In South Africa, we had different kinds of success stories, but what I remember the most are the classy and humble Christian business men and women who are utterly committed to the healing of Africa. These people are very successful and could go anywhere in the world, but they are staying in Africa to help. One of the projects we agreed to partner in is a training center in Livingston, Zambia -- close to Victoria Falls. The center will provide training for evangelists and church planters throughout southern Africa.

Feedback from Africa

"Thank you for inviting me to go with you to Kenya and South Africa. Although I knew little about the mission and you were the only one I knew on the team, it was as if the Lord was inviting me into an adventure in the Kingdom. I am so glad that I went. My life is bigger as a result and I am thankful to you and the Lord for the opportunity. I sincerely believe that this method of bringing business people to germinate and grow business enterprises will serve as a model of ministry into many nations.

"I expected that there would be many opportunities for ministry but I did not expect that it would be so much fun. When can we do this again?
Thanks,
Mark Sterns"

"I was excited to be a part of the group and to experience first hand what Kenya and South Africa are like. Kenya and South Africa are lands of incredible contrasts from unbelievable beauty to unreal filth; from riches to extreme poverty. I went to Africa without many expectations other than to experience the richness of God.

"Ken's course, Applied Optimism, was well received by all attendees. I was impressed with the number of individuals who had a strong entrepreneurial spirit even though the political and financial climate is so unfavorable for individuals to start businesses and even maintain businesses. Those individuals that had taken the course all received valuable information that would change their way of thinking if they choose to practice what they learned in their everyday lives.

"I came away from the trip with a greater understanding of Africa and the people of Africa, a greater sense of freedom to be who God created me to be and love for the people who seem to have all odds stacked against them." Jim Shanley

"I would like to thank you for coming to Kenya. The Applied Optimism seminar was most helpful, and indeed powerful for those attending the 3 seminars you presented. We have had good feedback in this regard from many quarters." Peter -- our Kenya coordinator

Africa Trip

Thank you for making this ministry trip to Africa possible. As usual, it was highly productive and enjoyable as well because of the team of Christian businessmen who traveled with me. Mark -- from Dallas, Craig -- from Portland and Jim, Doug, his son Scott and Emmet, my son -- from San Diego.

We conducted my Applied Optimism business seminar in Nairobi and Mombassa, Kenya and in Cape Town, South Africa. Doug followed up with nuts and bolts advice for start-up businesses. We also preached the good news to various groups wherever we went. In addition to these formal meetings, we often met informally with various business and development groups. Adding the business component to this ministry trip enabled us to meet and influence high level business people and diplomats, whom we would not have reached otherwise. It also enabled us to help new businesses get off the ground.

One of the businesses we helped start is a consulting and training business of Pepe, a black evangelist and church planter from the Congo. He needed a business to support his church planting efforts, so I trained and certified him to take my Optimism seminar across Africa. Craig, a web master, is building him a web page and Mark, the owner of a flight school, will help Pepe with promotion and marketing. We gave him a significant amount of cash to get started with for printing, tapes and mailing.

Our brothers and sisters in Africa regularly confront the kinds of problems we rarely do. During the last week in Africa, our little dog, Cleo, was run over and amost killed by a speeding car. It was a trauma for our family. During that same week, one of our sons in the faith in Zambia, lost his little brother to malaria. THAT was a trauma for his family. With this perspective, it is natural for us to want to help in anyway that we can. Thank you again for already doing that.

I leave on the 20th of October for Australia, to conduct training schools for Christian leaders from that country and Southeast Asia. The Korean trip that I mentioned last time has been moved to 2003.

I've included some notes from the New Wine Conference in England, as well as feedback from some of the Africa team members. Hope you enjoy hearing how the good news is being received around the world. Thanks for your prayers.

Peace and all good,
Ken