Coffey Family October 2025 Prayer Letter

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God has greatly blessed Lighthouse Baptist Church these past few weeks. Our men are stepping up and getting more involved in ministry. Four men are now leading their own Bible studies and serving faithfully during our services. It’s been encouraging to see their growth and commitment.

This past week, I was asked to oversee another church while a missionary is out of the country, so I’ll now be working with both Lighthouse Baptist and Fellowship Baptist Church. I can only do this because of the help of our faithful men. Please pray that the Lord blesses both ministries as we serve Him together.

This week Camp Rhino will host another Soccer and Netball Tournament, with over 300 people expected to attend. Teams from our churches across Port Elizabeth will be competing. Pray that many will hear and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

With the death of Charlie Kirk, I’m reminded about how little time we have to make an impact in this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I also realize even more how important it is to boldly preach the Gospel to the lost in the public square.  Would you pray that we would have more boldness in preaching the clear Gospel of Jesus Christ?  So many are lost but need the truth.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • We took in two new children at the Rhino Youth Home this past month. Please pray for 11-year-old Lupawo and his 7-year-old sister, Siya. Also, pray that we can raise sponsors for each of them to help cover their monthly expenses of $125.
  • We now have nine children in our care at the Youth Home. Pray that the Lord works in their hearts and that we’re able to raise up more house parents for this ministry.
  • Please also pray for Dallas and Ashley Brown, missionaries in Burkina Faso. They are currently on furlough in the States, raising awareness for West Africa. Pray for their safety as they travel and that God will use them to help recruit more missionaries to Africa.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • We are in the process of building three new apartments for our staff and campers at Camp Rhino and the Rhino Youth Home. $10,000 was given toward this project, which will help us complete the first apartment. We’ll need another $12,000 for the remaining two. Pray we can raise this amount before our summer camp season in December.
  • We were planning to build two new girl dorms, but finishing these apartments for our staff will open up additional space we can use for camper dorms—and it’s about $10,000 less expensive. We still plan to build the new dorms, but it’s not as urgent as before.
  • Tim and Jessica Johnson are almost finished with deputation and are scheduled to arrive in South Africa in December.
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Rhino Youth Home Update & A Special Thanks

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This past week, we were blessed with two new children at the Rhino Youth Home, Lupawo (11) and his half-sister Siya (7). They have been faithfully attending Soweto Baptist Church for years with their grandmother and are also students at Bay Baptist Academy. Tragically, both of their mothers were killed by their boyfriends, leaving their grandmother to raise them.

The area where they lived has always been high risk, but recent events have made it even more dangerous. Amy and I have known for a couple of years that these children would likely come to the Youth Home, but we didn’t realize it would happen so soon.

Please pray for a smooth transition for these two precious children. Our prayer is that the Lord will use us to raise them up to do great things for Him. Also, pray for our finances, we need to raise at least $125 per month per child to help cover the costs of their care.

I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have helped make the Rhino Youth Home and Camp Rhino possible. We could not have done this without your support.

During our final weeks in the States before returning in May, three churches went above and beyond in their generosity: Eastern Avenue Baptist Church in St. Cloud, FL, Oakwood Baptist Church in Anderson, SC, and Bethel Baptist Church in Richmond Hill, GA. God used them in a special way to provide for building projects that still needed to be completed.

I also want to thank Bethel Baptist Church for the special offering they sent this past month. At times when we’re not sure where the funds will come from, it has been amazing to watch God provide through these churches and many others like them at just the right time.

Coffey Family August 2025 Prayer Letter

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We were honored to host a mission team from North Life Baptist Church in Wooster, OH, this month. They were a great blessing to our churches and missionaries. We are praying that the Lord continues working in their hearts, and we hope that God will call missionaries from this wonderful group of young people (and a few older ones too 😊). During their time here, they were able to minister at Camp Rhino during a soccer tournament, two public primary schools, Bay Baptist Academy, and six of our churches in Port Elizabeth.  

This month, Camp Rhino will host a men’s retreat for all our churches. Pray that lost men will hear the Gospel and be saved, and that our faithful men will be challenged and strengthened in their walk with the Lord. Our goal is for this event to build up and unite all our churches.

We were blessed to have our daughter Emilee visit for two weeks, along with family friend Darci Snode, daughter of our General Director. Darci joined Emilee for her Senior Trip, and it was an honor to host them both.

