Our Setting
The Zulu people are a strong and proud kingdom, the largest ethnic group in South Africa at 10 million strong, living mainly in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The past 30 years here have brought triumphs and challenges.
Studies and surveys have shown that KwaZulu-Natal has suffered the highest number of HIV-positive people and AIDS-related deaths in South Africa. KZN also has the highest rate of tuberculosis cases and deaths. KZN lost the most people in the Covid pandemic. Thanks to progress in the fight against AIDS, the province has come back to a life-expectancy of 60 years old from 49 years old in 2006.
Children are one-third of the KZN population, and of those about 21% are orphans (842,000 children) and another 25% have a living parent but reside with a relative or friend. A number of homes in our area are child-headed households.
Much has been done by the government and the private sector to provide housing and subsidies for the poor and to care for vulnerable children, but situations in local communities are continually changing and local answers are needed. Further, with unemployment rates at 50.4% in KZN in June of 2022, jobs are needed as well as the education and training necessary to get good jobs.
Our Projects
Our mission is to bring about gospel-driven change in the lives of people resulting in steady community-transformation (relief of widows, orphans, and the poor).
The answer for any community in the world begins with the destiny-changing, hope-infusing, and life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ – the true gospel. One by one, we are seeing life-change toward Christlikeness as hearts are changed by the gospel and the systematic teaching of God’s Word. Here is what we are currently busy with:
1. Building the Thola Community Centre
In the Zulu language, ukuthola means to discover. We are praying and serving so that people in our community will discover the Bible, salvation through Jesus Christ, and personal fulfilment by living life and doing work based on the principles of God’s Word. We have purchased a 2 acre property 2 kilometres away from the 7 Rivers farm in the nearby Olwasini community and are starting to build the Thola Centre, which will have four components:
An After-School Programme providing primary school-age children with Bible clubs, sports and arts activities, homework help, counselling, and English language learning
A Christian pre-school (creche) providing early childhood learning and activities in a stimulating environment, with special needs assistance, to get children ready for lifelong learning
A Christian Medical Clinic, working in coordination with area government clinics, providing diagnosis, emergency treatment, basic medications, home visits, and a landing spot for the government mobile clinic
A Women’s Job-Skills Development Centre providing training in making beaded jewellery, knitted dolls, sewing products such as uniforms, and baked items such as breads and cakes
Some of these ministries have already begun at the 7 Rivers Farm, and we have personnel in place for all of the other ministries. We are slowly building as the Lord provides the funding.
2. Developing the 7 Rivers Farm
The hope is that one day, all 7 Rivers employees serving at the Thola Centre and working on the farm will be paid, not from charitable donations, but from income generated on this 100-acre tree farm. We are growing macadamia nuts and moringa (super-food), and looking to expand and grow coffee and tea tree (melaleuca oil).
Our Team
Kelly and Cherise Smith settled in the Olwasini Valley in 2005 and began what was to become the 7 Rivers Outreach, sharing Christ and healthcare information from home to home in the midst of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. They developed infrastructure on the farm. Kelly continues to give valuable advice on projects and is our relational liaison with the community, and Cherise continues the women’s bead shop They serve with ITMI (In Touch Mission International).
Fifi (Buhle) Smith grew up in the Olwasini community, was adopted into the Smith household during her teen years, and after completing her theological studies at Berean Bible Institute in Johannesburg, returned to the valley serving with BMW (Biblical Ministries Worldwide) to focus on youth evangelism and counselling.
Ethan and Grace Thomas settled in our area in 2021 and moved to the farm in 2022. Ethan is our project manager both on the farm and for the development of the Thola Centre. Ethan and Grace serve with BMW (Biblical Ministries Worldwide).
Abbie Harrity settled in our area in 2021. Her main role after learning isiZulu will be to set up the bakery as a women’s job-skills development project at the Thola Centre. She will also be involved with children’s ministries. Abbie serves with BMW (Biblical Ministries Worldwide).
Nathan and Kimberly Vaughan settled in our area at the end of 2021 after a number of years in children’s ministry and community outreach in Limpopo Province. Their main roles will be farm management, helping young children with learning challenges, and women’s job-skill development in sewing. The Vaughans serve with First Baptist Church of Lamesa, Texas.
Dr. Santie McCracken is a South African medical doctor with experience in South Africa as well as in Malawi where her husband, Tony, taught in a seminary. She has joined the 7 Rivers team to assist with the development of the Thola Centre Medical Clinic. The McCrackens serve with Grace Ministries International (GMI).
Katie Haskell is an American nurse currently raising funding to join the 7 Rivers team and assist with the development of the Thola Centre Medical Clinic. Katie serves with BMW (Biblical Ministries Worldwide).
David and Karin Brown have been involved with church-planting and leadership development in South Africa and abroad since the 1990s. They moved to our community in 2018. David serves as the Director of 7 Rivers Outreach and Karin is involved with the 7 Rivers Knitters, a women’s Bible study and job-skills development project involving about 50 ladies knitting African dolls. The Browns serve with BMW (Biblical Ministries Worldwide).
7 Rivers Outreach is a part of the GEN2 Ministry Group, a network of outreach ministries connected with Grace Baptist Church of Amanzimtoti. The 7 Rivers Board of Directors is comprised of godly ministry and business men and women from all over KwaZulu-Natal representing the diversity of South Africa. Pastor Des Venter of Grace-Toti is the chairman of the 7 Rivers Board, and David Brown, the Director of 7 Rivers, is an elder at Grace-Toti.