Building on Swampy Ground: Why Our Foundation Matters Now More Than Ever

Last week, I visited Nigeria to work alongside our team on the ground. As the year comes to a close, we are refining our priorities, shaping long-term strategies, and strengthening our OWA operational and transition plan. This is a pivotal moment in the life of A2S as we prepare not only to build a center, but to build our future.

The construction of the OWA Center began about six weeks ago, and on this trip, I had the opportunity to walk the land, assess progress, and meet with our engineers. The moment I stepped onto the site, I felt the reality of where we were standing.

The ground was swampy, soft, and unstable. I was standing on land that had not held steady ground in decades. We were in an area of our local community where homes have literally sunk into the earth. Floods have washed away property, families have fled for safety, and those who stayed behind have often felt unseen and forgotten by the world around them.

And yet, this is exactly where we chose to build.

We chose to place the OWA Center among the people who need it most so they could have something to be proud of, something that belongs to them, something that feels like HOME. OWA is not just a building. It is a statement of dignity. It is a symbol of restoration.

But choosing to build in the swamp also means choosing the hard road. The land is shifting and unpredictable. If we are going to create something that lasts for generations, the foundation must be deep, strong, and secure.

That is why our engineers designed a foundation beyond the ordinary. They began dredging sand from nearby communities, filling and leveling the land layer by layer, and reinforcing the ground with extra concrete to ensure the structure can hold everything God has planned. As I walked through the site and watched our team work with muddy hands and determined hearts, I was struck by a powerful truth:

What is happening beneath the ground is exactly what God is doing within A2S.

We are in a season of deep preparation. Just as the land is being stabilized, we are strengthening the internal foundation of our organization. We are aligning strategies, reviewing policies, and preparing our systems for growth. But on this trip, I made one message very clear to our staff:

Even though OWA will change how we operate, our FIT culture must remain the same.

OWA may change our strategies.
OWA may cause us to revise policies.
OWA may expand our programs and capacity.

FIT is our workplace culture.
It is who we are.
It is how we treat people.
It is the foundation that holds us together.

Faith means trusting that even in the most unstable seasons, God is building something solid.
Integrity means doing the right work beneath the surface, even when no one sees, because shortcuts create cracks.
Teamwork means standing side by side, carrying the weight together, ensuring that no one sinks.

FIT is not a slogan.
FIT is not a poster on the wall.
FIT is the concrete of A2S.
It holds everything together.

This became even more real when I spoke with members of the local community. They told me that because of the OWA project, they are preparing to return home. The way we are rebuilding the land will channel floodwater, reduce destruction, and make it safe again. What I thought was just a center for our programs is actually becoming a catalyst for the renewal of an entire community.

People who once lived in fear are now filled with anticipation.
One resident said, “A2S has brought light into our community.”

In that moment, Isaiah 58:12—the foundational scripture of OWA—came alive:

“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”

This is exactly what is happening in our community.
This is exactly what donors are making possible.
This is exactly why foundation matters.

To our partners and friends: you are not just funding construction. You are helping families return home. You are restoring dignity to a forgotten place. You are rebuilding the physical and spiritual infrastructure of a community. You are helping us strengthen our internal foundation so we can carry this calling with excellence.

OWA is rising.
Our community is changing.
Our team is aligned.
Hope is returning.

And as we build, we stand firmly on FIT because no matter how much we grow or how big OWA becomes, our culture—our people—must remain the foundation.

One day soon, I will walk you through this land. We will stand on ground that was once flooded and unstable, and we will say with confidence and gratitude:

Look at what the Lord is doing.

The foundation is being laid beneath our feet and within our hearts.
And the future is being built right now.