Timothy & Ashley Keller
Location: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Sudan
Timeline: On-going
Status: Currently operating
Topics: Education Development, Leadership Training
Description
Timothy grew up in Arizona and began his work in Africa in 1998. Since then, he has traveled across Africa 17 times, covering more than 150,000 miles by road (and those are African miles) and an inestimable amount by air. He has worked in many African countries including South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Sudan. He has made many friends, as he has brought the Word of God to the people of Africa. Timothy has had the privilege of preaching and ministering in places where the Gospel has never before been heard.
As an ITMI missionary partnered with Frontline Fellowship, Timothy has delivered 28,000 Bibles in many different languages, some of them to villages that had only a small portion of a Bible until then. Often these Bibles had to be taken through hostile borders where their discovery would mean imprisonment or worse. Through distribution, training and personal evangelism he has taken over 353,000 tracts and Gospel booklets into Africa. He has been blessed to work with many incredible, godly people in the field, some of whom walk many, many miles to carry out evangelism and minister to God’s people, often in a variety of languages!
Over the years, Timothy has become more involved in leadership training. Through the opportunities of preaching, teaching, leadership and discipleship conferences, he has taught leadership skills, Biblical principles and much needed practical application techniques to pastors and teachers throughout Africa.
Timothy says, “One of the most rewarding aspects of being a missionary over the last 12 years is seeing the growth in the people we work with. It’s amazing to see people who were brought to the Lord as young men now becoming ministers and evangelists. Seeing people take the lessons they’ve learned and multiply them by teaching others shows me how effectively the Lord can use His people in Africa.”
Ashley, Timothy’s wife, first experienced Africa in 2001 as a short-term missionary in Botswana. She returned for full-time missions training in 2006. While training with Frontline Fellowship in Cape Town, South Africa, she met Timothy. They were married on May 5, 2007. Ashley enjoys the work of a missionary wife and mother, and raising up the next generation of missionaries in Africa while ministering to the needs of those around the family.
Monica, the Keller’s firstborn, came into the world April 4, 2008. By the time she was born, she had already traveled through 9 countries and 3 continents. She is an easy-going little girl who delights in music and animals. Over the last year there have been some health concerns, as Monica has already experienced several African health conditions including giardia, a nasty water-born parasite.
Frederick, born December 28th, 2009, is a happy-go-lucky bundle of smiles. So far his favorite activities are eating and sleeping.
In 2009 the Kellers moved their base of operations permanently from South Africa to Kabwe, Zambia. “It’s so much easier to live and work directly in the field, especially now that we have a family,” Ashley remarks. “It’s such a blessing to live alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ, building the Kingdom together in Zambia. And I definitely don’t miss the 3 day commute!!”
The Lord recently blessed the Kellers’ ministry in Africa with the fruits of the “Container Project.” After nearly two years of praying, planning, and collecting materials, packing, and waiting, the Kellers saw the safe arrival of a ‘40 shipping container, packed full of Bibles, education materials, and supplies. Timothy put together this project when he realized that, by shipping the material directly into Africa, he could effectively save 50% of the distribution cost. Now, as he passes out the precious supplies to ecstatic African brothers and sisters, he is praising God for providing this effective means of bringing the Gospel and discipleship into the heart of Africa.
The Kellers were also blessed with a 4×4 Toyota Hilux Surf.
It’s big enough to transport both their family and Bibles–an answer to prayer!
Timothy is currently putting together a “Manual for African Christian Educators.” The aim of this project is to be able to inexpensively produce a practical discipleship guide, specifically designed for African teachers.
Inspired by Matthew 10:14,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Proverbs 22:6,“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” and Colossians 2:3“In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
This manual will enable African teachers to effectively impact their students for Christ in their schools through evangelism and discipleship. “We are getting very excited as this manual begins to flesh out, and we’re able to see the teachers take the material back to their classrooms. No one reaches the youth better than their teachers. If we can train and equip the teachers, we can reach this generation for Christ.”
To keep up with the Kellers, visit their websites: http://www.KellersC23.com and http://www.KellersC23.com/blog
Goals
- To train African teachers to effectively teach the Gospel of Christ and disciple children through regular school studies.
- To provide Biblical and physical aid for Christian brothers struggling to evangelize and disciple in their areas of ministry.
- To affect lasting change for Christ in Africa through evangelism, discipleship and education.
- To raise their family to glorify God.
Needs
- Monthly support for Timothy, Ashley, Monica, and Frederick.
- For God’s hand in bringing forward teachers and pastors who will be effectively equipped through discipleship and training.
- Prayer for health, wisdom and protection as they serve the Lord in Africa.
Who’s Involved
- ITMI to provide oversight and US presence, exposing Timothy’s ministry to like-minded supporters.
- Partnership together with Excellence Christian Academy and director, Eugene Kalunga, as a base of operation and support.
