Agape Way Ministries

Edward Mansaray writes:,

The Jim Woodard Memorial Primary and Junior Secondary School Building has been covered as you see in the pictures. We purchased additional Zinc (6 bundles, 577 pounds) and roofing nails (30 boxes, 138 pounds) from the Fawaz Building Material Shop to complete the roofing. The size of the building was greatly underestimated. We were able to pay the three teachers at the Donnita Lewis Memorial Secondary School for $120.

I know the Lord will provide more assistance for the ministries, myself, and the family.

Recently, we travelled to Taiama to be part of our 65th Year Celebration of older students at the Taima Secondary School. I addressed the General Assembly at the event. We will have four marriages from the congregation in December. I will officiate the wedding ceremonies.

Please stay blessed and continue to pray for my health and the health of our families.

Thank you so very much for your prayers and continued financial support of the Agape Way Ministries in Sierra Leone.

God bless,
Edward Mansaray.

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You may send donations by check via U.S. mail to: The Ark Ministries, P.O. Box 163, Azusa, CA 91702-0163

or electronically, [email protected], via either Zelle or PayPal.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of support for the work in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Conducting Pastoral Training for our Pastors

I had earlier reported that the Islamic Missionaries are being sent to some of these remote communities to spread the Islamic doctrines and using money to convince the people to turn to Islam belief. As you may know, 80% of our Christian out-reaches are in the remote Muslim dominated communities. We concentrate on capturing the young minds of our children and youths in these communities.

Agape Way Ministries, Sierra Leone Conference does not believe in importing pastors to these communities. The authorities of this ministry recommended that we train the indigenous young men and women as pastors in their own communities.

Training indigenous peoples is crucial for their economic and social advancement, fostering resilience, and contributing to the overall well-being of their communities. It also strengthens their skills, empowers them to face challenges, and supports reconciliation by preserving and revitalizing Indigenous ways of knowing. The training young Agapeans as pastors for mission work is essential for equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and spiritual foundation needed to effectively spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and serve communities.

The following topics were handled during the training sessions of our Indigenous young men:

1. The Mission and Vision Statements of the Agape Way Ministries/Agape Way Christian Fellowships. We emphasized on these topics just to let our young people clearly understand the directions the ministry is going why.
2. Our Statements of belief
3. The Duties and Responsibilities of a called pastor.

Agape Way Ministries/Agape Way Christian Fellowship in Sierra Leone issues.

Mission Statement

We are called to glorify God by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, to encourage all people to a personal relationship with Him and membership in His family, to facilitate spiritual maturity and to equip for ministry in the Church, in the community and around the world.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to raise up and establish strong, local churches which will challenge, influence, and impact the people of the Agape Way Christian Fellowships and 1) Reach out with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and 2) Build a community of loving, forgiving and caring Believers in Jesus Christ who will share their lives with each other and who are committed to serving God by serving others.

The purpose of training Indigenous young people as pastors for mission work in their own communities.

Training pastors for mission work is essential for equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and spiritual foundation needed to effectively spread the gospel and serve communities.

We want to train and use these young men from these rural communities to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in their own communities. We don’t want to import pastors from other communities who do not understand the traditions and culture of our operational communities.

Here are some reasons why training indigenous peoples is so important:

• Economic Empowerment: Training provides indigenous peoples with the skills and knowledge needed to participate in the workforce and contribute to their communities' economic development.

• Social Development: It empowers individuals and strengthens communities by fostering a sense of belonging and resilience.

• Cultural Preservation: Training can help preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages, traditions, and ways of knowing, which are often threatened by assimilation and colonization.

• Reconciliation: Training is a vital component of reconciliation, as it provides Indigenous peoples with opportunities to learn their culture, history, and the value of their lives.

• Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer: Training can facilitate the transfer of knowledge from elders to younger generations, ensuring the continuation of Indigenous traditions and practices.

• Improved Relationships: Training can help build positive relationships between indigenous communities and other groups, fostering understanding and collaboration.

• Addressing Historical Trauma: Training can provide a space for healing and learning, addressing the historical trauma experienced by indigenous peoples during our 11 years of senseless civil war in Sierra Leone.

Greetings from Bo, Sierra Leone. I hope this letter finds you well. We are all doing well.

The building projects of Jim Woodard Memorial Primary and Junior High School are ongoing. The doors have been fixed, the boards for the roof framework are now available. The only materials we need now are the zinc for the roofing and cement for the floor and the plastering of building.

1. Zinc: 12 bundles @ Le2,300,000 ($115/bundle – 20 sheets) = Le27,600,000 $1,380
2. Cement: 50 Bags @ Le185,000 ($9.25/bag) = Le9,250,000 $463
3. Making of additional 40 sets of desks and benches @ $30/set = $1,200
US$3,043

I am afraid, the prices of industrial building materials are escalating every week.

The Community Teachers Association (CTA) met and decided that pupils whose parents can somehow afford to contribute to the development of the school in the community should contribute at least five dollars each.
In summary

Total for the completion of the building: = $3,043
Total Community Contribution: - 350
Total net financial assistance for completion of school building and furnishing with desks & benches = $2,693

We are in prayers for God’s financial intervention. The accommodation for the newly established Jim Woodard Memorial Junior High School is now our concern. Parents in the community have promised to take their children to this school next academic school year. Once we get the new building completed, we may get more funds to re-furbish the old charlar mat building. We may result to using concrete blocks.

The ministry is doing well but we are still seeking Church partnership for Church planting program in remote rural communities. The Muslim Missionaries are gradually taking over in these communities. Please share this concern with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

February 20, 2025 Update from Edward Mansaray

Hello all:

I hope you and your families are doing well. While we have been struck and struggling with wildfires, stormy weather and mudslides, the villages in Sierra Leone have also been devastated by fires and need assistance:

Please read the following recent messages from Edward and Francess Mansaray and prayerfully consider sending additional donations to assist with the rebuilding of the village in Ngiema, Sierra Leone, West Africa and also for expenses incurred for the burial and memorial for Edward's sister.

Thank you very much for your concern and the words of encouragement. One of our uncles took my sister to the Pujehun Hospital where she stayed for over three weeks with no improvement. I was called on the 4th of January because her condition was getting worse. I went and brought her to Bo and admitted her in one of the private hospitals for over two weeks. We did everything to save her as she told us that she was tired and could no longer keep up with the pain. On the 27th of January she could no longer respond to treatment. The Doctor advised that we take her home since her condition was beyond medical understanding. On the 29th of January we took her to Ngandorhun, our village. on the 1st of February (late Saturday), she passed away. Muslims don't keep the dead for long. She was buried on the 2nd of February, 2025. I returned to Bo on the 3rd of February, 2025. Please extend our love and appreciation to the rest of the families.

More bad news. It is sad to inform you, our brothers and sisters in Christ and our donors that 90% of one of our operational villages in the northern part of Bo has on the 13th of February was burned down. The cause of the fire is yet unknown. I will be sending a team there on Saturday to find out the cause of the fire. Nine of the 19 houses that were burned belong to our Church members. The families of this village lost everything. Their shelter, food, clothing and other valuable items. They lost a whole year's harvest. The children were in school and most of the adult men and women were in their farms. My team will be there to assess the damages. We need urgent assistance for our school children, church members and also the community members. The surrounding villages may be able to house them until they are able to rebuild their homes if funding is available. Additional information will be sent later.

Until then, stay blessed.

Edward & Francess Mansaray