Roy is on a mission to end poverty

A South African mission lasting more than seven years began with a dream for Safety Bay man Roy Anderson.

Lying in an induced coma in an intensive care bed at Fremantle Hospital in 1998, Mr Anderson said he dreamt of a mini bus filled with people, surrounded by tiny faces appealing to its passengers for help.

He said he hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but was reminded of it seven years later when, at Sunday night worship at a Rockingham church, he spotted the very same image, and the very same bus, on screen.

“After I had that dream in 1998, I woke up completely healed,” Mr Anderson said.

“The man who was giving the presentation about missionary work in South Africa told the crowd that there was man in the audience who had been given a sign, but hadn’t acted — I knew right away he was talking about me and went to South Africa the following year.”

Since his first trip to the KwaZulu-Natal province on the country’s south coast in 2006, Mr Anderson said he had established Jesus Voice — a privately funded mission aimed at alleviating the crushing poverty which affects much of the region’s 7.6 million ethnic Zulu population.

More than seven years on, Mr Anderson said he now visited the area, where its people call him Pastor Roy because of his passion for philanthropy, for three six-week periods a year, spending the rest fundraising and organising donations.

He said he always brought clothes, from kind-hearted Rockingham donors, and much-needed food supplies.

“I’ve come to know the problems the Zulu people in KwaZulu-Natal are facing — nothing has changed for them after apartheid and most of them live in complete poverty,” Mr Anderson said.

“They live in tin huts, most of the children are running around bare and HIV and tuberculosis are everywhere — they have mass burials on Saturdays.

“The law says the children must attend school, but most cannot afford the school uniforms and books they need.”

Mr Anderson set up a Christian church in 2008, which is now attended by more than 500 people, and has since purchased two team vehicles and a four-bedroom house in which to base Jesus Voice operations.

Such was the determination of Mr Anderson and his wife Elma to help some of the world’s poorest people, they decided to sell their Secret Harbour home 18 months ago, and have moved into a rental property, where they now send $1000 per month to South Africa.

Supported by a small team back home in Rockingham; Terry Spencer, Laurence Sargeant and Granville Bradley, Mr Anderson said the ultimate goal was to teach the people skills to help them become sustainable.

He said the mission house, which is now home to Jesus Voice manager Amos Cele, his family, and 15 homeless men, had become a base for teaching vital skills such as sewing and crop-farming.

Mr Spencer said his friend Mr Anderson’s plight should act as a lesson to others.

“If we all just have one cup of coffee less, a child living in poverty could have a shirt,” he said.

To find out more, contact Mr Anderson via elmroy@iprimus.com.au.