Taking up the challenge to "Go and Grow"

Vida Li Sik • September 5, 2023

Keri Aguirre reflects on the early days of the Joburg campus ministry 

In the late 80s, a young Keri Cooper (as she was known then) left her home in the USA and moved to Joburg to lead the campus ministry. Now, years later, Keri (Aguirre) is married, a mother of four, and using her various talents to serve the church family here. As she celebrates her 38th year as a follower of Jesus, she reflects on what brought her to Mzansi and shares her go-to scriptures for tough times:


Early days

“In the 80s it was all about going on mission teams. We had a slogan: ‘You go and grow or stay and pay’. I wasn’t making any money (at that time), so the dream was to go on a mission team. The couple who led our campus ministry in Boston, Ron and Lavonia Drabot, were asked to come to South Africa. They had helped me so much spiritually, and I wanted to continue to learn from them and grow and serve in the ministry.


Upon my arrival, I led the campus ministry and loved it. It was a small group of super-committed students, and I loved having Bible studies on the Wits lawn, walking around, and sharing our faith at RAU (now UJ) and the former Johannesburg College of Education, and having late-night discipling groups on a Friday. Everybody was very focused on sharing their faith and helping people become disciples of Jesus. It was incredible!


Favourite scriptures

In my walk as a Christian, I have two go-to verses that I’ve gone to over and over again. The first is Romans 8:28 ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ Our incredible God, Creator, and  Father, works in every single situation—the good and the bad—and he works for our good. That helps me so much no matter what I’m going through.


The other is Isaiah 43:1-7. I loved the whole passage. He created us, he tells us not to fear, he summoned us by name, whatever we go through, whether it is passing through the waters, he is with us, the rivers won’t sweep over us. We’ll walk through the fires, and we won’t be burned; we are precious and honoured in his sight, and because he loves us, he specifically already gave Jesus in exchange for me. And it continues and talks about my purpose. I’m created for his glory. When I think of God’s faithfulness, his presence even when I don’t feel it, it’s inspiring to think he called me all those years ago, and he’s never taken his eyes off me.


These two verses keep me anchored and steady, and just knowing, in light of God’s faithfulness, I have nowhere else to go.”


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