Category Archives: camp ministry

Coffey Family May 2023 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Requests & Praise

  • We have a new teen girl, Asanda (pictured below), who has come into the Rhino Youth Home.  She has been a faithful teen at one of our churches for many years but was kicked out of her abusive home a couple of weeks ago.  She’s had to grow up in a very rough environment and we’re glad we can provide a safe haven for her.  Pray for her as she adjusts and pray the Lord will use her in a big way.       
  • Please be praying for the missions team coming from Southside Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN next month.  During their mission trip, they will also be helping with our winter teen camp at Camp Rhino.  
  • Please pray for my daughter Emilee who will be raising money for her 6-month internship in Argentina soon.  This internship will be the last part of her bachelor’s degree from the Our Generation Training Center. She plans to leave for her internship in February. 

Quick Updates

  • During the first week of June, Amy and I will be traveling to Nigeria to visit our missionaries, Graham and Olivia Young.  We’re looking forward to being with them and seeing the city they plan to start their first church in.  Please keep them and the country of Nigeria in your prayers.  It’s the largest populated country on the continent of Africa with very few missionaries.  Pray for more laborers. 
  • Listed are a few of the larger needs we have for Camp Rhino and the Youth Home.  Pray the Lord will provide as He would like us to add them:  additional Boys’ & Girls’ dorms $25,000 per dorm; Wood/Trades Work Shop Tools & Counters $8000; Tractor loader and backhoe $25,000; 15-passenger van $25,000.

Being back home here at Camp Rhino, at our churches, and at my bible studies these past few days has been very refreshing.  We really miss our children in America, but we’re very glad to be back in South Africa.  

At the end of May, we have a new intern, Noah, coming for 8 months that will be helping with the camp.  He’s also here to see if this would be something the Lord would have him do full-time.  Pray for the Lord to use and direct him during his time here. With his help, we’re looking forward to improving a lot of areas in the coming weeks.  

As I’ve traveled to a few countries this past month in Africa, I’m challenged even more by the great need.  My hope is that our team and ministries here in South Africa will help raise up and train new missionaries that will not only help us here in South Africa but be an evangelistic force all over Africa.  There are so many great opportunities before us to start Bible-preaching churches, but the need for laborers is great.

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Coffey Family April 2023 Prayer Letter

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This month comes with sadness and joy.  Lisolethu, a 17-year-old boy who lived at our Youth Home for over 2 years, quickly passed away from Spinal Meningitis.  His funeral was held this past Saturday.  We praise the Lord that Liso made a profession of faith and I believe we’ll see him again soon.  Even after leaving the Youth Home this past December, he continued being faithful to church and inviting his friends to church. Liso will be missed very much.      

There are many just like Liso who die young but don’t have a Bible-preaching church in their community.  We must keep going, and we must continue raising up more people to reach the billions who still haven’t heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.  I pray Liso’s death will be a catalyst for many to be more serious about reaching the lost. 

This has been a hard time for our team at Camp Rhino, our churches, and also my family.  We were all very close to Liso, and being so far away from the ministry during this time has also been more difficult.  Thankfully we return to South Africa tomorrow. 

Prayer Request & Praise

  • Pray for our family as we return to South Africa tomorrow, April 27th. We look forward to being home, but leaving our son Luke on this side will be hard.  We arrived in South Africa in 2013 with all five of our children and now we’re returning with just one, our 12-year-old daughter Addison.     
  • Pray for Nate and Emily Wilkerson with the birth of their beautiful new daughter Alaska.  I was privileged to be in Burkina Faso when she was born a few weeks ago.  Also, pray for the Wilkersons as they finish language school and head to the country of Benin soon.  
  • With the death of Liso, I’m burdened with the work of our Youth Home now more than ever.  Pray as we continue ministering to the teens we have and pray that we will have wisdom in accepting new ones. 

