Chris Burke
Chris Burke Mission Report – May 2006
CAMPUS MINISTRY 
There is excitement and enthusiasm within the congregation with the solid start to the year. Attendances took their usual New Year drop but have started climbing close to the 60 average. That is good for this time of year and sets us up to reach our goals.
The fact that we were registered with the university as a society and had a presence at the orientation week gave a boost for the year. 29 students signed to join the society. The official launch of the society is on the 6TH May. The launch was delayed because of the procedure that had to be followed according the university rules.
We are also putting money aside for a venue off campus that we intend to have by the end of the year. This will help in keeping and attracting new families to the congregation.
We have been approached to help establish congregations on two other universities in the Johannesburg area. We believe that we would be more effective helping them if we were able to meet off campus.
There have been two baptisms over the past few weeks.
BENONI CHURCH OF CHRIST
We have been delighted to have Ben Lambert working with the youth. He is only here for a few months before continuing his studies ad Freed Hardeman University. We have enjoyed being able to assist him as a family. Daniella and Jessica have helped him pull young people on the fringes or the outside into the youth. Helen has provided the promotional material and hospitality. I have enjoyed sharing my study with him. The big event for the youth was the Roselands Youth Camp. Darrol and Kim Roberts have organized it for 8 years and said that this year was the best. They had help from the Burkes and Lamberts and it lightened their load. It is the first time that they have had so many parents involved in a camp.
They are helping to raise up excellent youth leaders. I am sending some photo’s of the event that will perhaps give an idea of the spirit of the weekend. My talk was ‘This little Light of mine’ and it encapsulated the theme of the camp. It mixed spiritual devotion with physical activity. The latter, beginning with a muddy obstacle course, was effectively designed to have the young people bond together in teams. It is interesting that the older people present on the camp, were impacted in a major way by youth camps and meetings when they were teenagers.
NORTHWEST PROVINCE
David Louw has continued baptizing people and now after being in Wolmaransstad for several years appears to have influenced a change in the congregation. He has baptized many people who have skills in construction and other working class occupations. They thus have profiles that in some ways resemble his own. They are willing workers although few of them desire to participate publicly in worship.
There is still opportunity in places such as Odendaalsrus, Delarayville and a couple more locations near Wolmaransstad.
Isaac has completed four years at Klerksdorp and is seriously considering moving back to Benoni. There are family pressures that he is facing that have prompted this. His parents and his son who remained behind while he worked in Klerksdorp are behind this. I support the move for the sake of his family. He is putting a mission plan together to present to the Benoni elders for a work in this area. Brethren from the church in Wolmaransstad continue the work in Klerksdorp until a replacement is found.
TEACHING
There is always something new waiting to be discovered in Bible study. This semester I have found a rich vein of learning in the miracles of Jesus. It has enhanced my enjoyment in teaching the Life of Christ at the SA Bible College.
FAMILY
Our girls are each at a different school this year and each of them is doing very well in their studies. I am grateful to have self motivated children and to be blessed with a wonderful wife.
THANKS
We give thanks to God for all of you at Hillsboro and for the way our lives have been impacted because of our relationship with you.