Pastor Feima, from Sierra Leone, left her part-time teaching job to focus on the church. Her husband was earning a decent wage and she was excited about how she could serve her community with this extra time. But then disaster struck – her husband broke his leg and could no longer work, leaving Pastor Feima unable to provide for her family. But God had a plan. And it was nuts.
‘I experienced food shortage; I could not afford either my basic needs or my family’s,’ shares Pastor Feima. ‘My life had completely changed unexpectedly.’
With four children to take care of, Pastor Feima knew that she needed to find a job alongside her role at the church. At first she was discouraged and frustrated over her situation, but then she decided to look to God for provision – even though she had no idea where this would come from.
An unexpected answer
Pastor Feima then received a letter from the ministry leadership of her church, inviting her to go on a training course led by Tearfund’s partner. The course was all about how churches could help people lift themselves out of poverty. And stay there.
As Pastor Feima took part in the training, she realised her mindset was changing on how she viewed challenges in her life. She was quick to put into practice what she had learned – both in church and at home.
Pastor Feima set up Bible study groups with her congregation to explore how they could find solutions to the problems they faced by using the resources they already had.
‘The process has brought great transformation in my personal life, the church and individual members of the church,’ she says. ‘And the church has embraced it so much that almost everybody has become part of the Bible studies and activities in the church.’
