by Matt Alexander, V3 staff

When Felix Banson joined the first V3 Africa cohort, he was discerning how to plant a church in a rural village in Gambia. Alongside four other African leaders, he engaged deeply with V3’s training—especially its emphasis on presence, listening, and team-based leadership.

“The V3 cohort helped me slow down and pay attention to the community I was sent to,” Felix says. “We learned that trust must be earned, and building that trust starts with service.”

As Felix and his team began listening to neighbors and noticing the needs around them, one issue kept coming up: many of the local children weren’t going to school. In a country where 96% of the population is Muslim, the team sensed that starting a school could be a powerful way to embody the love of Jesus—caring for families while building bridges across religious difference.

“Having a team with different gifts and perspectives allowed us to respond more faithfully,” Felix says. “If I had been trying to do this alone, I’m not sure we would have had the capacity or vision to start the school.”

That school has now become a vibrant center of hope in the village, with both the church and community growing around it. The team continues to walk closely with neighbors, sharing leadership, and discerning next steps together.

For Felix, the V3 approach wasn’t just a method—it was a mindset that reshaped his understanding of mission.

“Planting a church is never just about Sundays,” he says. “It’s about being good news in the everyday—and that’s what we’re learning to do, one step at a time.”

Learn more about V3 Church Planting Movement.