Alun and Debbie Burt

Like so many cities around the world, Cape Town faces huge challenges as a result of mass urbanisation.  The Arise ministry helps children in crisis, support vulnerable children and encourages fostering and adoption amongst Christians.

St Thomas Church,  Heiderveld, partners with Arise to provide a church-based ministry that seeks first to proclaim God’s word to broken people, and then to offer practical help. 

After completing three years theological training in London, Alun and Debbie were originally part of a short-term mission team to South Africa.  While working with some of Cape Town’s poor, Alun and Debbie were then asked to consider returning longer-term.  Strong advocates of gospel-centred mercy ministries, they returned to South Africa at the start of 2006 and married in 2007.

Returning to St. Thomas and Arise as Crosslinks Mission Partners in 2008, Alun’s work now includes teaching the Bible in St. Thomas Church, and aiming to reach and disciple young men struggling with how to be men in a community stricken by drugs and gangsterism.

Debbie is raising the profile of fostering and adoption in the local church, as well as supporting families that have already taken these steps.

They have two adopted children: Likhona and Ilana.