Our Story
The Mission
Joy in the Harvest is a Christian mission dedicated to serving Christ in Africa.
Founded in 1992, by Lowell and Claudia Wertz, Joy in the Harvest stated purpose is “To provide expertise and resources needed by the church in Africa for making Christian disciples.”
The main base of overseas mission operations in Africa is located in Kigoma, Tanzania, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Joy in the Harvest has more than 70 African nationals on staff. Our U.S.A. mission operations in the USA is based out of Illinois.
We believe in ministering to the total person. We run projects that help Africans receive training and education so that they might be able to find meaningful employment and support their families.
Our mission believes that as Christians we should render assistance to the poor, sick and needy. We run a feeding program for the hungry including orphans and street children, care for widows, help operate a destitute camp for crippled and handicapped, train locals at our computer school, offer on the job apprenticeships, provide emergency assistance for the desperately needy and sick, and operate a radio station we started that reaches across the Kigoma region.
Weekly
Joy in the Harvest is involved in several types of projects in Africa.
Evangelism
We play a supporting role for the work of churches, pastors, and evangelists. Our assistance includes helping church construction, training seminars, and practical helps. We also interface and assist other missionaries and mission organizations. We are proud of our involvement across many denominational lines and we believe in the importance of Christian unity.
Compassion
Joy in the Harvest is committed to serving God by serving Africans. God’s love compels us to address the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of our neighbors. We do this through our numerous projects and ministries detailed in our project page. It’s a joy to watch God impact thousands of lives in so many ways.
Technical
In Tanzania, radio is the most influential form of media so Joy in the Harvest built a radio station to positively impact the lives of 2.5 million people. Radio JOY, a not-for-profit station on-the-air with full schedule broadcast since February 2016, is the only local radio station in the Kigoma area. The station is on air 24/7 with high-quality Christian programming.
Vocational
Apprenticeship training enables a person to feed their family while learning skills “on the job.” Joy in the Harvest offers training in theological education, computer technologies, construction and business management. Our premier educational offering is the Computer School operating since 1993.
Joy In The Harvest Founded
Lowell and Claudia Wertz start Joy In The Harvest in Kigoma, Tanzania.
3 Guest Houses Built For Visitors
Visitors can now stay in fully furnished, up to American standard guest houses.
Computer School Launches
Now able to offer high quality computer education to local Tanzanians.
Feeding Center Begins Construction
The feeding center allows us to provide over 54,000 meals per year to children and poor.
Community Center Opens
Used as an education center for Christian leaders and the general public.
Radio Joy On Air
Reaching 2.5 million Tanzanians with Christian programming and public information.
Apprenticeship Program Starts
Vocational skills training in wood working, sheet metal, and auto repair.