News Letter!

Wishing everyone a great start to the new year!

This is our first newsletter and we will be sending one out quarterly to keep you updated.

We registered with CIPC, (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission), and submitted our application for PBO registration to SARS. This allows companies who donate to us to get tax deductions – we are currently waiting for feedback from SARS. We are very grateful for the people that are already faithfully donating each month.

We setup our website, Facebook page and Instagram profile. Please share this with as many people to grow our likes -see the details in the footer.

Last year, our key focus was getting to know organisations and NPO’s in Port Elizabeth, as well as contacting similar organisations and NPO’s across the country, to build relationships, and to learn from their experiences. We also started structuring the program and necessary documents.

The following organisations have been wonderful in showing us what they do, their challenges, strategies, and even sharing resources:

• Vistarus Mission Station
• Maranatha Street Workers Trust
• Bet Sheekoom – House of Restoration
• Heart for Alternatives Pregnancy Crisis Centre
• Penuel Baby Home
• Sharon’s House
• BEFSA (Borien Educational Foundation for Southern Africa)
• Suzanne’s Ministries
• Sakhi and Vera – An ex prostitute and gang leader who are now serving the Lord
• Ronnie and Sean from MES (Mould, Empower, Serve)
• Yokhuselo Haven

Many like minded ministries and NPO’s around the country have been a wealth of knowledge and encouragement to us. The more we speak to people, the more we realise how huge the need is.

We are excited to announce our board members, a diverse group of caring people, with many years of experience helping people in various capacities:

DESERE HECK     (BSc.    HDE     Hns. Psych)

I am the owner of Petals Designer Florist and Gift Shop. God gave me the vision of Beauty from Ashes, Diamonds from Dust nearly 8 years ago. I was involved in teaching and pastoral care of at-risk children in very challenging inner city London schools. I have been ministering to women through discipleship, mentoring and upskilling for the last 12 years. I am also part of the NMBJC.

DAVID PRETORIUS   

Before joining Petals Designer Florist and Gift Shop as Office Manager, I worked in finances and management in the telecommunications industry. I have been involved in ministry for the last 35 years, mostly in leadership, teaching and pastoral care. My heart is for vulnerable people suffering injustices, and as a result I am part of the NMBJC and want to be part of Beauty from Ashes, Diamonds from Dust.

TEBOHO MATSELA

My name is Teboho Matsela, or Tebby as commonly referred to. I am married to Faith and we have 5 grown up kids. I used to be an administrator in the Department of Health and am currently a wound and stoma product specialist for Hartmann Hollister. I am a deacon and community leader at Oxygen Life Church and I love the Lord and His people. I am an ex-soccer player and love to fish in my spare time.

BARDINE HALL     (Admitted Attorney and Conveyancer, BA LLB.)

I have worked in the legal sector for the past 25 years, but throughout this time I have served in my local church in various capacities. I would like to get involved and support projects that reach out to vulnerable and abused women and provide them with physical, emotional and spiritual support.

BARRY HALL

I am an engineer by trade and have been in manufacturing in various positions for the past 28 years. I have also been involved in our local church in different forms of service for the past 18 years. I want to be part of something where people in distress can experience the safety, protection, love and care that God provides, getting to know the truth of His character.

CHRISTELLE NEL

My husband and I have been in ministry for 17 years and have 3 daughters. We are from Beaufort West and moved to Port Elizabeth in 2014. It has always been my passion, since I started in ministry, to make a change in others’ lives, specifically those in desperate situations, outcasts of society and the less fortunate. We started our ministry with a few hungry children in a very poor rural area and it grew in to a church, so I believe nothing is impossible for God, He just needs a willing heart.

SHAUN CALLAGHAN

I currently run my own business. I have a heart for the lost to come to Christ, in a genuine, permanent and life changing way. I want to be in God’s will in everything I do, and want to be used in my life where God sees fit to use me for and in His eternal plans. I’ve been involved in church leadership, worship and serving. I have also been and am currently involved in the SGB for schools.

MAC HAYWARD     (L.TH,  B.TH,  BA,  BA Hon,  MA,  D.Min,  Phd)

I have been a pastor in the Full Gospel Church for the past 49 years. Part of my ministry has been on the missions board for 40 years and the chairman of the board for the past five years. I was also a chaplain for 33 years working with broken, hurting and vulnerable people. I have compassion for the lost, the hurting, the broken of society and that is my motivation for being part of Beauty from Ashes Diamonds from Dust.

Our focus this year is going to be about raising awareness and raising funds.

Our prayer requests:

• Wisdom and direction as we plan for the next stage of our journey
• Sars to provide us with our PBO certificate
• Funding
• Finding a property
• Opportunities to share

We look forward to what this year holds and we’re excited to see where the Lord leads us.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on how you can get involved, or if you would like to meet to find out more about the ministry.

With much love,

The Beauty from Ashes, Diamonds from Dust Team