South Africa (MNN) — Countries just like people have reputations. But whether they’re known for good or bad, there’s always hope because God is always doing something behind the scenes.
Take South Africa. In early 2025 it had the highest crime index in all of Africa. Amid economic and poverty issues, the church is also battling the prosperity gospel, says Unathi Sithole with Trans World Radio Global.
“It doesn’t teach the joy of, the privilege of, perhaps even sometimes the difficulties of suffering that we will experience in Christ Jesus,” she says.
The Mission 66 team (Photo courtesy of TWR)
“People then come into contact with suffering. Suddenly, ‘Life isn’t as I thought it would be. I don’t have health, I don’t have wealth, I don’t have prosperity, I don’t have all these things that I was told I was going to have because I’ve given my life to Jesus.’” Sometimes these people will turn away from following Christ.
Yet there are churches in South Africa actively preaching the pure gospel, Sithole says. “We need to understand the gospel from the right perspective, and not just from the perspective of getting something from God, but that it also comes with offering up our lives to Him.”
In addition to faith-filled churches, God is using a new radio program called Mission 66 to spread His Word in South Africa. This conversational, chapter-by-chapter Bible study is co-hosted by Sithole.
“We want people to really see that the Word of God is our source. It’s our daily bread. It transforms our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit,” she says.
Find your place in the story
Please pray for believers and seekers in South Africa that the truth of the Word of God would prevail. Pray that people will not be led astray after promises of physical prosperity.
Pray for listeners of Mission 66 to be drawn to the program and discover the TRUE eternal prosperity of knowing Christ. Ask God to prepare their hearts.
“[I pray that] wherever they are in their lives, regardless of what they believe in at this time… [that] they would be able to hear the message of hope through the gospel,” says Sithole, “and that they’d be changed, that they would leave their old ways and come to know Jesus Christ, because He does have good plans for them.”
Tune in here to listen to Mission 66 for yourself.
Header photo: The Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, South Africa (Photo courtesy of Asher Pardey via Unsplash)
