Taking notes, Leadership Academy, Bujumbura, Burundi

July 2023

Everything we do begins with a dream that we work towards. We work to finish school, get a job, start a family, and more. The results depend on how hard we work at the dream; sometimes results are good and sometimes not. Our dreams aren’t certain and we often rely on having a “plan b” to handle the fallout when the dream ends.

God goes beyond dreaming, He takes dead things and brings them to life, and calls them into existence. When we dream God-dreams, our position changes from a maybe standpoint to having a full assurance that something will be born from nothing and what seemed dead, will live again.

Romans 4:17b ESV “…the presence of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

We’ve dreamt long to see schools built and filled with students whose lives will be impacted by the Gospel and a solid education. When paired together, the Gospel and education become a powerful force in the lives of children that will go beyond a dream. The Gospel of Jesus has the power of making the impossible, possible.

In Africa, generally speaking of course, where there is inadequate schooling for the poor, children are left to grow and repeat the cycle of poverty that their parents endured. Without the basics of reading and maths, how is it possible to run even a small business with a measure of success?

This is why our hearts are stirred to start schools alongside the churches we plant – to bring renewed hope to children who have never dreamt to go beyond what they saw their parents experience in life.

Much like children lacking education, church leaders on the continent have had little access to solid Bible training. Most pastors struggle to lead their congregations based on the little bit of teaching they have had. Many faithfully serve, even while barely literate, preparing sermons by heart because they struggle to read or find resources to help them grow. Bible schools and seminaries are often financially inaccessible.

It is for this reason we have held three Leadership Academies in the past year and a half. We have worked, partnering with Paul and Debbie Troquille and others, to make solid Bible training accessible to as many as possible.

Church leaders of not only our churches but others as well. We have just finished another series of teaching in Burundi with 160 students attending the academy. The feedback we are receiving has been universally positive and we are grateful.

William Carey said, “The future is bright as the promises of God.” God’s promises are not only possible, they are certain. Thank you for partnering with us to see new hope born in those who we are privileged to touch.

Jamie, Lea, and Andreya

Email: JLPeters@africa-and-beyond.net

Online: www.africa-and-beyond.net

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For books by Jamie & Lea, click on the link below.