(The following is excerpts from correspondence received from Rev. Carl Richardson regarding the death of Church of God missionary Paul van Zyl):
Missionary Paul van Zyl of South Africa, was killed in a traffic accident on Monday, December 1, 2008, about two miles from his mission station where he lived near Barberton. He was pronounced dead at the accident site by medical authorities. He was en-route from an ongoing project of installing a roof on a new construction site for a growing African Full Gospel Church of God at Emjindini, also near Barberton.
Paul recently celebrated his 75th birthday on November 3. He had suffered from prostate cancer for the past year and told me in a warm and personal email only a few days ago:
I am battling cancer and I have wonderful times with the Lord, especially at night, and I endeavor to walk close to God. I cannot do what I used to do as a young man. But I just completed building the new chapel for our School of Ministry on our Mission Station and now I’ve got a roof underway for these wonderful African Christians (at no cost to them). The roof that will span their new church building is 75 feet long and 30 feet wide. It’s a BIG job, but with the help of God we will successfully get it done. We battle the elements (it is almost summer time here) and we battle the enemy to get that very important roof on. I drive into town with my pickup truck as often as 5 times daily. Yes, it’s hard work. But I have always loved working for God. I still do – more than ever!
Ellie, his wife of nearly 52 years, will continue her work with homeless AIDS orphans in Tonga at Maranatha Mission, built by Children of the World Foundation. She is waiting upon the Lord for direction regarding staffing their School of Ministry campus in light of the tragic death of Paul. Ellie was nominated as South Africa’s Woman of the Year for her benevolence ministry among the poor and disadvantaged. As a professional nurse and midwife, she has helped deliver more than 3,000 babies without the loss of a single baby or mother.
It is not difficult to see why I have often referred to Paul and Ellie as two of my heroes.
Funeral arrangements for Missionary Paul van Zyl are as follows: Saturday, December 6, 2008 – 11:00 AM Barberton Full Gospel Church of God Officiating will be Pastor Ruben van Eyk to be assisted by others yet to be determined.
Personal messages of comfort with personal remembrances and testimonies (for possible use in Paul’s memorial service listed above) may be emailed to directly to Ellie van Zyl – newhopeministries@mweb.co.za.
Ellie has asked our ministry to immediately forward any cards or checks for their ongoing ministries, which may be sent through Carl Richardson Ministries, Inc., PO Box 1000, Brandon, Florida 33509-1000. Our ministry will be happy to issue an IRS Tax-Deductible Receipt for gifts to the van Zyl’s continuing ministry in Africa. We will forward all contributions and cards of comfort and reassurance of prayer directly via overseas airmail to Maranatha Mission and Ellie van Zyl in South Africa.
–Carl Richardson