Quick Updates

  • Congratulations to my son Luke who just proposed to his girlfriend Adriana Bush.  Luke and Adri have been dating for quite some time and we are thrilled about Adria being a part of our family.  Their plan is to get married this coming September.  
  • My trip to Mozambique and Burkina Faso was fantastic.  I’m excited about the potential our new missionary team has in Mozambique and I was blown away by the work our missionaries are doing in Burkina Faso.  God is using them to make an amazing impact in their cities.  
  • Last week I was honored to be a part of Vision Baptist Mission’s annual orientation.  We have a good number of new missionaries heading to the field soon.  Getting to spend time with these new missionaries is one of my favorite weeks of the year.   Please pray for them. 
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Coffey Family March 2023 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request & Praise

  • Pray for the Rhino Youth Home.  There is a potential South African couple who is interested in serving as dorm parents for the boys’ side of the home.  We need God’s guidance and wisdom.  This could be a major step in the right direction for the home. 
  • Our son Luke has found a good job and is getting settled here in America.  Pray for him as he takes these next steps and pray for us as we leave him here.
  • Missionaries Noah & Tristan Wilkerson’s little girl Alainey has been progressing well.  She just had her first lip surgery to help repair the cleft lip and pallet.  This first of many surgeries seems to have gone very well. 
  • Pray for Jason and Charity Rishel, missionaries to Burkina Faso.  They will be starting their furlough at the end of April. Pray especially for Charity with the pregnancy of her next child. They would be a great couple to have in if you are wanting to add who you partner with. 

Quick Updates

  • It was an honor to be a part of my son Chase’s ordination this past month.  He and his wife Ashley leave for South Africa on May 31st as full time missionaries. Pray for them as they set up and get ready to start language school.  
  • I just left from Mozambique yesterday for a survey trip with the Barton family who are current interns in South Africa.  Noah Wilkerson, and Gabe Chedid, a student with the Our Generation Training Center, is also with me on this trip.
  • We are now in Ethiopia on our way to Burkina Faso and will be visiting our VBM missionaries there.  I’m looking forward to being with these families and seeing their ministries. 

Being back in the States has been a fruitful time of raising more funds for the ministry in South Africa and we still have a few more weeks to go.  I’m also encouraged by those who have shown interest in visiting South Africa for short term mission trips or internships.    Outside of seeing our kiddos, our main goals involved these two areas.  

Once I return from Mozambique and Burkina Faso, Amy and I will be getting ready for Vision Baptist Mission’s annual orientation.  We have several new families on or starting deputation that we look forward to seeing. Our mission orientation has quickly become one of my highlights for the year.  It’s exciting to see the Lord raise up a new group of missionaries to share Jesus with the world. 

Currently, VBM has missionaries in or going to South Africa, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Benin.  We are praying the Lord will raise up many more missionaries for these countries and the remaining 49 countries in Africa.

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Coffey Family February 2023 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request and Praise

  • My oldest sons Tyler and Chase, lost their grandfather this past week.  This is also the dad of Jeremy and Kevin Hall, my cousins and coworkers in South Africa.  Jeremy and Kevin had to fly to the States unexpectedly from South Africa and cover the expenses of the funeral.  Please pray for them during this time and pray they can get the money they need to cover the costs.     
  • Our son Luke is back in the States to stay, at least for now.  He will be working and getting ready for Bible College in September.  Pray for him as he’s looking for a job and getting set up.
  • Missionaries Noah & Tristan Wilkerson’s little girl Alainey has been progressing well.  Please continue to pray for her and the long road ahead.  Pray for Noah as he continues to make short trips to Mozambique.

Quick Updates

  • New Missionaries Brandon & Maggie  Byerly started Xhosa language school last week.  The Byerlys are in helps ministry and plan on aiding with our camps, youth home, and Christian school. 
  • At the end of this month, I start a 3-day mission class at the Our Generation Training Center, where my son will be attending.  I look forward to spending time with the students training for the mission field. 
  • Next month will take me to Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio.  Needless to say, I’m not staying in one place while in the States:)
  • New Support Address | Vision Baptist Missions has moved locations.  Vision Baptist Missions– P.O. Box 647 – Dawsonville, GA 30534

We arrived back in the States on Feb 7th on my wife’s birthday, and haven’t stopped much.  I traveled to Rural Hall, NC for a meeting the next day and then to the church I grew up in on Sunday, Whitfield Baptist Church, to preach and celebrate their 45-year anniversary.  My father-in-law, Pastor Wayne Cofield, started this church and has been there ever since. I’m off to VA and NC this weekend.  

During the next two and half months I have a full schedule and am praying we can raise more awareness of the need in Africa and raise more support for the Camp and Youth Home. 

With 54 countries in Africa, the need is gigantic. We need to do more to get the Gospel to this massive continent.  Please pray. 

If your church would be interested in making Camp Rhino and/or Rhino Youth Home part of your monthly mission budget, we would be very grateful.  Our prayer is that this camp, youth home, and training ministry will aid in more churches being started all over Africa. 

