(May 26, 2015 - by Laura Rescorla)  As the Bariba people till the earth and plant their seeds, they listen to the uplifting beats of local music. Fulani men and boys can also be seen herding their cows toward the best grazing land, listening to audio programs to help them care for those animals—their greatest assets.

Every few weeks, their portable MP3 players are loaded with new programs. But the programs don’t end with breeding tips and dance tunes. Over a period of months, God is introduced. As people’s hearts open to the gospel, Christ is proclaimed.

This is a part of the ministry of Soleil D’Espoir (Sun of Hope), a ministry in the West African country of Benin that Reach Beyond has partnered with in recent months to provide training on clean water projects.

Founded in 2013, Soleil D’Espoir is a small but growing organization with lofty goals. In its small radio production studio in Parakou, the organization produces audio programs in local languages. Using their expertise in both media production and veterinary care, staff members demonstrate Christ’s love to their neighbors in ways that build trust and display compassion.

The villages where Soleil D’Espoir works are made up of members of both the Bariba and Fulani people groups. The Bariba are generally farmers while the Fulani are typically herders.

Traditionally, the Fulani have been closed to the gospel with less than 1 percent committing their lives to Christ, according to the Joshua Project. However, acts of love are changing that situation.

In one unreached community where Soleil D’Espoir recently distributed audio programs, there are now 11 believers. In another community, land was donated for a new church that is now attended by about 20 people.

As staff members from Soleil D’Espoir travel to these rural villages, distributing MP3 programs and connecting new believers with local pastors, they have gotten to know the people. One of the biggest concerns is water that is dirty and oftentimes scarce. With this basic need going unmet, staff members recognized another opportunity to demonstrate God’s love to their neighbors.

Because of Reach Beyond’s shared vision to touch people for Christ via media and community development, staff members made their skills available to Soleil D’Espoir to help facilitate water projects in rural villages.

With a history in sustainable water projects and a faithful base of ministry supporters, Reach Beyond offers technical expertise and financial resources to drill wells. This, combined with Soleil D’Espoir’s knowledge of local languages and culture and their relationships with villagers, allows their staff to make the connection between the need for physical water and Living Water.

Last month, Reach Beyond’s community development team based in Ghana traveled to Benin to train 10 of Soleil D’Espoir’s staff and volunteers in this new area of ministry. Though clean water is an important part, successful water projects also include hygiene and sanitation education.

As a result, Soleil D’Espoir is equipped to help rural communities visualize the way disease travels and learn methods to prevent its spread. The organization is also prepared to train villagers to care for their new wells and to collect money for maintenance and future health-related projects.

In addition to the audio programs about agriculture and the Christian life, Soleil D’Espoir plans to produce short episodes on water and hygiene, further promoting health in remote communities.

Together, by loving the Bariba and Fulani peoples, the two organizations are working to demonstrate the voice and hands of Jesus.

Sources: Reach Beyond, Joshua Project, www.sim.org/index.php/content/fulani