Testimonial: Proclaiming the Message of Christ in South Africa

I grew up in a small town in South Africa with a Christian upbringing, though I didn’t know Christ personally. I decided to attend university to pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. Little did I know that God had brought me there for a far greater purpose than academics.

In my second year, I came to faith in Christ, and from that moment, my life began to change—blessing after blessing. One of the greatest blessings has been the opportunity to serve the Lord in many different ways. One of the most surprising and faith-strengthening ways has been sharing the gospel with LDS missionaries.

I first got involved after a close friend began considering leaving our church to join the LDS church since the man she was planning to marry was Mormon. She invited me to sit in on one of the lessons the missionaries were giving her. At the time, I knew very little about Mormonism. I remembered my mom once calling it a cult, but I’d dismissed that as superstition. As I listened to the missionaries’ lesson on their plan of salvation, I found much of it confusing and contradictory to what I had learned from the Bible. It sounded like they were saying salvation depends on our efforts, and I had come to know that salvation is a gift from God—one that we could never earn.

I voiced some of my concerns and shared a few Bible passages with them, but I didn’t plan to meet with them again. Instead, I prayed earnestly for my friend. By God’s grace, her eyes were opened.

A month later, I found a book at our church library called Out of Mormonism, written by a woman who had left the LDS Church. As I read about her experience, my heart broke. I began to pray—not just for my friend, but for the missionaries themselves. As I read the Bible, I became more and more convinced that these young people were lost and needed someone to share the true gospel with them. I felt compelled to help—but I didn’t know how.

So I did what many people might do: I searched online. Most of the approaches I found felt harsh or argumentative. That’s when I decided to look for ways to “share the gospel with Mormons in love.” That search led me to a more compassionate approach through Truth in Love Ministry, and I reached out for guidance.

What I found gave me hope: there were other Christians who cared deeply about reaching LDS missionaries, who had tools and encouragement to offer. That made a huge difference. In South Africa, most people don’t know much about Mormonism—or they simply avoid the topic. But I realized that this was a mission field right in front of us, and I began encouraging others in my church to consider reaching out as well.

Some people didn’t understand why I kept meeting with LDS missionaries. A few told me I was wasting my time. But I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be to show love, listen patiently, and share God’s truth. I began talking with other believers in my community and inviting anyone willing to get involved. Finding others who care about sharing the hope we have in Christ has been a joy.

It’s scary to put your faith out there—especially when you know you’ll be talking to people who may try to convert you. But knowing that God calls us to share the gospel and that the Holy Spirit guides us step by step has been a constant comfort. Ultimately, it is God who does the work. We are just the vessels he uses.

So I encourage you: be ready. Be willing. You don’t need to know everything about Mormonism. You just need to know Jesus—and be prepared to share the hope he gives. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news.