04 Jan Team of 10 Heading to Sierra Leone

Today, January 4, a team of 10 persons is leaving for Sierra Leone, where they will train local people to identify opportunities and start up small businesses. Jeff Sherlock (left), a member of the Global Ministries Leadership Team, and Mick Bates are leading a group of 8 students from Taylor University on this Business as Mission trip. Both Sherlock and Bates are professors at Taylor.

At the request of the Sierra Leone United Brethren Church, the team will:

• Deliver a curriculum on starting a small business. The curriculum is used in many developing countries (many of them “creative access”) to equip pastors and church planters.
• Work one-on-one with potential entrepreneurs to develop their business/mission plans.
• Worship with local congregations on weekends to encourage them in their faith walk – and be encouraged in their faith walk.

The team asks for prayer for the following needs:

• Safety and health in travel. None of the students have been to Africa before.
• Receptivity to the training. There is much in West African culture that is not conducive to doing business wisely and ethically.
• Cultural sensitivity. That they can relate as brothers and sisters in Christ, rising above perceived barriers of wealth and race.
• Spiritual sensitivity. That they can see God’s direction and be protected from the Enemy’s attacks.
• Financial provision. The students are raising funds for the trip, but money is coming in quite slowly.

If you are interested in updates on the team’s work, join their Facebook group.