Issue 10 Stories
Feature

Hope for a Harvest

West Africa 

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WEST AFRICA TRAINING TEAMS EQUIPPED 4,955 PEOPLE THIS YEAR

THE GOSPEL AND AGRICULTURE

Your generous support has allowed the ECHO West Africa team to continue training in Bible institutes and schools across the region — equipping future pastors and their families to model holistic development and transformation to their communities. Trainees express their gratitude because, they say, this is the first time they have been taught the powerful and life-changing combination of agriculture and the Gospel.


IMMEDIATELY PUT INTO PRACTICE

IMMEDIATELY PUT INTO PRACTICE Of the nearly 5,000 individuals trained across the region this year, on average, 84% of trainees put into practice at least two learned techniques immediately! Skills such as Foundations for Farming, homemade liquid fertilizer, and composting had an impact on their lives, their families, and their communities. Thanks to these techniques, families experienced significantly reduced expenses for fertilizers, healthier crops, and larger harvests! Pastor Zacharie and his wife say they are “ready to phase out chemical fertilizer in favor of organic fertilizers, which are good for both our physical and financial health.

This training has brought hope back to agriculture.”

REGIONAL IMPACT

The West Africa training teams completed 70 trainings across five countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Togo, and Benin. These hands-on opportunities, coupled with intentional followup, mean that trainees learn practical knowledge, try skills, and also receive further training at the next visit.


SPREADING GOD’S LOVE IN WORD AND DEED

Marthe, a mother of four who attended an ECHO training in West Africa, was touched that “a poor woman like me” would be invited to the training. She approached the pastor whose church hosted the ECHO training and asked him to lead her to the Lord. She said she was motivated by the love shown by the Christians and ECHO’s message of stewarding the land that God has given us. Partnering with a local church gives Pastor and congregation the opportunity to communicate that everyone in the village is welcome to attend — paving the way to share God’s love and gospel witness to ALL regardless of their faith background.


“I can now make organic fertilizers in my field without spending a penny. Before the training, I spent $45 on inputs to harvest almost nothing. Today, on the same area, I harvested 300 lbs. The difference is enormous!
— Mrs. Korotimi Guel

Through ECHO trainings in remote villages across West Africa, people of all backgrounds are learning lasting hunger solutions and hearing the Good News of the Gospel!

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