Coffey Family January 2023 Prayer Letter

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Lawn Mower Water Slide

Summer camp season has ended.  From our junior and teens camps, we saw 61 young people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ.  What a fantastic time with all our Camp Rhino workers and our volunteers from the States.  This was definitely one of the best camp seasons in our short 4-year history.  

Teen Girls Camp

Over the past 4 years, we have been able to operate almost debt-free due to generous gifts from churches and individuals.  All our property and buildings are paid off.  This year we are hoping to start raising monthly support for Camp Rhino that will enable us to plan for more building projects and cover the actual camp, youth home, and bible college costs.  Right now we’re spending at least $2000 a month just for basic upkeep and expenses. 

Kick Ball Water Slide

If your church would be interested in making Camp Rhino part of your monthly mission budget we would be very grateful.  We pray that this camp and training ministry will continue to aid in more churches being started all over Africa.    

Teen Boys Camp

Prayer Requests  & Praise        

  • We saw 10 girls and 15 boys trust Christ during our teen camps.  We had 68 teen boys the first week and 52 teen girls the 2nd week.  School schedules limited our numbers a bit, but we still had great camps.  
  • Pray for Lighthouse Baptist Church.  We’ve made it past the normal summer slump and had a great attendance of 50 people this past week.  I’m praying we will average over 100 by the end of the year.  We also had two men trust Christ after the morning service to start the new year off right. 
  • Pray for our son Luke who will be going back to live in the States in February.  He will be working and getting ready for Bible College in September.  Any time our kids leave is a difficult time for us parents.  We need your prayers as well:)
Luke & Addi

Quick Updates  

  • Interns Josh and Morgan Barton arrived to start their 3-month internship.  The Barton’s believe the Lord may be leading them to the neighboring country of Mozambique after their internship.  Pray as they finish up their last months. 
  • Missionaries Noah & Tristan Wilkerson’s little girl Alainey has been making good progress.  Please continue to pray for her and the long road ahead.  
  • We’re heading back to the States on February 6 until April 26th with our son and to be a part of VBM’s annual orientation.  We’re praying for this to be a productive time for recruiting, teaching, and fundraising. 
  • New Support Address | Vision Baptist Missions has moved locations.  Vision Baptist Missions P.O. Box 647 Dawsonville, GA 30534
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Coffey Family December 2022 Prayer Letter

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“Nobody broke a bone or was seriously injured in any way.”  That’s always an excellent statement to hear after a week of junior camps, especially after a few new camp games were added that might have raised the possibility of injury a bit.  Our junior summer camps at Camp Rhino have come to an end and we had a fantastic time.  

Young people were saved and our counselors and staff did a tremendous job ministering to all the campers.  

Thank you all who have given or plan to give to make these camps possible.  We couldn’t do it without your sacrifices.   We’re gearing up for our teen camps in a couple of weeks and can’t wait to see what the Lord does.  

It was very exciting to have our first 3 graduates from the Bay Baptist Bible College finish their Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies.  Two of these men are pastors and the third is on deputation for Mozambique.  God is good!  Pray for more laborers to be raised up and sent out. 

Quick Updates:

  • Merry Christmas to all. Please pray for our 2 boys and their spouses, and for Emilee, who are back in the States.  Not being with them during this time is a little hard, but they are all doing well. Praise the Lord. 
  • Our churches are doing well in spite of the low attendance because of the summer holiday season here in South Africa.
  • Josh and Hannah Dalporto arrived from The Wild’s Camp in NC and are here to assist us for 3 months. 
  • We have another couple arriving for a 3-month internship in January and also 7 young people from a supporting church who will be here the month of January to be involved in the ministry. 
  • Contact me if you are interested in a short or long-term internship. We would love to have you.

Prayer Requests:

  • Please be in prayer for our missionaries to Mozambique, Noah & Tristan Wilkerson, and their new baby Alainey.  Alainey was born with several health issues and we’re asking the Lord to intervene. 
  • 23 junior boys trusted Christ this week along with 13 junior girls.  Please pray for their growth in their new walk with Christ.  Also, pray for each of the churches that are ministering to these young people.   
  • Boys’ Teen Camp starts on January 4th, while the girls’ camp starts on the 10th. Pray God does something big in the lives of these young people.

Don’t miss out. The Our Generation Summit will take place at our Mission Board from December 29-31. If you would be interested in attending click here to get more information and also to sign up.

