Paul and Chantelle McIver have called Rockyview Alliance Church in Calgary their home for the past eight years. Paul worked as a journeyman welder while Chantelle finished her Masters Degree in International Development work. They have both always had a passion for missions and are exited to follow God’s leading in their lives to Niger.

Paul and Chantelle are in language study in Quebec City and will leave for Niger in January 2008. Once they settle in Niger they will begin learning the tribal language of Tamashek. This will allow them to really interact with the people there. They will also start to lay the groundwork for development projects.

Paul and Chantelle will work with holistic ministries, doing development work. This is taking many different forms. One major project is medical / dental ministries that occur when short term groups of professionals go to Niger and the McIvers will facilitiate the trips to the villages where hundreds of people will be treated each day. Chantelle’s main task will be development work in terms of a training centre and micro-enterprise (giving small loans to people to start small businesses to earn income for their family as they work in cooperative with other people). This will be a place people can come to learn a variety of things such as basic literacy, hygiene, nutrition and other skills. All the members of the team have something to offer and teach in this kind of setting. Paul will be using his gifts in the area of trades skills. He will apprentice several men there in skills such as auto mechanics, carpentry and eventually start a small welding shop where he will train locals.

Chantelle says, “I have seen it personally happen, where after building relationships with people and showing we care about them and their family and helping them, they become more interested to find out what we believe and about the God who gave us this love for them. Our desire is to see authentic Christianity rooted in concern for the broken and hopeless.”

Paul and Chantelle have two children: Bennett and Arielle.