After years of extensive travel throughout Africa, I am convinced that the only solution to this spiritual bondage is Christ, shared through native missionaries trained in African schools of mission.

These institutes teach ministry leaders how to engage in spiritual warfare by training them to recognize and confront satanic forces through prayer, fasting and the knowledge of God’s Word. Without this crucial preparation, native Christians become targets of hostile tribes who seek their destruction.

Schools of missions’ students undergo a one-year training program with two months of practical field experience among unreached people groups.

Many Christians have daily encounters with well-trained Islamic fundamentalists, which have often resulted in physical attacks and destruction of property. Students are not naively sent to evangelize Islamic villages. They are taught to recognize the strongholds present in these villages, and how to mentally and spiritually prepare themselves.

In 1987, native missionary, Claude Sossa, began a school of missions in a rented facility in Benin that trained 40 to 60 people a year.

Five additional schools were established after my 2002 visit, when Sossa and I prayed that God would raise up disciples.

Throughout the following month, more than 600 native Beninoise missionaries expressed a desire to serve on the mission field. But they are in desperate need of training and financial support.

Christian Aid is the sole supporter of these six schools of missions, all of which are in rented facilities. Approximately 400 graduates are currently on the field, and hundreds more are in training.

The blueprints have been drawn for schools of missions in Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and Algeria. Ministry leaders are ready to begin training. Funding, as always, is the problem. A building with an attached dormitory, kitchen and restroom facility costs between $30,000 to $80,000 to construct.