The main thrusts of the PAOC work in Senegal include church planting, leadership training, women’s ministries, children’s ministries, and Christian education.
Evangelism and church planting, as well as church building construction, is taking place in many areas of the country in cooperation with the national church. The PAOC assists in evangelistic campaigns and outreach.
The Institut Biblique Senegalais, the Bible College for pastoral training in Senegal, is supported through PAOC finances and personnel. There is a desperate need for trained pastors and lay leaders in the country.
Leadership development and assistance among the ladies of the Senegalese church is showing much promise, with retreats and outreach developing.
Children’s ministries have grown considerably over the past few years with over 7,000 children involved in Bible clubs in villages throughout Senegal. As well, ministry to street children is happening in the city of Dakar. Training seminars for Sunday school teachers and Bible club supervisors are scheduled on a regular basis.
The PAOC is giving leadership to the new Christian School Initiative which is underway with two schools due to open in October 2006. School construction and teacher training is taking place in cooperation with local churches with the goal of reaching Muslim children and families for Christ.
Dakar Academy, a school for missionary children, is also supported by the PAOC through finances and personnel. With 250 students in grades K-12, this school currently educates 11 PAOC missionary kids.
Prayer Focus
Among the many economically and politically unstable countries of West Africa, Senegal stands out as a stable and open country to missionaries. The church is accepted and respected by the Senegalese who recognize that missionaries are here to do God’s work. Our prayer is that this stability and openness continues so that missions work can continue and the Church can grow and mature.
For missionaries in Senegal, please see listing on right