Lwandiso & Chantelle Dlokweni
Two years.
One faithful God.
Looking back with gratitude.
Looking ahead with hope.
Small beginnings, open doors, and the grace that has carried us.
Dear friends & ministry partners,
Look what the
Lord has done.
Our October letterAs we look back over the past two years, we are filled with gratitude. There have been changes, uncertainties and tired days, but through them all the Lord has been faithful. We have seen Him sustain our family, grow His church and open doors for the gospel that we could not have opened ourselves.
We recently celebrated the second anniversary of REACH East London. It was a joyful opportunity to pause, remember where we began and thank God for the people He has brought into our lives. Behind every photograph is a person, a conversation or a moment of grace. We are thankful that you are part of this story through your prayers, encouragement and support.
REACH East London
A church taking root.
A day to remember.
Worship, the Word, a shared meal and the joy of belonging. A few moments from our second anniversary.
Church planting has taught us to hold our plans with open hands. Over these two years we have moved between venues, learning to depend on the Lord as we searched for a place to meet. Every move brought practical challenges, but also reminders that the church is the people Christ gathers around His Word.
We are especially thankful that we have now found a venue we can lease, close to the people we hope to reach. This gives us a more settled base and a greater sense of permanence. Its position within a suburb also provides opportunities to build relationships and continue reaching out to the surrounding community.
Our anniversary was a celebration of God’s kindness and a chance to look ahead. We were delighted to welcome new members into the church family. Seeing people commit themselves to Christ and to one another is a precious encouragement.
Our desire remains to be a church where people behold the glory of Christ: growing in grace, grounded in truth and living on mission. Please pray that this new season of stability will help us serve our neighbours faithfully and see more people become part of the church.
Monthly men’s fellowship
Discipling men. Growing together.
We have also launched a monthly men’s fellowship. This is an intentional part of our discipleship: making time for men to gather around God’s Word, encourage one another and grow in following Christ. Please pray that this ministry will help the men become increasingly faithful in their homes, in the church and in their everyday lives.
A growing church family
Welcomed.
Known. Loved.
One of the joys of our anniversary was welcoming new members. We give thanks for their commitment to Christ and to the life of His church.
We also marked a change in our church’s name, stepping into this new season as REACH East London.
Pray that every new member will grow in the Word, find deep fellowship and use their gifts to serve Christ and His people.
Beyond Sunday
Open doors for the gospel.
through school assemblies
The Lord continues to open doors in schools. Through assemblies and ongoing outreach, we are reaching more than a thousand young people each week. We are grateful for these opportunities to speak about Christ and bring the hope of the gospel into their everyday lives.
We also recently held a youth sports day. Young people had the opportunity to play, spend time together and hear the gospel. We trust that the Lord will use both the message shared and the relationships formed to draw them closer to Himself.
Our prayer is that these encounters will bear lasting fruit: that young people will come to faith, grow as disciples and find a spiritual home in the local church. Please pray for the connection between our outreach and the life of REACH East London.
Building relationships
Young people. Lasting hope.
We thank God for the young people we are meeting through outreach. Our prayer is that the friendships formed and the gospel shared will bear lasting fruit in their lives.
A mission field close to home
Our neighbours. Our calling.
Beside the bowling club where our church meets is an informal settlement that began developing around 2023 and has continued to grow. Many residents face unemployment. We see this community as a mission field the Lord has entrusted to us, alongside our outreach in schools and the wider neighbourhood.
Some children from the settlement joined our sports day on the club’s lawns, and we plan to develop ongoing sports ministry there. Through visits and growing friendships, we are sharing the gospel—and some people from this community are already part of our church.
Through a mission visit from Emmanuel Church in Port Elizabeth, a donated wheelchair was arranged for a young girl whose mother had been unable to obtain the help she needed. We delivered it with clothes the day after her birthday, sang to her and celebrated together. We thank God for this kindness and partnership.
The team also left a gospel storybook, which her mother reads from each night before bed. Please pray that the gospel will take root in these homes, that our care will reflect Christ’s love, and that sports ministry will open further doors for lasting relationships.
