Jim and Lisa began missionary work in Nigeria, West Africa, in 1989. The mission agency they were working with then appointed Jim to be the Field Director, and the local Baptist denomination asked Jim to serve as Evangelism Secretary. Jim and Lisa served in Nigeria for 8 years. Then Jim served as missions director in the same organization in their Chicago office.
Jim started working with Converge in 2017 as Regional Director of Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the beginning of 2024, Jim has been focusing on Nigeria again. The focus now is on disciple makers and transformational leaders. Jim is concentrating on the state capital of the area where the work has been centered for many years. Jim is also working among two least-reached people groups in other areas of the state.
Jim and Lisa live near Chicago, Illinois, and Jim travels often to Nigeria and conducts a lot of business with leaders in Nigeria online.
Story
Jim began following Jesus at age 17 and immediately after he came to know Jesus, Jim heard a call to be a missionary. Lisa was just 7 years old when she came to know Jesus, and she sensed a call to be a missionary right away as well. The Blacks started their missionary career in 1989.
Jim and Lisa spent eight years in Nigeria, West Africa. During their final term of service they started an outreach to an unreached people group. They describe that period as the most fulfilling and rewarding time in their field experience. They have continued to develop leaders among these people and have seen several churches started and strengthened by people they have helped to equip.
The Blacks plan to invest the rest of their missionary career equipping more transformational leaders, not only in Nigeria but throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Location
Sub-Saharan Africa
Our greatest privilege is joining Jesus in what he is building: his church. When we reach across the street and around the world with the gospel—locally and globally—we impact lives for eternity.
