Coffey Family July 2023 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request & Praise

  • Winter Teen Camp started on June 29th and we had 88 campers attend with 23 counselors.  8 campers made professions of faith in Jesus while 3 said they were lost but weren’t ready to make that decision.  Please pray for these 3 to come to Christ soon. 
  • A group from Southside Baptist Church led by Youth Pastor Tim Johnson was here to help with the camp.  They jumped right in, were a great help, and really ministered to our kids.  
  • Please pray for my daughter Emilee who is raising money for her 6-month internship in Argentina.  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. I have attached her letter below. No pressure, but it would mean a lot to this father if God led you to be a help to her:) You can send any support for her to VBM and mark it Emilee Coffey Internship.

Quick Updates

  • Our two American interns, Noah Haught & Katie Holt have done a great job during their short time here and really have a heart to learn and serve.  Katie leaves at the end of July, but Noah will be here until February.  We are grateful for the young people God is sending our way.  Please let me know if you are interested in a short internship here in South Africa. 
  • We had $11,000 given to help with new construction at Camp Rhino.  This enabled us to add two new dorms that we can use for camps and for housing our Bible college students. 
  • Listed are a few of our more significant needs for Camp Rhino & the Rhino Youth Home.  Pray the Lord provides as He would like us to add tools and shelves/counters for our Work Shop for $8000;  $10,000 for two more dorm rooms at the camp—tractor w/backhoe $25,000; 15-passenger van $25,000.

We hit some pretty major milestones for the month of June this year.  June 23 marked the 10-year anniversary of our family arriving in South Africa.  On June 24th, Amy and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary.  Thank you all for being with us along the way.  We are truly blessed. 

At the beginning of June, Amy and  I traveled to Abuja, Nigeria to be with VBM missionaries Graham and Olivia Young.  They are some of our closest friends and we are encouraged to see how the Lord has used them during their first year on the field.  Would you please continue praying for them and for the country of Nigeria?  It’s the largest populated country on the continent and there is such a need for more laborers.  

Having Winter Camp with Southside Baptist here was a great experience.  We have another group coming at the end of July from Texas.  Pray that more churches will come to see the field and pray that more people surrender their lives to full-time missions as a result of their time here.

Click here to download the PDF VersionDownload
Click here to download Emilee’s 1st Support Letter Download

Emilee’s Internship Letter

Internship letter 

Dear Pastor, 

I am writing this letter to update you on what the Lord has been doing in my life.  Your years of support allowed me to serve alongside my family as your missionaries in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  I’m very grateful for your investment that allowed me to grow up on the mission field.  

Since 2022 I have been attending the Our Generation Training Center majoring in missions. I am now preparing for my six-month overseas internship in Argentina at the beginning of 2024 to complete my studies working under Patrick and Leslie Henry.

During this time, I will continue my mission studies with practical on-the-field training from missionaries, assist in church planting and their other ministries, and start Spanish language school.

Please pray for me as I  start this exciting new step, and please consider financially partnering with me to make this internship possible.  

I am excited to take this next step of faith and finish my missionary training. If you would like to give a monthly donation for the longevity of those six months or a one-time offering you, can send any donation to:

Vision Baptist Missions

PO Box 647

Dawsonville, GA 30534

memo line – “Emilee Coffey Internship.”

Or, if you prefer to donate online, please visit:

visionmissions.org/give/

select “Emilee Coffey – Internship” for the designation

Here to serve, 

Emilee Coffey

Coffey Video Ministry Update

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Before we left for the US in February we made an updated version of our ministry video. The first one we did was hosted by our son Luke when he was 11 years old I believe. Things have changed a bit since then.

If you’ve never seen the first video you can check it out here.

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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Coffey Family November 2022 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Requests  & Praise

  • My friend Khaya trusted Christ as his Savior this past month. I’ve been having a weekly Bible study at his home for almost 2 months.  His two boys and their friends are also attending and we’re praying for many others to believe in Jesus. Khaya also brought 20 people with him to church this past Sunday.
  • Lighthouse Baptist Church had a high attendance of 72 this past week.  This was just a normal Sunday so we were very encouraged to see the growth.  Pray that more will be saved.  
  • Junior camps at Camp Rhino start on December 12th. Pray as we plan to have over 150 campers between the girls’ and boys’ camps.  Because of space, we have to split the boys into 2 different camps.  
Khaya is on the far right.
All chairs and benches full at Lighthouse

Quick Update

New Support Address | Vision Baptist Missions Has Moved! Praise The Lord!

Vision Baptist Missions, Inc. and the Our Generation Training Center have been praying for God to provide space for the ministry to expand. In February 2022, through the giving of many generous individuals and churches, God provided an excellent property in Dawsonville, Georgia with several buildings. We are very excited about the property the Lord has given us and the opportunities to expand into the future. We are so thankful for how the Lord has blessed our mission. One thing that also comes with this blessing is a new mailing and support address. Please begin sending all mail and support to the following: 

Vision Baptist Missions

P.O. Box 647

Dawsonville, GA 30534

Happy Thanksgiving from the Coffey Family. 

You may not be reading this on Thanksgiving, but this is the day I’m writing it:). It’s because of your prayers and support that we are able to do what God has called us to do.  Thank you all for being such a great blessing. 

We praise the Lord that all the money came in to purchase the property for the Bay Baptist High School. We even had a little extra that will help with renovations.  Thank you all for praying and for giving.

There will be a group of young singles arriving at the end of December to help with teen camps in January from Hope Baptist Church in Fairfield, OH.  We are also having a young couple arrive on December 1st for 3 months to help at Camp Rhino.  They are using this trip to see if the Lord may want them on the mission field long term.  

If you or anyone you know would also be interested in a short or long-term internship, please just let me know.

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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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