Written by: André Viljoen
Article source: gatewaynews.co.za
Evangelist Reini Coetzee set out from Signal Hill, Cape Town, on the first day of a walk in which he hopes to wheel a wooden cross 10 000 km across Africa and on to Jerusalem. His departure, after a prayerful sendoff by supporters, was two days later than planned, because of a delay in the delivery of the cross by courier. But Reini, who expects his trek will take 18 months to two years to complete, says he is not in a hurry. He said his mission is “to seek the lost at all costs” and “to bring hope, peace, and the love of Christ to Africa through the power of the cross”.
Ordained footsteps
When I asked him how it felt two days into his walk with nearly 10 000 km of road ahead of him, he said he believed God has “brought me to order” by telling him to take the walk “one day at a time”.
Many interesting encounters
He said that it has been busy on the road with lots of people stopping to engage with them. A motorist who stopped told him how she prays daily for Cape Town, South Africa, and Africa. Another woman gave him a five-course meal “which I can’t even carry”.
This man was working in a garden in the Kraaifontein area when Reini and his companion, Brian Francis, came by. He came out onto the street and asked if he could wheel the cross for a while
Others want to help
He said he was amazed how many people wanted to help him by wheeling the cross for a while. The first was a gardener who came out onto the street when he saw him and asked if he could carry the cross for a bit.
A long journey ahead
Reini is officially travelling solo with just the cross in his hands and a rucksack on his back. But he said he trusted God to provide him with different partners to accompany him on some of the stages of his long journey. A friend, Bryan Francis, accompanied him for the first few days.
This article is featured in the May issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 10/05/2025
Feature image: Reini Coetzee walking down Signal Hill, Cape Town at the start of his Cross Walk Africa hike from Cape Town to Jerusalem. With him is Brian Francis, who accompanied him for the first few days
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