Restoring hope and bringing life
By Mark Gomez | South Africa in Southern Africa
Volunteer training for Today for Tomorrow teachers in Mozambique.
Children are the life of any nation. If children’s lives are threatened with sickness, internal conflict, and extreme poverty, that generation will lose hope and the future of a nation will be that much bleaker for it. Hard conditions exact a heavy burden on the children and their parents' hopes for the future.
But, if someone steps in and brings help and a message of hope to a young generation, the future can be brighter.
SIM mission workers Rev Chris and Nancy Maphosa have helped more than 20,000 children across Southern Africa have access to a healthy future. The Maphosas lead a programme called Today for Tomorrow (T4T), which started in 2003 in Zimbabwe. The Maphosas and their partners, Graham and Jessie Haddad, realised children are often not given a good enough foundation for living healthy lives and avoiding dangerous illnesses such as HIV and AIDS.
Chris anchors the programme in Isaiah 55:11:
"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." That is why the ministry is called Today for Tomorrow.
And they are seeing God do amazing things among the children.
Chris said: "We found that children are a vulnerable group. We also saw that most HIV and AIDS programmes were only dealing with adults and youth, not children. We wanted children to be reached for Christ and for them to have a personal relationship with the Lord. We also wanted to do HIV and AIDS prevention with them so that we could significantly contribute to an HIV and AIDS-free generation."
In addition to that vision, their work includes development of life skills, caring for children with disabilities and those who have been orphaned, and character formation:
- Trustworthiness (Luke 16:10)
- Respect (Matthew, 7:12)
- Responsibility (Romans 14:12)
- Fairness (2 Chronicles 19:7)
- Caring (Philippians 2:4)
- Good citizenship (Romans 13:1)
Today for Tomorrow plants seeds of hope for these children's futures, offering them new life in Christ and the tools they need to flourish in their world. Chris said, "The best thing is seeing children being reached for Christ and having a relationship with the Lord and seeing churches integrating children as members."
Chris and Nancy manage the project and coordinate efforts in Botswana, Kingdom of eSwatini, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. Together with their partners, they are prayerfully seeking opportunities to expand the programme in Angola, Madagascar, Mauritius, Lesotho, and Zambia. Workers in Malawi and Zimbabwe also use the programme, running it independently but consulting with the Maphosas when needed. Overall, Today for Tomorrow currently has more than 20,000 students and 1,000 teachers in 108 locations, where it collaborates with many local churches.
With such an expansive project, the Maphosas are continually praying for others to join the work. If God is calling you to be part of bringing life and hope and ministering to children, please consider participating in the following ways.
The Maphosas: Nancy, Blessing, Chris Junior, Peace, and Chris
Credit: Chris Maphosa
Pray
• For the children in the programme to accept Jesus as their Saviour and be equipped with life skills through the Holy Spirit.
• For safety, protection, and good health for the children in the programme.
• For safety, strength, and wisdom in traveling and training for the Maphosas.
• For the Maphosas’ children at home, school, and university – that they would be growing and maturing in beautiful ways.
• For the mission workers and churches associated with the programme to have the prayer and financial support they need to continue expanding the work in southern Africa.
Give
Consider providing financial support for the Today for Tomorrow programme by using project number 96393 at our donation portal.
Go
Consider participating in the Today for Tomorrow programme as a volunteer. To discuss volunteering with Today for Tomorrow or bringing the programme to your church or school, contact Chris at chris.maphosa@sim.org.
Related stories
In Carrie’s classroom, Jesus is shaping hearts and minds for his kingdom
When mission workers with young families leave their home country, a major concern is how their children will get on. While the parents are out serving, the kids need stability, education, and spiritual nurturing. That’s where teachers like Carrie come in. Originally from Kansas, Carrie now teaches at a mission school in Liberia, part of Dakar Academy in Senegal, shaping young hearts and minds for God’s kingdom.
What might God do in 2025?
As we step into 2025, there is a sense of excitement and expectancy among those serving in mission work worldwide. From remote villages to bustling cities, SIM’s Entity Directors are preparing for what lies ahead, trusting God to bring transformation and hope to unreached and underserved communities. To gain insight into their vision and prayers for the year, we spoke with leaders across the globe about their hopes, challenges, and how the global Christian community can pray and support their work.
How the local church in France adapts to secularism and a changing society
France is a country of contrasts: rich in history, arts, and culture. Yet, as French native Vincent, Head of Communications for SIM France/Belgium, explains, it is also a nation of deep spiritual need. Things are starting to change, though. There is a growing openness to faith and a pressing need for mission work.
