what we're all about

"For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." - 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8 ESV

As a Songhai team with the IMB, we have a strategy for reaching the Songhai people of West Africa & a number of goals by which we hope to accomplish this strategy. We create this strategy & set up these goals with one MAIN goal, one MAIN purpose in mind: to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus to those that have never heard & to make disciples of all men. 

When thinking about our goals & strategy for 2011, the Songhai team adopted the above verses from 1 Thessalonians as our guide. We, "being affectionately desirous of [the Songhai, are] ready to share with [them] not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because [they have] become very dear to us." That's our focus this year ... to share the Gospel, to share our selves. And if you join our team, whether as a volunteer or long-term, that will be your focus, too.

As a Songhai team, we also operate under two presuppositions: (1) God's sheep hear His voice and (2) Wide sowing produces wide reaping. And our strategy & goals for reaching the Songhai are pretty simple, too:

Songhai Team Strategy : We will seek to plant Songhai churches in major market towns that will raise up Songhai disciples who will reach Songhai people for Christ. 

Songhai Team Goals for 2011

1. Engage 5 unengaged market towns using the E2E strategy.
2. Enlist 10 national partners, train them in the E2E strategy, and send them out through their local church.
3. Lead volunteer teams effectively from pre-field orientation to post-field follow-up.
4. Maintain a healthy team by addressing conflict immediately, praying for one another consistently, being effective cross-cultural witnesses, and ministering side-by-side regularly.
5. Nurture and develop Songhai disciples in currently engaged work.
6. Start churches in 4 engaged areas of work.  
7. Recruit new prayer partners and inform current prayer partners through newsletters, blogs, and social media outlets.

Pretty simple, huh? We share the Gospel & share our selves by proclaiming the names of Jesus with wide sowing & making disciples from wide reaping to the sheep whose name God is calling. 

This is what we do. Will you be a part of it?