Our Story
We are Joshua, Frances, Mikayah, and Junior Daku, and we simply want our lives to count for Jesus Christ!
Eight thousand miles separated us most of our lives, but God spanned that distance when He brought our paths together at New England Baptist College, where we both did our Bible college training. Josh received a degree in Pastoral Theology and Frances in Secondary Education. After we graduated college, we married on June 17, 2017, and put down roots in Altoona, PA. While there, Josh served as a lay youth pastor at a small church while working a secular job, and Frances taught full-time in a Christian school. We knew God wanted us in mission work, but we were waiting on His timing.
That question was answered less than a year into married life! Joel and Brooke Daku, missionaries to Kiribati, needed an emergency furlough due to the health of two of their children. We answered the call to take their place in Kiribati for about 3 months. Soon after arriving in Kiribati, we received the good news that Frances was expecting our daughter.
We believe God would have us be full-time missionaries in Fiji, seeing churches started, as well as focusing on reaching the next generation of Fijians with the Gospel. We have returned to the USA after being in Fiji for our first term of almost 3 years. We are heading back to Fiji on May 6th, 2024.
We are praying we can finish raising our financial support for the upcoming term and to send a crate back to Fiji with Bibles, tracts and ministry supplies.
About Josh
I am Joshua David Daku and I was born July 5th, 1995, in the Fiji Islands. My parents moved to Fiji as missionaries after serving in both Singapore and Australia. The Lord burdened their hearts to reach the people of India with the Gospel, but they were not granted visas to enter as missionaries; so they moved to Singapore for a time to work with a group of Indian people there. After this, God led them to Australia to serve for three years. While serving in Australia, my parents heard about a country only about 3 hours flying time away from Australia where half the population were Indians from India, namely Fiji. These Indians were brought to India as indentured laborers when the British ruled Fiji and chose, when their contract was up, to remain in Fiji. My parents heard about a special deal an airline was having where an adult could fly to Fiji from Australia and a child would fly free. So they flew to Fiji with two of their sons on a survey trip. A short time later, my parents felt the Lord was leading them to this island nation in the Pacific.
I was born about a year after my parents arrived in Fiji and was blessed to grow up there almost all my life!
I grew up in a Christian home and can remember going to church ever since I can remember! The Bible is clear, however, that every person must make a decision to personally accept Jesus Christ as his/her Savior. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) I am so thankful that on September 8th, 2002 I was saved and Jesus became my personal Savior. A couple years later, God was working on my heart during a youth camp, and I dedicated my life to Him to do whatever He wanted with my life. ~ Josh
—– Experience —–
2013-2017: Bachlelor’s Degree in Pastoral Theology from New England Baptist College
2016 (summer): travelled Neighborhood Bible Time (working with youth and children in 8 different churches in Oregon, Arizona, Maryland, and Virginia)
2017-2018 (1 year): Served as youth director at under Pastor Mark Mahan at Community Baptist Church in Altoona, PA
2018-2019: Served as missionaries in the countries of Fiji and Kiribati. (June through December 2018 / June through September 2019)
About Frances
Mississippi is where it all began for me! I’m a southern girl by birth but a northern girl most of my life. I am the fifth born of seven children, with five brothers and one sister. Because my dad is in the ministry as a Christian school principal, my family moved around some. During my growing up years, the Lord led my dad to four different states: Mississippi, Alabama, Maryland, and Connecticut.
I was saved May 30, 1998, in my Alabama living room. I’m so thankful I have a father that showed me how to be saved at an early age! I was always encouraged to make reading my Bible and praying a daily thing. The summer of 2008, I struggled immensely with surrendering to God’s will entirely. I wanted His will in my life, but – with one condition: that He would not send me to the mission field. By November of the same year, I was softening. The Lord moved in my heart in a youth conference meeting, and I surrendered that very last part of me. The words of the song “I Surrender All” were so real and precious to me that night as I stood and sang them. It was finally true in my heart! ~ Frances
—– Experience —–
2012-2016: Bachlelor’s Degree with a Major in Secondary Education (Math proficency) and a Minor in Music (Piano proficency) from New England Baptist College
2016-2017: Teacher at Central Christian Academy in Southington, Connecticut
2017-2018: Teacher at Calvary Christian Academy in Huntington, Pennsylvania
About Mikayah
While we were serving as missionaries in Kiribati, we found out that Frances was expecting our first child. We returned to the USA in December of 2018, and Mikayah Ruth Daku was born March 6, 2019 in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
We had the opportunity to dedicate Mikayah’s life to the Lord, with Josh’s father as the officiating pastor. We pray the Lord enables us to raise her to grow up to love the Lord Jesus Christ and we look forward to seeing the plan He has for her life.
About Junior
Joshua David Daku Jr. (Junior) was born November 23, 2020. God has truly blessed us with the family He has given us. We pray the Lord uses Junior’s life in a great way for His honor and glory.