Colleagues in ministry

Mintie Nel, single, was born in Calvinia, South Africa. In 2002 she became a British Citizen and lives in Ferring, West Sussex, UK. Together with Jan Whitmore (nee Rowland), she co-founded Mission Encouragement Trust, 1992 - 2014 (former UK Charity 1063403). They dedicated their lives to the pastoral support and encouragement of Christian missionaries.

For 47+ years Mintie has made a significant spiritual investment into the lives of others. Skilled, trained and experienced in discipleship training, debriefing and pastoral ministry, she has now joined Jan Whitmore, Reuven and Yanit Ross in Making Disciples International (USA website: www.making-disciples.net). Overcoming chronic illness (Rheumatoid Arthritis), Mintie displays the heart of a joyful overcomer and is an inspiration to all who meet her.

Mintie says: "Years ago, when I first learned how to hear the voice of the Lord, I had a remarkable experience. God gave me a very specific message. I was twenty-two and quite oblivious to the fact that this message from the Lord would take me on a physical and spiritual journey that would span the world and a lifetime.

I had trained as a social worker and completed my first year of practical social work in 1972. I sensed that God was speaking to me about fulltime Christian work. Was this a calling to go to the mission field? It was while I was being discipled by a wonderful godly woman, Rea Uys, that I was advised to wait on the Lord for a specific passage of Scripture that would give me guidance and direction. It sounded like an exciting adventure and I was eager to hear from the Lord!

One day I opened my Bible at Ezekiel 2: 1—5, a passage of Scripture I was not familiar with. The words seemed to leap from the page. Instead of reading Ezekiel’s call I heard the Lord say, “Mintie, you stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them”.

I was overwhelmed and I kept repeating these words over and over in my mind. I questioned the Lord daily, “Does this mean I have to leave South Africa and go to the land of Israel? Can’t I work amongst the Jews here in South Africa?” Then He spoke to me again, "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1 NKJV).

For days I felt God’s Word burning within my heart and I started to believe and understand that this was exactly what God wanted me to do. Without any doubt, I knew God was calling and sending me to go to the land of Israel. God was speaking to me personally and this was what I had to do. I was twenty-three years old. These specific words in the book of Ezekiel were written down more than 2,500 years ago; words he received directly from God. How amazing that in 1972 I heard and received the very same message from the Lord. God was calling me into fulltime service, a calling I have been following for 40 years."