Born September 15, 1974, in Seymour, South Africa

Baptized into Christ in 1999

Lives in King Williams Town, South Africa

Preaches in Xhosa (his first language), English, and Afrikaans

Works with the churches in Zwelitsha, Seymour, Bhisho, and surrounding villages

Married Zusakhe Msadu in 2007

Son, Emilhe (b. 2007)

More about Thembinkosi's life and work for the Lord:

• Was abandoned by his father at three months; lived with his grandmother while his mother worked as a kitchen maid.
• Was unable to attend school regularly as a child because he was responsible for tending his grandfather's livestock.
• Left his grandmother's house in 1988 at age 14 to join his mother and her new husband in King Williams Town.
• Joined the Assemblies of God in 1989.
• Returned to school, but had to drop out again in 1992 to provide for his mother who was partially paralyzed in a car accident, his alcoholic stepfather, and their three children.
• Began work in a factory and completed his secondary education through distance learning.
• After a promotion in 1995, was forced to resign his job in 1998 during a strike that he refused to join, after his mother's shack was set on fire and his life was threatened.
• Began studying Les Maydell's correspondence course, Know Your Bible, in 1999.
• Was baptized by Ashley Goosen after six months of study, but had no other Christians to meet with.
• Soon studied with and baptized five people in Zwelitsha.
• Was mugged and stabbed on the way home from church in February 2005.
• Lived with Ashley and Janet Goosen until he recovered, but never regained the use of his left hand.
• Continued to suffer pain from the injury until surgery some time later revealed part of the knife and some gauze which had been left in the wound.
• Converted his mother and some other family members, as well as a young woman named Zusakhe.
• Taught the gospel in Seymour (three hours away from King Williams Town), and the seed produced a new congregation there.
• Married Zusakhe in 2007 and was blessed with the birth of their son, Emilhe on September 28, 2007.