Our Home in Pennireef

Dear Team,

The name of our little home in Cape Town is Pennireef. Why Pennireef? Well, first of all it’s unique. The “pen” in Pennireef is for the writing I have long wanted to get on with. A “reef” according to Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary is, “a ridge of rocks or sand, often of coral debris, at or near the surface of the water” – a refuge for sea life. Cape Town is a peninsular city between two oceans – Atlantic and Indian. We live just two miles (as the crow flies) from the sea.

Secondly, I like the name. I made it up.

Harriett enjoys hosting friends for dinner at Pennireef. Last month Kjell Olsen and Peter Rice from KwaSizabantu together with Greg Denysschen and Christo van Eden from Jivannadi Mission were in Cape Town for a Christian Broadcasters Convention. We had a wonderful evening together.

Having lived for 25 years with our family scattered through four countries on three continents and in two hemispheres, separated by continents and oceans from our children and grandchildren, the Lord has now let us live within 2 miles of our four youngest grandchildren. Believe me, they are a part of our ministry. We praise God for the opportunity to have a positive influence in their formative years.

It's great to be grandparents! I got a phone call the other morning from Christopher, “Grandpa, my tooth is loose!” I drove over immediately to his house with my “tools.” Putting the basket on the table in front of him, I proceeded to unload my hammer and some surgical Kelly's Harriett had provided, but when I pulled out my Gerber pliers his eyes got really BIG. “I don't think we'll need those Grandpa!” he said nervously. We didn't. The tooth was all ready for Grandpa to gently remove, and he got a big hug for bravely cooperating. See what you've got to look forward to! Some of you already know.

At my venerable age its wonderful to have a viable preaching ministry, especially to youth. It always amazes me that young people in Africa, hungry for the Word, will listen intently to an old man share his faith and experience of God. Good reports are still coming in from the Summit Conference where 32 precious souls fully surrendered to the Lord. Many delegates expressed a desire to “Prepare for ministering in non-Christian countries, particularly to convert Muslims to Christ.” Jesus is the only Way.

Yours in His grip,





Bill Bathman

P.S. Next month we have meetings in Eastern Europe.