Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity
1 Timothy 4:12
Foxfire teams are the youth arm of African Enterprise’s Evangelistic and Mission activities. Each year, across four countries a small team of young people are chosen and intensively trained and equipped for a lifetime of service.
Last year, due to the pandemic, the mix of learning and hands on activities had to be adapted. However, this in turn led not only to souls saved but a lifelong lesson in trusting that God’s word and His mission is unstoppable.
In Kenya, Foxfires conducted a mission in Kawangare estate within Nairobi, witnessing one on one particularly to street children. Of the 301 people who heard the Gospel, 46 made commitments for salvation. Every Sunday the team minister at the Teen’s church in Nairobi Chapel Karen branch through dancing and preaching The Foxfires have been able to minister to 1751 students with 171 making commitment for salvation.
The team also interacted and prayed with patients in the AE Kenya Soweto Kayole clinic and helped clean the compound.
As the pandemic intensified, the Foxfires studied PTC courses online and developed digital content, including short video clips, for evangelism on social media. Group discussions on topical issues affecting teens began almost every day, providing godly counsel to many. More than 613 young people have been reached via these videos and a platform has been created for teenagers to engage.
In Malawi, Foxfires were trained in how to counsel and help their fellow youths who are facing problems like peer pressure, alcohol & substance abuse. They also practiced drama and dance skills in preparation for school and college outreaches.
The spike of Covid-19 cases during the year disrupted the Foxfire’s youth ministry plans since schools closed down and markets were highly restricted by government’s orders. However, the decrease of COVID-19 cases during the last two months of the year gave them the opportunity to do ‘whistle stop’ outreaches at several schools and marketplaces. A total of 2,249 people were reached and 319 people committed their lives to Christ. 
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team donated blood at Malawi Blood Transfusion Services Office in response to shortages, and went to Ntchisi District to distribute Masks and Soap. There they shared the word of God to over two hundred villagers, and eighty adults committed their lives to Christ.
In November, the Foxfire Alumni Initiative was launched to re-unite participants from 13 years of this ministry in Malawi and testimonies of transformation and empowerment bred a thanksgiving heart among the attendees.
In Zimbabwe, Foxfires learned how to participate in Home Based evangelism and help local communities with aid, including helping build a water tank for horticulture fresh farm produce.
In South Africa, the Foxfires conducted school outreaches, reaching 962, with 373 decisions made for Christ. In a village in Kwa Zulu Natal, in the Greater Edendale area, they did an open air outreach. As the Foxfires did their dance and drama, people started to notice and came out to see what was happening. When the word of God was shared, people were given a chance to accept Christ into their lives.
South Africa continues to be the most severely impacted country in Africa by COVID-19, with the strictest lockdowns on the continent. This has delayed the 2021 team from forming, with Pietermaritzburg having been identified as a hotspot area in early January.
We look forward to what God has in store for us this year. We are trusting Him to open doors for us to minister in the midst of the pandemic. We are also praying for protection over our AE team as we set out to do what God has called us to do.
Please pray:
- Praise God that Foxfire training was able to continue in 2020 with innovative strategies.
- Pray for Foxfire alumni to continue in faithful gospel proclamation and to ‘pass on the baton’ by training others.
- That God would achieve infinitely more that we might ask or think through the Foxfires and bring glory to Himself and Jesus in the church through all generations (Ephesians 3:20-21)
- Pray for the successful establishment of a Fox Fire Youth Empowerment Program in Zambia.
- For God’s mercy on the people of South Africa, and that they would call out to Him for relief from the pandemic.
Read more about our Foxfires >
Watch a video update about our Foxfires >
It is a new year and we have new Foxfire teams across Africa, ready to joyfully and wholeheartedly serve God.
In Malawi the Foxfires were patiently waiting for the schools to open up on the 22nd of February so they can start reaching out to schools and youth groups. The Foxfires in South Africa have started a social media initiative called “Let’s talk” where they share a one minute video each week, speaking God’s truth and encouraging youth through the platform they prefer.
