Meet David Sagunaah…
I would like to introduce you to a young Christian man named David Sagunaa, who I recently met in Ghana, West Africa. He and his wife are newly married and they have a six month old daughter.
David strongly feels God’s call on his life into full-time ministry. In fact, David has already been involved in a new church plant in a small rural village, providing leadership and teaching to a small group of new Christians. He also ministers to the children of his village.
The problem that David, and many others like him face, is that he has no formal Bible College education. David works hard tending his fields, and has neither the time or financial resources to go to a “traditional” Bible College in the city. He cannot afford to leave his work or his family in order to receive an education that will prepare him for full-time ministry.
Some of the teachers and students in Ghana
As you can imagine, this is a discouragement to David. Even though he serves the Lord faithfully in what he does, he often feels unfulfilled and frustrated at not being able to fully follow God’s clear call on his life. This has a tremendous effect on the progress and growth of the small fellowship of believers that he leads.
They desperately need a man leading them who is fully trained, Biblically educated, and thoroughly equipped to grow, mature and replicate their infant church.
This shouldn’t be the case. People like David and many others like him in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and other African countries should be able to follow God’s calling on their lives without the hindrance of being ill equipped and under-prepared because they cannot afford to get a Bible College education.
How we can make a difference…
This is where you and I enter David’s story. We recently launched the Peter Project Initiative to change this situation and help men like David get the education and training they need to enter full-time ministry. The Peter Project methodology involves teaching and training National Pastors and Church leaders to teach, train and equip their own people in their own villages.
This model transfers the responsibility from the “traditional” missionary to the national pastor to train and equip church planters and pastors. The Peter Project Initiative will provide an affordable Bible College education which will be taught “in loco”, meaning that students will not have to leave their work or families to go to the city to get an education.
They will receive a sound Biblical education and resources to help them thrive in the work that the Lord has called them to do leading and planting churches, giving them a sense of purpose and of ownership from the outset. They will become well equipped spiritual leaders and mentors to the communities they serve.
We have a tremendous opportunity to equip and minister into the lives of these men. I have personally seen the impact of good training and resources in these places of need - bringing fresh motivation, encouragement and sound teaching to these men, preparing them well for the work they are called and eager to do.
Lord willing, we will be launching the Peter Project Initiative in Ghana in April 2020 and thereafter in other countries in Africa. The cost to put a pastor through a two-year Bible College program is only $150 per student and we are asking that you prayerfully consider partnering with us to train these untrained pastors and church planters in Africa. We are looking for sponsorship in the following areas:
1. Sponsorship of pastors and church planters through the Bible College Program.
2. Sponsorship of administrative and travel costs to the various countries in Africa where the Peter Project will be launched.
Furlough dates…
Joanne and I will be traveling to the USA on Furlough from 8th January to 24th March 2020 where we will have the opportunity to share the Peter Project Initiative in 22 churches on the east and west coasts. There is tremendous interest regarding the Peter Project in a number of different countries and we are asking that you join us in making a difference in the lives of men like David in Ghana through your financial support and prayers.
If you would like to know more about The Peter Project please feel free to email us at peacocke.graham@ifmnews.com, or if your would like to make a financial contribution to either the Peter Project or toward our personal support, you can do so by sending your donation directly to the IFM Office. Please clearly mark the purpose of your donation.
Thank you for sharing our vision for reaching the untrained pastors of Africa with us. We pray that many pastors will be prepared to serve faithfully and that as a result, many from every tribe and tongue and nation will be brought into the Kingdom. To God be the Glory!
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and God’s richest blessings in 2020!
