Your purpose is bigger than you think.
Ricky Burge was born in a rough part of Gary, Indiana, and grew up amid the wreckage of his parents’ failed marriage. His search for purpose eventually led to gangs, partying, and drugs.
But after a brush with death at the hands of gang members, he realized he had to make some serious changes in his life or end up like so many others who follow the same destructive path.
After his cousin introduced him to the Lord, Ricky’s life began to drastically change. But despite his encounter with God, he still felt something was missing. Invited by a friend to one of Andrew’s free conferences, Ricky learned about the grace message and about Charis Bible College. Compelled by God to enroll, he took the first step toward fulfilling his destiny.
While attending Charis, Ricky gained a deeper revelation of grace and finally found his missing piece. Through Scripture, God confirmed his call to Africa:
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12
As a man of African American ancestry, God showed Ricky that, like Moses, he would return to his brethren in Africa and deliver them with God’s unconditional love and grace. Ricky would plow Africa’s hard ground, a ground full of religion and superstition but void of God’s love.
Your purpose is bigger than you think. Thank you, friends and partners, for joining with Ricky as repairers of the breach and restorers of paths to dwell in. You are equipping the students of Charis to become extraordinary leaders who are changing the world—one person at a time!
Today, Ricky is leading Africa with grace as Director of African Expansion for Charis World Outreach, where he will be planting an AWM office and Charis campus in as many African countries as possible! His current areas of preparation include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia. After launching each Charis campus and AWM office, he will train a local minister to run the operation so he can move to the next place. With hundreds being discipled through AWM’s Discipleship Evangelism program, Africa is being changed through the message of God’s love and grace!
Ricky is joined by his new wife Nina, a graduate of Charis Cape Town with a background in African missions, on the adventure of leading the World Outreach African Expansion project.
If you’re not already a partner and would like to join us in taking the Gospel as far and as deep as possible, visit awmi.net/partner and become a Grace Partner today!