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October 2022 Coffey Family Prayer Letter

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Prayer Requests  & Praise  

  • 10 Young People made professions of faith during a Soccer tournament this past week held at Camp Rhino. This event was organized by 3 of our Bible college students.  They promoted the event and also did all the preaching.  It was neat to see them in action. 
  • Close to 300 people made professions of faith during our medical clinic with Medical Missions Outreach.  We saw over 2,000 patients during the 5-day clinic with most of them hearing a presentation of the Gospel.  MMO has been a great blessing to our churches. 
  • A new teenager is entering the Africa Youth Home this week.  Pray for us during the transition.  He’s the first new teen we’ve added since buying the new property for the youth home. Also, pray as we are still in search of house parents for the boy’s and the girl’s homes.

Quick Updates

  • We have decided to hold off on starting a new church until after our short furlough in 2023.  We’ll be back in the States to help our oldest son get settled and also for the VBM Annual Orientation.  We will continue our focus on helping Lighthouse Baptist Church until then. 
  • My cousin Jeremy started Bay Baptist Academy Primary School last year.  The Lord has opened doors for us to purchase property right across the street from the primary school to start the High School.  Pray we can raise the $68,000 in less than 60 days.  It’s been exciting seeing the school in action this past year and I know it’s going to be even better with the addition of the high school. Jeremy and his wife Bekah have done a tremendous job with this ministry. 

This past month I started 3 new Bible studies with people in different parts of our city.  Pray the Lord works and we can see many come to Christ through these efforts.  I’m hoping that maybe God would open doors for future church plants from these meetings. 

Bible Study in Tata Khaya’s House

One of our supporting churches, Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, TN with Pastor Tom Hatley is visiting this week.  During any visiting group, my hope and prayesr are that God moves on the hearts of at least one person to give their life to foreign missions.  Would you help pray that more laborers would be raised up?  

Last month a high school principal asked me about using Camp Rhino for a full month to host all of his 12th-grade students (90-100 students) for 30 straight days.  They would use that time to prepare for their graduation exams, but during that time we would also be able to preach to them each morning and hold Sunday and Midweek services. Pray as we make this decision for the 2023 school year. 

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Bright and Exciting Days Ahead for VBM Africa

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After more than 9 years since the day we landed in South Africa, we are reminded of how quickly time goes by and how much older we are becoming.  When I stepped off that plane being 37 years old, I already felt like I was getting a late start on the work that lay ahead.  At times now, I can feel a pit in my stomach when I think about how little time we have left to accomplish the work that God has called us to do in getting the Gospel to our city, to our country, to our world.  There is a weight on me as we consider Africa and the many places and people that still don’t have a Bible-preaching church.

Our South Africa team tries to act like we’re still young like we are right out of Bible college but the grey hairs in my teammates’ beards are a sure sign we aren’t fooling anyone.  

Although we see our days passing by, this past week was a time that invigorated the work we know we are called to do.  We are getting older but God is raising up an army of young men to join the ranks of reaching this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our Generation.  Young missionary families from West Africa invaded our city of Gqeberha, South Africa this past week for the Vision Baptist Missions Africa Regional Conference.  There is no doubt that this group of men and women are young in age, especially compared to us old guys, but they are definitely not young in their walk with the Lord.  

My friends Nate & Graham

Graham & Olivia Young just landed in Nigeria a few weeks ago and the devil has already taken aim to knock them out of the fight before they even get started, but this precious couple is aware of Satan’s attacks and is ready for battle.  They have a maturity beyond their years that is inspiring to be around. 

Graham & Olivia Young – Missionaries to Nigeria

Nate & Emily Wilkerson are eager for the next stage of their ministry, preparing to enter a new battleground for our mission board in Benin where so far we haven’t been able to locate other like-minded missionaries. The zeal and mindset of this couple are an anomaly for people their age, really for people of any age.  I can’t wait to see the Gospel spread through them to this new land. 

The Young’s with Nate & Emily Wilkerson – Missionaries to Benin, West Africa

Dallas & Ashley Brown arrived from plowing a very difficult ground in their first years as missionaries in Burkina Faso.  This dear family who is yielded to the Lord as few as I’ve ever seen gives me hope that we can see the Gospel taken to every creature.  The Brown family is a family that influences everyone around them and even challenges us old guys like we should be challenging them. 

