WILCO & LYDIA VENTER
In September 2001, Wilco and Lydia Venters left South Africa to follow the call of God on their lives. Leaving South Africa on the 27th August 2001, they and their young family entered Kenya at 4:15 pm on 4th September 2001. It was a long journey, with much prayer and at times amazing miracles, including an angel saving their trailer when it tipped over. This journey had not been taken lightly and had not come about very quickly, but rather had taken Wilco and Lydia years of prayer and investment. But through it all God showed His favour, provision and timing. We are so grateful to be able to partner with this amazing couple as they continue to serve local people in Kenya, 20 years after they have arrived, and we continue to pray for favour, provision and timing.
Lydia has completed a series of articles for Gateway News in South Africa. This 31-part series looks at the amazing journey that God has taken them on and continues to take them on. Episodes 1 & 2 are available below, with links to the remaining in the series under “More episodes.”
Episode 1 - God Saves Us & Delivers Me From Racism: In this first episode, Lydia talks about how God brought them both to faith and the transformation that occurred in her heart due to God's Love. In a world of #BlackLivesMatter, Lydia reflects on the impact of God's Love and the way He challenged her heart to racism from growing up in South Africa during Apartheid.
Episode 2 - God Sends Three Angels: In this second episode, Lydia tells about the arrival of their three amazing children and the blessing and challenges that God provided along the way.
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Episode 3 - A Scary Woman Takes Off Her Shoes: Lydia outlines the call to Kenya in Episode 3.
Episode 4 - Countdown to Kenya: It is never easy to step into the call of God, especially when we are so excited, but God is asking us to wait. In Episode 4, Lydia outlines the journey from call to departure.
Episode 5- Finally Setting Out For Kenya: In today's world, we are again coming to the realisation of the change that flight has made to our lives. In 2001 when Lydia and Wilco left South Africa to follow God's call to Kenya, they took 9 days, and this journey was not all plain sailing.
Episode 6 - Water From Heaven: The reality of ministry is never what we imagine. In episode 6, Lydia outlines the struggles of their early days in Kenya. Especially in connection with water. But throughout this, God provided through both the ordinary and the miraculous.
Episode 7 - Reaching the Unreached: A call to reach the unreached and to share the Good News.
Episode 8 – A ministry & a child are born: In this episode. God speaks in surprising ways to direct Lydia and Wilco Venter in the early days of their ministry in Kenya.
Episode 9 – How our small playgroup became one of the largest ACE schools in Kenya: In this week’s episode. Wilco and Lydia Venter become the answer to their own prayer.
Episode 10 – Election violence, cookies and a poem: Lydia recalls God’s grace during a troubled time in Kenya.
Episode 11 – How God used an attack on our lives to soften our hearts: In this week’s episode. Lydia shares a dramatic testimony from the Venter family’s early mission years during a time of turmoil in Kenya.
Episode 12 – From the deep hole of depression to the ‘one set of footprints’: In the last episode, missionary Lydia Venter shared how God brought good out of a brutal attack on them.
Episode 13 – The blessing of the boy under the bush: What happens when you tell God He may not do something — and He does it anyway? In this episode, missionary Lydia Venter share her experience of such a scenario.
Episode 14 – Six homeless boys bring Isaiah 58:7 to life!: Lydia shares about some more powerful, defining moments during the Venter family’s missionary journey in Kenya.
Episode 15 – God rescues a little Samburu girl from certain death: After a 3-months break, Lydia Venter picks up again on her riveting account of the family’s missionary adventures in Kenya.
Episode 16 – “… and you will dream dreams and see visions (part 1): Lydia Venter shares a testimony from the mission field in Kenya of what can happen when God’s people act on dreams.
Episode 17 - “… and you will dream dreams and see visions (part 2): Lydia Venter continues her testimony from the mission field in Kenya of what can happen when God’s people act on dreams.
Episode 18 – God ‘interrupts’ our lives to plant school in remote village: Missionary, Lydia Venter, testifies of the good fruit that comes out of obeying God even when it doesn’t seem to make sense.
Episode 19 – Two cakes, a dog and a birthday party: Missionary in Kenya, Lydia Venter, remembers the challenges of arranging a particular birthday party — as well as the great blessing that came out of the celebration.
Episode 20 – Another story of Butch, our loyal protector — and beloved rascal: Missionary in Kenya, Lydia Venter, shares more memorable dog tales.
Episode 21 – A stolen car and God’s miraculous intervention: Veteran South African missionary in Kenya, Lydia Venter, shares more testimonies of trials — and blessings — on the mission field.
Episode 22 – What the enemy intended for evil, God mightily used for His glory: Another inspiring testimony from missionary, Lydia Venter, about adventures with God in Kenya.
Episode 23 – God intervening by showing us great and mighty things we do not know: Part 1: Veteran missionary, Lydia Venter, shares testimonies on God’s wisdom saving the day.
Episode 24 – God intervening by showing us great and mighty things we do not know: Part 2: Veteran missionary, Lydia Venter, shares a powerful testimony of how God’s forewarning saved lives.
Episode 25 – God intervening by showing us great and mighty things we do not know: Part 3: In her latest testimony, missionary Lydia Venter illustrates the power of obedience and prayer God has shown us these profound and startling realities through His Spirit.
Episode 26 – Receiving God’s mercy in times of disobedience: What happens when we miss God through disobedience? Missionary Lydia Venter answers from experience.
Episode 27 – The land we never thought we’d own: Lydia Venter’s account of her family’s missionary adventures in Kenya continues with a story about a place of destiny they nearly missed out on.
Episode 28 – God used property we bought ‘by the way’ to show us ‘His way’: In the previous episode missionary Lydia Venter shared how they unexpectedly bought a piece of land in an obscure Kenyan village called Lomolo.
Episode 29 – Building according to the Master’s instructions: Missionary Lydia Venter continues to share about their adventures in the remote Kenyan village of Lomolo.
Episode 30 – ‘Let the little children come to me…’: Missionary Lydia Venter highlights the importance of making time to connect with village children outside of their daily grind.
Episode 31 – How the ’80/20 Rule’ helped our marriage and our ministry: Veteran missionary in Kenya Lydia Venter shares a life-changing lesson she and her husband, Wilco, learned from a ministry colleague.
Throughout their last 20 years, Wilco and Lydia have served God and their community with passion and excitement. We love to hear of the adventures that God has taken them on. However, more than that, we love to hear that God has not finished with them yet. Will you partner with them?
Support Wilco & Lydia Today!
The Venters works with us to help people discover their brighter future. Please consider giving a gift to support their ministry today!
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Connections
Discover more about Wilco & Lydia’s ministry by exploring which of our Partners they are connected with.
WORKING WITH YASHA MINISTRIES
Wilco & Lydia work closely with YASHA Ministries to empower local women through employment and life-skilling, while engaging with leaders, churches and schools to encourage everyone to bring their individual gifts to the table.