Laborers Built on the Campus for the Lost World — South Africa
by Samantha Roberts
The mission of Campus Outreach is to build laborers on the campus for the lost world. I recently heard of how this vision is playing out in South Africa. God is using students who came to faith at Wits University to labor passionately beyond the campus.
I met Nomcebo during my fourth year in South Africa. She was a first-year accounting major who became involved in our ministry through a Bible Study. She eventually came to faith, and I had the privilege to disciple and establish her in the basics of the Faith. It was evident early on that she had a heart for God and for others to know Him; she immediately began reaching out and consistently testified to the good news of Christ and how the gospel had transformed her life. She shared this with fellow students and started a Bible study over WhatsApp with her sister and best friend back home.
During my time in South Africa, I wondered what it would look like to see laborers equipped on campus who might go into full-time ministry. Many South African students sacrifice much to attend university and have family obligations upon graduation. One day, even though that concern was there, I asked Nomcebo, “Can you see yourself doing my job?”. The Lord had been working in her heart, and her answer to my question that day was, “ I would love to do your job!” I honestly was taken aback by her response. I didn’t expect such enthusiasm. That day, I learned a lesson: the Lord prepares the hearts of those He will use to labor for His Name. He is not troubled by my foreseen obstacles. I was filled with a newfound hope in the possibility of what the Lord was doing to draw South Africans to Himself.
Nomcebo joined the Campus Outreach team in 2017, and the Lord multiplied her life at the University of Johannesburg. As she labored, a friendship grew with one of the men on staff, Bongani; their love for the Lord and shared passion for ministry drew them together. They married, and after serving with CO, they sensed the Lord calling them to move to Bongani’s hometown and use their training to make an impact while teaching. The Lord used them to cast a vision for discipleship in their church, and it wasn’t long before they were overwhelmed with opportunities.
And now the Lord has grown their call once again. Bongani is currently being trained to be a church planter. Together, they hope to plant a church where they can continue to see people come to faith and be discipled to maturity in Christ. They are laborers from the campus who the Lord is using in extraordinary ways to reach the lost world. Join us in praying for Bongani and Nomcebo as their story is still being written.