Day 1: Wheels Up

June 25th, 2026
by Pastor Chase

I'm writing this in the car as we head to the airport. If you're reading this after 6:30PM EST , Lord willing, we'll be somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean on our way to Cape Town, South Africa.

Yesterday was all about packing. Today, the adventure officially begins.
Over the next couple of weeks, our team will pass through airports all over the world. Between all of us, we'll travel through Cleveland, Washington D.C., Cape Town, Johannesburg, Maputo, New York, Brussels, Kigali, and Nairobi before everyone finally makes it back home. It's a long journey, but it's one we're incredibly thankful to make.

Before I continue, let me give a huge thank you to Brad Smith, Glenda Bolling, Donna "Mrs. G" Gomez, and Kevin "Big Dawg" Jones for getting our team safely to the airport.

For today's post, we want you to meet our team. Over the next two weeks, each of these people will take a turn writing one of these daily blogs. But today, I asked each person two simple questions:

What are you most excited about on this trip?
What's one prayer request we can all be praying for you?

As you read through their answers, would you pray with us? Pray that God would keep our team healthy, unified, flexible, and faithful. Pray for the pastors and churches we'll serve alongside. Pray for the people we'll meet. And most of all, pray that Jesus would be glorified in everything we do.

Last-minute update: We made it to the airport!

By God's grace, we made it through check-in and security unbelievably smoothly. Now we're waiting to board our first flight. Next stop: Washington, D.C. After that, the long journey across the Atlantic to Cape Town begins. (It's only 15 hours...)

As for now....

Wheels up!

Posted in Global Outreach, Mozambique 2026

5 Comments

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Kristen van Dyck - June 25th, 2026 at 1:40pm

So proud of y’all and praying for each one of you! ?

Carlos Gomez - June 25th, 2026 at 3:16pm

Praying the Holy Spirit guide each of you in his service by his power for God’s glory.

Premala Jones - June 25th, 2026 at 5:41pm

It was wonderful reading all that you all are looking forward to and reading all the prayer requests! Know you all have an army of prayer warriors lifting you up to be used mightily by YHWH. Can’t wait to read more and see lots of pics. (Give them all hugs from me too ???) Let’s GOOOO!!!!

Jean Wilks-Williams - June 25th, 2026 at 8:36pm

Good evening, Chase and all of you that are going to do God‘s work in Africa or morning, whichever it is now ? I am feeling really blessed that Premala called me or text me and let me know about your Jernee. It sounds so exciting. I bet you will be very proud of you guys all. Please keep me in your loop and if there’s anything I can do to make your trip the best it could be please let me know. I pray I will pray for you guys. I forgot how many days Preya told me you were gonna be gone I feel really honored that I may travel with you guys through email I mean text message or post. I don’t know what it’s called but anyway I’ll be watching you guys praying for a safe travels and wonderful reunion. Just may God bless you and keep you and continue to lead you in the way that is pleasing to him. Love Jean Williams. I will be checking your post. It’s gonna be interesting for me as well as I know it’s going to be for you. Bye have a good evening day morning whichever and you know just keep doing what you do cause I think you guys are all so awesome bye love, and bye!

Luci Michael - June 26th, 2026 at 3:55pm

Praying for your team and so completely grateful to hear your insights and growth, making connections and sharing the Good News.