anointed pearls - marlyn & Maryke botha
Where does Marlyn and Maryke Botha’s story begin?
Recently Team Talk chatted to the Botha sisters and asked them to share their story with our readers.
“Doesn’t matter what curve ball the world throws at you, how broken you feel, keep your eyes on the only Hope, have faith and worship the Lord.”
“Where does Marlyn and Maryke Botha story begin? Who played the roles in our life? Surely the Lord had the most important role in our journey of life. We learned that no matter what happens He was always there. We only needed to keep faith and our eyes upon Him.
Our story begins at the beginning, Marlyn was born on the 21st of April 1974 and Maryke on 23rd of July 1982. We were five children, where one of our brothers has passed aways at an early age of 9 months. Marlyn is oldest sister and Maryke the youngest of all. We were brought up in Christian family. The gathering of the saints was seriously taken by our parents as they believed if you are not part of church family then you can easily get cold and follow the wrong path in life. We grew up in a Dutch Reformed Church where we were taught to follow Jesus with our whole heart and depend fully on the Word of God. We were active in the church from youth, and a part of the worship team to worship dancing and be part of the evangelism (EE3) team. From early stage in our life my mom (Maria Botha) believe that music is a strong weapon we can use in our difficult times.
We all played a music instrument and we loved to sing. During our school years we started with our ministry, but at that stage we didn’t realize our future (what the Lord planned for us). At school we were involved with the school choir (since primary school), the Christian dance and drama team, as well leaders in ACSV.
A big part of our childhood wasn’t always an easy road as alcoholism was part of it. In this difficult time my mom was always our rock and refuge and always taught us to handle the situation by keeping our eyes upon the Lord. When my dad gave his life to the Lord, he stopped and focus totality on the Lord. Few years later he fell ill for a very long time (since age of 40 until age 77).
During his sickness he trusted the Lord with his life, although doctors said that he only had 6 months to live. End of January 1999 we found my dad on his bed in coma. He was rushed to hospital, and he was diagnosed with severe lung cancer. From hospital he was moved to Aurora and the doctors only gave him one week to live. But we never gave up, we believed that the Lord was in control and knew what was best. During that time, there were moments where it looked like “the time is now”, but then we would sing worship songs (I Raise a Hallelujah) and the next day he looked like he was better.
That continued for more than a month until 13 March 1999 when he passed on to his forever home. After finishing Matric we started to work for Chartered accountants where we partially studied and finish our traineeship. During that time so many abusive things happened to Marlyn, and she was looking for another opportunity.
Maryke left the firm first. After 22 years of service, Marlyn’s breakthrough happened and she started at new accounting firm. During that time our church family was always there to support us, and we learned how to fight our battles by worshipping the Lord in the middle of the storm. Currently the Lord blessed us both with companies that look after their employees.
When we sold our house and moved to another suburb, it was difficult to attend the church. For a few years we did not attend any church. One day Pastor Cyril & Lindie Crail (which didn’t know us at the time) from the Full Gospel Church visited our home to pray for my dad, who was on that stage very ill. That night Pastor Lindie gave us a word that the Lord is going open our ministries again, but we need to step out.
We as a family decided to start searching for a church and joined a closer Full Gospel Church as Pastor Cyril one was too far for us. After attending the church for more than a year, Maryke joined the worship team, Marlyn started to help managing the Youth and later joined the worship team as well. During that time the Holy Spirit led us to start the worship dance group in the church. During that year the Lord blessed us with three dance groups (women, youth and tweenies).
In 2019 the Holy Spirit led us to hold a Lente Lofdans festival. The theme for the festival were Season of life. He showed us that the entrance fee should only be R5 based on the parable of the five bread and two fishes and that we need to have faith. An half hour before the festival started there were only a handful of people. But we kept our faith. Suddenly about 500 people walked in and attended the festival.