If you are interested in joining us in South Africa on a mission trip or internship, we would love to have you!

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • We praise the Lord that during our recent soccer tournament, three people trusted Christ as their Savior! One of them was a painter who has done a lot of work at Camp Rhino. Please pray that these new believers will grow strong in their faith.
  • Our next soccer tournament is scheduled for October. Please pray that many more will hear the Gospel and come to Christ.
  • Pray also for Pastor Mvume, the South African pastor working alongside us. He is planning to get married in the coming months, and we are asking the Lord to guide and provide for him as he prepares for this new season of life.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Camp Rhino continues to be a tremendous outlet for evangelism here in Port Elizabeth. Please pray that we can keep improving the facilities so we can host more groups and reach more people with the Gospel. Our desire is to see the camp eventually become self-sustaining, covering its own expenses. To reach that point, more building projects and improvements are still needed. 
  • We are praying for the remaining funds to come in so we can move forward with construction that would allow us to house 22 additional young ladies. At present, about 65% of the needed funds have been raised.
  • We also have a vision to build an auditorium/lodge at Camp Rhino that would serve as housing for couples and provide a meeting space for around 300 people. Our plans include a 60’ x 60’ building that would be a tremendous tool for ministry, conferences, and retreats. Please pray with us for God’s provision and direction in this project.
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Coffey Family July 2025 Prayer Letter

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We started off July with our Winter Teen and Junior Mini-Camps at Camp Rhino. Many young people made professions of faith, and we all enjoyed a wonderful time during our short winter break. Please pray these young people will impact their communities with the Gospel as they return home and get involved in their local churches. 

At the end of Junior Camp, I had the opportunity to travel with our camp program director, Litha, and one of our interns from the States, Asher Smith, to help at a teen camp in Botswana with Dan Brooks & Camps Abroad. Dan and his team were instrumental in helping Camp Rhino get started. We were there to assist Missionaries Mike and Cindy Haley as they launched their first teen camp at their beautiful retreat and camp property, Grace Oasis.

As soon as I returned from Botswana, I jumped back into my Bible studies with the men of Lighthouse Baptist Church. Our church family is making great progress in spiritual maturity, and their burden to reach the community is growing. I would appreciate your prayers for one of our men, Mnoneleli, who recently lost his job. Please pray that he will soon find the right employment to provide for his family.   

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • I want to thank everyone who has been praying for my wife. Amy received encouraging news from the doctors—her optic nerve damage appears to be a one-time event and is not connected to MS or any other neurological disease. This is a wonderful answer to prayer!
  • Amy flew out yesterday to be with her mom, who is undergoing neck and spinal surgery. Please pray for her as she travels, and pray that her mom has a successful surgery and smooth recovery. Amy plans to be gone for about 10 days, so also keep Addi and me in your prayers as we’re holding things down without her. 🙂
  • A group from North Life Baptist Church in Wooster, OH is arriving here on July 23rd for their missions trip. Please pray that the Lord works in the hearts of this group—and that at least one would surrender their life to serve on the mission field.
  • Please also pray for Camp Rhino Zambia. We believe the Lord is leading us to expand the ministry there, and we need His direction, wisdom, and provision for this exciting new endeavor.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • While we were in the States, we were able to raise funds for one of the two girls’ dorms we hope to build. Please pray that the remaining funds will come in so we can move forward with construction.
  • We also have a vision to build a new lodge at Camp Rhino to house couples and include a meeting space for approximately 300 people. This facility will be a major asset for the long-term impact and sustainability of Camp Rhino.
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Coffey Family June 2025 Prayer Letter

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Not long after returning to South Africa, I traveled to neighboring Mozambique to visit two of our missionary families. The Clowers have now been there for over a year, and Josh and Morgan Barton recently arrived with their twin babies. It was encouraging to see both families thriving in different stages of ministry.

The following week, I traveled to Zambia to visit my missionary friend, Mario Genada, and to scout out more of the country. Both Mozambique and Zambia are wide open for ministry, and I’m praying the Lord will raise up many more laborers for these needy fields. While in Zambia, I had the privilege of preaching at a wonderful church in Lusaka, the capital. 

Please join me in praying that the Lord would open doors for us to purchase property for a second Camp Rhino, which we plan to establish in Zambia with the help of Brother Genada. I truly believe the Lord has been preparing us over the years to take what has been built in South Africa and replicate the Camp Rhino ministry in other African nations. We hope to break ground for Camp Rhino in Livingstone, Zambia, very soon.  

