Okoa Refuge

Project: Okoa Refuge

Leader: Tyler Workman

Purpose

Our Bible Schools, Discovery Bible Studies, and church plants exist to equip indigenous men and women to effectively preach the Gospel, to continually make disciples who go on to transform entire communities, and to steward and multiply healthy churches in order to see all of East, Central and North Africa reached for Christ.

Project Categories

  • Church Planter Recruiting and Equipping
  • Church Planting and Funding Model
  • Collaborative Methods for Increased Planting
  • Disciple Making and Church Engagement
  • Methods and Models for Mobilizing Everyday Missionaries

Big Idea and Overview

Our church planting starts with students attending Bible School. From the Bible school, potential missionaries identify themselves. After completing Bible School and missionary training, we begin praying and asking the Lord to show us which unchurched area he/she should be sent to. After being sent, they begin praying for a person of peace. When the Lord identifies that person, the missionary begins to disciple him/her and the family. That discipleship time turns into a Bible study. The Bible study grows into a home church and as the people multiply, leaders are raised up. At that time, a church is planted. This is also when a Bible School is launched. During the Bible School, more people are trained to go and make disciples. More Discovery Bible Study groups are started, continuing the process. This, in turn, results in more disciple makers and missionaries to be sent to unchurched areas. We now have indigenous missionaries in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, DR Congo, Zanzibar and Chad. We are also in the process of translating Bible School and missionary training curriculum into multiple languages of unreached people groups.

Customer / Mission Field Context

We are working in Eastern, Central and North Africa. We work mainly with rural, less-educated populations. We work across many cultures and languages. We also work with unreached peoples in Uganda, Zanzibar and Chad.

Goals and Desired Outcomes

  • 130 schools by end of 2024 with 2,600 students graduating every 2 years
  • 2,000 DBS groups across East/Central/North Africa in next 3 years 
  • 1,500 churches planted in same time period
  • Assess 500 of those churches and hold over 50 regional trainings 
  • Indigenous Missionaries sent to Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria

Results and
Impact

  • 600 churches all 100% indigenous-led
  • Over 60 churches have planted, some 4 generations deep
  • 90 Bible Schools currently operating
  • Church Health has assessed 175 churches 
  • Church health has held over 30 regional trainings based on weaknesses found in assessments for over 200 pastors
  • Over 13,000 people connected to a Church or DBS every week
  • Hosted 20 large Pastors’ conferences
  • Bible Schools accredited to give two year diplomas in DRC