FAQs

Please make checks payable to ABWE and include our last name and account number (Barnosky #0194071) in the memo line. Mail your gift to:

ABWE Donor Services
PO Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA 17105

Alternatively, (or if you would like to mail checks regularly), you can download and fill out a donation slip with our info pre-filled, available here:

Donation Slip 

ABWE’s giving portal gives the option to ensure 100% of your gift goes toward ministry — based on your preferred method of giving, they will calculate the transaction fees and give you the option to cover the fee or have it taken out of your donation. 

(Much more information is available on ABWE’s Giving FAQs page, specifically “General Giving FAQs number 10.”)

For the lowest fees, we recommend setting up an eCheck (EFT) or direct bank draft (ACH) through the ABWE donor portal. This method has significantly lower processing fees than credit or debit cards. 

Yes. ABWE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You will receive a tax receipt for your records.

If you need to change your giving amount, update a credit card, or have questions about your year-end tax statement, you can contact ABWE Donor Services directly:

• Phone: 1-800-901-2293

• Email: donorhelp@abwe.org

We can personally attest to how wonderful the staff is there! They are knowledgeable, quick, and efficient. 

Sadly, and yet excitingly, no! 😇

For your safety and security, we see your name, donation amount, and if you set up a recurring gift or not. However, all transaction details, including banking information, is stored securely through ABWE; we do not have access to ‘adjust’ a donation. 

Thankfully, there is a full-time Donor Services team at ABWE’s headquarters that is phenomenal at handling every question, issue, and detail. It is quick and easy to speak with them directly:

• Phone: 1-800-901-2293

• Email: donorhelp@abwe.org

Our ministry is multi-faceted! Joe focuses on Communications & Media, helping sound biblical churches utilize technology for evangelism, discipleship, and community outreach.

Abbey works with Beautiful Feet International, equipping churches in pregnancy ministry nationwide, as well as women’s and children’s ministries locally.

Many South African pastors are overworked and lack the tools to reach their digital-savvy communities. By handling the “tech” side—websites, social media, and digital resources—we allow local pastors to focus on their primary calling: feeding their sheep and preaching the Word.

The other side of the coin is that false gospel ministries across South Africa have bigger budgets and better equipment; when people are spiritually curious and look for a church, they are statistically more likely to find the enemy’s snares than the real Gospel. We want to help fix that. We have to help fix that.

In South Africa, the need for compassionate care is staggering. The country has one of the highest reported rates of sexual violence in the world, with police statistics regularly recording over 40,000 rape cases annually (SAPS Crime Statistics). According to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), one in three women in South Africa has experienced physical violence in her lifetime, and more than 35% have experienced physical and/or sexual violence (HSRC GBV Study, 2024)

South Africa’s femicide rate is approximately five times the global average, according to research published in the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and reported by global monitoring agencies such as UN Women (SAMRC Femicide Study).

In this environment, unintended pregnancy is common. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that approximately 65% of pregnancies in South Africa are unintended, and many end in abortion (UNFPA South Africa Report).

By focusing on women’s health, we meet mothers in some of their most vulnerable moments — offering medical resources, emotional support, and the hope of the Gospel as a life-affirming alternative to cycles of trauma.

Beautiful Feet International works within the broader crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. A 2024 national study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) confirmed that 33.1% of women have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, with over a third reporting physical or sexual violence.

South African Police Service (SAPS) quarterly crime statistics consistently record thousands of sexual assault cases every quarter, underscoring the scale of trauma affecting communities nationwide (SAPS Crime Statistics Portal).

Beautiful Feet International partners with local churches to equip believers to launch pregnancy and family ministries rooted in biblical compassion. Each center provides the best resources it can, many of which include practical medical referrals (where licensed nurses are available), biblical and family counseling, material support (food, diapers, and other supplies), and spiritual care — addressing both physical and spiritual needs. The goal is not merely crisis response, but long-term restoration: strengthening families, restoring dignity, and proclaiming hope in Christ.

Every culture has pregnant women. This is an opportunity to gain a foothold for the gospel worldwide. South Africa is a prime example of where “the harvest is ripe, but the workers are few.” Many have “pray[ed] earnestly that the Lord of the harvest will send workers into His fields.”  Here we are!

Learn more here:

It is a unique and humbling transition! While we are moving from a country where we are the majority, we are entering the “Rainbow Nation” of South Africa. In our specific province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the population is approximately 85% Black (mostly Zulu), 9% Indian/Asian, and 4% White, with <1% Coloured/Other.

Durban itself is particularly unique; it has the largest Indian population outside of India, making it a vibrant “melting pot” of cultures, spices, and traditions. Durban’s population is approximately 51% Black African, 25% Indian/Asian, 15.3% White, and 8.6% Coloured.

Apartheid was an unspeakably tragic part of South Africa’s history, only ending in 1994. The wounds are still fresh for many who grew up there. These, of course, are personal recommendations, but we strongly encourage you to watch the 2013 drama “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” as well as the 2008 drama “Skin” (the story of Sandra Liang) to get a sense of what the country is still healing from.

While we are definitely a minority, we view our minority status as an opportunity to listen well, learn the local languages and cultures, and show that the Gospel of Christ transcends every ethnic and cultural boundary.

We operate with a high level of situational awareness and local wisdom. Current 2026 Crime Index data shows that major South African cities like Johannesburg (80.8), Durban (80.4), and Cape Town (73.7) face significant security challenges.

While the statistics are high, our daily reality is managed through:

• Proactive Security: Living in secured areas, avoiding travel after dark, and staying connected to local security networks.

• Our Team: We serve alongside veteran missionaries who provide invaluable guidance on navigating local life safely, including raising kids here.

• Faith: We are moving to Durban not because it is “safe,” but because God has called us there. Our ultimate security is in Him.

For safety reasons, we will not go into deeper detail about the training ABWE has provided us on personal and family safety/security, but rest assured that we (and they) have done our due diligence, and contingency plans and contacts are always in place. We’ve done and continue to do all we can on the human side of the equation; the rest is up to God, and we’re very, very okay with that.

Prayer is our greatest need! We post specific prayer requests in our newsletters and Facebook posts.

Generally, you can pray for:

• our family’s health,
• our language and cultural acquisition,
• our lifelong learning opportunities, and
• for the hearts of the people in Durban to be open to the true Gospel.

Absolutely! We love hearing from our partners! You can reach out to us through the contact form on our website or reply directly to any of our newsletter updates.