we are Ben and Bronwyn Harvey and we have two boys Elijah (2011) and Judah (2013). We are preparing to move to South Africa, to work with disadvantage children and work in church based ministries.
About Us
Ben grew up in Blaxland attending John Wycliff Christian School (1990-2000). He then left school to begin a trade as a chef which he completed in late 2004. Through a work colleague he came to know Christ in 2005 and his passion for the Church, the Word and mission was instant. He left the hospitality industry and began working in disability were he currently works. Bron grew up on the Northern Beaches and has been heavily involved in church through children and youth based ministry. She is in the final stages of a primary school education degree.
We married in 2010 and have since had two boys Elijah (2011) and Judah (2013). Ben began full time Bible College at SMBC and completed a BTh in 2013. During this time we were privileged to be apart of a new church plant in the city with the A29 network, before taking up a student minister position at Earlwood Presbyterian Church. After college we move back to Blaxland were we will now reside until we move overseas.
We have a real desire to do mission as a family, working with disadvantaged children and church based theological education. These desires have been confirmed through our training, but most of all from meeting the children and people that we will be working with and along side of, in February 2014.
What will our roles be?
Our roles can simply be defined as discipleship and teaching, where we will be working with Lambano Children's sanctuary, and Wychwood baptist church. Lambano's mission statement is to accept into their care abandoned and orphaned children affected by HIV and to provide them with a caring Christian environment where they will be nurtured and cared for physically, emotionally, and spiritually, with unconditional love. Wychwood has as their statement, ,"being discipled and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.,". These two statement provide the framework that we will be operating within, which allows us to have a number of different roles and responsibilities, from being parents to the children, to assisting with the children's physical, educational and future needs. To preaching, teaching and discipleship within church based ministries.
About the Country
South Africa is an amazing place, which truly is a privilege to be able to serve there. In many ways the culture is similar to Australia, but with a great deal of added security. High level's of unemployment, have led to high level's of crime and children being neglected. The hospital system in Johannesburg is quite different from here in Australia, where children are not taken care of in the same way they are here, even sometimes in the simplest of ways. Lambano Sanctuary's hospice is the first of its kind in South Africa, providing palliative care as well as respite for children affected by illness due to their positive HIV status. We see this as a way that we can minister to, and demonstrate the love of Christ to the children that have been abandoned as well as to the families that attend the hospice.
