There is a small, but growing Fulani Christian community located in Burkina Faso who are being discipled in a variety of ways. However, there is no residential school in Burkina that provides intensive theological training for ministry purposes.

Those who seek this kind of training go to the Benin N'Dali school, which is very distant and much more expensive. This is why SIM Burkina Faso is moving forward to build a locally based school that will be open to all denominations and will equip Fulani believers to better reach out to new communities. It will be instrumental in preparing them to be effective pastors and teachers of the Gospel.

These are exciting changes for those who have labored in God's harvest in Burkina Faso! As Rick and Karen Smith wrote in their April 2009 newsletter:

After 12 years of discussion, we are thrilled to see this vision for a Bible school for Fulanis in Burkina Faso finally becoming a reality. While we have personally seen the opportunity of participating in what God is doing in building a church among the Fulani of Burkina Faso these past 22 years as a privilege, we have always recognized that God desires to see Fulanis reaching Fulanis with the Gospel. This school will train pastors and evangelists and missionaries, which will equip the emerging Fulani church to accomplish God's purposes for them.

As the Smith's eagerly await God's provision and the opening of the school sometime in 2010, they are steadily writing new course content that will be used in this new school. You too can be a part of this project by praying and giving a gift today!