Rebuilding the Nations of West Africa

15 March 2011

Using Foundations for Farming as a tool for rebuilding was the focus of some of the plenary sessions at the Newfrontiers ‘Rebuilding the Nations‘ Conference held in Ghana in mid-February.

Brian Oldreive, founder of Foundations for Farming, traveled from Zimbabwe to speak at the week-long conference held in Accra.

”I was delighted to find out about the rebuilding theme which, incredibly, was the same as that of the March Champs Conference in Harare,” Brian said.

The Rebuilding the Nations Conference was held in Accra and attended by teams from Newfrontiers churches in the West African apostolic sphere led by John Kpikpi (pictured on the right). The sphere includes Ghana as well as Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

”I was invited to teach on Foundations for Farming. I also shared my story and spoke on Isaiah 58 as well as the rebuilding of nations,” Brian said. “This was pertinent given Africa’s general lack of performance and high poverty levels,” he added.

”The first step in the rebuilding process is repentance. Is West Africa going to be rebuilt on God’s Word or not?” Brian asked the delegates in one of the plenary sessions.

He went on to describe other steps in the rebuilding process such as ensuring unselfishness; making a plan for the poor instead of following the world’s system where the rich get richer and the poor are ignored; using agriculture as an entrance point and letting the resultant transformation filter to other sectors.

”What I shared was a revelation to them and they received it powerfully. So many people said they were moved at a deep heart level and I felt a tremendous response,” Brian noted, adding that he also showed delegates how to plant a well-watered garden.

The churches in West Africa are already involved in several kingdom initiatives to address poverty. The focus has been on education and income generation as well as other areas.

”The Newfrontiers churches in West Africa have a passion for the poor and want to provide hope. The church in Accra is hoping to take what I shared to young people, starting with the schools. Hopefully, a grass-roots team will be sent to Zimbabwe from Ghana to learn more,” Brian said.