Prison Ministry in Africa

For years, Cornerstone has supported Phil Smith in South Africa. Now that Phil and his family have returned to the United States, he continues to help with a prison ministry back in South Africa. Here is his latest update:

Dear Prayer Partners, Family, Friends, and Supporters,

All reports from Richard Gallant, the Director of the Eastern Cape prison ministry, have been very positive. The prison ministry continues to flourish and is moving ahead strong in South Africa. . . .

It is with mixed emotions that I report to you that our long time friend, co-worker, and mentor in the faith and prison ministry, Dr. Ron Butler, passed away in Capetown on May 14 to be with our Lord after a long struggle with cancer. A funeral was held in Capetown and a memorial was held in Lincoln, Illinois.

Ron had a passionate heart for the prison ministry in South Africa. From his years of experience in former Zaire and with TEE, he guided us to establish the Christian Faith and Life Skills program with Hope Prison Ministry in the Western and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa.

Not only did he teach and train others by his example, but he also led in writing the materials, overseeing the translation work, and setting up the print shop at Pollsmoor prison. He had a vision to see all correctional services using the Life Skills program in South Africa! He will truly be missed by all! What a faithful servant and friend of God that remained diligent in Christ's service till the very end of his life on earth.

I also received sad news this week that Brother Sakiwo Sixaba was killed in a car accident this past week in the Eastern Cape. Sakiwo had served alongside me in the prison ministry at Middeldrift for several years while he was working on his Masters in prison ministry. He had recently moved back to the Eastern Cape to work as the Chaplain in Correctional Services in the King William's Town region and was promoting the Life Skills program in the Department. He was also the minister at Dimbaza church in that area. He leaves behind a young wife. Please keep her in your prayers.

I want to thank you for your continual support of our family and the ministry over the past 16 years in South Africa. You have been so faithful and generous throughout the years! Thank you for helping us for an additional 6 months this year as we transitioned back into the States and into a new role as missions pastor at Countryside Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas. God had been faithful to provide such loving, caring and supportive friends of the ministry for so many years!

THANK YOU FOR ALSO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE PRISON MINISTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA UNTIL THE END OF 2011! We continue to need $400 each month to fulfill our commitment in the Eastern Cape until 2011. Each month, your support that is sent to Countryside is wired to Hope Prison Ministry in Capetown and then distributed to the Eastern Cape branch of the prison ministry.

I plan to travel to South Africa in December 2009 to participate in the last year of the CIY partnership in developing a national youth conference; I will also spend some additional days before that trip surveying the prison ministry work that is under the direction of Hope Prison Ministry. Richard Gallant is directing the Eastern Cape, and Jonathan Clayton is directing the Western Cape region of the Life Skills program. Thank you for helping to sustain the prison ministry in South Africa as it grows to become an indigenous program!!

Phil and his family will be at Cornerstone on September 6-10. Come to learn more about this amazing ministry.