A short-term team from HCJB Global in the U.S. recently spent two weeks in the small West African nation of Burkina Faso, highlighting the way partner radio stations affiliated with the organization permeate ministry at the local level.

Despite the fact that HCJB Global has a vibrant and active radio ministry in Burkina Faso comprising radio stations in seven cities that broadcast in 22 languages, the work team teamed up with a non-radio ministry that works primarily with orphans and widows.

Slightly larger than Colorado, the land-locked nation of Burkina Faso sits north of Ghana. The former French colony, considered one of the poorest countries in the world, has limited natural resources, resulting in poor economic prospects for the majority of its 14.5 million citizens. About 90 percent of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture which is vulnerable to periodic droughts.

Joanna Ilboudo, who formerly directed a partner station in the capital city of Ouagadougou, felt led to start a ministry called Action Chre?tienne Tous pour la Solidarite? (ACTS) as she watched the plight of so many widows and orphans who are affected by deep poverty and the nation's AIDS pandemic.

"In Burkina Faso and across West Africa, women and children are the most vulnerable among the population," Ilboudo said. "They are vulnerable socially, morally, psychologically and physically." The focus of her new ministry was set, and later her contacts with HCJB Global were able to provide some help.

A large church called Journey of Faith in Manhattan Beach, Calif., provided the majority of the young and talented group who joined with the local workers to push along the expanding construction at the ACTS center for orphans and widows in the village of Saonre,? about 10 miles outside of Ouagadougou.

The 17-member team, led by Andy and Linda Braio, jumped in with both feet to construct a concrete-block dormitory and classroom, provide entertainment and Bible story activities for the orphans at the center, and run a small carpentry workshop as job training for the older orphans.

HCJB Global President Dave Johnson, who visited the mission's partners in Burkina Faso Nov. 9-15, observed how the carpentry training is already bearing fruit. "It was encouraging to be onsite where our work team had been," he explained. "The tools that the group left behind were being used to build such things as doors for new buildings going up as well as desks and furniture for the classrooms. The investment is being used in such practical ways to help the ministry go on."

Members of the work team soon discovered the outward agenda of the trip was often dwarfed by the agenda of the doe-eyed orphans who simply wanted to be held, hugged and played with. The entire group was captivated by the smiles of an orphan named Abdou who by the third day after the team arrived ran to the vans with arms in the air, ready to be held by anyone would carry him.

During two evenings team members shared their personal testimonies through translators as the group helped promote and show the "JESUS" film in the local Mooré language. The excitement of the group was evident as they tried to count the many people who came forward to give their hearts to Christ after the film.

"A number of the team members had been on mission trips before, but none had seen the level of poverty that was present in Burkina," said work team co-leader Chris Tomlinson who was asked to join the ACTS board of directors following the trip. "To know the abundance they left behind at home and witness the lack of basic needs of the African people left an indelible mark on the team. Many took long, hard looks at their lives and the choices they make with their time and their finances."

The result has been a growing partnership between ACTS and Journey of Faith. The church provided significant financial support to the construction efforts of the team and continues to fund the construction of more classrooms as well as the village's first medical clinic. Journey of Faith is making plans to send another team to Burkina Faso in July 2008.

Along with the expansion of the center in Saonre? and a future medical clinic, plans also include a second center for widows and orphans in another village.

Recent flooding in Burkina Faso destroyed crops as well as many of the mud-brick homes in remote villages. The rains have now been replaced by drought, drying up many of the crops that survived the floods. As a result, many villagers are now without homes, and thousands face starvation. ACTS has partnered with Samaritan's Purse to provide food to many of these orphans and widows.