The beginning of a great and marvelous journey that God has
placed me on began in 2001. The vision of my Senior Pastor for Africa and beyond took root in my heart when I became invested in the people.


Knowing that God’s providence placed me in a land of privilege, yet my brothers and sisters in Africa are suffering made for many sleepless nights.  Compelled to return to Africa each year, I completely put all of my trust in the Lord by leaving a comfortable corporate position and bringing my wife, Victoria, and our two children to a foreign soil.  As the priest of my family, they follow me as I follow the Lord, and it was by His Holy urging for His people that I moved into uncharted waters.


It was the worst of times, and yet the best of times.  These words have never been more real. We arrived in South Africa after a 22-hour traveling schedule battling sickness and very little sleep.  The Lord’s grace has been ever present and with it we are succeeding.


God has breathed on the biblical teaching, fellowship, and the relationships we have established.  Our lives have been changed and enriched by the hearts of God’s people to serve him and the moments we’ve shared with them.  These experiences, now etched in our minds, have taken root in our hearts.  It is our desire to come along side Ocean View Christian Center by building up their pastor, Percy Mbele, his family, and its members, and in turn, claim the township of Ocean View for the Lord.

This area is a forgotten area not even mentioned on some maps with run-down, half-built brick frames with shanties and a sprinkling of small homes with promise. Young children wander the neighborhood where dogs run wild waiting for someone to look after them.  We have moved into this community to live among these people to share their burden.  Yes!  The living conditions are poor, but our spirits are high.


Ocean View is a black and colored area, and white people rarely venture into their community. It is obvious that we are different by skin color, but our hearts and our God are the same.  Life is never more real than when you see people you love go through pain.



One example is Kosi and Denise who recently moved into their new home.  For seven long and stressful years, they lived in a one-room wooden shack with their four children.  The winters were especially difficult, having to live with water-logged wood floors and their bodies that would never get warm, and yet they continued to be faithful to the Lord without complaint while waiting for His provision.

Believing in faith for the impossible, they prayed God that would give them the means to move into a proper house.  In what seems like natural circumstances orchestrated by God, through their work, the Lord provided all the supplies they needed to construct their new home.  We were honored to be guests at their home for dinner and rejoice with them for God’s goodness.


God has raised Victoria up to new levels of ministry.  The women and young girls have connected with her in amazing ways.  There is a hunger for encouragement and a desire to believe for great things.  She has brought these things alive in them.





The series, “The Transforming Power of Godly Change & Purpose,” has gone well.  Teaching twice on Sunday and Thursday nights has helped created momentum amongst the people. What a wonderful opportunity to bring God’s truth to others and to see their passion to pursue His will for their lives ignite.



We ask for your prayers for direction to stay focused on what we are called to do.  There is so much work -- all good, but not all expedient.  We believe it is God’s will to lay a solid foundation first through biblical teaching, practical application, and living it out before our fellow brothers and sisters.


God has filled our minds, stirred our sleep, and has brought dreams of what could be.  Upon returning to the States, we will sit down with our Senior Pastor Charles Morgan to strategize how the Resurrection Life Fellowship and you can make an impact and restore hope in God’s people.  It is with joy and tears that we read your letters and know we are all called to different parts of His Great Commission.  Together we are ambassadors for Christ.

Our missions plan for Africa in 2005 is to facilitate a marriage conference, “Finding Purpose in a Christ-Centered Marriage” and to reach out to the community to expand the church.

                                                    
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Mark & Victoria Tallman        CAPE TOWN PICTURES