Written by: André Viljoen
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Earlier this year, we shared the story of Reini Coetzee as he began his 10 000 km journey, wheeling a wooden cross from Cape Town to Jerusalem. Since then, the road has been filled with many encounters and opportunities to share the Gospel. Reini is now nearing the Zimbabwean border, where his walk will take him into the heart of Africa. As he steps forward, he continues to lean on the Lord for strength, guidance, and daily provision.
A couple who stopped to pray with Reini Coetzee on the roadside and to thank him for his inspiring example of living to proclaim Jesus
Six months into his CrossWalk Africa mission to wheel a wooden cross from Cape Town to Jerusalem, Reini Coetzee’s epic trek is getting very real: He will soon be entering uncharted territory in Zimbabwe.
Stepping into the unknown
“It’s like a big doorway that I’m going to go through – into the unknown, into Africa,” said the veteran of thousands of kilometres of crosswalking and founder of Revelation Ministries, in a tele-interview as he was approaching Polokwane. He has been out of South Africa once before, when he walked from Cape Town to Windhoek, Namibia.
Fearless in the Lord
In 2020, when he walked from Cape Town to Musina, he stood on Beit Bridge – the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. But his imminent bridge crossing will mark the beginning of a long, solo trek up the African continent. “I’ve got peace in my heart to walk fearlessly in the Lord. So I am excited and ready to trust the Lord,” said Reini.
Hungry hearts on the roadside
He said he believes the cross will speak to people on his long walk through Africa as it has in South Africa – bringing a message of salvation and of hope. “This is a different crosswalk. There is something different about people,” said Reini about his walk so far. “I think it’s the time that we are in that makes people hunger. A lot of people stop next to me and pray or want prayer. There’s a lot of salvation happening on the road as well.”
Cheerleaders on the highways
The sight of the cross which Reini is wheeling on his CrossWalk Africa mission speaks to the hearts of many people, he says. He said truckers, who greeted him, stopped for a quick chat, and gave him water, continued to be “my biggest cheerleaders”.
Strength for the journey
He said he is physically well. His left shoulder was a bit bruised and tender from pushing the cross but he was bearing up. Sometimes there were “long stretches of loneliness”. But he said God was meeting all of his needs for food and accommodation through kind people. Sometimes he even got to soak in a bath, which he loves.
Doors opening in Africa
He said that along the way he had already made some contacts which had led to promises of accommodation in cities in Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
Walking together, walking alone
In June, an old crosswalking friend, Sivenkosi Njoli, joined Reini in Colesburg with the intention of walking with him all the way to Israel. But Reini said “Sive” had to leave him about two months ago as his family needed him to help on their farm.
This article is featured in the November issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 17/10/2025
André Viljoen – editor of Gateway News. Visit gatewaynews.co.za.
Feature image: The sight of the cross which Reini is wheeling on his Cross Africa mission speaks to the hearts of many people, he says
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