Alan and Deanna serve in South Africa, with additional ministry outreach in Zimbabwe. Their work is affiliated with Biblical Ministries Worldwide.
Alan and Deanna have been faithfully serving in ministry since early 1987. 

Alan and Deanna have two sons and are proud grandparents to two granddaughters. Since their youngest son left home in 2013, they’ve embraced a shared hobby of birding—Deanna as the spotter and Alan as the photographer.

Since becoming empty nesters, Alan and Deanna have become avid birders. Deanna spots the birds, and Alan photographs them. As of December last year, they’ve identified 300 different bird species and have photos of 280. With over 900 species in Southern Africa, they still have a long way to go—but birding has become a treasured way to rest, recharge, and enjoy God’s creation together.

Deanna grew up in the Fleetwood area and has been part of Exeter Bible Fellowship Church her entire life. Alan was born and raised in what was then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). After completing his National Service in the Rhodesian Army, he came to the U.S. for college—during which time the country officially became Zimbabwe.

Both Alan and Deanna earned Bachelor of Science degrees from Liberty University. Alan went on to complete a Master’s degree at Liberty and another at North West University in South Africa.

In 2021, the Lord closed the door on their long-standing ministry at Benoni Bible Church, where they had trained leaders for over a decade. While continuing their church planting work at Kanana Baptist in Thembisa, they began praying for new opportunities. That’s when the door opened for them to serve in Zimbabwe—a country Alan had once tried to return to in 1988 but was unable due to political complications.

Now, they travel to Zimbabwe twice a year to train young, eager church planters in rural areas. The training involves camping and living simply, but the fruit of the ministry has been rich. God’s timing, they say, is always perfect.

During Deanna’s parents’ first visit to South Africa in 1988, they endured two days of travel in over 100°F heat without air conditioning. Deanna’s mother, still recovering from surgery, became severely dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. The night before, they had eaten out, and Deanna and Alan had ordered “Monkey Gland Steaks.” Her father, unfamiliar with the dish, was convinced she had eaten actual monkey meat and that it had made her sick. They later explained that “monkey gland” is just the name of a popular South African sauce—no monkeys involved! The real culprit was dehydration, but the story still brings laughs. 

Deanna’s Favorite Verse
“Having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.”
— 1 Peter 5:7

Alan’s Favorite Verse
“Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
— 1 Peter 4:11