Over the past couple of years, we’ve faced an exciting challenge: building a brand-new board for InFocus! As you may know, we’ve been fortunate to have a vibrant group of exceptional leaders serving on our board, each one talented and experienced. If you haven’t had the chance to meet them yet, don’t hesitate to CLICK HERE—I’m so proud of, and genuinely humbled by these amazing individuals! 

God has been kind to InFocus once again with the quality leaders He has graced us with. This brings me to our current board and Chairman, Wilita Sanguma. He leads a non-profit called Lobiko. Our paths crossed two years ago when we both shared a passion for launching a new church, The Refinery Church!

Lobiko is a faith-based organization that works side by side with local leaders embedded in communities experiencing extreme poverty and supports them in building a better future for themselves. They do this by investing in people and communities, not just projects, and partnering with committed individuals who drive efforts to transform the lives of vulnerable children, youth, and adults living in extreme poverty.

The last 6 months have been filled with discussion, prayer, and planning, as Wilita and I have asked the Lord how InFocus can support the work of Lobiko.  The initial idea? Empowering leaders in the Congo through coaching skills! Without getting into the details, this is the catalyst of Project Congo!  In a nutshell, Project Congo is a “Train-the-Trainer” initiative focused on nurturing a few local leaders in the Congo, who will then go on to train others. Lots of in-house language which means that to make the greatest impact, we will focus on training a few indigenous leaders in the Congo so that they can train other indigenous leaders.  We are beginning here, and then anticipate future cycles of coach training that will train other not-for-profit leaders as well as local church planters, pastors, and denominational leaders.  But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.  Right now this is what we envision:

• • Launching a 2-year coach training process in January 2025 in a monthly, virtual setting

  • Traveling to The Democratic Republic of the Congo for an in-person workshop in July 2025 

  • Complete Stage 1 by the end of 2025 

  • Begin Stage 2, the train-the-trainer cycle, in January 2026 

Our Goal

From November 1st to December 31st, our goal is to raise $45,000 to support Project Congo.

Children are the heart of their communities. Yet in the Congo, many still face immense challenges even as the nation makes strides toward healing from decades of conflict. Lobiko works to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable children by supporting local leaders who provide education, nutritious meals, and safe environments where these children can grow into future leaders. InFocus is called to equip these leaders with tools to not only meet immediate needs but also lead transformative change for years to come.

This giving season, your support is more than a donation—it’s a beacon of hope. Through coaching, we empower leaders to accelerate their growth and development, expanding Lobiko’s impact and advancing the movement of God’s Spirit beyond our current reach.

Meet Mama Angel: With Your Support, We Can Equip Leaders Like Her to Broaden Their Impact

Mama Angel grew up in the Congo, facing a childhood marred by hardship and loss. She endured unimaginable struggles, including the heartbreaking loss of her own children. Yet, through incredible resilience, she found healing and purpose in serving others. Her journey led her to the Sabuli Children’s Center (an orphanage serving over 100 vulnerable children), where she has become a nurturing force for vulnerable children in her community. Every day, she pours love and care into the lives of those she serves, helping them find hope and security in a world that has shown her little kindness. Her impact goes beyond providing for immediate needs; Mama Angel is creating a space where these children can grow, heal, and dream of brighter futures. She is a source of strength, transforming lives by restoring a sense of family and community for each child she touches.

How You Can Help

Giving Tuesday Matching Gift Campaign (November 5-December 31): Double your impact with our matching gift opportunity. Every dollar donated during this time will be matched up to $20,000, speeding up our journey towards that $45,000 goal.

By supporting InFocus this giving season, you’ll empower leaders through coaching to create lasting change in the lives of children and communities in the Congo. Together, we can restore well-being and build a future filled with resilience and hope!

Feeling led to donate? Please click the button below.