The Eagleton’s story

Our ministry assignments have changed considerably over the 38 years that we have been with IM. Over time, it has become evident to us the real need of preparing national leadership to assume more and more responsibilities in carrying out the ministry in their country and the expansion of evangelism and church planting. Missionaries will not remain on the field forever and national leadership needs to be adequately prepared to give the work sustainability and foster multiplication.

While we ministered in remote areas of the Ivory Coast, it was quite exciting to enter villages that had never heard a gospel presentation, preach, and see people come to faith in Jesus Christ. However, what proved to be a challenge was the process of discipling these new believers, many of which were illiterate. A discipler needed to come live in the village or be there frequently to nurture these believers and guide them in reaching out to other villagers. We did not have trained leaders that could do this work. Through this situation, the Lord called me (Kenneth) to devote myself to the training of leaders. This strategy has paid off in Ivory Coast, permitting the national Church to assume all responsibilities for evangelism and church planting in that country.

We are currently doing the same thing for Free Will Baptists in Brazil, preparing them to sustain the work that was started in the country without needing the presence of resident North American missionaries.