SIERRA LEONE
Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It is slightly smaller than South Carolina and has a population near 9 million with 1.3 million living in the capital, Freetown. Krio is the most widely spoken language, although English is the official language.
10 of the total 28 people groups are considered unreached. The religious makeup of Sierra Leone is 60% Muslim, 10% African Traditional Religion with 5% evangelical Christians.
The civil war from 1990-2012 devastated the country socially and economically. Over 50,000 people died, 2 million fled for their lives from their homes. Thousands were raped and had arms amputated by heartless rebels who abducted, brainwashed and trained child soldiers to kill.
All this led to a massive economic collapse that plummeted Sierra Leone to one of the poorest countries in the world. The majority of the population engages in subsistence agriculture. Today there is 51% unemployment and the average person makes $550 per year, living on less than two dollars a day.
Support a Church Planting Pastor From Sierra Leone
It was an honor to meet dozens of church planters who God is using in Sierra Leone. How does a church get started in Sierra Leone? A church planter will leave his home and travel into a region where there are no Christians. He will walk the streets praying, asking God to lead him to a “person of peace” or someone who is open to him facilitating a Bible study from their house. Friends are invited to the Bible study. The gospel will eventually be presented and people begin coming to Christ. Once a core group of Christians is established, a trained pastor will come to pastor the small flock and the church planter will move on to a new location where there are no Christians.
This is happening all over Sierra Leone. Hundreds of churches are being started in this manner. These church planters face tremendous persecution. Many of them face rejection and often beatings. If they are married, they are unable to travel with their wives, for the risk is too great. Please be praying for these courageous church planters. You can support a church planter for $50.00 per month.