Dynamite for Jesus - Tony & Talieta Hayward
Tony and Talieta Hayward are not your average couple. When I first met them, I knew that there were something very special about them.
Recently Team Talk chatted to them and asked them to share their story with our readers.
A special word to every reader.. “JESUS LOVES US IN AN INCREDABLE, INDESCRIBABLE AND STEADFAST WAY. IT IS UP TO US TO TAKE THE LOVE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM HIM AND FIND WAYS TO BRING THIS LOVE AND KINDNESS TO OTHERS.” – Talieta.
Tony and Talieta, or even well known as T & T - “Dynamite for Jesus”. This is our story…. Tony is an electrical fitter at Transnet, and I run a company called Insta Training Solutions. Insta provides staff training, courses like First Aid, Fire Fighting, Health and Safety etc. for many service stations all over South Africa and to Woolworths, Pick a Pay, Spar etc., mostly allocated in the Gauteng Free state, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal. Tony and I have been blessed with two wonderful sons-in-law, two daughters, and one son, between the two of us. One daughter has a son and lives in Jeffreys and the other daughter has one son and lives in New Zealand. Our son is currently studying and busy planning on also going to New Zealand.
We have been fortunate enough to travel to Israel 6 times. We lost our hearts in Israel in 2015 on a tour with our pastor and tour guides Louwtjie and Reneé Kilian and have been going back every year since, (except with covid 19) to go and find it. Needless to say, no success so far… We both love travelling and spending time in God’s beautiful nature and therefor we also travel on our motorbike as often as possible. Being in God’s nature and hearing from God whilst travelling especially on the motorbike, is one of the most frequent ways that I have heard and hear from Holy Spirit.
In the last 4 years (Tony only got his license in 2019), we have travelled to numerous places and seen so much of our amazing country, which God Himself has planned. He is the Master Landscaper of all times and will forever and ever be the only one… We have travelled approximately 70 000 km these last 4 years. Right across South Africa and up to the Namibian border. Experiencing drinking up the most beautiful views, sceneries, sunrises, and sunsets.
Our ministry-journey actually started just after I moved from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth. It was a rainy day, as we drove pass a woman in front of a shop, with a baby on her back, covered in a baby-blanket. We stopped and asked her if she was okay. She said she was desperate for food for her baby. This was our first experience ministering and feeding somebody, and that is how we started helping, feeding, and ministering whilst evangelizing.
I came from Pretoria knowing that I will be working with “broken” woman and children, I just did not know how or when and not knowing anybody in Port Elizabeth, except my husband, I did not know where our journey would start. I still remember us, driving away from the woman and baby in the rain as I said to Tony, “this is just a drop in the bucket, how can we get to do more for God and be His extended arms and hands in this broken world we live in”.
Tony and I never attempt any of our projects without hearing from the Holy Spirit first and getting confirmation, and relying on Him for wisdom, knowledge, and insight and on God as our Provider. This does not go without its challenges, but no matter the challenge, we never lose faith or trust. Our desire is to hear His will, His heart, and His desire. And if heard and confirmed, there is no turning back, because we are absolutely convinced that if He gives us something to do, He will make it work, not us. No credit, no rewards for us, to God alone be all the glory and honor.
A very important message that we would like to bring across to every re-born child of God out there, is that God can and will use ANYBODY.. It is all about availability and obedience, not about ANYTHING else.
Whenever we travel, be it by car or motorbike, we believe that no matter where we go, we are prepared and willing knowing that there will be someone to minister to, or somebody who just needs a hug, an outreached hand, upliftment or maybe just a friendly smile or kind words. Somebody God will connect us with. Be it a waitress, the person who books us in at our accommodation, or somebody who we meet on the side of the road.
We are always continuously very aware of the Holy Spirit to guide us and to lead us to be in contact with whomever He desires. So far, all our projects have only been sponsored by our friends, colleagues, our church and church family, people close to us who know our hearts and who themselves have an open heart and hand. We followed the Holy Spirit’s heart in 2021 and received enough funds to donate 266 pairs of tekkies to boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 13. The project name was “Toes in Tekkies” and then in 2022, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we planned a market. This was a very awesome and successful market day.
Our pastor gave permission for us to use the church grounds for this fund raising. The most amazing thing about the market, was that it was not only for what we intended it to be for, and that was for raising funds for the orphanage children’s festive season gifts, it also turned out to be “solid and fruitful” grounds for ministering, meeting, befriending, and helping people. Visitors, exhibitors, and passer buys. People with whom we still have contact with, some who we have become friends with. The funds raised, were used to buy pillows and pillowcases for each of the children with their name printed on as well as a Bible scripture for 38 orphanage children. “We wait on the Lord, He arrives, we trust in Him, He never disappoints, we know we must ask, and He will provide. When God takes you to it, He will take you through it.”
Something that we would like to bring across to people who are in the same or similar ministries than us, is to treat people with respect, uplift and motivate them, treat them as valued people, in order for them to keep their dignity and continue to fight the fight and the struggles they endure. “Give people hope”. With the covid 19 virus lockdown, people lost loved ones, friends, colleagues, lost houses, jobs, income and above all, now with the aftermath, so many people don’t have hope. Hope is sometimes all people have left; all they have, to hold on to.
Our hearts and our dream are, to be able to feed and help as many people as possible that Holy Spirit leads us to help, to spread the good news, share the love of Jesus, be able to deposit joy in hearts, hope, and faith wherever we go.
Here we are, two humble servants, dedicated to, passionate and in love with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our main and only focus is to bring Him all the glory and praise, as He is so worthy, there is none like our God, nobody and nothing to compare Him with. He needs to be glorified in all we do and say, so that EVERYBODY, the whole world, can glorify Him until the day He returns. Soon every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Our epilogue - Be kind, share the Love of Jesus. If you cannot donate money, give your time or your talent, a smile or a hug, but have an open heart and hand, and GIVE.
Team Talk would like to thank Tony and Talieta for sharing with our readers. We wish you all the love, joy and adventure on every road you take to the Glory of God. Read article in July edition of Team Talk.
TOny and Talieta Hayward
