Dafoe April 2025

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing” (Deuteronomy 2:7).

40 ^th Anniversary Zambia Village

It’s been forty years, almost forty years, since Rafiki’s founding and we can say, like Moses, “Rafiki has not lacked.” On the contrary, as Rafiki has sought Him and trusted Him, the Lord has “established the work of our hands” and continues to grow His Kingdom in surprising ways. Statistics could tell a small part of the story, but it will take eternity to know all the fruit of His work through Rafiki!

God has given us thousands of faithful donors (like you)—individuals, churches, schools, foundations—throughout the world. Rafiki has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of children come to the Lord Jesus Christ in Rafiki children’s homes and schools, not to mention the young men and women who come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as they study God’s Word together at the teachers’ colleges. In addition to these, children are receiving the gospel in at least eighty-five Rafiki partner schools throughout Rafiki’s ten countries.

I say at least, because the number of schools (private schools and partner church mission schools) throughout the ten countries where Rafiki Villages are located who are hearing about, and excited about, Rafiki Classical Christian Curriculum and Rafiki Bible Studies are growing exponentially. Churches who have been partnering with Rafiki over the many years are also adopting the Rafiki Sunday School curriculum. Do you see the amazing things God is doing?! Churches and mission schools which have been starving for God’s Word, and have had no resources to teach God’s Word, now have hope to raise up a generation grounded in His Word.

Outreach Manager, Steve Kranz, meeting with myself and Zambia’s Outreach Field Coordinator, William Zulu

The Rafiki Home Office team visited us in Zambia in March. Some of the reasons they came were to have a firsthand look at how the mission is moving, visit our ministry partners, and to encourage those of us on the field. I had the privilege of escorting William Zulu, Steve Kranz, and Karen Elliott to visit with the General Secretary of the Central Church of Africa Presbyterian. As General Secretary, Rev. Lazarus Chilenje will be instrumental in getting the resources from Rafiki implemented in the churches and church schools of this large denomination.

Irene, Steve, Rev. Chilenje, Karen, and William

Another exciting meeting we had during the Home Office visit was with the pastor of a young Reformed Baptist Church in our area. This church is in the midst of building a home for the church. Their hope and dream is to also have a school where they can reach out to the community and teach many children from a biblical worldview using classical Christian curriculum. Karen Elliott was able to encourage Pastor Kambuli with ideas of how Rafiki could partner with them. We were all privileged to pray together, seeking God’s guidance and blessing.

Praying with Pastor Kambuli

Will you join me in praising God for His provision and faithfulness over the last forty years?

Let’s pray together for:

• the faithfulness of His people to continue the work.
• wisdom and strength to meet the great needs involved in sharing with the churches what God has given Rafiki.

I remain grateful to you all for supporting me in the work to which I have been called.

Will you also please pray for me for health and strength, perseverance, and joy and peace?

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