Sanders June 2025

Jan and I learned of a ministry called the Rafiki Foundation last fall, and God drew us to the disciple-making focus of this mission, which was founded on the study of God’s Word. Since we had a shared desire to spend this season of our lives working together for the gospel, united in purpose; and we discovered that each of us had skills that this ministry needed, we decided to prayerfully pursue an official role with Rafiki. We are now accepted as missionaries with Rafiki and are presently training and preparing to depart for Africa sometime in early 2026.

For forty years, the Rafiki Foundation has pursued the task of raising up godly contributors throughout Africa. Focused in ten of the English-language oriented countries—Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia—the Rafiki Foundation has established, in each country, a Rafiki Training Village. These Villages include residential, educational, and other facilities that serve as centers for ministering through six areas of focus: Bible Study, classical Christian education, Teacher Training, Orphan Care, Widows Ministry, and Outreach.

Widows Bible Study

Students in the Rafiki School during Bible study

The heartbeat of this ministry, and our focus for this newsletter, is it’s Rafiki Bible Study. The most important and foundational goal of the Rafiki Foundation is to help the people know God. Therefore, a main focus of the mission has been to provide a Bible study suited for men, women, and children in Africa and to make it available, free of charge, to those who want to know God. Our aim is to see the Rafiki Bible Study not only used by all staff in the Village center, and students in the Rafiki Village schools, but also in Partner Denominations’ schools and colleges whenever possible. These same studies are also available in the U.S. for minimal fees, in various formats (for Small Groups, Sunday School, or Christian/Home School settings).

Our current focus in this journey, is our training studies, and the developing of teams of prayer and financial supporters. We have many decisions to make and logistics to navigate as we journey through the preparations of moving to another continent. We also need prayer for our spiritual growth and well-being, specifically that we will grow in our dependence on God, personally, relationally, and in all things pertaining to the ministry. Financially, we need $15,000 in our account before we can depart for Africa, and $5,700 in monthly pledges to ensure we have the resources necessary to stay in the country. These funds provide for all the anticipated expenses associated with our ministry.

Every Village starts the day with a morning assembly and a Hymn.

Please prayerfully consider how you might be involved with us in this transformative work that God is accomplishing in African lives and communities. For more information about the mission or to support us, you can go to www.RafikiFoundation.org, or call 352-483-9131. Our account number is 262.

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