Our church, sports lawns and neighbouring mission field. Illustrative overview; the expanded settlement is approximate.
At home
Full hearts. Tired parents.
Looking back through the pregnancy scan and photographs of Milani at school reminds us how much family life has held in these past months. One of the great joys of this season has been welcoming our baby daughter, Milisa. Her arrival on my birthday made the day even more special. Having her in the house has brought so much delight—and has certainly kept us tired! We are thankful for this little life entrusted to us, and for the joy of watching our family grow.
Alongside family and ministry, both Chantelle and I have been pursuing our master’s studies. We have needed to take leave from our studies during this season. We are grateful for the Lord’s sustaining care and ask for His wisdom as we look towards returning to that work in due course.
We have also had a lovely encouragement at school: Milani received a merit pencil award for mathematics. Her teachers have noticed her ability in maths, and we are thankful to see her progress and growing confidence.
Please pray for rest, patience and wisdom as we care for our daughters and serve the church. We want our home to be a place where the love of Christ is seen in the ordinary things, as much as in the public work of ministry.
Looking back with gratitude on the journey of pregnancy.
A time to be refreshed
Returning to the heart of ministry.
From 24–26 September, I joined pastors and church planters in Langebaan, Western Cape, for a Great Commission Collective (GCC) vision meeting hosted by our ministry partner, Iziko Missions South Africa. Iziko works towards Christ-centred churches in South Africa’s townships and cities, led by local leaders and grounded in sound doctrine. GCC brings churches together to plant churches and strengthen leaders.
It was refreshing to pray, hear God’s Word and reflect on ministry with brothers from different churches and contexts, united by our confidence in Scripture and our desire to proclaim Christ. I came away encouraged to give proper time to reading, prayer and faithful preaching.
We are grateful to Pastor Sive Nogada and the Iziko Missions team for putting this gathering together, and thank the Lord for their partnership and the encouragement of these days.
Encouragement in the company of fellow servants of Christ.
Dumisani Theological College · King William’s Town
Equipping people for ministry.
Alongside church planting and apologetics, I continue to serve as a support lecturer at Dumisani Theological College in King William’s Town. It is a privilege to contribute to theological education here in the Eastern Cape, opening the Bible with people preparing to serve Christ and His church.
This training matters for the life of our churches. We need pastors and other ministry workers who know the Scriptures and can teach them faithfully: youth and children’s workers, women’s ministry leaders and others serving their congregations.
Dumisani is also looking towards expansion, with plans to offer a theology degree. Please pray for wisdom as those plans develop, for the lecturers, and for students whose learning will go on to strengthen churches and communities throughout the region.
Opening the Scriptures together at Dumisani.
Bisrat Apologetics
Biblical truth for African questions.
Bisrat Apologetics is growing as a platform where people can explore questions about African spirituality, God, Christianity and history. The website brings together articles, videos and other resources, with contributors helping us engage these questions thoughtfully and biblically.
Our hope is that these resources will strengthen Christians in their faith and help those who are searching encounter the truth and hope found in Jesus Christ. We are thankful for every contributor who gives time and thought to this work.
In November, I am due to take part in the Kasi Apologetics Conference in the Johannesburg area. As we think of communities affected by violence and loss, our prayer is that the light of the gospel will shine and that people will find lasting hope in Christ.
I will be speaking on “Powers, Spirits, and Competing Authorities.” Please pray for clarity, courage and compassion as we address spiritual questions, and for the Lord to use the conference to strengthen His people and draw others to Himself.
Wear Your Verse · Cape Town
Real questions. Biblical answers.
I also took part in a panel discussion at the Wear Your Verse conference in Cape Town. The conference brought people together for conversation about African spirituality, with space to listen, ask questions and think carefully about faith.
During the panel and Q&A, people raised real-life questions, and I had the opportunity to contribute a biblical perspective. These conversations remind us why apologetics matters: the questions are connected to people’s lives, families and convictions.
