Team Introductions

Abiola 

(On left in photo)

I moved to Boston for school and began attending Park Street back in 2009.  I first became interested in South African prison ministry in the fall of 2012, when Andrew May came to Park Street to share about his work during the missions conference that year.  Ever since, I heard his story, I knew I wanted to be a part of that good work — to share the good news of hope and reconciliation to men rejected by society.  I’m looking forward to returning this summer to the same corrections facility as last year, to continue our work.

When I’m not hanging around Park Street, I’m usually developing software at a technology startup in the area, volunteering at my old college or at an elementary school in East Cambridge, or baking pies, tarts, and other treats.

Tatiana 

(In center of photo)

Hello, and thank you so much for your interest in our trip! I am a full time college student currently working towards the goal of moving to a developing country and working to make better future for the most vulnerable children in the world. Orphans and disabled kids have an extra special place in my heart. I have been on short term trips to Vietnam, Myanmar, and China to help kids during my school breaks. This trip is something totally new. I have never been to the continent of Africa, or even the southern hemisphere. I have also never been involved in prison ministry. However, after hearing about the ministry from Andrew and Anne May, who will be our leaders, I knew this was something I wanted to participate in, if only for a short time.

In the Bible, at the end of Matthew 25, Jesus describes one group of people as blessed by God and another as cursed by Him. The difference between groups is not theology, or a prayer prayed, it is concrete actions done (or left undone) to help "the least of these". One of the listed actions was visiting people in prison. Prison ministry is not something I feel like I am especially gifted for. I do not expect to be unusually good at it, or to come away deciding to dedicate my life to prison ministry, especially since as I already said I intend to reach out to children. So why go? Because visiting people in prison is something that Jesus said people who love God will do. Because there are men in South African prisons who have said that they want to learn about justice, that they want to grapple with the results of their crimes, and they want to try to mend relationships they betrayed, and they need more people to help walk them through that. I can go. I can listen. I can share. I can be vulnerable with them and help to provide a safe space for their vulnerability. I have the time, and a desire to help as much as I can. Know that you too can join us in helping them by praying, encouraging us, and/or helping us with the financial aspect of the trip. We are the actual bodies that will be in South Africa, but we could never do this alone, we would not even try. So thank you again!

 Tom

(On right in photo)

As a little boy, I went church every Sunday. However, as I got older, I lost my way with God, and had a lot more personal losses in my life. So I turned to drinking. Which got me into trouble. I was ordered to attend AA meetings, and of all the Boston locations I had to chose from, I picked Park Street Church. The very first time I went to the meeting, something was different in my heart. It took a little while for it to hit me that it was never the meeting, it was the grace of God, and the Holy Spirit which had been placing the spirit of the LORD deep in my heart. The same night I realized it, I told Him "Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. AMEN”Now, one of my main goals is to help people enjoy life as much as possible. I take life seriously, but I know when to have fun and like to bring my sense of humor into as many conversations as I can. One of my challenges in South Africa will be keeping my sarcasm in check.

For the last few years I have felt the Lord tugging at my heart to go on a short-term mission trip, but it is intimidating. This year, I took a step of faith and signed up to go to South Africa.

One exciting opportunity I have is to share my testimony with the inmates. It includes God’s healing work in many areas - including my alcohol addiction of over fifteen years.  What I get to share with the guys, is that at the time of the trip, I will be celebrating 17 years of continuous sobriety.

Please pray that all my interactions are filled with the love of Jesus and that I give my testimony in a way that also communicates God’s love and brings encouragement. Knowing that you are praying for me is very important.

Thank you for considering being a part of our mission of restorative justice in the prisons of South Africa!

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"

Prayer Points:

• That all the preparation work we should be doing, we will do. One particular task we have is reading some books about restorative justice, cross cultural ministry, and being useful on short term trips. Please pray that we all have the time to finish reading them, and that we absorb the information to be more useful on the field.
• Please pray for soft hearts among the team, among our partners in South Africa, and among the inmates. The most valiant efforts on our part will be useless if the men are not ready.
• Please pray for physical, mental, and emotional protection. This is challenging work that will only be more difficult if we go into it over tired, emotionally burnt out, with a cold or flu, or with minds that wonder instead of focusing on the men before us.
• Pray that we will be an encouragement to the long term workers, especially Andrew and Anne. We will pour ourselves out for just over two weeks, they do it for months and years at a time.

If you wish to give financial support you can do so here. Select "STM South Africa" from the drop down menu, and then you may put one of our names in the memo, or you can leave it blank and we will allocate where it is most needed.