Established in 1960, the Evangelical Protestant Church of Mali (EPCM) has since operated in borrowed facilities, functioning with whatever space it could find.  Current offices are cramped and various departments are spread throughout Mali's capital city of Bamako. 

The growing number of churches in this association and the demands placed on national church leaders makes the construction of a Headquarters/Training Center critical.

In addition to these practical issues, the Malian church needs this building to establish a solid landmark. In a society that is 90 percent Muslim, mosques are prevalent, yet there are minimal Christian facilities that stand as a testimony of God's grace to believers in this needy country.

Arriving in 1919, Avant was the first evangelical mission organization to arrive in Mali.  What started with a handful of believers has now blossomed into over 100,000 followers of Christ, and continues to grow.

In recent years, with over 250 churches joining the EPCM, national Malian leaders are at the helm and Avant missionaries have taken a supporting role.  This new headquarters and training center will facilitate the equipping and development of pastors and church leaders throughout Mali, allowing the national leadership to flourish and spread the gospel - not only in Mali, but throughout the entire Muslim-dominated region of West Africa.