Dirty Business in Ivory Coast

In recent years, as a part of the long-term strategy of SLM, we have aimed to help Branches come up with a way to become less dependent on foreign income. We do believe churches and individuals ought to have an ongoing role in supporting those who carry out the Great Commission, but we have sought to find ways that more can be done locally to support these ministries, diversifying income as well as allowing for expansion of the ministries.

So, when SLM was presented with an idea by Isaiah Bernasko to start a micro-enterprise of establishing a pig farm, we were interested to help him develop a plan. Even more intriguing, was the idea of it being used to support his orphanage as well as future orphanages he desires to establish.

The idea has a lot of potential. It not only includes the ability for an orphanage to provide food and money for itself, but it also gives the older children the ability to learn a trade, and it would give these children a head start in life by having “seed” animals to start their own farms as adults.

Most of these fund-raising efforts fail due to lack of training on how to successfully run and manage a business. These initial investments are given out of the kindness and generosity of donors, but without enough planning and training. Another reason they fail, is because people trying to help hope that some unique foreign business and product will “take off” in a foreign country, and it rarely does.

But pig farms are something Ivory Coast has and needs more of. Pigs grow well there, and Ivorian farmers know how to care for them. It is an excellent source of income for a ministry. So, you ask, “Then why isn’t everyone doing it?” Well, the answer is simple, money. Not everyone has the initial resources to get started. The initial investment is steep for an Ivorian; we anticipate $13,000 in this case. But with that initial investment, additional farming training, business training, and financial accountability, this business of pig farming has great potential to support the SLM ministry, individual orphanages, and help the orphans get the head start on adulthood they didn’t get in their childhood. These young people are given the Gospel throughout their childhood, and many have gone on to become pastors and church planters, serving with the SLM Branch.

Please pray for God to provide the resources to get this “Dirty Business” in Ivory Coast off the ground.