Please pray that the conversations will bear lasting fruit, that those searching will find clarity and hope in Christ, and that believers will grow in confidence in God’s Word.
Contributing to the panel discussion at Wear Your Verse.
Namibia · Kunene for Christ
The Word, across borders.
I also had the privilege of travelling to northern Namibia, near the border with Angola, at the invitation of Kunene for Christ. I spent time helping pastors and congregants think through African religion in the light of Scripture. Working through a translator, I was grateful for the opportunity to teach, listen and encourage fellow believers.
The ministry serves among the Himba, a nomadic people. There are many challenges, including the need for Scripture in their own language. An audio Bible is being developed, and we pray that this work will help people hear and understand God’s Word.
This visit also helps explain why we have developed the Bisrat website. We want to make printable resources available for local use and translation, so that the teaching can continue long after a visit ends. Our hope is to support those serving their communities with material they can use as they teach and disciple others.
We have been invited to return in 2027 to help equip them further. Please pray for the pastors and congregants, for the audio Bible work, and for wisdom and provision as we prepare to serve alongside Kunene for Christ again.
Time together in northern Namibia.
Please stand with us
Pray with us.
We are grateful for what the Lord has done, and we remain dependent on Him for what lies ahead.
A reliable vehicle
Our car is approaching 300,000 kilometres and is slowly deteriorating. It has been out of action for about a month, making family life and ministry travel difficult. Please pray for the provision of a reliable replacement vehicle.
Fruit from outreach
Pray that the gospel shared in schools, at the sports day and in our neighbouring settlement will lead people to Christ and root them in the life of the local church. Pray for the families we visit and for the development of sports ministry.
A permanent church home
Give thanks for the leased venue, and pray as we explore purchasing a building or vacant land around Cambridge. Ask for wisdom, a suitable property and provision for a lasting base for worship, discipleship and outreach.
Family and studies
Pray for strength and rest as we care for our daughters, and for wisdom about returning to our master’s studies alongside family and ministry responsibilities.
Bisrat and the conference
Pray for our contributors, for readers seeking answers and for the November conference: that Christ will be proclaimed clearly and the gospel will bring hope.
Kunene for Christ
Pray for pastors and congregants in northern Namibia, the audio Bible being developed for the Himba, and resources that can be printed and translated. Pray for wisdom and provision for our invited return in 2027.
Theological education
Pray for my ongoing teaching at Dumisani, for students preparing to serve in churches, and for wisdom as the college develops its plans to offer a theology degree.
Faithful preaching
Pray that the encouragement of the retreat will bear fruit in a ministry shaped by Scripture, prayer and the patient care of God’s people.
Partnership in the gospel.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer. If you would like to support our ministry financially, you can give through PayPal, EFT, PayShap or an international bank transfer using the options below. We receive your kindness with gratitude to the Lord, and pray that He will use it to strengthen His people and make Christ known.
Online & international giving
Give with PayPal
Support the ministry through our PayPal link. Tap the button on your phone, or scan the QR code with your phone’s camera.
PayPal recipient: Chantelle Poni. Choose your amount and review the currency and any fees before confirming.
Bank transfer
African Bank
- Account holder
- Lwandiso Augustus Dlokweni
- Account type
- Savings account
- Account number
- 20077707372
- Branch code
- 430000
- Branch
- Universal branch
- Suggested reference
- Your name + Bisrat
Quick payment
Pay with PayShap
Open PayShap in your banking app, choose to pay a ShapID, and enter:
Recipient: DLOKWENI L
Please confirm the recipient name before approving your payment.
International bank transfer
Give by SWIFT to Capitec
Use your bank’s international wire or SWIFT transfer option with these details. Send in US dollars or another supported foreign currency; Capitec converts the payment into rand.
- Account holder
- Lwandiso Augustus Dlokweni
- Bank
- Capitec Bank, South Africa
- Account number
- 1342543406
- SWIFT / BIC
- CABLZAJJ
- Suggested reference
- Your name + Ministry support
Please check your bank’s transfer fees and exchange rate. Contact us if your bank needs the account holder’s address.