“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” (ESV); “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” (NLT) Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two siblings and Haggai leaders in South Africa are showing the world what it looks like to embody this verse as they minister to young people who are incarcerated. Maureen Malatjie and her brother, Sipho Kubayi, were equipped through the Haggai Leader Experience in April and June 2019 respectively. During that time, Maureen felt a call from deep within to minister to juvenile offenders in a local correctional facility.

Maureen and her brother organized a two-day youth camp at a local school and invited a renowned guest speaker, a child of God and a recovered addict who spoke to the attendees about substance abuse and other social problems. As a believer, he used this opportunity to share the Gospel.

“I remember vividly a specific lesson was on Effective Leadership for Witnessing, and I broke down when the facilitator shared how we are to be an influence on others,” she says. “She played a song by Kathy Troccoli called ‘Go Light Your World.’ I completely broke down and told my class that I was inadequate and could not minister to the incarcerated. But I knew without a doubt that I had heard the Lord correctly about where He was calling me. It is with that conviction that I could approach the correctional facility to get their permission. And as they say, the rest is history.”

Maureen and Sipho, who is an evangelist, along with another pastor, a social worker, and a psychologist — all who love the Lord — partner together in this ministry. They host evangelistic sessions and share the love of Jesus with these offenders. Maureen says, “Seeing many of them receive Christ has been the most fulfilling experience. So far, I have bought over 50 Bibles to ensure any who do not have a Bible is given one. We encourage them to study the Word of God and we have corporate prayer together with them.”

Maureen and Sipho work with the offenders not only when these young people are locked up but also when they’re released. “By the grace of God, we reconnect offenders who have been disowned by their families. We keep in touch with them after they are released to connect them with faith-based churches in their areas to ensure they sustain what they learned about Jesus while incarcerated.”

Partnering with local schools is another passion for Maureen and her brother. They invite juvenile offenders to the schools or have the students visit the correctional facility to learn about societal challenges, such as drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, and peer pressure. The offenders share their personal stories and also how the Lord has transformed their lives.

This sibling duo also works together to share the Gospel in a local squatter’s camp settlement. At the same time, they provide the people with basic food packages as they are able to afford.

Additionally, Sipho had been inspired by the Haggai Leader Experience to evangelize on a local radio station every Saturday since 2019 and has been sharing Christ with thousands of people through this platform.

“God is gracious to have partnered my brother and I together in our work for Him,” Maureen says.

Written by Valerie Dyke