Dallas & Ashely Brown – Missionaries to Burkina Faso

The days ahead for VBM Africa are bright and exciting.  I’m privileged to work with this amazing group of people.  Please pray as we go forward with the Gospel.  We are reenergized for the work ahead.  May the Lord be magnified and glorified in all we do.  

Coffey Family August 2022 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Requests & Praise

  • I am currently discipling three new families that I don’t believe are saved.  Would you pray for their salvation?  They have been very open, but still need to realize that adding anything to Jesus is another gospel. 
  • Please pray for our son Chase and his wife Ashely.  Chase was recently in the hospital for 6 days with Mono.  He is doing much better but is still experiencing pain.  They continue traveling raising their support to return to South Africa.  
  • Pray for us as we are considering starting a new church.  There’s such a great need and we’re still unsure of our next step in this area.
May be an image of 1 person, standing, tree and outdoors
Chase & Ashley

Quick Updates

  • Our oldest daughter Emilee will arrive next week for a 3-week visit.  I can’t tell you how excited we are to have her back with us.  She has definitely been missed since starting Bible College in the States.  Adri Bush, my son Luke’s girlfriend will also be coming with her.  Having them both here will be a great time. 
  • The South Africa Youth Home is up and running now.  We moved the three boys into the new house and property.  They no longer have to live in the boy’s dorms at the camp.  We still need a lot to furnish the house but at least they have hot water:)
  • We just completed a 900 sq ft workshop that we will use to help with projects around the camp and in our churches.  It will also be used to teach trades to our teenagers in the youth home.  Any carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc are welcome to come to help build and/or teach.
Emilee & Adri
New Work Shop for Camp Rhino and South Africa Youth Home

Medical Missions Outreach and their team of 21 people arrive this week to put on a health and vision clinic at one of our churches.  We are hoping 2000 or more people come in for treatment and have the opportunity to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The last clinic we did a few years ago had over 200 people make professions of faith.    

Lighthouse Baptist Church and Pastor Mvume Johnson are hosting the clinic this year.  This is one of the churches we restarted a few weeks before Covid and had to close again during Covid.  Please pray this will be a great help to the growth of this church.   

In other African news, Graham and Olivia Young just arrived in Abuja, Nigeria.  We’re very excited for this young couple as they begin their ministry in this needy country of over 200 million people.  Please pray for them and pray that God would raise up more laborers for Nigeria and for Africa.  Our time is short but the need is great. Maybe God is calling you.

Coffey Family July 2022 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Requests/ Praises

  • My wife’s ear surgery seems to have been a complete success.  We won’t know for sure how much hearing she regained until next month, but things are sounding good, figuratively and literally:)  Thanks so much for your prayers.  
  • Please pray for Missionary Katie Dilfer’s South African Visa.  She’s ready to come as soon as she has her visa. 
  • Pray for the 30+ Juniors and Teens that have accepted Christ as their personal Savior these past few weeks during our Winter Camp Days.  
  • Pray for us as we are considering starting a new church.  We are currently working out of Lighthouse Baptist Church with Pastor Mvume but are leaning toward starting a new church soon. 

Quick Updates

  • Since May, we’ve hosted 4 different mission teams with 75 people in total.  God used them here in a great way and really worked in many of their lives.  Our hope is that God calls many Gospel laborers from these teams. 
  • This week we are having separate Junior Camps for boys and girls.  So far over a dozen boys trusted Christ.  The girls will arrive this evening. 
  • 2 Weeks ago we hosted Teen Camp days for the boys and girls separately as well.  We had 13 young people trust Christ during those days. 
  • Vision Baptist Missions will be hosting the World Evangelism Fellowship on November 8th.  You can click here for more info.  It’s going to be a great time. 

Now that all our mission teams have departed we’re going to be working a lot more on the Youth Home this month.  We have 3 teens ready to move in and possibly a fourth.  Pray that we find the right house parents for the Home.  We have some that can help temporarily but are praying for a long-term solution.  

I would like to ask you to pray for Pastor Khona Nohamba and his church Nkandla Baptist Church.  Khona recently graduated from our Bible College and is looking forward to devoting more time to building the church.  

We helped Khona right before the start of Covid and unfortunately had to close a few weeks later.  He and his wife Iminathi have been working hard to restart the church and have been making good progress. In our city of over a million people, there is much work that needs to be done. Pray that we can build a foundation that will last and aid in church planting for years to come.

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