Our Story
Sixteen years ago when Andrew finished his master’s degree in Urban Planning, he sought to find work that integrated his professional skills and desire to spread God’s love and compassion to the poorest regions of the world. When he heard about EMI and its vision “In a world of physical and spiritual poverty, EMI designs a world of hope,” Andrew was excited about the future possibilities. In 2017, Andrew volunteered on a project trip in Niger designing a Christian children’s hospital where he got to see firsthand how his skills and passions could be used to spread Christ’s love to the world’s poorest. After completing French language school in 2019, Andrew and Shannon relocated to the EMI Senegal office in 2020.
God is using his people to bring physical and spiritual healing all over the world, and calls his followers to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” Andrew and Shannon have heard this call and their hearts were drawn to the country of Senegal on the western coast of Africa. West Africa is one of the world's poorest regions - both spiritually and physically. Andrew and Shannon’s vision for their family is to be a part of bringing the good news of Jesus to these people, to see them restored, and to help develop flourishing communities.
Andrew and Shannon's story together starts back in 2001 when they were in high school in a small town in Iowa. Their shared love to dive deep into God's Word and to experience new adventures (and a timely Spanish class) brought them together. They married in 2005 and lived in St. Louis for many years before moving back to Iowa with their four children.
Andrew serves as the Senegal Office Director and Urban Planner where he guides the staff, mentors young professionals, and leads project trips throughout West Africa. Andrew works to develop relationships with ministries working in the region and coordinates teams of volunteer engineering and design professionals who carry out work specific to the needs of those ministries. After serving for many years at the Discipleship/Intern Coordinator for EMI Senegal, Shannon now serves with Dakar Academy - a Christian international school serving missionary families throughout West Africa - where she works as the K-8th grade Guidance Counselor.
Each year, EMI’s people complete over 80 development projects which serve the poor and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To keep these design services affordable for Christian ministries, professionals like Andrew on EMI’s staff are responsible for raising their own salaries. We are so grateful for God’s provision through the generosity of donors. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with the great things God is doing through the Jensen's ministry at EMI Senegal?