Over the next two weeks, our Global Mission Pastor, Quincy, and his wife, Duann, are travelling through three East African countries to visit and learn from the incredible mission partners we’re privileged to walk alongside and meet some new ones. Their first stop is Kenya, and we’re delighted to share the opening update from their time on the ground.
As you follow along with these reflections, we invite you to pray for Quincy and Duann—for safety, strength, and meaningful connection—as they listen, learn, and encourage the ministries they’re visiting. Here’s their first report from the field.
NOV 30 – MALAWI
This will be my last update before coming home.
I’m writing from the airport, reflecting on a short but meaningful visit with our partners and friends in Malawi.
Known as the “warm heart of Africa,” Malawi is a deeply resilient nation. It carries real challenges—scarce clean water, high import costs, and widespread poverty—but what stays with you most is the strength, generosity, and determination of its people.
Before visiting our partners in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, I spent time with a group of young Malawian leaders pouring themselves into children and youth who might otherwise never access education or imagine a better future. Their creativity and hope were a reminder that transformation often begins with small, faithful acts in unlikely places.
What they are doing is remarkable: they have started both primary and high schools, are running health clinics, offering vocational training, leading Bible studies, and creating learning spaces—practical expressions of hope that are already shaping the next generation.
Dzaleka Refugee Camp
Dzaleka is home to over 80,000 refugees, though it was initially built for about 12,000. Many residents are unable to work or move freely due to government restrictions. Recent policies have forced thousands back into the camp, placing even greater pressure on already limited resources. Food shortages continue to leave women and children especially vulnerable.
Life Gardens
One hopeful initiative is a small-scale gardening project led by local partners. In simple spaces, families learn to grow nutritious food for their own tables. It’s practical, sustainable, and deeply restoring.
I met a group of 24 widows—women from different countries and backgrounds—who have trained together and are now providing stability and dignity in incredibly unstable situations.
Everywhere I went, I saw hardship—but I also saw courage, faith, and a deep commitment to caring for one another. These visits remind me that mission is not only about what we bring, but what we learn as we witness God at work in ordinary, faithful people.
Thank you for your prayers. I look forward to being home soon.
Quincy
NOV 25 – ETHIOPIA
A quick update from Ethiopia. Duann and I have been welcomed with such kindness everywhere we’ve gone, and we’ve been grateful for the moments God keeps placing before us.
Our short time in Ethiopia was spent with our partners. It is important that they fly quietly under the radar, as Christian workers in the rural areas where they primarily serve can face tremendous persecution from multiple angles.
The “A” people are a nomadic community from the lowlands of Ethiopia. Our partners have been faithfully sowing seeds in a harsh region — not only because of the environment but also because of the dynamics among tribes. A group of about 25 travelled over 600 km to the capital city to receive training and fellowship. Sprouts of life are breaking the soil as individuals are introduced to Jesus. Their journey of following Him is unfolding in a very complex setting, yet their faith is sincere and growing.
Their visit to Addis lined up perfectly with ours, so right after having the privilege of sharing at a local church on Sunday morning, we spent the rest of our time with these wonderful people. Most of the group are illiterate and speak no English, but their desire to learn more about Jesus so they can share with their families is powerful. Sitting with them — laughing, praying, studying the Scriptures, and hearing their stories — was a gift to us.
They were eager to share the songs they had “written,” worshiping Jesus in their own style and sound. No instruments — just voices filled with joy and authenticity. It’s hard to describe.
What amazed us was how deeply they leaned in, asking insightful questions and offering profound observations. They are not all from the same tribe, so they are rarely ever together, and it’s nearly impossible for them to pray openly at home. This beautiful group made the most of every moment.
At the end of our time together, I gave them a blessing from Romans 10:15:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
These wandering nomads, being transformed into new creations and sent back into their land with the fruit of the Spirit, then turned to bless me in prayer. There was no translation, and none was needed. The Holy Spirit confirmed and sealed it. Please pray for that, as they grow in faith, they will have the wisdom to know how to be the church.
Thank you for your prayers. We feel carried by them, and we look forward to sharing more when we return. The last part of this journey will be spent visiting some of our partners in Malawi and meeting new friends who are excited to share what God is up to.
With much grace and peace,
Quincy
NOV 20 – KENYA
Our time with Mully Children’s Family is coming to an end, and over the past few days, we’ve had the privilege of travelling to several of their other campuses to see more of the initiatives happening across the country.
