Vidar and Cathrine Ligard are the founders of Safari Mission. They are both graduates of Oral Roberts University and Rhema Bible Training College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a degree in Church Administration and a Master in Business Administration, the Ligards are helping leaders in East Africa to develop in leadership skills as well as Biblical subjects. They are both ordained through Rhema Bible Training College, Tulsa, USA
Empowering Leaders and Transforming Lives Across East Africa Since 2006
Since 2006, we have been training leaders and transforming people in East Africa. Our work began in 1999 when Vidar Ligard took a trip to Kenya and realized the need for pastoral training. He and his wife Cathrine moved to Kenya in 2006 to start a Bible school and have since grown to 8 bible school campuses, a book distribution center, a weekly podcast, regular radio programs and missions to Congo” to “Vidar & Cathrine moved to Kenya in 2006 to open their first Bible school. We have since grown to 8 Bible school locations in Kenya, 2 ministerial training in Congo, radio programs in Congo that serves 4 million listeners weekly, a weekly podcast, a book distribution center, and annual conferences & seminars.
1999
Vidar takes a trip to Kenya and realizes the need for training, both for pastors and leaders in the community.
2006
Vidar & Cathrine move to Kenya to open the first Safari Bible School. They moved to Mwingi, a rural town near Kisumu. In the first year, Vidar was the only insturctor and taught 600 hours alone.
2007
We open three more Bible schools and now train leaders in Mwingi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Keroka. We begin to run on a Modular system to accomodate working schedules.
2008
Our first 1st year graduation.
2009
Malindi and Kitui campuses are opened. We purchase land in Mombasa and begin construction to build permanent offices.
2011
We open a campus in Garsen, on the border of Somalia
2012
We open 2nd year studies, students can now go two years instead of only one. We hold our first 2nd year graduation the following year.
2016
We open a campus in Loitokitok, and with the Military police. Phase 1 of the building in Mombasa is complete and put to use.
2017
We hold our first East Africa Faith Conference, and have continued annually. Nairobi campus is also opened, along with offices in Nairobi. We also open the Safari Distribution Center for book distribution.
2023
We break ground on a new building in Mombasa: the Student Center. We also begin the Safari Mission Podcast which is now a weekly podcast.
2025
Record enrollment year. The Student Center is nearly complete and is put to use for the Mombasa Faith Conference.
Vidar takes a trip to Kenya and realizes the need for training, both for pastors and leaders in the community.
Vidar & Cathrine move to a rural town in Kenya to open the first Safari Bible School. The first year, we had Vidar as the only instructor, teaching 600 hours.
We open three more Bible schools and now train leaders in Mwingi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Keroka. We begin to run on a Modular system to accomodate working schedules.
Our first 1st year graduation.
We open a campus in Garsen, on the border of Somalia.
We open bible school to include second year studies. We hold our first 2nd year graduation the following year.
We open 2 more campuses: one in Loitokitok and one with the military police. Phase 1 of the permanent office building in Mombasa is completed and put to use.
We hold our first East Africa Faith Conference, and have continued annually. We open another campus in Nairobi aling with the Safari Distribution Center for book distribution. The Nairobi campus becomes the headquarters for the country.
Our first mission to Congo. We now have a training center there in full operation and serve 4 million weekly listeners on the radio.
We break ground on a new building in Mombasa: the Student Center. The Safari Mission Podcast is launched and continues weekly.
Record enrollment year. The Student Center is nearly complete and is put to use for the Mombasa Faith Conference.
