Batchlor Wise Johnson IV Travels to Nairobi, Kenya on Empowerment Tour

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Batchlor Wise Johnson IV is an American athlete, musician, motivational speaker, social media influencer and, in mid-November 2025, he travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, to donate his time, talents, and means, to help inspire youth and young single adults to live their best lives as disciples of Christ and to join with him in serving others.

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Batchlor’s visit included a devotional held on November 13^th for youth, another devotional on the 14^th for young single adults (YSA), a service project to a local orphanage on Saturday, the 15th, and a free concert held that same evening at a local venue in Nairobi. 

In speaking to the YSA, Batchlor shared the personal desire he had that inspired this tour saying, “I had this dream of being able to do what I love to do, and to take it across the world. …I wanted the whole world to know I was a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

His reach on this visit, extended beyond the borders of Kenya as well.  He raised the funds to pay the way for fifty-two members from Ethiopia to fly to Nairobi to join him for his events, and to give them the opportunity to attend the Nairobi Kenya Temple.  Of the fifty-two, there were twelve youths and twenty YSA, many of whom were recent converts.

Ordinances performed by these faithful saints after their arrival included proxy baptisms, done for parents and other ancestors, sealings, one personal endowment, and one family of seven sealed for time and all eternity.  Fourteen of their number were able to receive their patriarchal blessings while in Nairobi as well.

Of her experience in the temple, Bereket, a YSA sister who is a recent convert to the Church stated, “Going to the Kenya Temple was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I felt the Spirit so strongly, and it reminded me that Heavenly Father truly knows me. …I was also blessed to do baptism work for 25 of my family members and my friend’s family.  It was a very special feeling to stand for them in the temple and feel their love and gratitude.”  She went on to add, “In the Kenya Temple I felt something I can’t fully explain. It was a deep peace in my heart, like everything in my life stopped for a moment and Heavenly Father was speaking softly to me. I felt His love so clearly. I felt safe, seen, and understood. Doing baptism work for my family and my friend’s family touched my spirit.  I felt close to them, like they were with me, happy and grateful.  It made me feel lighter, stronger, and full of hope.  That day changed me.  It strengthened my testimony and reminded me that Heavenly Father truly knows my name and my life.  I left the temple feeling new, clean, and full of love.”

Shitaya Kasa expressed her feelings relating, “The first thing I remember seeing was the big Christ statue on the temple grounds, I was filled with incomprehensible happiness. The love of the temple workers and the atmosphere on the temple grounds was different from anything I’ve ever felt. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my Savior and was filled with peace. Thursday morning, I entered the temple with my husband, and I saw that everyone was wearing white clothes. I again felt that incomprehensible happiness and peace. Seeing everyone in white made me think of all the angels in heaven. I was grateful to the Lord for this experience. I felt so grateful to make covenants with my Father in Heaven. The next day I entered the house of the Lord with my family, and we were all wearing white. I felt the love of my Savior while we were being sealed as a family. After we exited the temple, I started crying because our family had been sealed.  I thanked my Father in Heaven.”

The Temple was a major focus in Batchlor’s teachings to the youth and young single adults who attended the devotionals, and he repeatedly emphasized its importance. Of his efforts to bring young people from Ethiopia to join in the events he related, “We felt strongly that it was more important for them to go to the temple, than to hear me speak.  The things that we do in the temple will last for eternity.  …Without the temple, …none of this would have even happened.”   

He went on to quote the late President Russell M. Nelson: “My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit. Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!”

Batchlor also emphasized the strength that comes from being united in Christ. In speaking to the youth he explained, “You do not need to find yourself in anybody else, but you just need to find yourself with the Savior, and that’s the only thing that matters”.  When I come across the ocean to come visit you guys, I immediately know that I’m home, not because we may share the same complexion or we may share the same music that we like, but because we share the same love of the Savior with each other.  …You guys have so much opportunity to do so much good, and the culture that you guys have here, and the camaraderie that you guys have here, literally that we’ve experienced while being here, the world needs more of that.  And if you combine that with the gospel, I know, I know, I know, it can take you places that you couldn’t imagine yourselves being.”

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On Saturday morning, Batchlor’s crew and a group of YSA arrived by way of cars and buses at Ruiru Children’s Home, an orphanage and school just outside of Nairobi.  Supplies were unloaded to give the children, and the group participated in activities with them, as well as preparing and serving them a nutritious lunch. 

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Although Batchlor’s expertise is in American football, he enjoyed joining with the children in a rousing game of local football, with a newly gifted ball he brought for them. 

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Following the visit to the orphanage, Batchlor had one more gift to give to the community.  Saturday evening Batchlor held a free concert, open to all, where he and his brother Corey shared their talents and testimony through music, song, and dance, with his cousin, Blake McKenzie, shooting video of the event.

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