When COVID-19 forced everyone into lockdown, our 4 Foxfire teams were reaching out to friends, family and neighbours during lockdown. Supporting and encouraging others through the difficult time. Not only does Foxfires have a lasting impact on the youth that they reach out to, but being a Foxfire impacts the life of each young adult enrolled in the program.
Precious Owoko recently shared the impact being a Foxfire had on her life. She was a part of the Kenya Foxfires Youth Empowerment Program back in 2018.
“I am Precious Owoko a student currently at Laikipia University in Nyahururu, Kenya, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media. Today I take a short reflection of my tenure during the Foxfires Youth Empowerment Program in 2018 and the impact it has had in my life. I am glad that I gave part of my life to serve my fellow youth. I was effectively prepared to become a better person today. I am never the same!!
Foxfires program prepares one for the youth related ministry within the year and life after the program. It’s an important bridge that greatly equipped me for life in campus. The program fortified me with relevant skills that have enabled me to be focused in life and aim at the goals that I set while serving with AE. My leadership skills were enhanced, fine-tuned and refocused. I was able to discover amazing leadership abilities that I had not thought of. Today I serve the students as the class representative for the communication and media group. I am representing more than 300 students on the relevant meetings. I know that the confidence I portray was cemented in me during the foxfires program.
Foxfires made me esteem the ministry of young people. Once I enrolled in campus, I joined the Christian Union Movement (C.U). I wanted to serve and reach many with the Gospel. The skills of evangelism and discipleship have helped me to be involved in person to person witnessing and other missions aimed at reaching the student leaders. I have also helped in the rebranding of the arts department as a tool of reaching out the youth with skits, drama and dancing. This has greatly helped the Christian union to attract more students thus coming to experience Christ. Today, I am greatly honoured that I am serving the Christian Union as the secretary, a position that I only serve by God’s grace. There were many students who could have been elected to this position but I was favoured by God. My exposure during FYEP, to different youth ministry across Kenya has greatly improved my performance. Communication skills was a critical course in Foxfires that has helped me become better in handling the CU related communication. Recently, I was chosen by different Christian Unions within the Kenyan Central region as the secretary general of consortium of 11 Christian Unions. I can only attribute such as this achievement to AE FYEP.
The daily devotions that involved the reading of the word of God and prayers created in me a discipline of prayer and bible study. Some ask how I manage to keep track of my devotional life, I only share with them my experience in the FYEP.
I have been able to help others who have been in difficult life related issues. The knowledge gained in Foxfires has been a source of wealth that I have constantly used to walk with others. I am happy that I can continue with the ministry of Foxfires even in campus. I am still setting the youth ablaze for Christ!
Today I know how to deal with peer pressure, handle relationships, financial management and saving skills, conflict management, balance between academic and my other roles and other courses handled while in FYEP.
I am proud to have been a Foxfire and to be continuing with the theme of Once a Foxfire, Always a Foxfire. I know supporting FYEP program is making a difference in many. It’s transforming the young people during the tenure and after the program. It’s never in vain.
God bless the Foxfires Youth Empowerment Program.”
Thank you for supporting our Foxfire teams in Africa and for impacting the lives of many young adults.
Africa has the youngest population in the world – its average age is just 19 years.
At African Enterprise, we know that the key to the continent is its youth; this is how the dream for the Foxfires, the youth arm of AE, was born. Foxfires play a vital role in AE city-wide and university missions each year, as they reach their fellow youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The program’s name comes from Judges 15 – where Samson ties torches to the tails of foxes and releases them into the fields of the Philistines. The name is symbolic of youth who, set ablaze with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, carry His fire into the world.
AE currently has Foxfires teams in Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi, with each team made up of around 10 young Africans. Many of our Foxfires come from difficult backgrounds, but they have a passion for the Gospel, and they choose to devote a year of their lives to Christian ministry.
