Serving Christ by sharing His news
“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” — Luke 1:1-4 (NIV)
Just as in Luke’s time, people need to hear “an orderly account” of what God is doing in other areas. Everyone has stories of what God is doing in his or her life, and it both glorifies Him and encourages the body when we share those stories with others.
That’s why I (Brian) serve Christ as a media coordinator for SIM’s Southern Africa Service Centre, which provides administrative services to missionaries in ten fields*. I gather and publish stories about Southern African people, their hopes and needs, and the projects and missionaries seeking to help them, as well as stories about South Africans serving as missionaries to other peoples. Sometimes, I interview people and write their stories, and other times, I help missionaries tell their own stories by editing their submissions to SIM publications.
Most of my work is done remotely from an office in our home, but I also travel to visit missionaries serving throughout Southern Africa. A Canadian colleague has also served in this role but is on home assignment. We will work together, each of us best utilizing our strengths, once she and her family return to Johannesburg.
As a stateside missionary, I also meet with people and churches to encourage them to participate in missionary work, whether directly or by supporting others through prayer, financial contributions, practical help, and encouragement. Additionally, part of each day includes continued study in such subjects as Bible, missions, professional skills, history, culture, language.
* The SASC provides services to workers in Angola 🇦🇴, Botswana 🇧🇼, Madagascar 🇲🇬, Malawi 🇲🇼, Mauritius 🇲🇺, Mozambique 🇲🇿, Namibia 🇳🇦, Réunion 🇷🇪, Zambia 🇿🇲, and Zimbabwe 🇿🇼.
Tracy’s role
When we returned to the United States, Tracy resumed her work as a physician assistant, which she had missed while we lived in Cape Town. She now works full-time for an oncology practice and occasionally in a local hospital’s emergency room. She enjoys her work and views it as another way to show God’s love to others and help them through difficult times. Many times, people she’s helped have told me how much her skills, knowledge, and caring blessed them or a loved one.
The Heffron Family 