JOY News September 2026
Investing in a National Leader
Dear Praying Friends and Supporters,
One of the greatest blessings in missions is not simply seeing churches grow, but watching individual believers begin to take ownership of the work God has placed before them.
We are seeing that happen in Botswana.
Just this past month, one of the brothers gave P1,000 to the church. What blessed me even more was seeing the church take part of what God had provided and use it to encourage a promising group of believers in Mahalapye.
This group has begun fellowshipping together in their homes, and they have also begun contributing toward their own needs. Right now, they are raising funds for chairs. The church was able to come alongside them with P200, and their contributions have now reached P450.
We praise the Lord!
To some, those numbers may seem small. But what they represent is not small at all. These believers are beginning to say, in effect, "This is our church. This is our ministry. We have a part in reaching our own people."
That is what we have prayed to see.
The Man Helping Lead the Work
Much of what is happening in Botswana today is being led on the field by Carella Medupe.
Carella has grown tremendously as a leader and is carrying an increasing amount of responsibility for our ministries. He is helping lead churches, encourage believers, develop new works, and look toward the future of what God is doing in Botswana.
But he is doing all of this while also working a job and providing for his family.
Think about that for a moment.
As the ministry grows, so does the amount of time and responsibility required of him. Yet Carella must divide his time between his family, his employment, and the ministry.
I believe we have reached the point where something needs to change.
Our goal is to raise Carella's support to $1,000 per month.
Currently, Carella receives approximately $300 per month in support through one church and two individual supporters who have faithfully come alongside him.
I am incredibly thankful for them.
But that means we still need to raise approximately $700 per month.
Our immediate desire is to give Carella enough support that he can begin reducing the hours he must work at his job. Ultimately, I would love to see him reach the place where he can step away from secular employment and devote himself full-time to his family and the ministry God has entrusted to him.
I believe the time to work toward that is now.
This is one of the things missions is supposed to produce.
For years, missionaries have talked about training national leaders. We have preached about indigenous churches. We have said that the work should not forever depend upon the foreign missionary being physically present.
Well, God has given us a national leader.
Now we have an opportunity to help free him to lead.
If seven churches or individuals committed $100 per month, the need would be met.
If fourteen committed $50 per month, the need would be met.
If twenty-eight committed $25 per month, the need would be met.
It does not require one person or one church carrying the entire burden. It requires God's people working together.
I Am Heading Back to Botswana
I am also preparing to travel to Botswana soon, and this particular trip will be a trip of faith.
The funds we normally need for this year's travel have not come in, and airfare has risen considerably. At the same time, there are new works that we need to visit, including places where we are seeing encouraging signs of what God may be developing.
We would also like to make this a team trip.
That will cost more than if Carella and I simply travel on our own, but I believe there is tremendous value in allowing others to see these ministries firsthand, encourage the believers, and become personally involved in what God is doing.
So we are trusting the Lord to provide.
Please pray for the funds needed for airfare and travel. Pray for the new works we will visit. Pray for wisdom concerning the team that will go. Most importantly, pray that God will use this trip to strengthen what He is already building.
But while the trip is an immediate need, I want to emphasize something even more important.
The greatest concern on my heart right now is getting Carella's support where it needs to be.
A plane ticket gets me to Botswana.
Supporting Carella keeps a trained national leader working in Botswana every day.
That is the kind of missions investment I want us to make.
We are watching believers give.
We are watching churches help other groups.
We are watching new fellowships develop.
We are watching national leadership take greater responsibility.
Now I am asking you to help us strengthen that leadership.
Would you prayerfully consider becoming one of the churches or individuals who helps close the $700 monthly gap?
Perhaps God would have you commit $25, $50, $100, or another amount each month specifically toward Carella's support.
And even if you cannot give, would you pray with us that God will raise up the partners needed?
I believe we are at an important moment in Botswana. The goal has never been to build a ministry that depends upon me.
The goal is to help build a ministry that continues faithfully whether I am there or not.
God is raising up the people to do it.
Now let's help give them the opportunity to lead.
Thank you for praying, giving, and standing with us as we continue Living the Gospel and Loving Every Life.
In Christ,
Travis Dykes