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • We recently held our first Gospel Crusade in a small town about an hour outside our city. A team made up of members from five churches we fellowship with came together to reach this community with the Gospel. We’re excited to continue hosting these evangelistic services with the goal of reaching more small towns in our region and, Lord willing, planting churches there.   
  • Please pray for Lighthouse Baptist Church. We’re seeing encouraging spiritual growth in our members and attendees through faithful preaching of God’s Word and weekly Bible studies.
  • Continue to pray for the Sullivan’s as they are in the States, recovering from their recent kidnapping ordeal. They plan to return to SA for a few weeks in July.
  • Also, pray for Asher Smith, an intern serving with us for two months. If you or someone you know is interested in an internship opportunity in South Africa, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Amy and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary on June 24th. I am truly blessed to have such a loving and godly wife. It’s been a tremendous privilege to serve the Lord together in ministry all these years. 
  • While we were in the States, we were able to raise funds for one of the two girls’ dorms we are hoping to build. Please pray that the remaining funds will come in so we can move forward with construction. 
  • In recent months, several groups have been renting out our camp facilities during times when we’re not using them for our own programs. We believe this will help make the camp more self-sustaining. Our goal is to replicate this model with the other Camp Rhinos we hope to launch in the future.  
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Coffey Family Prayer Letter May 2025

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We are back home in South Africa! It has been a blessing to return to Camp Rhino and our church family, though leaving our grandson behind was difficult.

The past few weeks have been incredibly eventful. Please continue praying for the Sullivan family as they spend time in the States. We are still rejoicing over how the Lord miraculously rescued Josh.

My wife Amy returned from South Africa just in time for her MRI, which ended up being canceled. Thankfully, with help from our friends, Pastor Michael Plowman and one of his church members, we were able to schedule another MRI within three days (the original had taken four weeks). Praise the Lord, the results came back clear with no signs of MS. However, there is still optic nerve damage, which our general practitioner believes it may be caused by some kind of virus and may return or may never return.  Please continue praying as we seek clear answers and try to connect with a good ophthalmologist here in South Africa.

Not to be outdone, I also ended up in the ER early one morning during our VBM orientation and discovered I had a kidney stone. On April 26th, I had to return to the ER with a fever and low kidney function, and they wouldn’t release me. Instead of preaching the next day as planned, I was having a kidney stone removed via laser surgery.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • Please continue to pray for the Sullivan family as they are back in the States, recovering from the kidnapping experience. They plan to return to South Africa in July for a few weeks and are preparing to move back long-term after Thanksgiving.
  • Pray for answers concerning Amy’s health. We’re asking the Lord to help us find a good eye doctor who can walk with us through this process.   
  • Pray for the young people in the Rhino Youth Home. I’m praying the Lord will use them in a great way.  Two of our graduates live on campus and are doing well.   One is attending Bible college and the other is working full time here at the camp and plans to start community college soon. 

Quick Updates & Needs

  • While we were in the States, Camp Rhino hosted several groups and a few camps. I’m grateful for the team the Lord has brought together over the years. They’re doing a terrific job even in our absence.
  • Next weekend, we will be hosting a Women’s Retreat at Camp Rhino.
  • We were also able to reschedule the soccer ⚽️ and netball tournament that had previously been canceled. It is now set for July. Please pray that many teens will come to Christ through this big event. 
  • Because of what happened to Josh, several groups understandably chose to reschedule their mission trips for a later time. However, we still have two groups planning to come, one in July and another in October. Please be praying that God will do a great work during their time here.
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Coffey Family April 2025 Prayer Letter

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On April 10th, our close friend and fellow missionary Josh Sullivan was kidnapped during his midweek church service by a syndicate crime gang operating in our city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Josh’s church is located about 15 minutes from ours.

In a calculated move, the kidnappers chose to communicate with my cousin Jeremy, attempting to extort a ransom for Josh’s release. In response, my wife Amy flew from Atlanta on Saturday to be with Josh’s wife, Meagan, and Jeremy’s wife, Bekah, as they endured this traumatic ordeal together. I jumped on the phone to support family, and help recruit US Senators & Reps. 

