Simunye Apostolic Ministries - Introduction

"Simunye Apostolic Ministries" (SAM) is the name of an emerging Apostolic/ Prophetic Administration which is growing and developing out of Westville Christian Fellowship.

At present there are a number of Churches who relate under the banner of SAM. These Churches are in Chatsworth, Phoenix, Esikhawini, Ulundi, Durban, Clermont, Matubatuba, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, USA and Switzerland.

• There is a Presbytery of Elders from some of these local Churches who meet about every 3 months.
• There is also a fledgling group called the "Order of the Nabhi" (A School of the Prophets) which draws on people from WCF as well as some of the other relating Churches.

Mozambique

Peter van Niekerk and WCF have been working with a man of God (Joaquim Mahlalela) since 1986. Joaquim is currently living with his family in Swaziland, yet continues to work with a network of Churches in Mozambique (Maputo, Xai-Xai, Chibuto, Inharrime etc).

Over the years, there have been a variety of people who have worked alongside Joaquim and the Mozambiquan Churches (Ted Kent, Peter van Niekerk) and SWAT Teams that have gone in once a year to spend time with these Churches.

In 2002, Peter, Sandy and Hannah Watt were sent out to be based in Xai-Xai with a view to working more closely with these Churches. During the 6-month period they were there, they worked with Joaquim and the local Churches and acquired a piece of land where they have built a home which will become a base for the continued work in the future.

Zimbabwe

One of the key "pillars" of the vision statement of WCF is to send out ministry teams to equip and strengthen existing Churches and to plant Churches where none exist. One of the outworkings of this vision has been the planting of a local Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, called Harare Christian Fellowship (HCF).

In August 2003 HCF reached a key milestone in its life as a local Church when Charles Munichepiri (his wife Ebeth to our great sadness went ot be with the Lord on 10 October 2005) were set in as elders in the local Church.

Africa 2020

Arising out of SWAT Team trip to Mozambique in 1998, there was an evident need for further support to be going to Joaquim Mahlalela in Mozambique. At that point Joaquim was covering large distances and ministering to various Churches, and was using public transport to get to all these places. At other times, where there was no transport, Joaquim needed to walk long distances for the work of the ministry.

It was felt that as a local Church, we should start an initiative which would seek to raise funds - initially to purchase a vehicle for Joaquim; but further, to provide ongoing and more specific support towards the establishing and support of the Churches in Africa (eg bicycles for Pastors who need to travel in areas where there is no public transport).

Africa 2020 is based on a vision that WCF/SAM has for Africa to look like in the year 2020. This provides a point of reference and hope for the people to hold in their minds regarding the future.