We were delighted to read the latest newsletter from Growing the Church, which oversees the ministry of Rooted in Jesus in South Africa. Training has been provided in the Diocese of Natal for Sunday School teachers who will use Rooted in Jesus Junior to disciple childen, and in the Diocese of Cape Town for lay preachers who will use the adult programme. And there is an encouraging report from those using Rooted in Jesus in Zulu in the Diocese of Pretoria.

Saying goodbye

On a more sombre note, we would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Ven Hectorina Tsotetse Motsetse, member of the Growing the Church Board and a national Rooted in Jesus trainer in South Africa, who died unexpectedly last month. Hectorina was a a faithful and fruitful minister both in her local Diocese of Free State and more widely, and a tireless advocate for Rooted in Jesus. She was an early adopter of Rooted in Jesus in her own parish of Bernard the Martyr in Eastern Free State, and during the Covid lockdown she pioneered new groups meeting outdoors in villages where people had no internet access and felt very isolated from their church communities. Hectorina was a valued member of the team which introduced Rooted in Jesus to the Diocese of Gambella in Ethiopia, and was looking forward to helping provide further training in Mozambique later this year.

Hectorina leading a workshop at the RinJ conference, Diocese of Gambella

Hectorina will be sorely missed by her family and by the many people with whom she has shared the life-saving message of the gospel. Here, far away, we are hugely grateful for all she has brought to Rooted in Jesus.

‘May light perpetual shine upon her and may she rest in peace and rise in glory with Jesus’ – Bishop Tsietsi Eleonane and Revd Bruce Woolley.

Posted 28th April 2022

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by the Mathetes Trust. In South Africa it is directed by Revd Bruce Woolley and supported by Growing the Church, which is based in Cape Town.