The Lord showed us that He is never too late and if He promised you, He WILL provide for you in His time. We need to be patient to wait upon the Lord. Then COVID arrived! We were devastated as we were not allowed to preform our ministry. January 2000 the Holy Spirit led us to start Anointed Pearls consisted of sing, drama and dancing. At that stage we didn’t know what the future held, but we trusted the Lord. And Anointed Pearls consisted of only us. In June 2021 Marlyn was elected Eastern Cape leader for CDFSA (Christian Dance Fellowship of South Africa) for about year and halves.
In June 2021 our whole household got COVID. For the three of us (Marlyn, Maryke and our mom) it was not easy. Marlyn had it the worst and there was a time she was hospitalized. Maryke also had COVID but she was allowed to be with Marlyn in hospital (tent outside St George’s Hospital). This allowed the Pastor to phone Marlyn in order to pray for her, although she could not talk to him, she could still hear his prayers. In the pastor’s prayer he said that it is not her time to go, the Lord still has a big plan for her life (her ministry is not done).
Maryke was asked to leave Marlyn side due to x-rays that was needed. She prayed to the Lord and sang outside the hospital the song of Michael W Smith “Breathe”. Then asked that the Lord would breathe His breathe in Marlyn’s lungs. Without knowing, Marlyn prayed the same prayer to the Lord. When she was admitted, her oxygen count was low. After we prayed for her and worshipped to the Lord, her count suddenly increased to normal, leaving the doctors surprised. Again, in middle of our storm we worship the Lord and took our eyes off our situation and gave it to Him (Our Healer).
On 27 October 2021 life threw another big rock in our journey. In that time, we questioned the Lord as the hurt, pain and rejection was unbearable. The Holy Spirits led us to attend a course “70 x 7” and showed us that we need to forgive and that we need to leave the hurt, pain and rejection at His feet. That was not easy, as we are still human, but we knew that we would get through it. From November 2021, the Holy Spirit led us to attend Pastor Louwtjie & Renee Kilian’s church. The Lord blessed us with them to help us with the healing process.
Why did the Holy Spirit lead us to choose Anointed Pearls as our ministry name? Pearls are formed from brokenness. A piece of sand, shell, bacteria /parasite damages cells in the mantle. The oyster responds by coating it with protective layers. Damage oysters create object of great beauty and worth. In Matthew 13: 45-46, Jesus told the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. T
his parable shows that there is nothing more valuable in life than seeking and knowing God. This parable also points to Christ who was slain for our sins. Pearls are pure/purity, beautiful, royalty and are rare. This is like God’s love and grace for His children and, He treasures us more than anything else. As pearls are formed from brokenness and suffering, that symbolizes the perfection of the kingdom of heaven (Rev 21:21). A pearl creates a rainbow effect that reflects the Lamb’s (Jesus) broken beauty and also the promise that He will never leave or forsake us.
At the cross all our brokenness, sickness, pain etc was fully paid for and when He shouted that it is finish, it meant - it is done! For the mission and vision of. Anointed Pearls is to use our brokenness and suffering to motivate others. To be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to spread gospel via dance, drama and singing. Our ministry is not about us but all about Him and to glorify our King.
Therefore, Jesus Christ is Anointed Pearls cornerstone our foundation Psalm 104:33 says as “long as I live, I will sing and praise the Lord God.” Therefore, we will Dance, Sing, Praise, Live and Love for Him alone. Currently Anointed Pearls grew from us to 8 active members. We are blessed to ministry our and other churches and children’s homes.
All our activities are inspired and lead by the Holy Spirit. It is not about us, but all about Him.”
God Bless. Marlyn & Maryke Botha
Team Talk would like to thank Marlyn and Maryke for sharing their story with us. May God continue to bless and inspire you to reach new heights to the Glory of His Name.
May you always keep on keeping on to the Glory of God. Thank you for loving others and teaching them what humbleness is all about.
Thank you for serving our Lord Jesus Christ with true Servant Hearts.
Marlyn & Maryke Botha
