What began as the sale of a locally owned business turned into a life-changing ministry that now stretches from Emanuel County to Sierra Leone, West Africa.
For Mitchell and Donna Moore, the journey has never been about recognition. It has been about following where they believe God was leading them.
“We literally prayed every night for the Lord to send somebody to buy the business,” Mitchell said. “None of our kids wanted it, and we knew God had another plan.”
That answer came in an unexpected way. The buyer of Boatright Enterprise introduced the owners to Pastor Jeremiah Swaray of Freetown, Sierra Leone, who was raising money to drill a well for an orphanage. What started as a single conversation in 2022 quickly grew into a lasting partnership.
Since then, supporters have helped drill a well, build separate dormitories for boys and girls, construct a school with multiple classrooms, build Shepherd’s House for Pastor Jeremiah and his staff, and begin working on a cafeteria that is nearly complete. Construction has also begun on a church.
Today, the orphanage cares for around 60 children, though that number has reached as many as 105. The children not only have a place to live but also attend school on the campus.
One of the greatest challenges facing the ministry is that Sierra Leone is predominantly Muslim, with Christians making up only a small portion of the population. Mitchell said God answered prayers when land that had once been intended for a mosque became the future site of the church now under construction.
“When we prayed, God opened the door,” he said.
Mitchell recently spent eight days in Sierra Leons alongside members of 127 Ministries from Alabama.
The trip itself required more than 23 hours of air travel before arriving in Freetown, a city originally established by freed slaves. After landing, the team crossed by ferry before traveling inland to the orphanage.
Nothing, Mitchell said, prepared him for what he witnessed.
“I couldn’t believe the chaos,” he said. “There were thousands of people, poverty everywhere, people begging for food, shacks lining the roads. It’s something we’ve never experienced.”
Although Freetown was designed for about 500,000 residents, an estimated 3 million people now live there. Corruption, unemployment and widespread poverty leave many families struggling simply to survive.
Mitchell recalled seeing adults searching through massive garbage dumps for anything edible and watching hungry people fight over a single meal.
“It’s survival,” he said. “I’ve seen grown men take food from children because they were starving.”
One goal of the trip was checking on construction projects at the orphanage. The other was introducing a ministry that has become familiar throughout Emanuel County– Serving Grace.
Inspired by the local outreach, the team purchased food in Sierra Leone and prepared approximately 2,500 meals to distribute throughout the streets of Freetown.
The response was overwhelming.
The first distribution drew such large crowds that volunteers had to leave temporarily after people rushed toward the food.
“They were just hungry,” Mitchell said. “People weren’t trying to hurt us. They were desperate.”
Working alongside local churches, the team continued distributing meals while also sharing the Gospel. According to Pastor Jeremiah, more than 700 people made professions of faith during the outreach through youth conferences, church services and street ministry.
“If one person had accepted Christ, the trip would have been worth it,” Mitchell said. “But to hear over 700… only God could do that.”
Among the many memories from the trip, one stands above the rest.
“When we left, the children were crying, asking if they could come back to America with me,” Mitchell said.
The team had packed one entire suitcase per traveler with candy for the children. Simple treats like Dum-Dums, lollipops and even sour candy became unforgettable gifts for the children who had rarely experienced such things.
“It wasn’t about the candy,” Mitchell said. “It was about letting them know someone loved them.”
Long before Mitchell traveled to Africa, another ministry was already changing lives in Emanuel County.
Serving Grace began when five women sat inside a youth room and came up with the idea of helping families after government food assistance was reduced.
Together, multiple churches throughout Emanuel County prepare and distribute free meals every Tuesday evening.
What started as 100 meals has grown into a ministry that now serves more than 100 meals each week in just minutes.
“We don’t just hand somebody a meal,” Donna said. “We ask, ‘How can we pray for you today?’”
The ministry has already distributed thousands of meals, nearly 180 food boxes and thousands of pounds of meat.
Perhaps even more meaningful, Mitchell said, have been the spiritual results.
“There have been salvations and rededications right there in the parking lot.”
Six churches now participate in Serving Grace, while many others contribute supplies, volunteers and financial support.
Mitchell is quick to point out that none of the work in Africa-or at home-would be possible without the generosity of Emanuel County.
As word spread about the mission trip, people from churches throughout the county began donating money, praying and offering encouragement.
“I didn’t just see people give financially,” Mitchell said. “I watched this community come together.”
That overwhelming support led Mitchell and Donna to establish Heart of Emanuel Global Outreach, a ministry dedicated to serving both local needs and mission opportunities around the world.
“It doesn’t have to be Africa,” Mitchell said. “Wherever God opens the door, we want to be obedient.”
For Mitchell, the greatest lesson from Sierra Leone came from Pastor Jeremiah himself.
“Every drop of water makes a mighty ocean.”
Mitchell believes that describes not only the ministry in Africa but also the generosity of Emanuel County.
“Every prayer, every dollar, every volunteer and every act of kindness matters,” he said. “By itself it may seem small, but together God uses it to do something far bigger than any of us could ever accomplish alone.”
Mitchell and Donna’s goals are for every child at the orphanage to be fed properly. You can help! A child can be fed for $35 monthly. If you would like to sponsor a child or get more information, contact Mitchell at 706-551-8482 or Donna at 478-455-3480.
