Our primary activity during the first 18-24 months is to learn French, the trade language in West Africa. We believe it is essential that we become highly proficient communicators in the community we serve.

We are convinced that for a people to truly change on a heart level, they need to be taught and have the Bible translated in their own mother tongue. Therefore, we take learning the indigenous language very seriously.

Alongside language, we will be learning a new culture and worldview. We do all of this to minimize miscommunication and misunderstanding.

Since our ultimate goal is to plant a mature church, we believe it is essential to translate the Bible into the indigenous language. We do not want to present a foreign message. We do want to accurately present God's truth giving them access to everything God says that will outlast us and our ministry.

We take the time to teach God's Word as it was written- starting in Genesis and leading the way to Christ. We want the people to follow God's story, looking forward to the coming Savior, and accepting his gift of salvation when it is presented.

The final stage is for us to train indigenous leaders in the teaching and leading of their own people. We are convinced that the healthiest church is a church with indigenous leaders. Therefore our job is to serve in such a way that we are enabling sustainable indigenous leadership.