{"id":58020,"date":"2026-03-17T10:06:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T01:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=58020"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:08:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T02:08:53","slug":"vomk-report-389","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2026\/03\/17\/vomk-report-389\/","title":{"rendered":"BURKINA FASO: PERSECUTED REFUGEE PASTORS BECOME SELF-SUPPORTING CHURCH PLANTERS"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”58157″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Typically, churches and mission agencies regard \u2018caring for refugees\u2019 and \u2018planting churches\u2019 as two entirely different categories of mission work. But in an innovative program carried out by Voice of the Martyrs Korea and its sister mission Voice of the Martyrs Poland, eleven pastors who were forced to flee Islamic jihadist attacks in northern Burkina Faso received training and financial support to become bi-vocational, or \u201ctent-maker\u201d, pastors in designated \u201csafe cities\u201d.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span><\/span>Usually, helping refugees and planting churches are expensive activities that create long-term or permanent dependence. Churches and mission agencies\u00a0<\/span>have to<\/span>\u00a0keep funding year after year because\u00a0<\/span>there\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0no way for the recipients to become self-sufficient,\u201d says Voice of the\u00a0<\/span>Martyrs<\/span>\u00a0Korea Representative Dr<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Hyun Sook Foley. \u201cTogether with Voice of the Martyrs Poland, we found a way to actually combine refugee aid and church planting into one activity where economic self-sufficiency can be achieved by the recipients of the funds in just a few years.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]In the project, eleven pastors and their families who had to flee their homes and churches because of Islamic jihadist attacks were provided with emergency funds to support themselves in cities\u00a0<\/span>designated<\/span>\u00a0\u201csafe\u201d by the government. The pastors also received funds and training to start businesses to support themselves and their families so that they could also plant new churches in the \u201csafe cities<\/span><\/span>\u201d.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]According to Representative Foley, the project was a success.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”58173″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cWhen we asked the displaced pastors what they needed, their answer was clear: they wanted to\u00a0<\/span>continue\u00a0<\/span>pastoring,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cHowever, they could not do this if the foundation of the church, their own families, was neglected. By giving them the means to make a stable income, these eleven pastors have been able to take care of their own families as well as those of other church members.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]66-year-old<\/span>\u00a0Ezekiel (name changed for security reasons) is one of the pastors who was helped by the project. Ezekiel served as a pastor in his village from 1989 until July 19, 2024, when jihadists suddenly attacked his village.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cDuring the attack they caught one of my sons and until now I do not know what happened to him,\u201d Ezekiel told Voice of the Martyrs. \u201cMost probably, he is already with the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Ezekiel said the jihadists shot or captured the men but did not attack women or children.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”58161″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor Ezekiel with his family” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cAfter they disappeared, we decided to leave. We\u00a0<\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0stay long enough to collect our belongings. The most important thing for us was to move to a secure place,\u201d said Ezekiel. Now, together with his wife, he takes care of seven adults and four children in his family.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cWe are lucky, because I used to live in this \u2018safe town\u2019 [where his family resettled] before my ministry in the village.\u00a0<\/span>So<\/span>\u00a0we have a small house here. But we\u00a0<\/span>have lost<\/span>\u00a0everything, and we needed a job. I wanted to take care of our family and church. We gather in another house all together for the Sunday worship and prayer meetings, as the Bible says.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”58164″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor Charles feeds animals he is raising to support his ministry.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”58167″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”A pastor in the Voice of the Martyrs program raises chickens to support his family and his church.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Ezekiel received three months of emergency aid, as well as\u00a0<\/span>additional<\/span>\u00a0funds to\u00a0<\/span>purchase<\/span>\u00a0and raise animals, through the Voice of the Martyrs program \u201cI am so happy, and we really thank all who helped us,\u201d Ezekiel told Voice of the Martyrs.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]According to United Nations estimates, as much as 10 percent of Burkina Faso\u2019s population has been displaced by Islamic Jihadist attacks in the country\u2019s northern region. According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea, Christians are a particular target of the Jihadists<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cPastors\u00a0<\/span>are seen as \u2018pillars\u2019 in these communities, so the jihadists attack them in hopes that when the pastors flee, the community will be easier to control,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cBut the pastors\u00a0<\/span>want to stay in these areas, even after they are attacked by the jihadists<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>When the<\/span>\u00a0pastors<\/span>\u00a0leave, it is always because they want to keep their families together, and they worry for their families\u2019 safety if they stay<\/span><\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]27-year-old<\/span>\u00a0Charles (name changed for security reasons), a pastor, faced\u00a0<\/span>this problem\u00a0<\/span>when his wife became pregnant in 2022. \u201cWe were afraid of\u00a0<\/span>her giving<\/span>\u00a0birth\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0the village we used to serve,\u201d Charles told Voice of the Martyrs. \u201cShe went to a safe town to give birth. I decided to stay in the village and continue the ministry in the local church. However, the jihadists arrived and attacked us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Charles survived the attack and wanted to move to the safe town\u00a0<\/span>immediately<\/span>\u00a0to be together with his wife, but transportation was impossible after the attack.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cThe military came to see how they may\u00a0<\/span>help<\/span>\u00a0and they transported most of us to the safe town,\u201d Charles said. \u201cNow, I take care of my wife and four other adults, who stay with us and our child.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”58170″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor Gabriel with some of his 18 family members” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Charles started to build a church building in\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0safe town but was unable to finish it until\u00a0<\/span>participating<\/span>\u00a0in the Voice of the Martyrs program. Now, he raises animals to support his family and his church work. \u201cI dedicated my life to serve Jesus Christ and most of all I want to continue gaining souls for the Lord. Through your help I am not only supporting my family but also the church and my ministry,\u201d Charles told Voice of the Martyrs.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]According to Representative Foley, the pastors have had to flee from their villages, but none of them want to give up their ministries.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cThese pastors aren\u2019t just looking for ways to support their families,\u201d she says. \u201cThey are looking for ways to continue their churches. That means they are looking for economic opportunities that can help support the members of their churches who have also had to flee.\u00a0<\/span>So,<\/span>\u00a0they are interested in starting businesses that can provide jobs for other believers.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says\u00a0<\/span>most of the displaced pastors in the program have large families<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to provide for, so raising animals is both\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>source of food for their families, as well as income they can use to support their church work. \u201cFor example, Pastor Gabriel (name changed for security reasons) is 55 years old. He has been a pastor since 2012 but was displaced in 2023. Through our project he is now able to support his household of 18 family members while also supporting his church work.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that t<\/span>he goal\u00a0<\/span>of the project\u00a0<\/span>was to help re-establish the pastors economically for the long term<\/span>. \u201cIt\u2019s a completely different philosophy than refugee camp work,\u201d she says. \u201cAt a refugee camp, the goal is to\u00a0<\/span>provide\u00a0<\/span>aid to keep people alive. Through this project we have been able to\u00a0<\/span>help these pastors get re-<\/span>established quickly<\/span>. This is\u00a0<\/span>the key to helping the church in Burkina Faso to remain strong for the future<\/span><\/span>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Individuals interested in\u00a0supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s\u00a0work with Christians in Burkina Faso can give at\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/donation\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or by wire transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span>\u00a0(KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span>\u00a0(Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>note\u00a0\u201cBurkina Faso\u201d on the donation<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”58157″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Typically, churches and mission agencies regard \u2018caring for refugees\u2019 and \u2018planting churches\u2019 as two entirely different categories of mission work. But in an innovative program carried …","protected":false},"author":1959,"featured_media":58159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1959"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58020"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58177,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58020\/revisions\/58177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}