Author Archives: The Coffeys

Coffey Family August 2014 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • Our first church plant the 1st of Sept.
  • Right location for the new church
  • Souls saved & faithful men
  • Our language learning.  We still have a long way to go.  Starting the new church will definitely push us more in the right direction.

More Highlights

  • Amy and I sang our first Xhosa special together.  It’s actually the first of any song we have every sang as a duo together:)  To see the video you can go to Facebook.
  • Intern Bethany Staley, has decided to stay for six months instead of just two.
  • My son Chase preached his 1st message

Needs  

  • $600 for Gospel Tracts and Invitation cards
  • Pulpit, Sign, Overhead Projector, and a small trailer for the new church plant.
  • Approx. $7000 needed to build the first building for New Life Baptist Church.  $3300 has come in so far.
  • Still looking for land for Wells Estates Baptist.  We have $5500 for this need but will probably need $6000 more.

The time has come for Amy and I to step out and start our own church.  Over the past year, we have been privileged to assist in the three churches that Missionary Kevin Hall and his team have started, while attending language school.  We will definitely continue to have a part in these churches as well, but in September, Amy and I are diving in to start our own church.  Although we have a long way to go in the language, we believe this new church plant will help up grow by leaps and bounds.  

This past week, we made the first purchase for the church.  We were able to get 40 black chairs for under $5 a piece.  I would like to purchase more of these chairs if anyone is interested in helping.  This is the best price we’ve ever seen on chairs and the sale ends Sept. 30th.  

There are three areas we are praying about starting the church in right now: Walmer, Greenbushes, and Seaview.  Seaview is a smaller area and would probably be ideal to start a Bible study or 2nd church plant at the same time we are working in one of the other areas.  

Please be in prayer.  We only have a few weeks to nail down the area and find a place to start holding church services if we want to start in September.  We are hoping to find a small store front or school to rent.  The areas we are considering are on the opposite side of the city from where the other churches are located, and have had very little outreach from a Bible preaching ministry.  

July 2014 Coffey Family Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • For our two college interns that will be here until August.
  • That we find the right piece of land for Wells Estates Baptist Church
  • For Amy and I to learn the Xhosa language
  • Bible studies to go well for Pastor Sipho at Kwadwesi (location of the new church plant) – Over 20 professions of faith so far

Highlights

  • Many were saved during the youth conferences and children’s crusades this past month
  • Missionaries Stephen & Ashley Underwood came for their survey trip.
  • My son Tyler preached his 1st message

Needs  

  • $500-$1000 for Gospel Tracts
  • Approx. $8-10,000 needed to build the first building for New Life Baptist Church
  • Still looking for land for Wells Estates Baptist.  We have $5500 for this need but will probably need $6000 more.
  • Around the same amount of $8-10,000 is needed for Wells Estate’s building.

June 23rd marked the one year anniversary of my family arriving here in Port Elizabeth.  It’s been a terrific year of learning a new culture, city, and part of the language.  This year has flown by, but we’re even more excited about what’s ahead.  

We just finished up hosting two groups and from the states.  Pastor Tony Howeth and his gang from Newton Baptist Church in Covington, GA were a great blessing during the Youth Conferences in June.  His preaching and teaching were a great help to the young people.  

The group from Calvary Baptist Church in Hiawassee, GA  and our two college interns worked tirelessly during our children crusades.  There were over 30 professions of faith with over 600 different children in attendance between the 2 day meetings at each of the churches.  

As much as all of our guest have been a blessing to us, we do pray there time here on the mission field will make a life long impact in their lives.  Our heart and desire it to help people find their place in getting the Gospel to the world.  The need for labourers, not only here but around the world, is still great.  We pray the Lord will use this ministry to help raise up more of those labourers. 

Coffey Family May 2014 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • That we find the right piece of land for Wells Estates Baptist Church
  • For Amy and I to learn the language
  • For two of the pastors we are helping go full time:  Pastor Thami & Pastor Ntobeko
  • For our missions teams coming in June and July

Highlights

  • All travel expenses of our trip back to the states were covered.  It was exciting seeing how God provided.
  • Land found and purchased for New Life Baptist Church in Kwadwesi.  Hoping to begin construction on the building this month.
  • Back to language school- It’s amazing  how much Xhosa a person can forget in month.

Needs

  • Approx. $8,000 needed to build the first building for New Life Baptist Church
  • Still looking for land for Wells Estates Baptist.  We have $5500 for this need but will probably need $6000 more.
  • Around the same amount of $8000 will be needed for Wells Estates Baptist Church.

We arrived back to South Africa on May 21st after a month of funerals in the states.  Please continue to pray for my family as we are still dealing with the losses.  

It is great to be home and back in the middle of everything. 

In the first week back, Pastor Sipho found a nice piece of land for the new church, and we were able to buy that within a few days.

Our next land search is for Wells Estates Baptist.  They’ve been asked to find a new location and could be told to vacate the premises any day.  We have some options but need your prayers for wisdom and the remaining finances. (Continue reading below)

With the purchase of permanent property comes the need for a permanent building.  We are having building plans drawn up that we are hoping to use for all the new churches.  This will help us better know the cost for future building projects and save us from having to pay for new building plans each time.  The layout includes a small prophet’s chamber for the pastor’s family, an Auditorium that will hold about 80 people, bathrooms, and 3 Sunday school rooms.  Above is our rough draft we believe will cost around $8000.  

