Jason and Emily Atkins have been serving in Guinea-Bissau since 2006. They run a machining and metal fabrication workshop; modify, design, and build machines to streamline production at the drinking water filter factory they are helping a local church set up; teach and disciple at their local church; and build relationships in their community to share the gospel. They have three wonderful children: Savannah, Nathaniel, and Miriam.
Originally, they came for an 8-month trip to teach English and set up an IT program at a Youth for Christ youth center that friends of theirs from the US had started in Guinea-Bissau’s capitol, Bissau. That 8-month trip led to a second 8-month trip in 2007, and during that trip they decided to join Youth for Christ full-time and move to Guinea-Bissau. God had been gently leading them to that decision, giving them a desire to live in a place they never dreamed that they would call home, and a vision for many partnerships and projects.
Over the next 7 years they finished writing curriculum and training teachers, and handed all of their responsibilities over to the national staff at the YFC youth center. During that same time, noticing many other church and aid projects floundering because of broken equipment and poor construction, Jason also started New Creations Workshop to provide metalworking support to help those projects.
In 2014 they moved from the capitol, Bissau, to Canchungo to partner with West African Vocational Schools (transitioning from YFC staff to WAVS staff in 2016). Emily provided staff and teacher training at the WAVS school. New Creations Workshop became part of WAVS’ welding program, and Jason worked with the teachers and students on design, production, machining, and advanced welding. Jason also worked with school administration and maintenance—training and supporting their work.
In 2015 Emily was asked to co-lead a women’s ministry at Ebenezer Assembly of God, the church they had joined in 2014 when they moved to Canchungo. In 2017 she was also asked to serve on the church’s preaching team. Currently Emily homeschools all three children and serves in those two roles at their church.
After moving to Canchungo, New Creations Workshop continued to partner with ministries around the country, including work at the drinking water filter factory and many maintenance, repair, and construction projects. In 2019, as the ministry of the workshop and their family continued to grow, they felt led to step out of their role with West African Vocational Schools and partner with Hope Remembered, to purchase land and build a home for their family and ministry in Canchungo, the town where they live. That project started in September of 2019 and it has been amazing to see how God has been at work in all of the small and enormous details of the project.
