The Heart of Evangelism

Seth’s Mission to the Tsonga People

For Seth Meyers, sharing the Gospel with the Tsonga people of rural Limpopo, South Africa, was not only a mission but a calling rooted in a deep love for Jesus and a passionate desire to see lives transformed by the Word of God.

His journey as an evangelist began as a young boy in a small town in Pennsylvania, USA. Raised in a Christian home, Seth heard a sermon at the age of 11 that would change the course of his life. The words, “If you want to be saved from hell, you must believe in the Son of God,” planted a seed that would eventually lead him across the globe to remote villages of South Africa. 

Seth’s story is one of obedience, faith, and a profound understanding of the power of the Bible in one’s mother tongue.

“From a young age, I thought it best to spend a few short years bringing people to Jesus. And then we have all eternity to laugh,” Seth recalls. This perspective would shape his life’s work, driving him to serve in places the Gospel had not yet reached.

After early mission trips to Russia and Papua New Guinea, Seth found himself in South Africa. There, he encountered the Tsonga people and realised the importance of this community having a Bible in their language.

The Power of the Bible in Xitsonga 

One of the first things Seth noticed when he arrived in Limpopo was the stark contrast between the urban and rural areas. While South Africa is a developing country with modern infrastructure in its cities, many rural villages remain isolated, with little to no access to basic amenities like running water or paved roads. But what struck Seth the most was the spiritual need. The people in these areas had no access to the Gospel in a form they could truly understand. Yet, to his surprise and gratitude, he discovered that the Bible had been translated into Xitsonga, the native language of the local people. 

“The availability of the Bible in Xitsonga has been crucial in planting churches here,” Seth explains. “We could not plant churches without Bibles.” For Seth, the Bible in Xitsonga is not just a tool for evangelism; it is the foundation upon which he builds relationships, disciples believers, and plants churches. In his work, the Bible is more than a book; it is a lifeline that connects people to the heart of God, allowing them to encounter Jesus in a language they can fully grasp and absorb. 

One story that Seth shares highlights the profound impact of having the Bible in one’s native language. He speaks of a Tsonga man who, despite dropping out of school early, now preaches through the book of Hebrews using his Xitsonga Bible.

“He struggles to read; he doesn’t have a desk, but he is preaching verse by verse through the Word of God,” Seth says.

This man’s commitment to sharing the Gospel, despite his educational limitations, is a testament to the power of the Bible in Xitsonga. It dignifies and empowers him, enabling him to lead others to Christ, regardless of societal expectations or limitations. 

The Role of the Bible Society of South Africa 

Seth gratefully acknowledges that his work in Limpopo would not be possible without the support of the Bible Society of South Africa.

“The work the Bible Society does is essential,” he says. “Without them, the conversion of people would be so much slower. It’s like trying to start a business without a vehicle or trying to start schools without teachers. The Bible is our manual. It’s what makes everything possible.” 

The Bible Society’s mission to make the Word of God available in the heart languages of South Africa’s diverse communities has been a crucial tool for evangelists like Seth. In a country with 12 official languages and countless dialects, having access to Scripture in one’s native tongue is critical for effective ministry. It allows people to encounter the Gospel in a profoundly personal way, enabling them to understand and internalise the message of Christ. 

For Seth, the Bible Society’s work has been indispensable in his church-planting efforts and in helping to disciple new believers. The Bible serves as the cornerstone of his ministry, guiding his efforts to build self-sustaining churches rooted in the principles of the early church.

Seth often refers to the Book of Acts as his blueprint for ministry, striving to plant churches that are self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing. But none of this would be possible, he insists, without access to Bibles in the local language. 

“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have the Bible in every person’s language,” Seth reiterates. “It’s not just about understanding the words; it’s about giving dignity to the people.

It’s about showing them that God speaks their language and that they matter to him.” 

A Life of Sacrifice and Service 

Seth’s life in Limpopo is a far cry from the comforts of suburban America. After visiting South Africa in 2001, he returned in 2004 with his wife, Amy, and together they built their home in a rural village. Their life has been one of sacrifice and service, living among the Tsonga people, learning their language, and immersing themselves in their culture. They consciously decided not to separate themselves from the community with fences or burglar bars, choosing instead to live openly and invite people into their lives. 

Their home quickly became a hub for ministry, a place where new believers could gather to study the Bible and grow in their faith. Seth describes how they built their first church with no outside funding, relying entirely on the contributions and labour of the local community.

The congregation sold Bibles, made lip balm, and baked cookies to raise money for the building materials. “We didn’t want to prop up the church with outside help. We wanted the people to take ownership of it,” Seth explains. 

This approach has empowered the local believers and instilled a sense of dignity and pride in their work. Seth shares how many men who helped build the church have gone on to build homes for their families, using the skills they learned during the church construction.

“That’s what the Gospel does,” Seth says. “It dignifies the individual and raises the entire community.” 

Evangelism and Discipleship: One Bible at a Time 

Seth’s method of evangelism is deeply relational. He spends hours each week preaching in the streets, visiting homes, and holding Bible studies in villages across Limpopo. His goal is simple: to share the Gospel, give people access to a Bible in their language, and disciple them as they grow in their faith. Over the past four years, Seth has given out more than 460 Bibles, each representing a seed planted in the hearts of those who receive it. 

The Bible Society’s provision of Xitsonga Bibles has been central to Seth’s strategy. He offers a Bible to anyone who completes ten weeks of Bible study with him. This simple act has had a profound impact in introducing people to Christ and transforming entire communities. Seth recalls one Tsonga man who, after reading his Bible, realised the depth of his sin and gave up his obsession with lottery tickets, understanding for the first time what it meant to truly follow Jesus.

For Seth, each Bible handed out is a step toward building an autonomous, Gospel-centred church. He is not interested in quick conversions or superficial commitments. Instead, he is focused on planting deep roots in the hearts of believers, teaching them to rely on Scripture and the Holy Spirit to guide their lives. 

“We are planting churches from scratch,” Seth says. “There are no believers to transfer from other churches. We preach in the streets, evangelise in homes, and wait for God to work. And when He does, we give them a Bible and say, ‘Now it’s your turn to share this with others.'” 

Transforming Lives, One Language at a Time 

The impact of Seth’s work is not limited to individual conversions. The Gospel is slowly but surely transforming the moral and cultural fabric of the communities he serves. He speaks of how crime, unwed pregnancies, and the fear of witchcraft are gradually diminishing as more people come to know Christ. But, as Seth quickly points out, this transformation is not the result of his efforts alone. It is the power of the Word of God—made accessible through the Bible Society of South Africa—that is changing lives. 

In a world where many still lack access to Scripture in their own language, Seth’s work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of Bible translation and distribution. “We want to see this happen 20 million times over,” Seth says. “And we believe it can. We’re seeing it happen one person at a time.” 

As the Bible Society of South Africa continues its mission to provide Bibles in all of South Africa’s official languages, stories like Seth’s highlight the life-changing power of having Scripture in one’s mother tongue. It is not just about making the Bible available; it is about making the Gospel accessible to every heart and language.  For Seth and the Tsonga people of Limpopo, the Bible is not just a book—it is the very Word of God, alive and active, transforming lives, families, and entire communities.

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