Why I Sponsor Worship Leaders in Africa

by Suzanne Provagna

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Matthew 6:33 But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

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Why Africa?

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I remember seeing the announcement from Dwayne Moore and Next Level Worship International about sponsoring a worship leader in Africa. It sparked interest inside of me but seemed a bit far-fetched (literally) and I had never heard of anything like it….so I ignored it. I’m just being honest here.

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A few days later, I saw the same announcement flung across my Facebook page again. This time I read it carefully and considered the possibility.

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I began to imagine how the sponsorship program might work. I decided that the risk of giving my time and money was worth the possibility of doing something that might make a difference. What I didn’t know was how much of an impact it would make in both my life and in Lucy’s life (the woman I sponsored). If I could have known what God already knew, this would have been a “no-brainer” decision. Studying how God desires worship to be used in services is new information to most African worship leaders and they are hungry to know more. Singing and dancing is an integral part of the African culture but reading notes and musicianship is unfamiliar. Most African worship leaders are unpaid by their churches, have families, and work other jobs.

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The average annual income according to the most recent Unicef data is thirteen hundred dollars. Coming up with ten dollars is not easy for them. Having books on worship leading or reading music is rare. Some have automobiles; most do not. Most produce their own food by farming and gardening. Very few have a keyboard or a guitar at their church. Some of the worship team members do not even own Bibles. Most worship leaders have phones but often no wi-fi access. And there is very little information and guidance available to help them learn and grow as worship leaders. This is where we truly can make a difference.

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Making an Impact

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If you could marry the African’s humility and desperation for Jesus Christ with the American’s knowledge of biblical worship and expertise in musicianship, both of our countries would open new doors upwards towards the Kingdom of Heaven. As Psalm 29:2 says, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due HIS NAME! Worship the LORD in the splendor of HIS Holiness!”

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Honestly, there are plenty of worship leaders in the US who would benefit from having a mentor and from studying resources on worship; however, they lack the desire, the motivation, or the humility needed to do so. What we don’t lack in the US are the resources and teachers, and that is exactly what the Africans do need to take their worship ministries to the next level.

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Within a year of mentoring Lucy, she had spoken to almost one thousand Africans about biblical worship. That is God at work! If you have read this far then know that I am praying for you now. Please prayerfully consider if this is something that God wants from and for you at this time in your life. May God’s peace rest upon you and your family!

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In Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,

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Suzanne Provagna

US Sponsor and Sponsorship Team Leader for NLWI

 

For more information on our Worship Leader Sponsorship Program, please go here.