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Southern Africa MissionThe Ivan Martin family has been serving in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) since 1971. For 10 years they worked in rural evangelism in what was then called Sinoia (now Chinhoyi), but since that time have worked in urban evangelism in Bulawayo, a city of about 500,000. Ivan has always been actively preaching and teaching the gospel. Strong emphasis has always been placed on leadership training and evangelistic discipleship programs. JoAnn is very active in Christian education and has organized and led Sunday School and V.B.S. at the Colenbrander Church, as well as other youth and women's programs. The Martins are ministering to a people that were filled with hard racial feelings because of civil war. AIDS is an ever growing problem. The present political and economic upheavals have created a climate of great instability and discontent among the people of the country. Taxes and interest rates have risen to unbelievable levels, prices are soaring and the value of the Zimbabwe money continues to decline. As a result, the people continue to get less and less for the wages they earn. Due to the high cost of materials, many are losing their jobs. They struggle with the problem of beggars at their gates and determining what needs are genuine. The Martins say that in the midst of the hardships and difficult times, doors are being opened.
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