One Life South Africa Staff Testimonies | Global Impact
From where we sit in North America, it can be difficult to imagine the cultural challenges people face halfway around the world on the other side of the equator. During our recent South Africa Missions trip, our team of Westsiders experienced and saw first-hand the amazing work our One Life staff, led by Alison and Greg Colin, does each day as they care for One Life children and intercede on their behalf.
To help Westsiders gain a little more insight into this important Global Impact program, we asked One Life staff in two One Life communities to share a little about their life, their mission, and their heart.
Athandile Williams
Walmer (AW)
Mbulelo Sindelo
Walmer (MS)
Zanele Ncede
Wells Estate (ZN)
Pumla Novenge
River of Life (PN)
Thabiso and Lily Nyamla
River of Life, Transkei (TLN)
Thabiso and Lily Nyamla
River of Life, Transkei (TLN)
Photos by David Tsai.
WFC – How long have you been working with One Life, and what do you do?
AW - I’ve been with One Life family for 4 months officially, but I’ve been with One Life Volunteering since March 2021. I’m a Social Worker.
MS - I’ve been working for One life since 2017. It has been five exciting and eye opening years for me. I’m serving as a missionary, I also lead the One Life program in Port Elizabeth in general, with more focus on spiritual development.
ZN - It’s now 4 years 3 months I'm centre leader.
PN - I started working with One Life 7 years ago.
TLN - I have been working with One Life since 2013, the organization was called Oceans of Mercy then. My role is to Lead One Life in Transkei.
WFC – How did you get involved with One Life, or first hear about it?
AW - I heard from a community member from Walmer. He told me of the amazing work that One Life does and I was keen to volunteer and be part of this amazing organisation helping the community.
MS - I was recruited by Alison Colin. We were attending the same church - I was an intern preacher and Sunday school teacher at Church then. Alison reached out to me and invited me to come see what they are up to in Walmer township. After a couple of weeks, they drove with me to Lusikisiki to show me the work they are doing on that side and the impact they are making in the rural Areas as One Life. I fell in love with One Life since.
ZN - I was passing on the street then I saw a lot outside a house with some white people. So since I was running a soup kitchen I became interested because I was also seeking some help.
PN - Since One Life is in my community, I met with the One Life staff in our church and we talked about what they are doing and they ask me to join them when they were doing youth. From there I started to see Jam Stuff which is Jabulani Africa ministry. They invited me to join their ministry which is based in Cape Town. On 2013 I went to Cape Town, and I did leadership training with JAM then came back. In 2014 we opened River of Life preschool, and I worked as a preschool teacher. As the time goes on, in 2015 I joined One Life full time, helping with homework, youth, girls ministry, and camps.
TLN - I got involved with One Life through my mission friends who were serving under this organization before me, and I asked to join them.
WFC – Tell me about your early impressions about the ministry and what they do.
MS - Unreal. I was shocked that there was an organisation that was helping kids in such a manner. I was taken by how both Greg and Alison interacted with the kids and their families. How Alison would often drive within the community doing home visits, sitting down with families and being intentional with both young and old in the community. How fearless they were and how much they were loved and embraced by these kids and their families.
ZN - To me I saw people who were doing something similar to what I was doing which was serving vulnerable families/kids.
PN - My first impression was girls ministry. They have girls ministry where they would sit with the teenagers and start to speak about the challenges they are going to face in their stage, and how to overcome teenage stage without getting pregnant. That is what attracted me because we had a lot of teenage pregnancies.
TLN - I loved the organisation because it is Christ centered and helping others in need.
WFC – Why was it important to you to work with this organization?
AW - One Life Child does wonderful work in many communities, especially in Walmer community. As a Social Worker and also Christian, working at this organisation has been great because there’s no dilemmas when it comes to my Christian values and the Organisation values - they go hand in hand.
MS - Gods work! I’ve always wanted to do Gods work. Before joining One Life, one of my desires was to be a missionary. I had been praying that the Lord would send me somewhere to serve him by reaching out to the Lost and share the gospel with them, with the hope that they will hear the good news, repent from their sins and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. God in His mysterious ways, answered my prayer. Me serving at One life is an answer to my prayers. Greg would always tell us that our goal is to “be like Jesus, and share Jesus”. For me that was an irresistible call.
ZN - Helping those in need. Put a smile on their faces and give them the love of Christ.
PN - It was so important because to me it was giving back to my community.
TLN - It was important for me because it gave me the opportunity to minister and to serve others.
WFC – How have you seen One Life impact children in your community?
AW - Working with the children on a daily basis has been evident that the work One Life is doing is amazing. I haven’t been at One Life for long but the work One Life is doing for these children is evident and One Life is playing an important role in these children's lives. The children have a safe place where they get to be children and be free, they get to hear the Gospel, get groceries, etc., and they get to be part of a family and have a sense of belonging.
MS – One Life has revived hope in many of these children. One Life has been both salt and light in the communities these kids have been brought up in. One Life has shown these kids what it means to love your neighbour. I remember in one of our bible studies on a Friday afternoon, we were doing our series on parables. We did the one of a Good Samaritan, and one kid after the lesson said to me “you know Bhuti, to think of it, One Life is like a Good Samaritan to us. I’m really grateful for One life.” He got it. Not only did he read about the Good Samaritan, but he experienced it through One Life.
PN – One Life has a great impact in my community because some of the kids didn't have anyone to share their struggles in life as it is not in our culture to talk about some of the things you are going through. But ever since One Life came, the kids started to trust us and talk to us about their problems. Most of the kids we’re working with are orphans, the uniforms and the Christmas party that One Life does, or taking them out is something that they never experience in their life. They feel like other kids for a change.
TLN - I have seen One Life impacting children by introducing Jesus to them, helping them with daily meals, school needs and showing love to them and their families.
Photos by Lauren Wildman
WFC – How has One Life impacted YOU?
AW - One Life has impacted my life for the better, besides offering me a job when I really needed it but it made me realise how important it is to have a relationship with GOD and live for GOD. Everyday I’m encouraged by my colleagues to be like Christ.
MS - Family. Whenever I think about One Life, I think of family. One Life gave me a sense of belonging. Through One Life I’ve met a countless number of persons, precious hearts and beautiful friends. One Life has given me a sense of purpose in life. It has granted me my dream and purpose in life, to preach Christ. To love the lost. To pray for the weak. To die to self. To love my colleagues both locally and abroad. To be a Shepard to these kids and their families. To love them and protect them at all costs. One Life has granted me a once in a lifetime opportunity, “to be like Jesus, and to share Jesus”!
PN - It has given me the opportunity to work in my community for my community, and as I have said it’s like giving back to my community.
TLN – One Life impacted me by giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams of ministering to children and youth.
