God Meant It for God
Gospel Fruit in the Midst of Storm
There are moments in ministry that test everything. Your vision. Your values. Your very foundation. And then there are moments that reveal everything God has quietly built.
In the early hours of May 29th, Village Mercy endured one of its darkest nights. A group of armed men invaded the property. They poisoned the dogs, broke doors, tore through rooms, held our house manager and mentor at gunpoint, tied up residents, and stripped the centre of nearly all its valuable equipment, solar batteries, laptops, phones, cameras, food, even prescription glasses. It was terrifying. It was traumatic. But it was not the end of the story.
What happened during and after that night revealed something deeper than fear. Something the thieves could not touch.
It was gospel fruit
Our residents, most of whom once lived in cycles of violence, addiction, and self-destruction, did not spiral. They did not retaliate. They encouraged one another. They kept calm. In the days that followed, we watched them process what had happened, not with worldly rage, but with spiritual maturity. There was anger and sadness. But there was also deep trust. A quiet turning to God. The men reflected on Scripture. They asked for prayer. They helped clean the mess. They spoke words of comfort to each other.
It wasn’t just survival. It was gospel fruit, the kind of fruit that cannot be manufactured. Fruit that comes from months of learning, repenting, growing in grace, being discipled, and walking in community. It proved that the gospel is something that is taking root in these men’s hearts.
And Then Came The Church
Word of the attack spread and the body of Christ began to move. Calls. Messages. Prayers. Food. Offers of support. Donations. Pledges. Help came pouring in.
Members of local churches like Heritage Baptist Church, Midrand Chapel Baptist Church, Christ Church Leondale, and others in our local network stood with us. And not just in words, but in action. Their leaders, members, and even strangers stepped up to give, serve, and encourage, Jesus was glorified through His people. Even though we were shaken, we were never alone.
We have never been more proud of the men in this house. And we have never been more grateful for the love shown by our gospel partners, friends, and extended family in Christ.
Village Mercy is not just recovering. It is standing. We are now rebuilding, not just our property, but our rhythms, our security, and our resolve. And through it all, we continue to believe that God’s mercy still changes lives, even in the hardest moments.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. With love and gratitude,
Edward Matovu
Now Rebuilding — And We Need You
We are currently in a critical recovery phase—not only rebuilding security but also restoring daily life.
We urgently need donations of groceries, basic tools, and financial assistance to replace what was lost.
If you or someone you know can help with even one item, it would go a long way.
GoFundMe Campaign:
Help KBC and Village Mercy Recover
Tool Donations Needed:
See the list at the end of this newsletter for a full breakdown.
From Gangs to Grace
The Story of Thabang
When Thabang Deneka entered the gates of Village Mercy on March 24, 2024, he carried more than addiction. He carried years of deep pain, a criminal past, and a hardened reputation that made even his neighbours in Daveyton shake their heads.
But what looked like a lost cause became a powerful picture of redemption.
Born in Boksburg and raised in Daveyton, Thabang is turning 29 this year. He started smoking dagga in 2011 and later spiraled into cocaine, crystal meth, cat, and nyaope. He joined a notorious gang (VG, or OVL), lived a life of violence and crime, and was involved in robberies, theft, and even connected to a murder investigation. Two criminal cases were still pending. He had a young son he couldn’t support. And yet, through the haze of addiction, a prayer began to rise from his heart.
He started attending church. He started praying. And slowly, God began to draw him in.
When he arrived at Village Mercy, it was clear he was hungry, for freedom, for grace, and for truth. Over the nine months that followed, we witnessed a remarkable transformation. Through Bible teaching, discipleship, hard conversations, and a supportive gospel community, Thabang grew into a new man. He finished the residential phase of the program in November 2024 with a new identity rooted in Christ.
Since then, he has taken bold and faithful steps:
- He voluntarily faced the justice system and received suspended sentences.
- He enrolled at UNISA to study Accounting Sciences and he also joined the UNISA choir.
- He reaches out to his former friends to testify that freedom is possible, they too can change.
- He is plugged into a local church, Grace Baptist Church Dayveton and is being discipled.
But perhaps most powerful of all is this: the very person who once introduced Thabang to drugs, his older brother, Thulani, is now almost 2 months into the Village Mercy program himself because of Thabang’s witness to him.
“I prayed for him, witnessed to him, showed him the love of God,” Thabang shared. “And now, God has answered. We are building a new family, rooted in Jesus.”
You’re Invited: Thabang’s Graduation Service
We invite you to join us as we celebrate Thabang’s journey and God’s grace in his life.
Date: Saturday, 22 June 2025 (9:30 am)
Location: Christ Church Leondale
CCL has partnered with Village Mercy since day one, and their annual Village Mercy Sunday has become one of the highlights of our year.
Come hear testimonies, pray with us, and be reminded that no life is too broken for God’s restoring hand.
New Resource:
The Village Mercy Devotional Workbook
After months of prayer, writing, and refining, we’re excited to announce the completion of the Village Mercy Devotional Workbook: Proverbs for Life and Freedom. This 24-week journey is a deeply biblical, Christ-centered resource designed to walk with our residents through the full six months of the program.
Each lesson is rooted in the book of Proverbs and speaks directly to the struggles and hopes of men pursuing gospel transformation. It combines daily devotionals, Scripture memory, reflection questions, prayer prompts, and weekly challenges, all written in simple, honest language that meets our guys right where they are.
This is more than just a workbook. It’s a discipleship tool, a biblical counselling companion, and a reflection of everything Village Mercy stands for. We believe it will be a cornerstone resource in our ministry for years to come.
Hands of Mercy
As winter approached, we were reminded again that God provides, sometimes through people we don’t expect. In April, Roumil Patel from Krisha Gems donated fleece blankets to Village Mercy. For our residents, who sleep in rooms that get very little sunlight and no heating, these blankets were a real gift—simple, practical, and deeply appreciated.
Then, in May, Roumil returned with a large grocery donation, helping us meet some of our day-to-day needs with ease and joy.
This month, we’re highlighting Roumil’s kindness, but he is one among many who have generously support Village Mercy. To all who give, serve, and stand with us, we are truly grateful.
Tool Donation Wishlist
(Please contact us if you can donate any item below)