Africa will continue to be blessed from God and bear fruit!

Sis. Shoshanna Hewitson