FAQs

Q: What Missions Agency are you with?

A: We are not with a traditional Missions Agency. The bases a Missions Agency typically covers are covered in our case between our sending church (Bethel Grace Baptist), our receiving church (Living Hope), the ministry we’ll be working with (1Hope), and a Missions Facilitator ministry (Shepherd’s Staff).

Q: Who has affirmed your calling to this ministry?

A: The elders of our sending church, Bethel Grace Baptist, have affirmed our calling to this ministry (for a letter of commendation from the Bethel Grace elders and information about the church, see here). Also, Josh and Marda Mack of 1Hope have invited us to minister with them (for more about them, see here).

Q: What accountability, oversight, and counsel will you have?

A: On the field, we will have the direct oversight, accountability, and counsel of Josh and Marda Mack of 1Hope (for more about them, see here). From afar, we will have the oversight, accountability, and counsel of the Bethel Grace elders (for more about Bethel Grace, see here).

Donovan also has good relationships with a number of pastors within an hour of where we will be based – men he has received wise and helpful counsel from many times before (including help as we’ve been preparing for ministry in South Africa).

Q: What regular fellowship and encouragement will you have in South Africa?

A: We will be a part of Living Hope church and will be in regular fellowship with this family of believers (for more about Living Hope, see here).

Q: Who will handle all the administration surrounding you being sent as missionaries?

A: Shepherd’s Staff Missions Facilitators is a ministry that comes alongside local churches and enables them to send out missionaries by taking care of the many administrative aspects involved and offering their counsel and support wherever needed. You can learn more about their ministry here.

Q: Are financial gifts to your ministry tax deductible?

A: Yes, they are. For more information about giving please see here.

Q: Will you be doing anything to facilitate South African orphans being adopted in the U.S.A.?

A: Currently, the South African government is only allowing one “channel” for adoptions to the U.S.A – through a partnership between one South African agency and Bethany Christian Services in the U.S.A. If it becomes possible for us to facilitate international adoptions in the future, we’d love to do so.

Q: When will you begin serving in South Africa?

A: We hope to arrive in South Africa on May 30, 2012.