by Jane Gunningham

“It may be that you were called…for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14).

This has been an important guidepost for me as I accept the full-time position of Sahel Region Representative with World Concern in West Africa. This officially establishes their presence in the region as I begin raising funds to begin development and relief projects with partners there.

Six months ago, I left Bethany suddenly for a short term assignment with World Concern in West Africa. I traveled to towns and villages in the Sahel (semi-desert) region there, meeting families and communities who had just come through a famine and a plague of locusts. My goal was to assess how badly they were affected by hunger, and losing resources—livestock, tools, seed grain, etc. It was sobering and awoke my heart for the needs of the people of the Sahel.

On the ground we were able to design and fund a micro-enterprise project involving 31 women (mostly widows) through individual donations. Widows are heads of households where women have no status or access to work without the blessing of men. Now they are enrolled in literacy and business training, and have tools, equipment and the opportunity to make an income. Although it was funded through World Concern, it’s led by a local Red Cross project manager who is an important figure in the local community...a providential partnership!

It was an astounding time, as God showed me over and over how He uses destruction to give the local Church access to their Islamic neighbors in real and concrete ways. We heard stories from Muslims about Christian pastors and individuals sharing their limited stocks with those who were poorer and more desperate, those who had no recourse within their own social structures.

Churches and missionaries in turn asked us if we could help them learn more about practical, locally based ways to become an even brighter light.  I believe God is doing a new thing in the Sahel, and I’m excited to be part of the kingdom team.