David Bester (with family below) recently graduated from TMAI’s school in South Africa. During his studies, God shaped his heart and transformed his ambitions. He wrote the note below as a way of saying thank you—for all your support:
“At the start of my seminary journey, I expected to complete a year or two so that I might be better equipped to serve as a lay minister in a church one day. However, I was still set on pursuing my career as a charted management accountant.
Six months into my first year, I knew the Lord was calling me into full-time ministry. I obeyed. The Lord exposed my heart through exposing me to His word. Although it is possible for me to glorify God in secular employment, I am convinced that the Lord wants me to dedicate my life to tending His flock.”
“[TMAI] has impacted my ministry by giving me a greater confidence in God’s word, improved clarity of expression, and a heart that cares for struggling believers and the lost.
I witnessed the Gospel transforming my heart and conduct, through living every day by faith in Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Through the Biblical counseling modules, I learned how to lovingly apply God’s truth to lives in a way that deals with sin and suffering. My confidence in God’s word increased as I saw the truth of 2 Tim 3:16 put on flesh in the lives of individual believers and their specific struggles.
Through the practical preaching modules, I learned communication skills through the sharpening feedback of my lecturers and fellow brothers. Today, I aim at the heart in all of my preaching, shooting for simplicity and clarity instead of alliteration…
Through interaction with Gospel-centered lecturers and literature, I saw the centrality of the Gospel not only for justification in Christ, but also for sanctification in Christ. I witnessed the Gospel transforming my heart and conduct, through living every day by faith in Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20). As a result, I have a passion for showing others the place of the Gospel, whether the lost or believers.
Thank you TMAI for investing in the kingdom.”
May you be encouraged to know that your every investment in TMAI makes an impact on the mission field. Stories like these make our teams all the more excited to continue investing in godly men like David. And with new TMAI schools now on the horizon, we’re eager to see who else He will change.
Please continue to pray with us that God would use His word to shape the hearts of His shepherds, and if you would like to come alongside us financially in support of our developing schools, please know you can do so by clicking HERE.
