Burkina Faso (MNN) — Two African countries answered the U.S. ban with restrictions on Americans, and ministries are adjusting.
As President Donald Trump added nationals from Mali and Burkina Faso to the list of countries facing restricted entry to the U.S., both countries responded with their own limits, barring Americans from traveling there.
Beyond political tensions and disrupted private travel plans, another sphere is also affected: ministry. For Christian World Outreach, Burkina Faso is the second country — after Haiti — impacted by the law. Yet the organization’s long-standing strategy is helping it adapt.
Greg Yoder with Christian World Outreach says, “That may become an issue at some point, but right now, it is not affecting our ministry.”
Kids in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Photo courtesy of Fatih Turan via Pexels)
Yoder says the hardest part hasn’t been logistics yet. It has been the loss of in-person interaction.
“Working with leadership, it’s good to be face to face at times, and to work together, to plan ministry,” he explains.
CWO works alongside local leaders in Burkina Faso and trusts them to carry the ministry forward. That approach has helped them avoid the travel ban’s immediate impact. They also prioritize local products and services whenever possible.
“We have taken on the mindset that we want to help support the local economy and the businessmen there, and so we try to purchase things in country as much as possible,” Yoder explains.
To put it in perspective, buying supplies locally often goes further than shipping them from abroad, since the cost of one container shipment could cover a large amount of in-country purchases.
Burkina Faso continues to face drought, low literacy, extremist violence, and a fragile economy. CWO serves communities through healthcare, education, and practical projects.
For now, teams continue to stay connected through regular communication.
“For today, we’ve stayed connected with our leaders, and we communicate back and forth as often as we need to, and so we’re just grateful for God, for technology,” Yoder says.
While ministry continues, the situation in the world is changing rapidly — especially in the countries CWO serves, including Haiti, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Please pray for local workers’ protection, strength of faith, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Pray for safety and security of our staff and the students,” encourages Yoder.
Visit Christian World Outreach to learn about their work more!
Header photo courtesy of Nothing Ahead via Pexels.