Then, on April 15th, in a miraculous display of God’s power and mercy, Josh was rescued and reunited with his family. Amy has since returned to the States and is now back with me. What a wild, emotional, and unforgettable turn of events.

We cannot thank you enough for your prayers for Josh, Jeremy, and their families. God heard and answered. He worked miracles and brought Josh back to us safely. While this was clearly a physical attack on our team members, we believe it was also a spiritual attack from the enemy, an attempt by Satan to hinder the work God is doing in South Africa.

Please continue to pray for our entire South Africa team as we navigate the aftermath of this horrific event. Josh’s church has been impacted, and all of our ministries have felt the weight of this moment, but we know, without a doubt, that God will have the final victory. 

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • Pray for the Sullivan family as they are back in the State recovering from this experience. 
  • Pray for the Jeremy Hall family, who also came back to the states a for few weeks.  There are safety concerns for both families and they believe getting away for a few weeks is best at this time.  
  • I want to ask you to please keep my wife, Amy, in your prayers. After a visit to the ophthalmologist, the doctor discovered she has optic nerve damage in one of her eyes. This could be caused by MS or by an eye stroke. We were hoping to get an MRI for her this week and also see the Neuro Ophthalmologist, but unfortunately, the MRI had to be canceled because of issues with my wife’s prosthetics, which she has in her ears.  We’re hoping to get things rescheduled so we won’t have a problem leaving for South Africa on May 8th.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • We had a great VBM Orientation this past week, even though 3 of our main speakers were helping in South Africa last minute: my wife Amy, Missionary Mark, who is the Sullivan’s brother-in-law, and Kevin Hall, Jeremy’s brother. 
  • The Josh Barton Family landed in Mozambique.  Pray for them as they get settled and begin their language studies. 
  • Because of the kidnapping, we canceled our big soccer tournament at Camp Rhino, but hope to reschedule soon. 
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Coffey Family March 2025 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Requests & Praise

  • $10,000 was generously given to cover one of the two dorm rooms needed for the girls at Camp Rhino. We praise the Lord that this dorm is now fully funded! We are always humbled and grateful for your support and involvement.
  • When we arrived in the States in December, Camp Rhino had about $31,000 in debt from new construction, as well as repairs and remodeling due to the flood in June. We praise the Lord that we are now completely debt-free across both Camp Rhino and the Rhino Youth Home!  
  • I want to ask you to please keep my wife, Amy, in your prayers. After a visit to the ophthalmologist, the doctor discovered she has optical nerve damage in one of her eyes. This could be caused by MS or by an eye stroke. We are hoping to see a neurologist soon for further testing, including an MRI. Please pray that we can quickly secure all necessary appointments, receive clear answers, and, most importantly, that God brings healing and peace through this process. Your prayers and support mean so much to us.    
  • Josh & Morgan Barton should be leaving for Mozambique the first part of April.  Pray for them as they travel and get settled in their new country with their beautiful twins. 

Quick Updates & Needs

  • The past few weeks I’ve been in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Wisconsin for great meetings.  I’ll be traveling to Iowa next week. 
  • Please pray for God’s provision for our current and upcoming construction projects at Camp Rhino. We still need to build one new dorm for the girls and purchase the necessary appliances and furniture for an additional kitchen. We are incredibly grateful for how God has used so many of you to make this ministry possible.

We have been incredibly blessed during our time back in the States. God has provided new support to help cover the shortfall in our camp and youth home ministries. We are still praying for an additional $500 in monthly support before we return to South Africa on May 8th. 

Last month, Rocklands High School had a great experience at Camp Rhino as students prepared for their graduation exams. Many gave their lives to Christ, but many still haven’t made that decision. Please pray for them as they return in October—pray that hearts will be softened and lives transformed.

For over a year, we’ve been working to send a shipping container filled with books for our Christian school and Bible college libraries. At last, we’ve secured shipping, and we’re now adding Bibles and tracts alongside the donated books to fill the container. We are grateful for a wonderful ministry handling the shipping logistics. 

We still have room if you’d like to contribute more books to help build these libraries, you can send them to:  Directline Ministry– 218 Stockyard Rd. Statesboro, GA 30458.

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Coffey Family February 2025 Prayer Letter

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Sometimes the Lord opens doors you never expect. In 2016, when we first envisioned Camp Rhino, we never imagined the opportunities we’d have to share the Gospel.

