Aaron and Grace Dunlop
The long-term solution for pastors in rural East Africa, was articulated one evening in conversation with one of the senior local pastors. He said, “We need to create a culture of reading among these men.”
Most pastors in rural East Africa are unable to go to college or seminary. They own few books, and have limited opportunities for ministry growth and development. This has serious implications for the work and ministry of the church.
We provide pastors in rural East Africa with well-suited ministry resources to help them preach the gospel clearly, teach the Bible accurately, and lead the church effectively. With study guides and teaching plans built in, these resources are designed to help develop a culture of reading and study among pastors.
A great need for theological resources
In 2016 I was invited to teach a seminar in rural Kenya, and again in 2017. In 2018, our family moved there with a small mission organisation and I managed the mission compound, taught at a Bible college, preached in nearby churches, schools and prisons, and participated in pastors’ conferences across Kenya. It was in these meetings in rural Kenya that I saw the great need for theological resources.
We need to create a culture of reading among pastors.
The Krapf Project
We returned to Northern Ireland in 2020 to establish the Krapf Project, named after the first Protestant missionary to East Africa. Through the Krapf Project, we envision a future where pastors in rural East Africa have the necessary books and study resources to develop a culture of reading and mentorship which will enable the church to grow spiritually and minister effectively.
Suitable material for an African context
The Krapf Project will focus on sourcing and editing material already on the market in the UK and North America. Much of this material will be contextualised for the African reader and there will be a need to prepare new material. We have also established a quarterly expository magazine edited by a team of pastors, theologians and educators from Kenya and across the world.
We have an interest also in writing the history of missionary work in East Africa. Aaron has a biography of Ludwig Krapf, the first Protestant missionary to East Africa soon to be released by H&E Publishers in Canada. Grace, who home educates our five children, has written on the life of Rachel Watt, the first female missionary to the British East African interior.
