My wife, Cheryl, and I (John Easter) lived and ministered in the country of Malawi, also known as the “warm heart of Africa,” for 10 years. We fell in love with the Malawian people. It is a poor country, mostly agricultural, and the average person earns less than $3 per day. So when believers are called into ministry and pursue training, they often come to Bible school with just a few dollars.

They can’t afford the tuition or living expenses, let alone the cost of books. The call on their lives is genuine. They are eager to learn and return to their communities to plant and lead churches, but the financial hurdle seems insurmountable. As I’ve traveled across sub-Saharan Africa, I’ve seen that the financial need of my Malawian friends also represents the need of thousands of Bible school students across the continent of Africa. They lack the finances to answer the call of God to plant churches and make disciples. We saw Africa’s Hope help in marvelous ways while we lived in Malawi—and now in my work throughout Africa. With the help of friends like you, Africa’s Hope has partnered with our national brethren and missionaries to help train thousands of pastors and leaders. Those trained students have planted thousands of churches, and we are watching in amazement at how Africa is being increasingly redeemed and transformed. This summer, we are praying that the Lord will help us raise the funds to scholarship 100 students who are coming to our Bible schools across Africa from countries where the annual income is so low that the students can’t possibly afford to pay more than a few dollars for ministry training.

Here you’ll see some of the incredible students I’ve come to know. They are dear brothers and sisters in Christ that I have had the privilege to train and mentor as they emerge into leaders. A while back a man arrived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at the Bible school campus with just a few dollars in his pocket. He had sold his farming equipment, hoping to raise enough to pay for his ministry training. But his few simple tools had sold for only $20. Africa’s Hope funded a scholarship for that brother. Today, he is a church planter!

On another occasion, several dozen Bible school students registered for classes in Congo. Only two were able to give anything for tuition, and those two students had a total of $4 between them. Africa’s Hope sent aid to their school so they could be trained for ministry. Those students have returned to their homes in the jungles of Congo, and they are winning the lost and planting churches!

Scholarships are so important! A scholarship can be provided for an African Bible school student at just $50 per month, or $600 per year.

This summer, we would like to provide full-year scholarships to 100 of the most deserving students. That’s a $60,000 goal. If we reach this goal, I know we will see God do incredible things through the leaders we help train. Thank you for your gift of $25, $50, $100, $500 or whatever amount the Lord enables you to give.

We love and appreciate you!