A Global Update from President Phil Smethurst

It seems like every day in Overland Missions there is enough content for a full newsletter. 

Today started with us sending the team of 9 drivers from Rapid 14 to Windhoek, Namibia to go fetch our new fleet of military spec trucks on the other side of Africa. It’s Sunday, so our community church gathered with a full house and a rich word followed by lunch and a baptism. Sharon and I then drove to the airport for an overnight trip to Lusaka. While at the airport in deep negotiations for a potential Cessna 206H, a small aircraft for Overland, we bump into Faith, one of our team flying out to southeast Asia. That is just after having a conversation with Kyla, another missionary, who flew in from America and who had just met Reece (another Overland missionary on his way to Cambodia) in Dubai during the layover. I said, “It’s like we are everywhere!”

Well, we are not everywhere but we are growing fast into the mandate that God has given us. This year, we expand our ground footprint into Indonesia in a new endeavor while we continue to build bases all over the world. It’s hard to explain the level of activity going on through our team. For example, during the pandemic in 2020, while we were supposed to be pacing ourselves, we were building 13 remote mission bases. Can you imagine? 

In the next few months, we will have an airplane and a new fleet of Overland trucks. This all to support our massive ground operation to preach the gospel. We are moving forward. 

We love you all.

-Philip and Sharon

For many years, Overland missionaries have crafted songs to lead praise and worship in the most remote places on the planet, songs that are born as we lift our gaze towards Christ in the midst of the mission, drenched in the faith of those transformed by the power of the Gospel. These songs are nothing new for the Overland team, but soon the world will hear the music that has inspired heartfelt devotion to spreading the good news to the ends of the earth. We hope you enjoy this latest release and stay tuned for the full album coming to all platforms June 7th!



Overland has long been identified by the trucks that carry our missionaries as we pioneer the Gospel. Our bright-yellow Dutch military trucks have served our team well for 20+ years. As we grow in number, in both our staff and range of influence, we were waiting on the Lord for an opportunity to purchase a new fleet.

On April 22nd, 6 new trucks arrived in Walvis Bay, Namibia. A group of our drivers are convoying them across the African continent to be outfitted on our logistical base at Rapid-14 in Zambia. Thank you to all who contributed both financially and in prayer for this amazing breakthrough!



TESTIMONIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

BRAZIL

Our team disciples various communities living along the Amazon River, and Esmerelda, featured above, has become one of these disciples.

For many years, her husband was addicted to alcohol. Through her persistent prayer and influence of our missionaries on the ground, Esmerelda's husband is faithfully serving the Lord. He is now identified by the amount of joy he shares with others, and they have both become pillars of their community.

KIDS ON FIRE

This group represents all those who teach and administer the Kids on Fire curriculum across Zambia and Congo. They are responsible for the discipleship of over 5,000 children on a weekly basis. This week, they gathered in Livingstone, Zambia for encouragement and teaching from Kids on Fire director Liezel Pienaar.

Pray for this team as they raise the next generation of pioneers in the faith!

SOUTHEAST ASIA

During a reconnaissance effort in Southeast Asia, our team arrived on the ground in hopes to find connections that would aide in a future launch. When they hopped into a taxi, they noticed something familiar on the radio. The driver was playing Overland Missions Music. The team was shocked, and so was the driver! After our worship director did some digging, she discovered only three people in the whole country had ever listened to our Spotify, and this driver was one of them. This driver will now be a primary contact and involved in the work of the Gospel in this country for years to come!