Missions Ablaze – 30 Years of Faith, Service, and Feeding the Hungry

“He defended the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was this not knowing Me? says the Lord.” – Jeremiah 22:16

“For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink…” – Matthew 25:35–40

Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry

We got to celebrate our 30th anniversary on 1 June, together with our missionaries, family, friends, and supporters. Those who could not be there sent messages—it was wonderful to hear from many of the “old” friends who had spent time at Missions Ablaze.

Thank you to those who made the trip to be with us and especially to those who contributed financially to the event. Have a look at our website or Facebook page for coverage of our celebration. If you would like to receive a link, let us know.

A Message from the Mission

This year has flown by… Already spring in South Africa and fall in the USA!

I developed and made a prototype machine to shell macadamia nuts for our family in Nelspruit, so we were away with them for a while in April. May saw us back at Missions Ablaze to prepare for our celebrations.

The family joined us at Missions Ablaze, making it a very special occasion as they have partnered with me all the way on this journey of over 30 years. We could not have done it without their support, love, and prayers.

We joined together for a morning of thanksgiving, gratitude, and much laughter over days gone by, followed by a finger lunch together. Leon Gouws recounted the early days of Tinus’s drive for the poor and needy, which actually started in a coffee shop in Boksburg!

A Story of Faith, Fire, and Feeding the Hungry

It all began on a dusty construction site in Matchana, Empangeni, in 1995. Tinus Lindeque was helping to build a church when a vision stopped him in his tracks: an eagle rising from the earth, a cross behind it, and the words “Missions Ablaze” stamped across the sky. Beneath it, a simple call to action — “We feed the poor.”

Tinus didn’t yet know how far that vision would take him, but it burned deeply enough to change the course of his life—and many others.

Back in Durban, during a meeting with his senior pastor, Tinus was told that the small missions team he had started under the church’s wing had outgrown it. It was time to step out. Time to fly.

With just eight missionaries, two kombis, and 300 meals a day, Missions Ablaze took its first steps into independence. The early days were raw and real—scraping together food, fuel, and faith. But support came from unexpected places: Dr. Conrad Mershon and Mr. Robin Read, both from Georgia, USA, brought a team of 50 volunteers and breathed momentum into the young ministry.

Then came a turning point. While searching for a permanent base, Tinus stood on a quiet plot on Hospital Hill Road. Twice, he heard the words, “This is your land.” There was no money in the bank, no logical path forward—but faith doesn’t always follow logic. Eight months later, the funds appeared, as if placed there by an unseen hand.

By 2000, the team had grown to 15 full-time missionaries, serving 600 meals daily, running a Bible school, and using the Jesus Film as part of their outreach. In 2005, they secured land for the Ablaze Center Orphanage. And by 2010, they were distributing 1,500 meals a day with a team of 28 missionaries. What once was a whisper had become a wildfire of compassion.

Three Decades of Impact

By 2015, Missions Ablaze was no longer a small team—it was a movement. With 25 full-time missionaries, a network of food suppliers, and more than 20 soup kitchens, they were serving thousands daily.

The Ablaze Center Orphanage had become a haven for children, a place of restoration and hope. That same year, Tinus passed the leadership torch to Hein van der Merwe due to health challenges, though his heart remained at the center of it all.

Under new leadership, the ministry grew and expanded its reach across borders, launching tent crusades in Mozambique and doubling its local impact.

Then came the storms.

In 2021, Covid-19 and violent riots swept through KwaZulu-Natal, destroying many food sources. In 2022, floods buried communities under 400mm of rain. But Missions Ablaze did not falter. They pressed on—now with 16 stores supplying food, 15 soup kitchens, and 2,500 meals served daily.

As they approached their 30th anniversary in 2025, the numbers told a powerful story:

57.4 million meals packaged. 3.6 million lives touched. 78.9 million meals distributed.

But numbers are only part of the story. Behind every meal is a face. Behind every outreach is a heart healed, a child fed, a soul reminded that they are seen and loved.

What began with a single vision on a building site became a legacy—a movement of love, resilience, and unwavering faith.

Missions Ablaze: 30 Years of Faith in Action (1995–2025)

1995 – The Foundation Years

With humble beginnings, a vision was born. Just 8 full-time missionaries and 2 kombies served 300 meals daily, supplied by only 2 organizations and 2 stores. With the help of Robyn Reid and Dr. Conrad, the ministry began hosting tent crusades to reach the community. During this foundational year, 50 visiting missionaries came to assist the fledgling mission, establishing the groundwork for decades of service to come.

2000 – Growth and Establishment

The ministry’s roots deepened as its reach expanded. Daily meals doubled to 600, served by a growing team of 15 full-time missionaries with 3 kombies. Food supplies increased with support from 3 organizations and 3 stores. This period marked significant institutional development: the Bible School was established, the Jesus film ministry began reaching new communities, and the transformative Braveheart Course was launched. A church was planted on the Missions Ablaze property, Tinus was ordained as Pastor, and the ministry gained official NPO status. Rick, the car specialist, became an essential team member, ensuring the mission’s vehicles could reach those in need.

