About Africa & Beyond

In 1987, Jamie & Lea Peters moved to serve in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC) with Bible Outreach Ministries as teachers in a Bible School. From there, they launched out and began to plant churches, establish schools, feeding programs, and other faith-based community outreaches.

“If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers.”

- Nina Gunter

The Peters Family 1987

Faith in Turmoil

In 1991, the Peters moved to Burundi to plant their first church. Not long after, in 1993, the country’s first democratically elected president was assassinated. The years that followed his assassination were marked by civil unrest. violence, and hunger. Although young, the church responded to the crisis by initiating spiritual and humanitarian outreaches among the displaced population.

Hope in Conflict

The critical condition of Burundi presented an opportunity for ministry. The church initiated a feeding outreach among the displaced children in camps that surrounded the capital city of Bujumbura. 1,500 children received meals Monday-Friday until major hostilities ceased when Nelson Mandela negotiated peace between warring factions in 2001.

Expansion and Growth

With the advent of peace in Burundi, Africa & Beyond began to expand into other nations. Works have been established in Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, South Africa, and Uganda. Churches, schools, feeding programs, and other faith-based outreaches were born from a humble beginning in Burundi.

The Peters family today

Jamie and Lea raised their children in Africa. Three of the four have grown and now have their own families. Africa is never far from any of their hearts and minds. The continent has made a lifelong impact on them all.