Quote that Got Don 

"There are approximately 10,000,000 members in independent churches in  the African sub-Sahara.  Ninty-five percent of the leaders of the African churches have not one day of theological training...some are almost illiterate."  Dr. Phillip Buys, President, Mukhyanyo College, South Africa

After hearing that statement, Don went on his first missions trip with EPI to investigate the need.  He returned home convinced and took Merril a year later.  Both agreed to give up their comfortable congregation in central Florida to answer the call - "Come over and help us."

So far the Mountans have taught over 3,500 church leaders who have leadership influence over more than 1,500,000 confessed believers in Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Mozambique in Africa and in four states in India.

Need of the Day 

The need of the day in missions is to train national leaders and their spouses.  It is estimated that approximately 25,000 people a day are responding to the gospel in Africa alone.  DAWN ministries President David Steele anticipates 10,000,000 new churches in India in the next ten years.  Many of the pastors of these churches will be picked from among these new believers, given a bible, commended to the Lord with the hope of some on the job training.

Equipping Pastors International provides some hope for some of them.  EPI targets the national pastors and their spouses in developing countries, who cannot afford formal training, to provide for them training at little to no cost.