Welcome to Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa

Introduction
Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa began as an evangelistic and basic discipleship ministry as part of Emmanuel Press, which began in South Africa under David Newington in 1945.  In 1976, during UDI, because of the border closures prevented literature getting through, Ron Davies received a call from God to relocate to Salisbury (now Harare).  See the menu for a more full history of Lifeline's formation and development over the years.

Holroyd New Life Church has supported the ministry of Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa since 1982. This site is dedicated to providing up-to-date information on what is going on in LMSA's ministries.  This website was done initially from an Australian perspective, aiming at increasing awareness particularly in Australia / New Zealand of the work LifeLine does in Southern Africa.  We aren't website development experts.  You won't find any bells and whistles here....  but we hope the information, reports, and photos inspire more folks to get involved in what we know firsthand is a "good work in the Gospel"!

Stress has been on a balance of Christian activity that emphasises development of local ministry potential, while also developing self-help programs of food and work provision, relief ministry, literature publications for evangelism and basic Bible and Leadership training.  In Australia, the emphasis has shifted more recently to supplying resources to resource centres being established for all the ministers and leaders in a local area.

In addition to financial contributions, a certain amount of material aid has also gone - clothing, shoes, medical and pharmacy donations, educational materials (determined by the kindness of airline staff and stretched weight allowances!).  Our offerings converted to $Zim go a long way towards practical assistance and helping equipping nationals for ministry in their own countries!

Our church also receives donations from other concerned folks.  These are added to our regular remittances, and everything goes 100% on for use in Southern Africa.  We take care to direct funds specifically to where a donor requests (eg. Sparrows Nest orphanage in Mozambique has received wonderful help from this kind of giving). We pray continually that God will bless and enlarge our storehouse so we can give again and again! Over the months and years ahead!  Our own church has been involved in the outworking of this vision for some years, not only in financing and praying for the program, but sending teachers to be an active part of the Lifeline Ministry Development courses.  See the stop press below for further news on this.

We hope you are inspired to become a Friend of Lifeline too by your visit here!

We ensure every cent given gets forwarded to Africa. Absolutely NO admin. costs are taken out. If you are interested in helping, or contributing, or would like regular updates sent to you, contact us   And we keep a close firsthand eye on where the aid is distributed (something that is more difficult to do in some larger relief organisations where 30%+ normally goes to cover admin costs).  Other collection agencies exist for Lifeline around the world - go to contact details...

Direct any enquiries to newlife@hnlc.org.au.  You can deposit direct by telegraphic transfer into the bank account of Holroyd New Life Church (BSB 062-428,  a/c  2803 1618), but please email us advising what you want done with the donation).

If you're interested in supporting Lifeline in any way, or receiving regular news, contact us at this email address, or call (61) 02-98962514.  Lifeline Southern Africa's Field Director is Loxley Ford.  Loxley works with his wife, Mavis, out of Harare, Zimbabwe.  His e-contact is lifeline@africaonline.co.zw.  

What can we do?
Here's the practical situation right now...

• We can pray.  Pray for peace and stability.  For the ongoing effective witness of the church in Zimbabwe and surrounding nations.  The safety and security of Christian workers (local and foreign).

• We can give - donations of finance are easiest to transport and allocate; plus reasonable quality clothes, shoes, and educational material.  Financing the ongoing work of Lifeline will help ensure the development of the next generation of leaders and workers in the churches of Sthn Africa.  Our giving will also help alleviate the pressure on many people there right now - their needs include food, medical, transport costs, educational helps, etc.  Details on how to give are included above....  

• And some of us can go.  For this aspect, you need to touch base with Brian Rensford regarding the current status of visits and what's required.  Fuel, accommodation, and economic factors are making it very difficult for team visits at present.

CONTACT DETAILS

Reports of various African Lifeline activities follow.
These respect the cultural sensitivities of the regions personnel are active in....  updates over two years old are filed under Older Updates).

Lifeline Online is now available in on the Internet.  It is an attempt to provide basic resource materials from God's word for ministry development - to people unable to travel to places of group lectures and discussions.  Go there and have a look!

Stop Press Summary Updates (under 3 years old)
May 2008 -  communications are proving quite irregular at present, and newsletters have been sporadic (as well as being carefully written).  The latest update (to April 2008) is accessible on the left menu bar.  It's extensive, and makes for very interesting reading.

Meanwhile, despite the uncertainty gripping the region at present, Brian and Peter Brown are booked to go again in June; they value your prayers, as Brian responds to several invitations to conduct Lifeline minsters and leaders' training seminars in several districts.

Domingos Caetano, long-time Lifeline brother and pastor in Nhamatanda, Mozambique has run Sparrows Nest orphanage since 2002.  His wife and partner in ministry, Sister Dorcas, died in March 2008 after several years of long, difficult, and failing health.  Home with Jesus.  Domingos continues looking after (at last report) 56 orphans.  Pray for him...  And the  children.

November 2007 - A second trip was made into Zimbabwe and Mozambique from Sydney for four weeks in Oct/Nov.  Ben Wright, a registered nurse, accompanied Brian and adds his own interesting perspective under the 2007 Trip reports.... The changing face of Lifeline's ministry is reflected in this report.

Ben was able to get into Gweru General Hospital, and establish some connections there that we think will enable us to contribute badly-need medical supplies in the days to come.  Pray God will open the door much, much wider in the Midlands!

June 2007 - In April, Brian and Elizabeth Rensford returned (with Holroyd New Life senior elder, Gavin Watts) for their annual visit to bless the Lifeline-connected leaders and churches.  They took in a special gift for every one of the 55 children at Sparrows' Nest orphanage - founded and run by a long-time Lifeline network brother, Domingos Caetano, in Nhamatanda, Sofala, Moz.  A sister in Sydney works for the world-renowned Wiggles children's entertainers - and they donated an expensive array of merchandise - enough for every child!  More news upon their return home in June...  (Later update - trip updates are now on 2007 trip updates.

2006 Testimony of Netsai Nota, Mkoba, Gweru Lifeline Ministry Training Program student - First and foremost, I would like to thank God for making this Bible study possible.  I would also want to thank Brian, John, and everybody involved in LifeLine ministries.  God equipped you for the work of His purpose, and I have achieved a lot.  Ignorance was between me and the truth, but through your teachings, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I hope this will walk me to the Kingdom of “what is normal”.

May the grace of God be upon you and your families.  I wish you well wherever you go.  Thank you once again in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has no boundaries.  Amen, Netsai Nota.

August 2006 - Brian Rensford and John Doolan returned to Zimbabwe for a concentrated ministry trip to Plumtree (pastors' conference), Bulawayo (ministry training), and Gweru (combined churches leadership over 9 days), then on to Beira in Mozambique.  Meantime, Loxley Ford underwent hospitalisation for peritonitis after his appendix burst.  Thankfully, he was in Harare when it occurred and was able to get quality medical help.  Loxley and Mavis are currently back in the UK for a few weeks.  Keep Loxley in your prayers as he recovers strength.

Loxley had recovered well enough to travel to Mozambique and participate in the greatly increased Ministry Training Program being undertaken by Jeff Wakeman and Anacleto Ferrão.  Loxley and Brian taught 40+ pastors and leaders, and 45 youth leaders in the Saturday seminar, as well as two days of additional sessions with local pastors.  Plenty of room is given in these sessions for questions and comments from local leaders.  They returned to Zimbabwe greatly encouraged by the dedicated ministry being undertaken by the Beira-based members of the extended family of Lifeline.  Good fruit is continually emerging in the maturing churches of Beira / Sofala Province!

Older Stop Press Updates are filed under Older Updates...