Hands On West Africa

Daniel Ruiz, 21 years old, wanted a challenge. So he decided to try the Sahara Desert. He dove into learning the Fulani culture and language, despite the heat and harsh climate, to share the love of Jesus for two months. "I never imagined that God was going to teach me and bless me like He did on this trip," Ruiz said. "I have definitely witnessed the great power of prayer, and learned to pray big prayers in faith that God can and will make it happen."

Short-term missionaries like Ruiz are needed to bring the Gospel to unreached people groups in West Africa. A new program called Hands On, offered by the International Mission Board, equips 18-29 year-olds to be effective in spreading the gospel.

"I've seen short-term missionaries bring a passion that really makes an impact on the field," said Greg Sharpe, West Africa coordinator for Hands On. "They share their faith with boldness and pour all of their energy into what they have come to do."

Hands On groups four people together for four to five months to work on a specific project while in West Africa. Projects include human needs, community outreach, evangelism, media, ethnographic research, sports, university ministry and more. Students, young couples and those just out of college looking for something more than a desk job can find an adventure in West Africa.

Dusty Austin, 22 years old, used the teaching skills he learned in college to disciple new believers, without speaking the local language fluently. Austin said. "The local people read the scripture along with me in their Wolof Bibles. It was so refreshing to teach people hungry to learn and I could feel the Holy Spirit working through me. I could really see myself doing this long-term."

Hands On provides a perfect setting to grow and realize what God wants believers to do to reach the nations. After a two-week orientation in West African culture and mission philosophy, Hands On missionaries take a three-week language course to gain confidence in their ability to share about Jesus. Then they begin the next step: using their new language skills to boldly tell the stories of the Bible.

"Hands On is designed to be a conduit for this generation to go to the edge with the gospel and to bring it into places where Jesus is not known," Sharpe said. "Some people may just find out it's where God wanted them to be all along."

Jesse Lyautey - West Africa Media Team

• Ask God to call out dedicated missionaries to come and serve in the Hands On program. Our goal is to have at least 20 people serving in West Africa in the spring 2008 semester and working up to 1,000 serving each semester!
• The Hands On West Africa teams will begin arriving in January 2008. Ask God to prepare the hearts of the unreached people groups in West Africa whom these missionaries will be serving.

For more information go to www.hands-on-africa.com or e-mail handson@gowestafrica.org.