John and Zoe Putman serve at Rift Valley Academy (RVA); AIM’s boarding school which educates and disciples students from missionary families across Africa, in Kijabe, Kenya. They are dorm parents for Junior High girls (aged 12-14). Additionally Zoe is the Kindergarten teacher, and John is the Hub Co-ordinator (fielding pastoral concerns). John also coaches sports, leads worship and preaches, whilst Zoe mentors a student worship team.
After meeting each other on mission with British Youth for Christ, John and Zoe married and moved to the northwest of England to minister amongst neighbours and young people in their community. From 2003 – 2023 this was home and where their two daughters were born and raised.
During covid, the Lord opened up the idea of coming out to teach at RVA and in July 2023 the family took the assignment to live and work in Kijabe, Kenya where the girls could finish their education (graduating with a US High School Diploma).
John’s childhood years in Tanzania prepared him well for life in Africa; his Kiswahili has returned and he feels at home amongst the community of missionary kids!
Could you support John and Zoe in their work?
John and Zoe serve at Rift Valley Academy (RVA), AIM’s boarding school in Kijabe, Kenya, which educates and disciples the children of missionaries. The school year is finished and this marks the completion of two years as dorm parents to their current cohort of Junior High girls! God has been so faithful in sustaining and blessing them with great relationships and opportunities. At the same time as letting go of the boarders, they are also letting go of their daughter, Sadie, as she has now graduated from RVA and will be starting university in September. Please pray for them as a family in this season of transition, and as they spend the summer helping empty the homes of those leaving, and preparing them for new staff.