Land!

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We arrived home yesterday after a long month of being in the states.  Actually, I was the only one in the states for a month, but my family joined me for the last 2 weeks.  The Lord blessed in an incredible way during our time.  Individuals and churches went above and beyond helping our family during the difficult time of losing our grandparents.

As I started language school again today, I was definitely regretting being away so long.  My brain was locking up, and it was difficult remembering some of the basics of Xhosa.  No worries though! I believe we will be back to normal in a few days.

After about 8 months of planning, working, and searching, I was surprised today by news from one of the pastors.  Pastor Sipho Bonga located a piece of property for the new church, and was able to get the papers signed for the purchase.  He secured the property price which after lawyer fees will be around $8700.  It was great welcoming news to say the least.

We were hoping to start this church back in February, but because of the difficulty to find property, or even a place to rent, we kept moving the startup date.  Lord willing, after this week, we will be able to make a more educated guess to when that will be.

The money has come in for the purchase of this property, but we are still in need of money to build.  The first building which will include a small auditorium and a prophet’s chamber for the pastor and his family will be around $6000.  Pray this comes in soon.  We have enough to get started, but won’t be able to advance without more assistance.

Coffey Family April 2014 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • Our family, as we are dealing with the loss of 3 close loved ones in the past 9 days
  • Safety for our family as we travel to and from South Africa
  • New Life Baptist Church- We were hoping to have an Easter service, but still haven’t obtained a place to start.
  • Extra unexpected expenses for traveling

Highlights

  • My grandmother went to be with the Lord on Easter morning.  I was on a plane to the US 6 hours after hearing the news.
  • Allison Clapp, a close family friend, went to be with the Lord on April 28th.
  • Amy’s grandfather went to be with the Lord on April 29th,  Amy is flying from South Africa with the kids this week.
  • Missionaries Brent & Selina Bergey arrived in PE for their survey trip.  They plan to start an orphanage in the next few years.

On Easter morning I received a phone call from my mom from the states, and immediately knew my grandmother had passed away.  She had suffered a brain aneurism a week earlier and we were told it was just a matter of time.  My cousin Kevin Hall and I caught a plane and flew back to the states for the service.  

A week later, we received very unexpected news of a dear lady from our home church passing away, Mrs. Allison Clapp.  Mrs. Allison was like a second mom to my two older boys, Tyler & Chase, especially since the loss of their mother a little over a year ago.  

Thinking the hardest of the news was over, yesterday as I was walking into Hamilton Medical Center to see my wife’s grandfather before his surgery, my father-in-law let me know that “Pappy” was already gone.   

As I spoke with my wife, who was still in South Africa, we weren’t sure what to do.  With neither of us wanting to leave the kids in South Africa without a parent, we decided to have them all fly back to the states to attend the funeral.  They will arrive on May 2nd, and we are all set to fly back to South Africa on May 19th.  

Today, Chase, our second to the oldest, is having wires removed from his ankle from his break last month, and tomorrow, May 1st , Amy and the kids jump on a plane to head this way.  Please pray all goes well, and please continue to pray for our family during this time.

Coffey Family March 2014 Prayer Letter

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Last week, Missionary Kevin Hall, taught on the priority of training and mentoring during our weekly Sunday afternoon Bible Institute Class.  With about 15 guys sitting around the tables, my heart was stirred thinking about the potential these young guys could make here in South Africa.  I’m grateful I have the opportunity to work with like minded missionaries who know that trained young men are the future of any great work that will be accomplished here in South Africa.

God is growing our South Africa team.  Jason and Ashley King from Victory Baptist Church in Loganville, GA started deputation for South Africa this past month.  Jason was one of the guys who went with me on the mission trip to South Africa in 2011 that lead to my decision to come to South Africa.  It’s neat to see how God brings things together.  Please pray this great family will be able to get to the field soon.

Please continue praying for our tract distribution.  Great contacts have been made every week.  We are almost out of the 10,000 tracts we had printed so another order will be needed soon.  We will continue trying to find a more economical way to print them.

The kids are extra happy to have my mom with us this month.  I’m glad she was able to get away for a couple of weeks for a visit.

Prayer Request

  • For Amy and I to learn the Xhosa language
  • Location, location, location.  We need a location to start New Life Baptist.  It has proven much more difficult to find a place to meet in the higher class part of the township.  We’re hoping to have the first service no later than Easter morning.
  • Summer Mission trips and internships to be fruitful
  • Opportunity of another new church plant may become available this next month.

Highlights

  • Someone willing to match up to $3800 to purchase land for Wells Estates Baptist- $1000 already committed.
  • My 14 year old, Chase, broke his ankle during the first day of Rugby tryouts.  One pin and two wires later….
  • ProjectSouthAfrica.com website & blog are back on line.  I apologize for the delay.  Thanks to my Brother-in-law, Trent Cornwell for helping me get it back on line.

Need

  • I plan on purchasing a small pickup truck in the next few months for around $5000.