Latest Africa Updates

4/28/2026

Good evening!

I wanted to send this out tonight so that you would be ready to pray for Joe before he was in the air for the first leg of this trip to Africa at 6 am, but you may end up reading this while he is in the air. I know that many of you enjoy Joe's "journaling" during his trips as you pray. If you were included in error, please let me know! 

There is a link HERE and below to sign up for our prayer list (from which will send monthly notes), a button if you should choose to give, and an explanation of what we mean when we now say we have a "not-for-profit".

The reason for this particular trip: It will be a miracle if I can keep this short, and we are glad to share the full version with you sometime. On prior trips that Joe has taken, he has been asked repeatedly to teach more on business. It probably is unnecessary for me to describe the economy of Zimbabwe and others we are involved with. They need help. While we will continue our collaboration with African Leadership Development, we have decided to explore a partnership with an organization called Turning Matabeleland Green. There is way more to this, a whole business ecosystem. Think "creating entrepreneurs, not aid recipients".

Anyway, Joe will be visiting, accompanied by Peter Gondo, to evaluate what they are doing with their agricultural education, meet the staff, including the visionary of the organization, Peter Cunningham, etc. to make good and certain that we want to connect our dear friends there with the organization. I am certain that much will be relayed as Joe gives his updates, so I will leave it at that.

The itinerary:

Wednesday April 29th and Thursday the 30th: Travel KC to Boston to Amsterdam to Johannesburg

Friday May 1st and Saturday May 2nd: (You knew Joe would also end up speaking) Joe will be doing a mini-conference - two messages on Friday afternoon/evening and two messages on Saturday afternoon/evening on Building the Kingdom at Home and Work

These will be given in Centurion, South Africa to a group with some of our newest friends, the Pereiras, whom we spent much time with last July. Let me know if you did not see the pictures/videos from that trip.

Sunday May 3rd: Joe does not know what he will be doing for worship yet, but I am really hoping he gets to rest. He will travel that afternoon, by air, to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Monday May 4th to Wednesday May 6th: Joe was originally scheduled to literally go through the agricultural/chicken training all the way to Friday, but since this particular training was cancelled for the week he is going to be able to meet many more people and hear a lot more of the heart and vision of the different parts of this ecosystem. 

Thursday May 7th to Saturday May 9th: The new plan is that Joe will be flying back to Jo'burg in the morning on Thursday and, now that the schedule has changed he may get a chance to get together with other friends in that area. 

Saturday evening through Sunday May 10th: Johannesburg to Amsterdam to Boston to KC

I am so very thankful for the enthusiastic "YES" answers I received from so many of you when asked to partner in prayer. Please consider joining the prayer team. It would really be easier for the monthly emails if you are on there!. The plan is to send a monthly note and then Joe's "journals" on here when there is actual travel going on.

Thank you again!

Andrea Denner