GOD Provides

Kophinos Creations is a CC that was started in 2006 as a vehicle through which educational material for the prevention of sexual abuse to children will be produced and marketed.  God inspired Olindia (my wife) to write a book, with illustrations, on this subject.  This is a book that a parent/adult who is in a trust relationship with the child can use to teach the child about his/her body and the privacy rights to it.

When the book was completed it was evaluated by a psychiatrist and it was suggested that the book must be specific for boys and girls.  This was done and the linguistics was done.  We then went looking for a publisher and when we could not find a publisher who was willing to publish the book and then we looked for a printing house that could print the books for us.  Throughout the process we maintained that we want to work the finances God’s way – that is without debt and this made things rather difficult.

We contacted just about every publisher and big printer in South Africa and also contacted a printer in China.  The books can be printed cheaply in China but then we need to print 20 000 books and ship them here.  The costs that are attached to this would mean debt and we feel that we would rather keep the finances in South Africa.

In 2009 a brother in Christ suggested that we try a specific publisher again and he set up an appointment for us.  The publishing house expressed their interest in publishing the book and we were ecstatic!  We did all our homework so that we would be ready to speed up the process to get the books on the shelves.  On our way back to the office from the publisher he said that the book is now done and we need to direct our focus to Olindia’s ministry.  The ministry is to spread the message and educate people about the prevention of sexual abuse of children.

A month later we were in a meeting with the publisher discussing possible changes that they would like in the book and we felt that some of the changes they suggested were out of line from the inspiration that the Holy Spirit gave.  All of a sudden the publisher decided that the market is not about prevention and they were no longer interested in publishing the book.  We were devastated and it took some time to get over this hurdle.  I said to Olindia that we must still consider the book as completed.  I then realised that God will not share His glory and that the book is much bigger than the publishing house.  We cannot make changes to suit them as the Holy Spirit was the author and Olindia the pen!

God used a contact we have in Egypt to make contact with another person in America who in turn put us in contact with another person in Johannesburg.  This led to two innovative, practical and Christian-based training events that equip parents, grandparents and caregivers to help vulnerable children deal with the sensitive issue of child abuse.   This was the start of the ministry.

We feel that we need to do what we can with what we have and we decided to print and bind the books ourselves on an as needed basis.  The only problem was that the cost per book is high due to the cost of the toner in the LaserJet printer we use.  In the book there is a wheel that needs to be fixed to another page.  I went and spoke to a manufacturer of tools to see if they could manufacture the punch that we required for all the holes that had to be on the page to which the wheel needed to be fixed.  The cost for this was R 1 400.  God then inspired us to use hollow punches (the total cost for this was R 200) to make the required holes and He gave us the inspiration on how to put it all together.

Our brother in Christ then suggested that I talk to a supplier of printing equipment which was used by a large industrial concern to manage and maintain their printing equipment.  The company had recently renewed their printing equipment and he was sure that we would be able to obtain a good quality high volume second hand printer for a fair price.  I went to supplier and the first person I saw – even before I arrived at the reception desk, was the person I needed to speak to.  She informed me that the printers were retained by the industry to hand out to small businesses in need and that I must formally apply on a letterhead.  I then applied at the industry for a colour printer. 

Two weeks later I was notified that I had to be there at a specific time to come and collect a printer.  I did so and when we entered the site where the printers were stored the person told me that I could have my pick on any of the printers.  She stated however that it was black and white only.  I then said that we needed a colour printer to print the books.  The only device that was still there to do this was a multifunctional scanner/printer/fax/copier.  I was told that I could have it but that they would not accept any responsibility as to the working condition of any of the devices.  I loaded the big device and was asked if I would like a small black and white printer as well.  As it was offered I loaded this as well.  All of this happened without any cost to us!

I immediately took the equipment to the original supplier for them to service it and to make sure that it all was in good working order.  The supplier later contacted me and said that I could come and fetch the printer.  The small printer turned out to be a colour printer as well.  They rebuilt both the machines free of charge!  They even installed the printers at our office.

We then needed a binding machine.  A friend saw us binding the books with a binder we borrowed and said that they have used a specific machine to bind their books but that it was broken.  A couple of weeks later she dropped two catalogues off at our house as well as the broken machine.  I had a look at the catalogues and then decided I would l see if I could fix the broken binder.  I took it apart and saw that I would need to replace a specific component.  I tried to fix what was broken but the machine did not work well.  I then contacted the repairs department of the manufacturer but was informed that they do not keep these spares as it was too expensive to repair.  I sent an email to the sales department of the manufacturer stating my dismay and a week later I received the spare part I required in the mail.  The total invoice cost was R 0,00!

This shows how God takes care of the book while we can focus on the ministry that God had anointed Olindia with.  I learned that God will multiply in His way, He does however require from us to work and not just asking and sitting back to see what will happen.  When the time is ripe I am sure that the volumes will be such that we can have them printed at a printing house without us going into debt!  We just learned that Olindia will train 750 Pastors and lay leaders in January 2011 in Egypt.  All we can do is to praise God for His greatness!