Ndalani is the heart of the ministry — over 200 acres of land where the majority of the children live. Children from infancy through 18 years old are beneficiaries of the program, and as the ministry has grown, so has the intentional structure around how they receive and care for each child. One of the most beautiful things we’ve witnessed is the unwavering commitment to unconditional love — even when a child resists, rebels, or struggles.
They shared one story that brought this to life. A boy who entered MCF as a small child repeatedly ran away — often stealing something of value to sell on the streets before disappearing. But every time he came back, he brought a friend or two. And every time he ran away again, the friends he brought would stay. They would receive basic necessities, finish school, often encounter Jesus in a meaningful way, and eventually become contributors to the ministry itself. These kids grew into young men and eventually became responsible for “rescuing” many children in their community because they knew there was a place for them to go.
That story unlocked something for me. A core value here is simple but profound: no matter how difficult a child is, no matter how badly they behave, we do not throw them away.
One of the pastors on campus shared his own transformation:
“All my pastoral life, I went out of my way to avoid these kids from the street. But now, I’m actively searching for them. You can’t imagine what God can do with someone who receives a little food, a little love, and a chance to be more.”
I could easily spend several updates talking about the sustainability projects — clean water systems, tree planting, agriculture, vocational training, medical services — but I’ll save most of that for another time. I’ll share this one moment: while touring the greenhouses in Yatta, we found ourselves standing in front of a huge pile of “clean” manure collected from the poultry barns. They explained how nothing goes to waste. Every resource is reused — either to keep the community self-sufficient or to create small business opportunities for sustainability and commerce.
As they talked, an old hymn came to mind:
“All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”
We are deeply grateful for what we’ve seen and learned here. More updates to come as we prepare to head to Ethiopia soon.
Grace & Peace,
Quincy
NOV 18 – KENYA
I’m sending this message from Ndalani, Kenya, where we are spending the week with Mully Children’s Family (MCF), getting familiar with the incredible work happening here. I’ve heard a number of stories about the impact of this ministry across Kenya — and now I’m finally able to see with my own eyes what God is doing in this part of the world.
Duann and I are here to learn, encourage, and discern how TPC might partner with MCF. There is already a rich history between TPC and Mully’s, and being here has given me a deeper understanding of what’s happening.
After landing in Nairobi, we settled into our hotel before an early morning departure to the Ndalani campus. Before leaving the city, we stopped in Kibera — one of the largest slums in Africa. We were welcomed by our host Tom, a young man who has been part of the MCF program, and by William, our guide, our security, and our friend as he led us through the narrow alleyways and along the Ugandan Railway.
We visited the home of a young teen, “T,” who is barely 14 years old. We were there to drop off some basic food supplies and to hear his family’s story — how life has changed since he joined the program when he was elementary age. As he spoke, the passage from Jeremiah came to mind: “I have come to give you hope and a future.” In its context, that promise isn’t just about personal prosperity — it’s a vision of God bringing blessing to a community even in the midst of hardship. Listening to T and his siblings share their dreams of making a difference and being a light in their neighbourhood because of the opportunities they were given made that passage come alive in a new way.
After expressing deep gratitude, love and prayer, we left toward the main campus — a ministry whose scope I’m still starting to grasp. Dozens upon dozens of acres of lush green land, with children everywhere — an estimated 1,000 of them — living in a fully self-sustaining community. Along the long road leading in, large signs display Scripture and words of encouragement from the founder. Everywhere you look: trees, activity, learning, and life. To stand in a place that was once a literal desert with only a few tin shacks, and now see it as a thriving village.
As I take in these first days, I’m struck by both the scale and the spirit of this place. What began as a desert plot has become an oasis—physically, spiritually, and generationally. Everywhere we turn, there is evidence of redemption, resilience, and the kind of hope that doesn’t come quickly or cheaply, but grows over years of faithful obedience.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from the MCF community, to listen to the stories of young people like T, former rescued children now adults with families of their own and to witness a ministry that is shaping futures and transforming whole communities. Duann and I are continuing to meet with leaders, explore the different campuses, and discern what the next chapter of partnership might look like for us as a church.
I’ll send another update as the week unfolds. There is so much more to see, and even more to reflect on. Thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support as we continue this journey. Stay tuned for more in the days ahead.
Much Grace & Peace.
Quincy