Missionary profile – Barnard Modimakwane

By Mercy Kambura

Barnard Modimakwane

Missionary and mobilizer from South Africa

At the end of the sermon, the missionaries summoned those who felt the call to come to the front. I did. They said we could use our careers as missionaries. There was one problem—I didn’t have a career. How would I be a missionary when my highest level of education was Grade 12? I didn’t know it then, but God would later qualify me to be a missionary and a mobilizer.

My dream was to be an engineer, become a platinum miner, and be rich. But tradition had showed me that no one in our family went beyond grade 12; my dad wasn’t so keen on higher education. I hoped I’d be the first to change his mind. I did well in my last exams—but his mind didn’t change. I was angry and bitter.

Circa 2004, I had terrible chest pains, and my numerous hospital visits didn’t yield much. None of the doctors could diagnose me. Finally, I visited another hospital and found a Nigerian doctor who was also a missionary. She checked me and couldn’t find the cause of my chest pains.

However, she engaged me about my life and invited me to visit her church. When I went there the following Sunday, they were starting a study on the book of Job. One question confronted me: what was more important than having God in our lives? I wanted to be rich, but only out of emptiness. I was looking for something—education and wealth—on my terms. I gave my life to Jesus, and I got instant peace. I was no longer bitter toward my family.

The doctor missionary connected me to Operation Mobilization (OM). However, I bailed out when they told me I was to raise my financial support. I didn’t understand how I was supposed to serve God and look for money myself.

Later, I attended a mission conference, and the people in the conference agreed to support me in missions. I took mission discipleship training with OM.

One of OM’s ships was set to sail to Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. OM invited me to be part of it, and after praying about it, I got on board. We sailed and docked in Papua New Guinea. The hunger for books and God was evident; we served about 20,000 per day in the OM bookshop. I later went on the Logos ship for three years.

I desired our African Church to see examples of Africans who have gone as missionaries. So I started to mobilize congregations. I don’t just tell churches to be involved; I show them how and make a way for them to be involved. I connect with pastors and hold prayer meetings for the nations. I’m also on the mission board of my local church.

God has blessed Africa with every resource—human and financial. It’s about time we broke away from the four walls and do what we need to do in global missions.

#Pray:

For God’s strength—I don’t want to do anything of my strength.
For connection with church leaders as I speak to them about missions
For finances to fund my ministry and upcoming missionaries.