South Africa
Generosity will be a pillar of Umbwella’s Stand. With many visits to South Africa and missionaries on the ground living there full-time, we are immersed with the need and familiar with ministries doing it well. We will introduce you to some of them and come alongside churches, ministries, and non-profits and what they are doing.
Two organizations are set up to accept babies that would ordinarily be put into dumpsters. I realize this might be hard to read, but it is the reality in South Africa. The ability to surrender both healthy and HIV babies gives these children a fighting chance for life, adoption and a future.
There are churches who have prayerful visions for their communities and people. We will walk alongside them with encouragement and prayers as well as being open to be an answer to their prayers if God ordains. These churches are located in neighborhoods serving all races of people in South Africa.
With the communities that are more economically challenged, we have already identified a number of issues that we could begin to step into and assist. A lack of Bibles and resources for study are a key need. We will distribute these through local channels. The pastors are in need of encouragement as they sit with some incredibly heavy emotional baggage, a lack of resources, and a continual tug to do/be more. We want to love them through encouragement, finances, and individual support. Already, three of them have received US mentors.
A literal church building is difficult to obtain, maintain, and keep safe. Participating in building funds, sending teams to help with maintenance, and providing encouragement will be another area we can step into.
Meeting spaces are virtually non-existent and in these communities, zoom and video are not a great option with internet costs. Evaluating the need, providing spaces or funding internet meetings for healing and study will be a consideration.
As opportunities are presented for discipling, teaching, and training the youth this will become a top priority. Investing into the next generation will be foundational at Umbwella’s Stand as we stand in the gap for those who can’t always do for themselves.
