Aissata Deborah Samaké – Mali

Vice President-Francophone Geography | Africa West

Like most in Mali, Deborah grew up in a Muslim family. Her mother heard the Gospel and gave her life to Jesus, causing her father to angrily divorce her. Deborah’s mother moved to the U.S. and eventually married again while Deborah had to stay with her father. They moved back to share the Gospel in Mali and Deborah went to hear her stepfather preach. She decided to follow Jesus as well, which caused the same anger in her father as when Deborah’s mother declared faith in Jesus. Her journey with Young Life started when she met Steve Larmey at a worship event. He invited her to join a leadership training in 2009, which helped her start the first Young Life club in Mali. Today she does ministry in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, and is the vice president for the Francophone Geography for Young Life Africa West.