South Africa

Overview

South Africa is the most diverse nation in Africa, encompassing a vast array of cultures and languages. Along with South Africa's population from black African ancestry (80 percent), the country hosts Africa's largest communities of people from European, Asian, and multiethnic descent. Its constitution recognizes eleven official languages: two from European origins (English and Afrikaans, a derivative of Dutch) and nine from indigenous Bantu origins. South Africa's landscape is just as diverse, containing everything from dry deserts, to high mountains, to lush coastlands, with typical African wildlife populating this dramatic scenery. The diversity is also seen in the gulf between its classes. Although South Africa has the largest economy and the fifth highest per capita income in Africa, almost 25 percent of its population lives in abject poverty, surviving on less than $1.25 per day. Multiplying the complexity of the nation, South Africa's democratic government is housed in three separate capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), and Cape Town (legislative).

The South African government permits freedom of religion, and in recent years, the country's emphasis on diversity has taken on pluralistic overtones in elevating non-Christian faiths such as Islam, Hinduism, and ethnic African religions. In spite of these relatively new developments, plus older issues like the lingering effects of apartheid, the church in South Africa has a rich history of mission endeavors throughout all of Africa and even the world. Biblical Christianity remains vital and strong in some places and continues to be an influential force in South Africa. Doctrinal, racial, and spiritual unity are needed, though, for a Church with the great mission challenges that come with living in a post-Christian society.

                                                               Sources: Wikipedia, Joshua Project, and Operation World

HeartCry Missionaries

Mario Maneville

Pastor – Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa

Mario has been serving as an elder at Reformed Faith Mission Community Church in Cape Town, South Africa, since 2013. RFMCC was initially planted by Mario's ... read more

Quinton Maneville

Pastor – Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa

Quinton started Reformed Faith Mission Community Church in 2010 in the neighborhood where he grew up.  His brother, Mario, came to help him in 2013 ... read more

Richard Raven

Church Planter – Bloemfontein, South Africa

After studying engineering at the University of Pretoria, Richard later went on to study pastoral and theological studies at London Theological Seminary. He and his family ... read more

Tsholofelo Kukuni

Pastoral Assistant – Bloemfontein, South Africa

Tsholofelo serves as a pastoral assistant with HeartCry missionary Richard Raven at Hope Bible Church in Bloemfontein, South Africa... read more 

Chris Mnguni

Church Planter – Daveyton, South Africa

Chris is a graduate of Christ Seminary in Polokwane and is Zulu in ethnic heritage. He and his wife, Happy, are planting Grace Baptist Church in Daveyton, a township in... read more

Bheki Bembe

Pastor – Olieven, Centurion, South Africa

Bheki Bembe is the pastor of Sovereign Grace Bible Church in Olieven, a township of Centurion on the northern side of Johannesburg.  For years, Bheki has sacrificially ... read more

Former HeartCry Missionaries

Dave Webster

Church Planter – Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Living Hope Baptist Church began as a church plant out of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Durban, South Africa from the individuals commuting to Durban from ... read more

Andrew Zekveld

Pastor – Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

In June 2015, Andrew became the primary preaching pastor at Living Hope Baptist Church in Pietermaritzburg, taking over for former HeartCry missionary Dave ... read more