Article provided by Dr. Pearl Kupe
A Million Women is a global, interdenominational prayer movement rooted in the biblical mandate of Joel 2 and the prophetic call of Esther 4.
The founder and visionary of the movement, Lou Engle, is a vessel who has been used globally in the area of prophetic intercession for the nations. The A Million Women (AMW) International Director is Laura Allred and the AMW Africa Director is Rev. Hannah Johnson, with Apostle Isi Igenegba serving as the apostolic lead for the continent of Africa. Pearl Kupe serves as the apostolic lead for the SADC nations, including South Africa, with Engelize de Lange serving as the AMW South Africa National Co-ordinator in charge of operations.
AMW exists to call God’s people to respond rightly in moments of national and global crisis – through repentance, unity, fasting, prayer, and consecration.
This is not a church, denomination, or ministry competing for members.
A Million Women functions as a parachurch, collaborative movement, serving the wider Body of Christ by creating space for unified response to God’s call.
Throughout Scripture, when nations faced judgement, disorder, or crisis, God did not prescribe political strategy first. He called for a sacred assembly. A Million Women exists to steward that response in our generation.
The “How”
The foundation: Through the application of Joel 2:12–17, which is heaven’s prescription for a nation in crisis. Joel 2 gives God’s mandated response when a nation is in crisis:
It says “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”; “Rend your heart, not your garments.” “Blow the trumpet in Zion.” “Consecrate a fast.” “Call a sacred assembly.” “Gather the people… assemble the elders… let the priests weep between the porch and the altar: ‘Spare Your people, O Lord.’”
The key actions:
• Blow the trumpet and sound the clarion call.
• Consecrate a massive corporate time of fasting; abstaining from food.
• Call a sacred assembly and gather the people in unity.
• Sanctify the congregation and prepare hearts and set ground rules.
• Assemble all generations including the elders, fathers, mothers, children, nursing infants; no one is exempt.
• Priests are to stand in the gap weeping and praying for mercy.
What happens when a nation obeys this prescription?:
• Principalities are dislodged.
• Breakthrough occurs at a national and territorial level.
• God releases mercy and reverses verdicts.
This is the biblical foundation upon which the South Africa 2026 gathering is built.
Why South Africa? The prophetic identity and strategic significance of South Africa
South Africa is not just a location choice, nor was it randomly selected. It is a divinely highlighted nation with a prophetic assignment. South Africa has been prophetically described by many as the womb and mother of Africa, and as a place from which revival will burst forth.
South Africa has long been prophesied as the womb of the continent, the place from which movements are birthed and spread across Africa. A mother was meant to unite the children, but history has instead produced scattering, division, and fragmentation.
What is birthed in South Africa will reverberate across all African nations.
A nation marked by prophecy
Prophetic words declared over the years have said that the eyes of the world would turn toward Africa. South Africa, as the continental gate, carries a mantle to:
• Awaken the continent
• Unlock prophetic destiny
• Birth movements that shift nations
• Prepare Africa for her end-time role (from Cape Town to Cairo)
A complex but redeemable history
South Africa’s history is complex and is marked by:
• Division
• Corruption
• Bloodshed
• Multilayered racial wounds
• Generational trauma
• Witchcraft
Highlights of the AMW movement
The solemn assembly is a moment to:
• Bring our national guilt before the Lord
• Confront historical and present wounds
• Unite the nation for mercy
• Close demonic gates and open righteous ones
• Observe a call to unity
The call to unity
The call to unity is not optional but is the precondition for national breakthrough. It is from the biblical mandate contained in Psalm 133 which states that “Where brethren dwell together in unity… there the Lord commands the blessing.”
It must be noted that unity does not necessarily mean agreement. It means:
• Alignment of heart
• Alignment of mission
• A shared desire for national healing and revival
• Prophetic confirmations of unity
• The “Better Blood” vs. “The Accuser of the Brethren” dream – choosing the blood of Jesus over accusation and rejecting division and suspicion
Prophecy of a zebra rising from the south
Zebras are black, white, and up-close include browns. This was a picture of unity in diversity which is the perfect symbolism for South Africa. South Africa is the place where unity must be forged so that a blessing can be commanded over it and beyond.
September 19, 2026 threefold cord gathering: Prayer, fasting and communion
This threefold cord has never been executed at this scale in South Africa.
a) Prayer in the form of a corporate, unified intercession which will synchronise the prayers of the Church across people groups, denominations, and provinces. A united cry for mercy, healing, and national deliverance.
b) Fasting as a means for atomic power for breakthrough. South Africa has experienced many key and critical prayer gatherings before. This gathering will be coupled with fasting to amplify our prayers and break national-level strongholds.
c) Communion: Speaking “the Better Blood” over the nation
Communion is where:
• We plead the blood of Jesus over national guilt
• We confront the innocent bloodshed in the land
• We bring historical and present wounds before God
• We ask for mercy in humility
• We choose covenant unity instead of accusation
The outcome of this threefold cord does the following:
• Breaks the curse in the land
• Dislodges long-standing principalities
• Opens the gate for national healing
• Resets the spiritual atmosphere
• Prepares the womb of Africa for continental awakening
Strategic timing: The September 2026 continental gathering
The last AMW gathering was held in October in Brazil, 2025. The next major global gathering will be held in South Africa on 19 September 2026. This is intentional with the prophetic spotlight on Africa and need for national unity before revival.
The signs in the nations confirm that “It is Africa’s time” for the continental gate opening. For the first time ever in 2025, G20 was hosted in Africa for the first time, a clear geopolitical sign of global attention shifting to the continent. One also observes the increasing global attention on persecution in Nigeria, DRC, Congo. Also taking place is the relocation of some UN organisation headquarters to Kenya and other African nations.
What are we praying for?
• A moment for national atonement
• A shift in the heavens over South Africa
• Dislodging of ancient principalities
• Healing of racial and historical wounds
• A continental ripple effect
• South Africa stepping fully into her prophetic role as: the mother, the womb, and the continental gate of Africa
Invitation to all
South Africa is standing in a kairos moment.
This mobilisation is not about numbers alone – it is about obedience, unity, and national destiny. “For such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14). For more information on the A Million Women Movement, you can go this website: https://amillionwomen.org/
Thank you for prayerfully considering your role in this assignment. #KeNako
This article was compiled by Pearl Kupe from notes written by Rev Hannah Johnson.
Pearl Kupe – Attorney and international consultant to world leaders and international organisations. She is the International President – Global Forum for Women Entrepreneurs – www.gfwe.co.za. Personal website on www.Pearlkupe.co.za. She is the TBN Africa DStv channel 343 host on Ambassador of Change, Sundays at 13h00 and Wednesdays at 09h30 and 19h30 (SAST).
You can follow Pearl on Facebook page Pearl Kgomotso Kupe https://www.facebook.com/pearl.kupe
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Date published: 24/02/2026
Feature images sourced from article
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