beyond botswana
It started 37 years ago in 1989 as an ordinary Tuesday morning in Bob’s prayer closet. As he prayed, the Holy Spirit brought to his mind Luke 10:2 where Jesus spoke about the vast ripened harvest and commanded, “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” What happened next turned ordinary into extraordinary. As soon as Bob obediently prayed what Jesus asked, he heard the audible voice of God: “Bob, will you be my missionary to Africa?” His YES in that supernatural moment changed the trajectory of his life.
Twenty years later, now married (1990) with three children and equipped with ministry credentials and pastoral experience, our family landed in Botswana—a small desert country in southern Africa—where the continental call began to unfold.
Within three months our God-given vision to train pastors and leaders across Africa took on a clear and compelling focus we didn’t expect: equipping leaders to reach children.
Right now there are 640 MILLION children under age 15 on the African continent, and by 2030 that number is projected to reach 1 BILLION. To say the laborers are few is an understatement. Children’s ministry in Africa is still a fairly new focus, and very few full-time missionaries are working in this precious part of the Father’s harvest field.
In 2012 God birthed the idea of a primary school program to evangelize and disciple children. By 2014 we began developing it. Over the past twelve years we have trained hundreds of leaders and reached thousands of children with this message: God created you on purpose for a purpose.
The message resonates deeply. In the schools where the program is active we see behavioral problems decrease and test scores improve. Even so, in Botswana we have not yet reached even a tenth of the country’s 806 primary schools, but the seed of GEMS has sprouted into a strong young plant in fertile soil.
Mr. Ogona Tshoswane, our national Executive Director, is mapping the strategy to train leaders for every school. GEMS continues to grow deeper and wider in Botswana. Yet over the past few years God reminded us He did not call us only to Botswana, but to the continent. It is time to shift and scale.
Back in the summer of 2022 God began speaking to our hearts about a coming change. We held that quietly until clarity came just months ago when doors opened for us to move to South Africa and establish a base for GEMS ministry to the whole continent—His missionaries to Africa, exactly what God asked of Bob in 1989.
We are excited to come alongside Blessman International, a well-established ministry of more than 20 years, to provide spiritual formation for the thousands of students they serve. From this base we will expand the 3-year, 10-minute GEMS curriculum to include an hour-long after-school or Sunday school program with every lesson. Over the next few years we will also develop content for preschool, junior high, and senior high students.
Our Africa Regional Director is eager for us to work from the AGWM Africa office because many places across west, east, and central Africa are asking for this ministry to children. Blessman will serve as our “lab” where we write and test new lessons, while AGWM provides the network to mobilize the powerful seed of God’s Word to children across the continent.
ARE THERE GEMS IN IOWA?!
“Can’t you do this here, too?” This is the question we are asked repeatedly when we travel to churches in the heartland of the United States. Though founded on Christian principles, America has drifted far from her Judeo-Christian roots. Many children no longer know the Bible or who God created them to be. They are biblically illiterate, often lacking direction because of a growing spiritual void.
God’s Word, presented in kid-friendly ways, is the answer. Isaiah 55:11 reminds us that the Word goes forth and accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent. The Holy Spirit has begun showing us a strategy for bringing this message to children in Iowa. We will share more details in upcoming newsletters, but we are filled with expectation for what God will do in our home country as well.
Right now our immediate focus is packing up our home after sixteen years of living in Botswana. It is no small task, and we truly covet your prayers. Our hope is to move to South Africa by mid to late March, but it is very important to us to leave Botswana well. Deep relationships have been formed, and saying “see you later” to the brothers and sisters we have labored alongside for so many years will not be easy.
We thank you, dear partners, for walking with us—many since 2008 when we first became missionaries, and others who have joined more recently. Your prayers, encouragement, and faithful giving have made this ministry possible and will carry it forward wherever God opens the doors.
PRAISE
Clarity from the Lord for the next season of ministry
16 years of fruitful ministry in Botswana
A “just right for us” home in central Iowa to serve as our base of ministry
Healthy happy baby, our granddaughter, Sierra Grace 11-7-25
Stephanie & Nathan had a beautiful wedding on 12-6-25
Safe, uneventful travel to and from the US
PRAY
Wisdom and strength for the logistics of packing up and moving to South Africa
Adequate, secure, affordable housing in Mokopane
To leave Botswana well with proper farewells and gratitude expressed for their love and kindness shown over the past 16 years
Clear direction for Cameron for job and schooling
