About Us
The Vision
The Rapiers have had a sustained international ministry since 1981 and to Southern Africa since 1989. While the base of operation for their ministry has shifted from Southern Africa to the United States, the mission of their ministry remains the same.
Their ministry was born out of the personal discipleship Bill received first from the Navigators as a young man serving in the U.S. Army and subsequently from other Christian leaders while living in the Chicago area. That discipleship experience convinced Bill that mentoring others would be the focus of his ministry as a missionary. Bill also determined that mentoring/discipling church leaders would be the best commitment he could make to help the church of Christ succeed.
Our Mission
The ministry of African Leadership Development has evolved through several distinct stages. The first stage, from 1981 to 1989 in Germany, field tested and confirmed the importance of mentoring church leaders. The second stage, from 1989 to 1991 in Swaziland, validated the importance of mentoring church leaders in under developed countries in Africa and confirmed how the provision of resources could empower local church growth. Certain concepts of “remote ministry” were tested during the next stage of ministry, from 1991 to 1996, while living in the U.S. and dealing with significant family medical issues. Serving most recently in Southern Africa, from 1996 to 2004, (ALD was birthed in Africa in 1997) Bill began to link German and U.S. churches with churches in Southern Africa. This validated the concept of networking with the global church through “church partnering” programs. Now, back in the U.S., their ministry enters yet another stage. They believe the concept of partnering with churches in Southern Africa is ready for broader deployment among churches in the U.S.
At Our Core:
Many churches in the United States have a rich and sustained commitment to worldwide evangelism. This is made manifest, at least in part, through the missionaries that churches financially support. Also, inviting missionaries to speak, conducting annual missionary events, reporting missionary profiles in church newsletters and adding new missionaries to the support budget all contribute to keeping missions forefront in the minds of church members. While having rich missions histories, U.S. evangelical churches face three key questions:
Worldwide Missions
Are there new and additional methods that might be applied to engender deeper, personal passion within church members for worldwide missions?
Younger Generations
Are younger generations of church members developing a passion for worldwide missions as prior generations have?
Practical methods
Are there practical methods by which U.S. churches can partner with the churches of their supported missionaries?
The Rapiers believe that the answer to these questions is “yes”.
Bill and Family
Bill and Pam have been missionaries since 1978. Eight years in Germany, two years in Swaziland, and eight years in Pretoria, South Africa have been their homes living overseas.
We have five children, and five grandchildren. Two of our sons are seniors in high school in Colorado Springs, CO where we are headquartered. Amy, our oldest daughter lives with us and delights in volunteering and serving the Lord in many short term opportunities with children.
For the past thirteen years, Bill has traveled to Africa almost 70 times. Pam and the boys have also been with Bill, assisting with the orphan ministry in RSA and Zimbabwe.
Board of Directors, USA
Dr. Toby Nelson
Sr. Chaplain
First Response Chaplains of California
Mr. Cord Crichton
Retired
Electrical Engineer, CA
Dr. David Hoyle
M.D.,D.D.S.
Chapel Hill, NC
Rev. Jon Gauger
Director
Special Projects, Moody Radio, Chicago, IL
Dr. Bill Rapier
Founder/Executive Director
African Leadership Development, Houses of Hope Africa
Pastor John Chinyowa
Sr. Pastor
Family Praise Fellowship, Zimbabwe
Mr. Phillip Sitobole
Managing Director
Family Praise Fellowship, Zimbabwe
Pastor Phil Sammons
COL, (Ret) USAF,
Family Praise Fellowship, Zimbabwe
African Board of Advisors
Pastor Phillip Mogwera
Founder/Sr. Pastor
Ebenzer Bible Church, RSA
Pastor Tosomba Lekombekombe
Founder/Sr. Pastor,
Embassy Church, Cape Town, RSA
Pastor Negros Manana
Founder/Sr. Pastor,
Turning Point International, White River, RSA
Pastor Edward Seleka
Sr. Pastor,
Mmbatho Baptist Church, RSA