Mark Parris

Location: Durbanville, South Africa

Timeline: On-going

Status: Currently operating

Topics: Pastoral ministry

The Need

Africa is gripped by conflict and political unrest. As secular forces grapple for power, South Africa experiences the rise of the devastation of sin.  As the Bible promises, the results of sin are devastation, and this can be seen clearly in South Africa in the common occurrence of racism, abortion, abandonment of children, devaluation of life, ruined lives, broken families and HIV/AIDS to name a few.   It is into this context that God’s people were called to lead lives that demonstrate and declare the Good News.  But believers must be equipped to do so, and have a place where they can do so in community. 

The Description

Mark Parris is the pastor of Durbanville Community Church in Durbanville, South Africa. Their work is to disciple and equip each member of their church from before they believe to training them in specific ministry skills so that all God’s people can be effective in living out the gospel in every area of life.  As they do this, they have found it necessary to help people recover from brokenness, such as sexual addiction, depression, and eating disorders so that they can be changed by the power of the gospel and live like people who are indeed free from the power of sin.

Goals

1. See unbelievers come to faith and be discipled to live lives that demonstrate and declare the gospel through being a body of people that is a blessing to their community.
2. Disciple and equip believers to use the capacities God has created them with to build and further Jesus’ Kingdom.

Needs

1. Prayer support as they attack strongholds of the enemy in the lives of the multi-generational and multi-racial South Africans of the Western Cape.
2. Wisdom and guidance as Mark and Cindy empower their “flock” to reach out and give a home to the many Western Cape orphans and abandoned children.
3. Funding to build facilities which would allow the body to tell the Story of Jesus better and serve the community in deeper and more loving ways.