Serving Africa

Karl and Mary Noren | Cameroon

Serve Globally
Email:
Website: rfis.org
Facebook: Mary Samuelson Noren

Discipleship and Education of Youth

As children of Covenant missionaries, raised in the Dem. Rep. Congo, Karl and Mary understand some of the deep concerns of missionary families. Karl and Mary are both certified teachers.

Families who serve in Africa, often feel compelled to go home for the sake of their children’s education. In 1991 Wycliffe Bible Translators began Rain Forest International School (RFIS) in Cameroon. Later, other missions, including the Covenant, officially partnered with Wycliffe at RFIS. This school draws missionaries, expatriates and nationals from central African countries for ecumenical, multicultural and global education. Students from 20 countries come to RFIS which includes grades six through twelve. All staff and teachers are committed to minister to the students and their families. The school is a whole family effort with everyone doing their part to form a Christian community for students. As teachers and staff rotate in and out of the school, they are always looking for good teachers who take their Christian commitment and mission seriously.

Learn more here.

Paul and Sheryl Noren

Serve Globally
Email:
Facebook: Sheryl D Noren

Agriculture; Christian Formation; Health; Fulani ministry

Raised in a family of missionaries, Paul Noren could see the needs of the people of Congo from an early age. It’s no surprise that he studied agriculture and chose a wife who was willing to live and serve in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sheryl is a trained emergency medical responder with particular skills in care for people with diabetes. Together they have given their lives to providing food, water, and healing so that seekers would be able to learn about and follow Jesus. Like farming experts all over the world, Paul knows his soil, plants, seasons, moisture, and remedies for crops not only for family eating but also for selling crops to others in the community. Because he labors side by side with local farmers in Congo, he can see and make plans for other needs as well, such as dams, wells, bridges, pumps, irrigation, and sanitation.

Meantime, Sheryl is also side by side with villagers providing teaching not only for medical personnel, but also for mothers and people with diabetes. Covenant Serve Globally has a long history of healthcare work in Congo including a nursing school and a very busy hospital. Many workers, including Sheryl, have given all or part of their career through the Paul Carlson Foundation to keep the hospital relevant. Of course water and sanitation are at the top of their concerns as well. Paul and Sheryl have been totally devoted and totally immersed in the communities of northern DRC since 1977. They also spend part of each year in Africa visiting Fulani villages in Central African Republic and Cameroon where they have built relationships through agricultural and medical ministries.

John Adzigodi

International Needs Network
Website: www.InternationalNeeds.us

Ghana Leadership Training

FirstCovGR provides support to International Needs - Ghana Ministries of Evangelism and Church Planting. Support includes the Ghana leadership team and key church planter/evangelist John Adzigodi. The Ghana team, in a typical three-month span, will reach more than 600 individuals with the gospel, see more than 200 decisions for Christ, distribute 1,000 Bibles and pieces of Christian literature and disciple on average 1,500 new believers. Additionally, Retired Rev. Pimpong along with John have targeted an initiative toward two unreached people groups within Ghana.

Rody Rodeheaver attended First Covenant with his wife Kathie until his death in 2024. He “dedicated his life to ministry, serving in youth ministry and the local church. As President Emeritus [of IN], Rody helped connect and engage people who are passionate about International Needs. He served as president and CEO for 17 years with energy, enthusiasm, and integrity.

Here is a video interview with Jeff Johnson and John Adzigodi