For the past three years, a high school about 15 minutes away has been renting our facilities. What started as a two-week rental grew to one month, and now they stay for two months each year. 

At first, I was hesitant. The idea of them staying for weeks at a time and preparing their own meals felt overwhelming. But after talking with the principal, I couldn’t turn it down. I told him, “We are a Christian ministry, not a business. Our goal is to share Jesus.” He agreed to let us hold a daily service, and the rest is history.

Since then, we’ve had the privilege of preaching the Gospel to many high school seniors who weren’t believers. Over time, many have come to Christ.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • Pray for Blaine & Holly Hooper, missionaries to South Africa, as they begin deputation. They are our newest VBM missionaries and members of my father-in-law’s church, Whitfield Baptist in Dalton, GA.
  • Pray for my cousins, Jeremy & Rebekah Hall, missionaries in South Africa. They lost $17,500 in an elaborate scam while trying to purchase a 15-passenger van for their Christian school ministry. We’re praying they can recover some of the funds for a new van.” 
  • Thank you so much for your prayers for our daughter-in-law, Ashley. She continues to experience daily fainting episodes, sometimes multiple times a day, but her doctor has given us hope for some recovery. Although she is still struggling, Chase and Ashley feel encouraged to continue her treatment abroad and will be returning to South Africa on February 20th. Please pray that we see improvements soon. 

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Joy Wahl and Madison Brown both arrived in South Africa in the last few weeks after finishing their deputation.  We’re excited to have two new missionaries on the field. 
  • This month, I am speaking or have spoken in Florida, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Please pray for fruitful meetings and that we inspire greater interest in missions across Africa.
  • Please pray for God’s provision for our current and upcoming construction projects at Camp Rhino. We still need to build two new dorms for the girls and purchase the necessary appliances and furniture for an additional kitchen. We are incredibly grateful for how God has used so many of you to make this ministry possible.
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Coffey Family January 2025 Prayer Letter

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We’ve been back in the States since December 14th and still have a few open dates available. If you’d like me to come and present our ministry or provide a report, I’d be happy to do so. I currently have Wednesday evening services and weekday openings for mission conferences before we head back on May 8th.

Our churches in South Africa are doing well, though attendance is lower during this time of year. December marks the start of the holiday season, and many people return to their hometowns or visit family, resulting in about 50% attendance.

Our Teen and Junior Camps were a great success! Over 30 young people made decisions to trust Christ as their Savior. Once again, our counselor team did an outstanding job, and it was exciting to see quite a few new faces on the team this year.

Today, I received wonderful news: two men I’ve been doing Bible studies with have started their own Bible study with a young man who attends our church. We’re praying this young man will soon make a decision to trust Christ. It’s incredibly encouraging to see these men stepping up and teaching the Word of God.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • Josh and Morgan Barton: Please pray for Josh and Morgan Barton, missionaries to Mozambique, as they near the end of their deputation. They hope to be on the field within the next 2-3 months. Mozambique is currently facing significant challenges following the recent elections. Pray for peace in the region and that the Bartons can enter the country without any complications.
  • Lighthouse Baptist Church: We are encouraged by the direction of Lighthouse Baptist Church over the past few months. We’ve witnessed remarkable spiritual growth among both the men and women in the congregation. Please pray for Pastor Mvume as he faithfully leads the church in our absence.
  • Ashley’s Health: We deeply appreciate your continued prayers for our daughter-in-law, Ashley. She is still dealing with serious health issues, including blackouts and memory loss. She and our son Chase are seeking answers and hoping to return to South Africa in February. Your prayers for her healing and for wisdom in their decisions are a great source of comfort to us.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Youth Home Kids: Our Youth Home kids in South Africa start their new school year on January 21st. Please pray that the Lord will guide and grow them during this season. This is the first time we won’t be there to send them off, which makes us feel a bit uneasy, but we trust God will watch over them.
  • Upcoming Meetings: This month, I’ll be speaking in North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and Arizona. Please pray for fruitful meetings and that we can inspire greater interest in missions across Africa.
  • New Grandchildren: I had the joy of meeting my two new grandchildren, and now I completely understand why grandparents love showing off pictures. They are simply amazing, and we feel so blessed!
  • Camp Rhino Construction: Please continue to pray for God’s provision for our current and future construction projects at Camp Rhino. We are deeply grateful for how God has used so many of you to support and make this ministry possible.
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