Grace and peace, friends, family, and supporters!

I’m thrilled to give a report on our 18-day mission trip to South Africa and Zambia. It was, by far, the busiest trip we’ve ever had. My colleague Ron Kronz and I were active each day with various speaking engagements, meetings, and outreach events. It always amazes me how much potential there is in Africa to see Christendom established and the gospel take root through a comprehensive Christian worldview. Much of Africa has received the gospel without ever fully receiving the theological and cultural inheritance of the Reformation, which makes it fertile ground for reformation today. God willing!

I’m going to do my best to keep this report as concise as possible. But first, I want to thank the many financial supporters and prayer partners who helped make this happen. THANK YOU for having a kingdom-vision and taking seriously the call to disciple the nations. No matter where we are in the world, we have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the lives of others. Your generosity helped make that a reality in Africa. May God be glorified!

Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦

We began our work in Cape Town. Our key leader and missionary on the ground is our good friend Charl van Wyk. (You should buy his books!) He’s an incredible blessing–a father, husband, and missionary who cares deeply about the Kingdom. Charl’s work ought to be supported, so prayerfully consider doing just that.

Here’s a bit of what we did in Cape Town this year:

Soldiers for Christ. Both Ron and I gave these young teenage boys an exhortation from Scripture. My emphasis was on Augustine’s essential idea that “You are what you love,” and “You worship what you love.” These young men live in a small township called Klipheuwel. Charl and his brother-in-law run several ministries there and have made a tremendous impact on the young people.

Klipheuwel

After visiting Klipheuwel and exhorting the young soldiers, Ron led a bible study at the van Wyk home, which led to some wonderful conversations about what it means to be faithful Christians in this day and age. A couple famous guys wanted pictures with Ron and I. Go figure. :)

We recorded some podcast content for social media with our friends Luke & Matt. Some of that content has already made it to my Instagram and Facebook page. They’ve received quite a bit of traction online, which makes the mission quite broad.

I had the opportunity to address a men’s breakfast very early in the morning. Before 6am! That talk is on YouTube.

After the men’s breakfast meeting, we drove to Chatsworth to meet with 25+ ministry leaders and pastors to exhort them to follow Christ during these troubling times.

Ron gave a tremendous talk to the leaders.

Later that evening we went back to Klipheuwel to minister to Sonja’s (Charl’s wife) “Dream Girls.” (Charl runs the Soldiers for Christ; Sonja and some other ladies disciple the young ladies).

The big event was an invite-only meeting on Saturday at a farm just outside of Cape Town. Ron and I both addressed a core group of about 25 young men (young lions!) who are willing to stand up against the tyranny of the hour. This was a VERY encouraging meeting–most definitely a highlight for me. My talk, “Building Christendom” is on YouTube. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Later that afternoon, Ron and I recorded a lengthy podcast with Drew Birch, who has a larger social media following in South Africa. We enjoyed the discussion with Drew and are thankful that he is waking up Christians in South Africa!

His Compassion Christian Assembly (Lala’s church)

On Sunday I visited my friend Khaya Lala’s church in Kraaifontein. I preached there two years ago and was glad to be back. The saints there are always such a blessing. (Ron preached at our friend Vuyo’s church in Gugulethu.

On Sunday night we went back to Klipheuwel to teach the young kiddos (and some teens) the biblical worldview. It’s always a pleasure to join Bradley there on Sunday nights.

Always ready to shape young minds.

South Africa is beautiful. May Christ be exalted!

Lusaka, Zambia 🇿🇲

Zambia is my main ministry, with South Africa close behind. The in-roads I have made there in Zambia over the years have borne much fruit. Here are some of the highlights!

We hit the ground running in Zambia on Wednesday night at Christ Life Church. Ron preached for a bit, and I batted cleanup.

The Word

We recorded a lot of TV interviews again this year. Media is consumed in Africa much like it is here in America. We did general shows for Light TV, as well as specific shows for men.

A major (and unexpected/unplanned) ministry moment: Ministering to young men in a drug/alcohol rehabilitation facility, a ministry of Christ Life Church. Ron and I had the opportunity to exhort them for a couple hours. They were VERY receptive, especially to Ron’s own testimony of God’s deliverance.

The rehab facility is quite nice. A quiet place to get hearts in order.

Ron drawing them in with a powerful word.

We spent considerable time with the orphanage again this year. Because of YOUR donations, we were able to bless them with a significant amount of money to help feed the kiddos and meet their needs. The school is small, but Ms. Hilda is doing a tremendous job. Ron and I have made it our mission to get a SINGLE (Zambian) Church to step in and care for them. We are still looking to raise funds to help them build a few classrooms.

Saying goodbye to some of the children near the orphanage.

On Friday evening, Ron and I preached at Bishop Mulenga’s church in Libala.

Sunday was busy. It started with an early morning service at the University of Zambia.

After preaching at UNZA, I went with my good friend and co-laborer Martin to speak to his large audience on ZNBC. (He gets up to 2 million listeners on average! The whole nation is listening to this program.)

 

After doing radio for an hour, we bolted over to Bishop Mulenga’s church where Ron was preaching. (Ron had preached in Chainda before this!)

My close friend, the General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia (representing millions of Christians) stopped by to pay me a visit. The Lord has done marvelous things in his life and I’m proud to call him a friend.

We had the opportunity to address the staff of CCZ. On the far right is my new friend, the new chaplain at UNZA, Rev. Abraham Mwale. I look forward to furthering our relationship in the coming years as I continue to minister to the college students there.

I was grateful to be invited to my friend Gilbert’s home for a truly home-cooked Zambian meal! The Lord has blessed his young family greatly.

Bishop Mulenga met up with me real quick to get a photo together while I was heading to the airport for the journey home.

One thing I will mention is that for the first time ever, I came down with a digestive illness in Africa that caused severe dehydration. I went to the hospital to get some fluids and that did the trick. The other challenge was the picture below…

The last few days were HOT! I didn’t stay at a place with air conditioning so it was a bit taxing.

I have to give a HUGE shoutout to my friend Pastor Martin. I met him two years ago in a taxi and our friendship has grown. He drove us all around from place to place, setting up meetings and ensuring everything went smoothly. He was a huge help for me when I needed the hospital. Martin is a blessing to me and to Ron and we look forward to continuing that partnership well into the future.

That said, the trip was incredible. I didn’t even get enough pictures. But the relationships we have built over the years has been the backbone of our ministry there. God has opened up doors to train leaders, disciple young minds, serve widows and orphans, preach the comprehensive gospel of the Kingdom, and mentor young men and women. Words can’t express the gift it is to develop friendships, strengthen the church, and minister in hard places. What isn’t pictured is the countless hours of discipleship—talking with students, leaders, and other pastors about the Kingdom. THANK YOU for making this trip happen.

To God be the glory! All of Christ, for all of life, for ALL of AFRICA.