After 2 months of training, the Foxfires visit schools, children’s homes and youth groups, using energetic dance and drama performances to share the Gospel message. They also mentor younger leaders and present programs that help young people to contribute positively to society, while navigating issues such as peer pressure, drug abuse, crime, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
Julie Kibie, a social worker at Bro Beausang Education Centre, was overwhelmed by the effect that the Kenyan Foxfires have had on pupils at the school, describing the Foxfires as “the change agents that we so need for this generation!” One of those pupils, Lizzy, lost her mother at birth, and suffered from low self-esteem due to ongoing rejection by her stepmother. Speaking of the Foxfires, she describes:
“I have learned that my background does not dictate my future or how I should view things… Furthermore, my decision to welcome Christ in my life has had a difference since I can now speak my heart to God. I am forever grateful for the new me that the Foxfires program has carved”.
With COVID-19 having affected the Kenyan Foxfires’ schedule this year, the team are determined to continue shining their light in the midst of dark and seemingly hopeless circumstances. One team member, Brandon, encourages fellow youth around the world not to lose hope during this challenging season:
“Have hope and be positive. See the best that can be done to improve your skill as a young person during this period. Let your dreams keep hope alive. God honours his child’s heart’s desires. He will ensure that it happens in due time. Focus now on the talent, the gifting or the strength you have always passed over or ignored… Be that unmoved change agent for a better life tomorrow. God bless!”
Luyanda Zulu
Rejection – I was abandoned at birth. So, I’ve always felt unloved, unworthy and this all led to me trying to fit in for I struggled to be accepted socially. How I dealt with this the current church (Christ Amplified Church) I joined had a real positive impact in helping me to deal with this pain and hurt. They showed me love before they introduced me to this loving God. I then realised that God accepts me and that He loves me before I even loved Him.
Low Self-Esteem – I was verbally and emotionally abused a lot by my guardian and even my school peers .I was very skinny and due to that I would get called funny names such as e.g., matchsticks that effected how I would looked and view myself. It was hard to deal with this even though you train yourself to try and forget it still somehow reminds you especially the pain attached to it. The friends at my church encouraged me and reminded me how God view me as that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Expectation – I hope to leave this Foxfire program with full understanding who I am and my calling in the kingdom of God. To acquire leadership skills. To share the good news and keep the banner of evangelism high.
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“Hi my name is Lizzy. I have been positively impacted with the program on major challenges I have had as an individual. My background had hugely weighed me down. I am a firstborn in a family of four. Where the three are my step-siblings. My mother died in child-birth after which my father married another woman.
She has been mistreating me and diminishing me. This affected the aspects of self-esteem and awareness, my self-value and how I viewed the world. I was always this stressed girl and could see nothing fascinating about life. This has now changed for the better me. The frequent visits from the Foxfires Team in our school has played the major role. I was at first timid to approach any of them for help but I am happy I did. One of the ladies from the team has walked with me since then. I have learned that my background does not dictate my future or how I should view things and that all this will end. Furthermore my decision to welcome Christ in my life has had a difference since I can now speak my heart to God. I am forever grateful for the new me that the Foxfires program has curved. God indeed bless you.”
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“My name is Julie Kibie. I am a social worker in Bro.Beausang’ Education Centre. I work to maintain the students well-being, mentally and psychologically for excellence all round. I am grateful for the Foxfires’ team for being a great help in instilling values into the student’s lives. I was greatly impressed by the facilitation the team did on the topic Drugs and Substance Abuse. Some of the students came right ahead for counselling and rehabilitation out of drug effects from the drugs they were intaking. (The likes of Bhang, Tobacco and Khat) They now feel cared for and still treasured that there is someone looking out for them.
The students of such an age succumb to this issue either out of peer pressure or the family backgrounds they come from. It is remarkable to see that the school system and inspirers like the Foxfires can change their lives to a better and an admirable individual in the society. I believe that soon they will change their families. Other ways in which the students have changed is on enhanced communication among the students and to their teachers as well. This has definitely resulted from the students confiding in the Foxfires mostly because they are of more or less in the same age bracket. I highly recommend the Foxfires Youth Team to any institution. They are the change agents we so need for this generation! God bless you!”
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