Further to our previous sharing, we can confirm that 2023 marks a major transition for us. Not only in terms of our personal repositioning for ongoing, life-long ministry, but also for AFnet. Preparing for this transition, we learned early on that the most fulfilling and fruitful place is at the center of God’s will. But staying in that center requires changing human course. Yet change is never easy. So, we’ve prayed. And, as we’ve sought the council of our mentors, friends and supporters, our staff and family, we’ve received confirmation that indeed the time has come for us to begin transitioning leadership. With both of us into our 70’s, it’s time for executive responsibility to transition onto the shoulders of the next generation whom God has raised up to carry the baton forward. 

God’s leading In this has been clear. Our personal passion has not changed. But our ongoing role in the ministry will. While spending the past 4 decades preparing for, building, and leading the mission, we now look forward to investing our lives more into mentoring and guiding those whom the Lord is allowing to carry the vision and mission forward. With that we’ll also have more time to invest into rebuilding our aging support base. Living on the other side of the world has proven difficult to build and maintain sufficient funding to fuel the needs of ministry in Africa. Yet, through hard work, and by God’s grace we’ve been able to sustain momentum and grow the mission. Now we’re trusting God for favor to build out a funding base capable of carrying AFnet well into the future.

But we are sure that there may be some questions. And so, we’ll try to answer with as much clarity and transparency as we can. “What does this mean for the Combrinck’s?” While our existing role and leadership responsibility may be changing, our call and lifelong commitment does not. We plan to maintain hands on involvement for as long as we live and can travel. However, we will be spending more time now in the USA where we hope to set up our homebase closer to our children and grandchildren in Texas. “What does this mean for AFnet?” General change is good. Handing over executive leadership to a well-qualified next generation of young, excited emerging leaders is the best thing we can do for the mission. And so, we’re excited to see, and be part of where the Lord’s leading will be. “What does this mean for you and us personally?” Without your prayers and financial involvement in AFnet, we’d not be here today talking about the future of the mission. It’s only because of the partnership which was forged between you and this mission that we’ve been able to fulfill our call, and for AFnet to have been able to exist over the past three and a half decades. We urge you, therefore, to continue the journey with us.

Our next newsletter will deal more with details of AFnet’s transition to a new campus in South Africa and introduce you to our emerging leadership team. We’ll share news on some course correction and projects proposed by the new team. Also, take note that the AFnet USA office just moved from California to Texas. Please update OUR contact details in your address book.

Recently, reading from the Book of Psalms, I was again reminded how important to God children are: Psalm 127:3 declares, “Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward from Him.” Likewise, the Apostle James equates taking care of, and providing for the vulnerable children of the world, with the essence of our Faith. He states that, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
(James 1:27)

With 2023 now in full swing, we’re reminded about the importance of considering what The Lord of the Harvest is expecting from each of His followers in regard to His commission to make disciples of all nations. As we have considered our ongoing role and response in the year ahead, one thing stands out clearly for Christa and me, and that is that this certainly is a year of transition for us.