Imagine preparing sermons and imparting biblical teaching without any books. Some pastors in French-speaking Africa find themselves in this situation. They minister without the resources they need to interpret and apply God's Word.
SIM wants to provide book sets for 16,000 pastors in thirteen Francophone countries including Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal. All the books and media will be provided in French.
The twenty book set will include the French Africa Bible Commentary, a study Bible, a Bible dictionary, The ABC of Christian Theology, and an online Bible programme on DVD. Some of the books have been donated by their authors for this project.
This is a matching funds project. To receive a book set, a pastor must pay £47 to cover half of its cost. This partnership, which is available to pastors of all denominations, will equip church leaders for evangelism and discipleship.
One pastor who was involved in a similar project in Ghana exclaimed, 'Where will I get £47? But I must, because you are giving me over a year's salary in books.' He is one of the thousands of pastors who have benefited from SIM's book distributions around the world.
The books are distributed as part of a three-day conference where pastors are taught how to use the resources. Many times, authors of the books in the book sets participate as speakers.