Leprosy maims and kills thousands of unfortunate people each year. Funding the alleviation and cure of this horrible ailment was the aim of my previous work with the American Leprosy Missions, based in South Carolina.

But as awful as leprosy is,  an even worse disease afflicts far too many of our brothers and sisters, especially in Africa. I’m speaking of the alienation from Christ that causes too many to consult witch doctors, to engage in behavior that destroys their lives, or to treat their fellow human beings with murderous cruelty or neglect. Sadly, the most tragic victims of this are often women and children.

Thus I feel blessed and privileged to have joined the AE partnership as of March 22 this year. While I have been to Africa before, it is still heartrending to learn of thousands of women in Ghana who feel they have no choice but to seek an income via prostitution. Or of women in Malawi whose husbands have left them to care for children with no assistance. And there are so many more shattering stories out of Africa, illustrating the tragedy that can envelop precious human beings when they don't have a Savior to turn to.

Yet the Gospel of Christ which AE presents so powerfully and innovatively is astonishingly effective in bringing hope to those who are hurting. We see this happening every day, across the continent. And it’ll be my joy to bring these stories to you, so that together we can enable women, men and children to be healed of the worst disease of all – suffering a life and an eternity without Christ.