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Birth & Vision

As we face these last days before the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the body of Christ has a mandate to continue the fulfillment of the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. With this in mind, it becomes necessary given the dynamics of our times to employ innovative approaches to fulfill this simple commandment of the ages. Whether you are within the inner cities of the United States, the corporate world of the market place or in the villages of Africa, the principle to employ remains the same. Each of us must preach the full gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to ensure that the WALL; an element of strength that serves to protect people against possible natural and spiritual danger, is rebuilt. To us the full gospel includes the word of reconciliation, the discipleship of the saints and the assurance that the natural needs of the people of God are met. Jesus Christ established the church as the avenue whereby the full gospel is carried out. However, most churches are not equipped with the skills and internal resources to address meeting the natural needs of the saints. It is for this reason that the Nehemiah Project International Ministries, Inc. (NPIM) has developed a system that addresses the economic development needs of mission-oriented ministry. This system is designed to provide long-term economic solutions primarily for the people of God utilizing the word of God and the principles of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for empowering the Body of Christ while leading the lost to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We pray that as you navigate through this site you will be encouraged to join us as we rebuild the walls of our communities' one business at a time.

Our History - "Our Damascus Road Experience"

HISTORY

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." II Corinthians 12:9

ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES

In an amazing orchestration by the Lord, my wife and I both arrived in the United States, from different parts of the world, in 1983. My mother, encouraged by my late grandmother, sent me to the US from my birthplace in Cameroon, West Africa. It was their desire that I get an education in America, return to Cameroon, and assist my mother in operating her various businesses. My parents had hopes that America would help me become a responsible man. Similarly, my wife, Gina Dorceus, came to the US from Port-au-Prince, Haiti with the assistance of her mother, who had already moved to the US. Gina's family hoped that America would provide her a better future.

THE BIRTH OF MULTI-CULTURAL YOUTH

In May of 1993, after having met and become friends, Gina and I started a community non-profit organization called Multi-Cultural Youth Educational Organization Incorporated, also known as MCY with some of our peers. Driven by a desire to make a difference in our community while financing our way through college, MCY was organized to provide leadership and entrepreneurship training, business planning workshops and seminars and financing for youth and young adults. MCY served over 300 teens and young adults in the Washington, Metropolitan area. We also worked with several organizations in the area, including the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), the Washington Urban League, the Baltimore Opportunity Industrial Center, and the Small Business Administration District Office, to name a few. MCY received various awards and wide recognition for its work.

SALVATION

In 1995, Gina and I married. We always had a desire to have a positive, lasting impact upon the community. To do this, we needed funding. In 1995, I met a successful businessman by the name of Tyrone W. Grigsby. My idea was to gain a new contributor, and to pick his brain about establishing and operating successful businesses. What I didn't realize was that God was orchestrating my life. Mr. Grigsby gave me two books, The Richest Man in Babylon, and the African American Heritage Bible. As I was trying to learn about making money, Mr. Grigsby was subtly leading me to Christ. He invited me to accompany him on a men's retreat. I thought that it was some sort of business conference, and was looking forward to making some valuable contacts. It turned out to be a Christian retreat, and as I listened to the ministers preach; I realized that all that I had been trying to accomplish through MCY had been for naught. Without salvation, it all meant nothing. The thought occurred to me, "Fool, you don't know what you're doing! Jesus can help you." At that moment, I made the decision to accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, and I joined Mr. Grigsby's church, then Full Gospel A.M.E. Zion Church, now From the Heart Church Ministries. When I returned home, I excitedly shared all that happened with my wife. Gina began to see a change in me, invited Jesus into her heart, and joined me as a member of Full Gospel.

CALL INTO THE MINISTRY

The first retreat changed my perspective on everything, but especially in the work we were doing at MCY. Gina and I both realized that our work had been in vain, and that we had done nothing to advance the kingdom of God. In December of 1996 at the next Full Gospel Men's Retreat, God called me into clergy ministry. I had only been a Christian for a year, and struggled with the idea of a "call. "What exactly did that mean? As I wrestled with that question, a statement that my pastor, John A. Cherry, made, provided me with some direction. He said, "When you don't know what to do, do what you know to do now." What I knew was entrepreneurship. Our mission at MCY changed as a result of this retreat. We began the transition from a secular to a Christian training organization. As I continued in what I knew, and followed the instructions of God, He revealed my call to use entrepreneurship as a tool to empower the Body of Christ and lead the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

THE BIRTH OF BIBLICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP (BE)

In December of 1997, at yet another Full Gospel Men's Retreat, the Lord inspired me to develop a biblically based curriculum to teach entrepreneurship to teens and adults. By the grace of God, with the assistance of Mr. Tyrone W. Grigsby and Pastor Cherry's teachings, Gina and I began developing the Biblical Entrepreneurship Curriculum. Some months later, the first Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE) class began with seven registered students. Two years later MCY sponsored five classes with a total of 47 program participants. With the financial support of Brother Tyrone Grigsby, MCY opened a Biblical Entrepreneurship Training Center in Silver Spring MD. In addition, a Mustard Seed Grant Award enabled MCY to launch a Micro Loan Program to provide seed capital to its graduates. In 1998, the Lord led us to sow Biblical Entrepreneurship into the Biblical Infrastructure of Full Gospel A.M.E. Zion Church, now From the Heart Church Ministries.

