Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Goat farming opens doors for ministry among North African people group

  • October 14, 2022
  • International Mission Board
  • International Mission Board, Latest News
IMB missionaries Herald and Sarah Springer raise goats and give them to rural Sparrow women as a means to sustain their families.
(IMB Photo)

Goat farming opens doors for ministry among North African people group

Goat farming might not spring to mind when you think of the role of missionaries, but Herald and Sarah Singer found a valuable way to build relationships and transform lives. As International Mission Board missionaries, the Singers use goats to share the word of God and help women provide for their families. 

This is one of their ministries serving the lost in Northern Africa, along with their four children. Before they were forced to move during the COVID-19 pandemic, they helped to operate a goat farm with team members and local friends hired to manage much of the daily caretaking of the goats. 

Serving the Sparrows

The Singers lovingly call the people they serve the Sparrows.

Sarah knows that a little sparrow may not seem important, but God knows when a tiny bird falls. He loves all people like the Sparrows, who do not know the truth of the gospel, and who are lost without a Savior. 

Goats are one way to share that message. The animals provide milk, butter and cheese. The Singers helped to raise and give goats to Sparrow women who could sell these goat products at the markets. They tried to provide the women with at least one pregnant goat to increase their chance of continual self-support. These goats were made possible through Southern Baptist support for IMB’s work among the nations, to help those like the Sparrows find the solution to their lostness. 

And though they no longer operate the farm, the Singers remain involved in the ministry. Friends in that area organize the purchase of the goats and secure needed vaccinations. Then annually the Singers come from the city to participate in the distribution.  

Savoring every visit

When the Singers deliver goats, they can visit the Sparrows’ homes, and Sarah savors every encounter.

Not only do they give them goats, but Sarah works with others to host hygiene clinics to provide education on personal cleanliness and cloth hygiene pads. As they provide education to hundreds of women, they share the gospel. 

“One of our goals is to get involved with the local people and share our faith in their daily lives,” Sarah said.

When they give the goats to the women and when they visit the families, they focus on sharing stories from the Bible, stories to which the women, who have often been abused, neglected and oppressed, can relate. 

“Often, we are invited to their homes for coffee where we can share stories of truth and personal testimonies of our spiritual belief,” she said. “And we can pray for them and their needs.”

The Singers visit many women multiple times, their hearts more receptive to the gospel with each encounter. This is the significance of missionary presence. This is the power of God’s work among the nations. 

Ways to pray

Below are some specific ways Southern Baptists can lift up this ministry.

Pray …

  • They will be able to train and equip their national partners to reach neighboring people groups. 
  • They’ll find ways to create and develop a social media presence in the Sparrow language. 
  • More believers will answer God’s call to serve among the lost.  

Some names may have been changed for security reasons.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Janice Backer and Rory Bennet and originally published by the International Mission Board. 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows
    Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer
    Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87

Samuel Shahid, professor of missions in the Islamic Studies program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1998–2013, died March 2. He was 87 years old.

a stack of money sitting on top of a laptop computer

Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows

After enduring difficult economic seasons recently, churches are better prepared for financial rainy days than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Lifeway Research study

Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer

South Carolina Baptist Convention messengers unanimously elected Tony Wolfe as the new executive director-treasurer Monday afternoon (March 20) in a special called meeting at Shandon

person holding black iphone 5

Could potential TikTok ban impact online outreach?

As the social media app TikTok continues to raise security concerns, some churches and ministries would face a significant shift in outreach strategy if the

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel