Francisca Etim has come the longest distance to serve on the Richmond ministerial staff. She was born in Nigeria and was raised to go to church from childhood, but she knew nothing about salvation. After hearing the gospel from her sister who had been wonderfully saved, the Lord began talking to her heart. In August 1979, she knelt at the altar in the local branch church, and the Lord wonderfully saved her. She relates, “What a change that was! I'm thankful I still have the peace God gave me in my heart today.”

Francisca or Franka as she is warmly known by those of us in the congregation was married to Bro. Herbert Etim in 1988, who has been a great source of encouragement to her. She was called into the ministry in 1996. Two years later, she started preaching in our church in Gambia, Africa where she happened to join her husband on a National assignment from Nigeria.

Today, they are happily serving the Lord together with their three children, Ima, Ani, and Ubong. The most exciting thing about the gospel to Franka is the fact that “It is universal and holds up the hope of eternal life to all that believe.”

She shares that, “God has been there through good and bad times; it's wonderful to know that our God is always there.”