In November of 1998, my mother visited the United States. She was inspired by what the Lord was doing in our lives, and in the life of MCY. She invited us to visit the family home in Cameroon, West Africa. Gina and I wanted the Lord to be glorified in our visit. We sought, and received guidance from Him as to what to do next. We were led to meet with Bishop Darlingston Johnson, Pastor of Bethel World Outreach Ministries International. In our meeting with Bishop Johnson, we were introduced to the late Pastor Charles K. Wesley, of Bethel World Outreach Ministries in Douala, Cameroon. As a result of the meeting with Pastor Wesley and one of his associates, Gina and I learned about the miserable conditions that existed in Cameroon. Pastor Wesley encouraged us to bring our ministry to Africa in hopes of addressing the desperate need for economic empowerment of God's people there. The Lord gave us a vision from the book of Nehemiah, and gave us the name "The Nehemiah Project." Initially, the project was considered to be a potential program within MCY through which resources such as computer products could be sent to Cameroon. During our three-week stay in Cameroon, not only was the need for the vision confirmed, but also the full vision of the Nehemiah Project International was revealed. What we thought would be a program sponsored by MCY became the Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM). While in Cameroon, my wife and I taught a series of Bible studies, held prayer sessions, donated over 70 French Bibles and led numerous people to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

Bethel Outreach Ministries of Cameroon, and Living Word Missions were the first to embrace the NPIM vision. The Lord opened doors everywhere. A Christian lawyer volunteered her services to help draft the legal papers for the Nehemiah Project Chapter of Cameroon. A covenant partnership was established with Bethel World Outreach, Living Word Missions, and my mother, Mrs. Foning Francoise, who is an influential businesswoman and government representative in Cameroon. Upon our return to the United States, the Lord revealed to us that MCY was the old and Nehemiah, the new. This new direction was confirmed through a teaching by Pastor John A. Cherry entitled "Allow God to Do a New Thing" taken from Isaiah 43:10. My wife and I developed a plan to transition from MCY to Nehemiah beginning with the closing of the training center. Biblical Entrepreneurship Training classes are now being offered through local churches in the United States. MCY's supporters were informed about the new direction and offered their full support. On May 25, 1999, MCY's Articles of Incorporation were amended to officially change the name and mission of the organization. Nehemiah Project International Ministries Incorporated was officially born. This was the biggest leap of faith yet, as we had to forsake secular resources and trust in God's faithfulness to give us direction and resources. God has been true to His Word. Many challenges have presented themselves and many times, we felt inadequate to do the great work He has given us to do. But time after time, the Lord has shown us that his strength is made perfect in weakness as we continue in what He has called us to do.

Today the Nehemiah Project International Ministries works in partnership with local churches in the United States and in other parts of the world. We provide Biblical Entrepreneurship education and training, business support services and outreach and evangelistic activities to teens and adults within the Body of Christ while leading the lost to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

NPIM Overview

The Nehemiah Project International Ministries Inc. (NPIM) was founded in 1999 by Patrice and Gina Tsague. NPIM is a non-profit tax exempt business training and business support service organization that works in partnership with organizations and individuals to equip individuals and families with entrepreneurship training based on the Bible.

NPIM offers a proprietary certificate business course called "Biblical Entrepreneurship" that provides a strong mix of core business concepts and biblical principles. Some of the courses offered include Principles of Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE I), Practices of Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE II), and Planning a Biblically-based Business (BE III). Most graduates of the program have been able to start and operate small to medium sized businesses here in the United States and Cameroon, Central Africa. The largest business to enroll and complete the course is worth over $12 million dollars. To date, NPIM has trained over 1200 students in the United States and Cameroon, Central Africa. NPIM also offers alumni support services to its graduates.

Our mission is to equip and empower people to steward God's resources through biblically based entrepreneurial training thereby helping them fulfill God's plan for their lives.

Our vision is to be a leader in market place ministry training, and business support services to serve at least 10,000 people a year by 2013.

Objectives:

  • To lead Individuals to salvation through our witness
  • To transform lives through biblically based entrepreneurship training
  • To develop successful Biblical Entrepreneurship businesses through business support.

NPIM defines a successful business as a business that meets the following five criteria:

  • Business is a tool to fulfill God's plan for the steward (s)
  • Products and services honors the Lord Jesus Christ
  • Management is a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ
  • Provides for the natural needs of the Biblical Entrepreneur and his or her family
  • Contributes to the advancement of the Kingdom of God by creating jobs, making financial contributions and through professional expertise.