2005 – Breaking New Ground

Vision expanded as needs grew. Now 30 full-time missionaries served 1,000 meals daily, supported by 3 organizations and 3 stores, using 3 kombies to reach the community. A significant milestone was reached with the acquisition of land to build the Ablaze Center Orphanage.    A  ACE Chritian school was started at Haven of Rest, extending the ministry’s influence into education. Tent crusades continued to bring spiritual nourishment to communities.

2010 – Opening Doors

The dream of sheltering vulnerable children became reality. The Ablaze Center Orphanage officially opened its doors, providing a haven for children in need. The ministry now served 1,500 meals daily through a team of 28 full-time missionaries and a fleet of 4 kombies. Food supply partnerships grew with 3 organizations and 6 stores contributing to the cause. Tent crusades continued to bring hope and spiritual renewal to surrounding communities.

2015 – Expanding Horizons

Under new leadership, the ministry reached unprecedented heights. With Hein van der Merwe taking over leadership,due to Tinus and Meisie’s Health issues, Missions Ablaze dramatically expanded its feeding program to 3,000 meals daily, now supporting 22 soup kitchens and 2 creches. The supply network grew to include 6 organizations and 10 stores, with 25 full-time missionaries and 3 kombies serving the community. The Chief’s School opened its doors, and the ministry registered for the “My School Program.” Tent crusades extended internationally to Mozambique, bringing the message of hope across borders.

2020 – Resilience Through Challenges

Adapting to global changes while maintaining the mission. During a challenging period worldwide, Missions Ablaze demonstrated resilience with Tinus back full time, by maintaining substantial outreach, serving 2,000 meals daily to 14 soup kitchens and 3 creches. The team of 25 full-time missionaries with 4 kombies continued their dedicated work, supplied by 5 organizations and 10 stores. A special initiative began, providing crucial support to 25 households in Elwyn Court during difficult times.

2025 – Thirty Years of Faithful Service

Thriving in purpose with expanded impact and efficiency. Now in its 30th year, Missions Ablaze serves 2,500 meals daily, supporting 15 soup kitchens, 2 creches, 12 families, through a streamlined team of 20 full-time missionaries and 2 kombies. The supply network has grown stronger than ever with 8 organizations and 16 stores. A remarkable 120,000 kilometers are driven annually to reach those in need—equivalent to circling the Earth three times—demonstrating the far-reaching impact of three decades of faithful service.

Celebrations and Gratitude

Our missionaries enjoyed the celebration with us — and a scrumptious carrot cake! We were blessed to have some of the family join us for this special occasion.

Thank you to our supporters! Those who could not join us sent messages and videos for our celebration.

Continuing the Work

We’ve been blessed to receive 10 buckets of freshly cooked samp from “Food for Love” in Verulam twice a week, feeding over 200 people per day.

Grace Church and Gleanings for the Hungry (USA) donated boxes of soup mix during winter, which we distributed to families.

August brought another celebration — two of our missionaries, Kribz and Renata, were married at the mission on the 9th of August.

At the end of August, I attended the annual KCF Missions Conference in Johannesburg. Missions Ablaze has been blessed by their support over many years. I presented Pastor Morgan with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Early in September, friends from Grace Church, Southern Pines (North Carolina), visited Missions Ablaze. We traveled to Manguzi, northern KwaZulu-Natal, to support Pastor Clifford in building churches. We spent two weeks doing outreach work in churches and schools — spreading the Word and sharing fellowship.

Our missionaries enjoyed interacting with our guests and sharing a curry meal and worship session.

Discipleship and Outreach

Our group of disciples goes out into the Tongaat area every Saturday morning to spread the Word and pray with the community. We’ve handed out Bibles, books, and Bible story drawing pads for children. Please remember these missionaries in your prayers.

Kwik Spar Ballito partnered with us and spent time at our crèche in Tongaat. What a morning of laughter, singing, and smiles! They generously donated lunch boxes filled with juice, chips, chicken strips, and fruit for each child.

Daily Ministry Life

At Missions Ablaze, our routine continues — spiritual growth through morning devotions, prayer meetings, and evening discipleship. The Holy Spirit is working through our missionaries.

We’ve been blessed this year with support from Shoprite DC, FoodShare, Freshmark, local Spar shops, and Food Lovers Market. These regular donations make it possible to continue feeding the poor.

We now assist fifteen other NPOs, two crèches, an old-age home, our street feeding programs, and ten families who rely on us for food. Managing vehicle transport for collections remains a challenge, but thanks to friends who’ve donated toward emergency repairs, we keep going.

With the help of two younger missionaries, I’ve cleared land on the farm, set up irrigation, cleaned a dam, and planted trial crops of garlic, beans, potatoes, and peanuts. Once finances allow, we’ll expand — growing crops to support both our feeding program and monthly expenses.

Proverbs 11:30

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that wins souls is wise.”

His grace is everlasting!
His mercies are new every morning!
Great is His faithfulness!
How beautiful is His presence in the splendour of His holiness.