Money to Burn

The World Health Organization has reported that the 4th leading cause of sickness and death in third world countries is indoor smoke inhalation. Women in many parts of Africa build open fires inside their huts for heating and cooking. These fires require a large amount of wood and the deadly fumes they release are then breathed in by the women, and children in the home.

My friend and brother Raphael Ogbole lives in a predominately Muslim community in Northern Nigeria. Raphael has developed a very unique ministry to fight indoor smoke inhalation. He has developed a fuel efficient stove fashioned out of handmade adobe bricks that reduces the amount of carbon monoxide that is released into the home. The stove also greatly reduces the amount of wood that is used in fire building. Nigeria, which is in Sub-Saharan Africa, has a very scarce amount of wood to burn. So, Raphael's ministry is effective in a variety of ways. It saves fuel, it reduces the amount of smoke in the home, and allows him to introduce the love of Christ to a group of people that are usually placed at the opposite end of the Christian spectrum.

Raphael also teaches seminars that show people how to make the bricks that the stoves are fashioned out of and a blueprint for stove building. The best part of Raphael's ministry is that it's free. In fact, he uses many of the donations given to him to purchase rooms for people that travel great distances to take part in his seminars.

He receives no money, other than the small paycheck that he draws from his local church, and he relies solely on the charity of others to help fund his ministry. That is where I come in. I am on the board that oversees the fundraising aspect of Raphael's ministry. The funds are raised through is done through SIFAT, a Christian organization that teaches efficient and effective missionary tools to American and foreign missionaries.

This quarter we are working to raise $2,750 to fund Raphael's work. I've never been comfortable with the idea of asking for money, but I truly believe that this ministry is worthy of support. That is why I agreed to be on the board of directors. So please, if you'd like to invest anything in this ministry know that it will be put to good use and that Raphael will do his best to be a good steward of the gifts you give. For more information check out the photos at the bottom of the page and Raphael's cause via Facebook or feel free to send me an email if you have questions at blaket@uga.edu.

Warmly,
Brother Blake