Ana van Brakel
Meet Ana! Ana has been a missionary with Mission Africa since 2008. She started in Burkina Faso and is now has been serving in the Ivory Coast since January 2024.
My name is Ana and I grew up as the oldest girl in a family of 5 in a small village in the Netherlands. My parents were Christians and as a family, we faithfully attended church each week, but it was not until the end of my studies in African Linguistics at the University of Leiden that I finally decided to give my life to Christ. During my studies, I developed an interest in relief-work, leading to a minor in 'Law and Administration in Development Countries'.
After completing my studies, I then moved to the UK where I worked for the NHS in Clinical Governance for about 10 years. During this time, I became a member at Thornton Heath Evangelical Church.
Call to Serve
When I was converted, my interest in evangelism developed. God continually challenged me and gave me a real heart and desire to share the Gospel with the people of London. It was then that I began participating in the youth work and other outreach activities of the church. Alongside this, I continued to maintain my interest in relief-work but being involved in church life was where I was called to at that time.
As I was becoming more and more comfortable and enjoying my job, God continued to challenge my heart. Thornton Heath Evangelical Church held many ‘mission evenings,' and during one of those meetings, Mission Africa was sharing about their overseas opportunities and Burkina Faso sparked my attention. That evening, it was clear to me that I had to decide whether I would step out in faith and follow God's call and so it was from here that I began to explore what service with Mission Africa and in Burkina Faso would look like
Ministry
In September 2008, I travelled to Burkina Faso and served there until December 2018 . Whilst there, I was involved in discipling and mentoring new believers. I was also involved with the EPE Church on a national level where I chaired the National Children's Work Committee.
In 2018, I returned to the UK to regulate my citizenship due to the UK leaving the EU and sadly during this time on furlough, the security situation in Burkina Faso deteriorated and it became apparent that a return to my previous ministry was becoming unlikely. During my time in Burkina Faso, I attended the wedding of a friend in Ivory Coast and had visited a Bible College there that is run by the WEC-planted churches in Burkina and Ivory Coast. While on furlough, I was reminded of the need of well-trained pastors and the lack of resources that was available for pastors in West-Africa.
I began praying and seeking God’s will for ‘what was next’ in my life and with various conversations between Mission Africa as well as Thornton Heath, it was agreed that I would begin preparations to go to Ivory Coast to assist at the Bible College there.
Bible College
L’Institut Pastoral Hébron (generally called l’IPH) was started in 1992 outside the town of Bouaflé in the Ivory Coast. It takes students from all West-African French speaking countries, though the members of the Board come from Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast only.
This exciting new chapter will see me leaving the UK in January 2024 to travel to the Ivory Coast. I will be part of the pastoral teaching team of the college where I will be teaching pastoral care, English and basic IT-skills (how to use Word etc.) I will also be co-responsible for the pastoral care of women which includes spiritual support and Bible training. Alongside this, I will assist in managing the college library as well as creating materials and leading the college children's ministry – there is an on-site nursery school for children aged between 0-6 years. Parents who are studying in the college, may make use of this.
