About us

Where we work

Africa: Guinea

Mission History

In 1984, the Christian Reformed Church Synod approved a new field for World Missions in Francophone Africa among the Fulbe people of Mali and Guinea. Before 1984, the Guinean government did not allow evangelism among its mostly Muslim people. A change in government permitted greater freedom for Christian outreach.

World Missions’ outreach in Guinea began in 1985. Missionaries moved to the city of Labe and began language study as well as survey and strategy work. Several years later, the work spread to the town of Dalaba, as well. The first Fulbe converts as a result of World Missions’ work in Guinea accepted Christ in 1990. In 1991, World Missions’ missionaries were instrumental in organizing and sponsoring two conferences for Fulbe converts from the entire country of Guinea. Today, in a land where persecution is expected for those leaving Islam for Christianity, a handful of believers can be found in both Labe and Dalaba.

Culture

Guinea, about the size of Oregon, lies on the west coast of Africa, with 200 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline. There are about 20 million Fulbe and other Pular-speaking people spread across West Africa.

Historically nomadic cattle herders, many Fulbe in Guinea are settled in villages and towns where they engage in commerce.

Nearly all of the Fulbe are Muslims. They are proud of their role in introducing Islam to Guinea and serving as religious leaders today. Only five percent of the total population is Christian, and most of these Christians live in the capital city of Conakry and in the southeastern part of the country.

Guinea has a tropical climate, but temperatures are cooler in the mountainous inland regions. While Guinea has four main ethnic groups and about 15 smaller tribes, French is the official language, dating back to the mid-19th century when France colonized much of West Africa.

Mission Vision

Guinea is one of the least evangelized countries in Black Africa. Christian Reformed World Missions is one of four mission groups working particularly in Guinea’s central region, the Fouta Djalon. In the major towns of this region, missionaries are focusing on a population of about 300,000 Fulbe people.

The team strategy involves evangelizing in the context of relationships, translating the Bible into Pular (the language of the Fulbe), broadcasting Pular-language Christian programs on local radio, developing materials for literacy and discipleship with the goal of planting a church in this region.

Results

Missionaries have led weekly Pular-language worship services in Labe and Dalaba, and individually discipled several new believers. Genesis, Exodus and Luke have been published in the Pular language in both Roman and Arabic script, the result of World Missions translation work. Luke was used to produce the “Jesus” Film in Pular. The first draft of the New Testament is complete. Discipleship and literacy materials have been translated and produced. Missionaries were also able to broadcast weekly 15-minute Christian radio programs from Labe and Mamou. Two local prison ministries were also started.

The Guinea mission team hopes to continue their evangelism and discipleship to core worship groups in both Labe and Dalaba.

Support

The most important gift you can give missionaries is a daily prayer for their lives and work. At any given time Christian Reformed World Missions supports about 300 long-term and short-term missionaries and about 200 missionary children located in over 30 countries around the world. These people have been called, commissioned, and sent by Christian Reformed churches to represent our devotion to Jesus Christ, and to urge others to accept His offer of salvation.

Here’s a partial list of items to pray for on behalf of missionaries:

  • emotional needs
  • physical needs
  • relationships with other missionaries
  • relationships with nationals
  • relationship with God
  • effective ministry
  • family life

Financial support is also crucial for the ongoing work of bringing the Good News around the world. Support can be given for specific missionaries, or specific projects can be found in the “Project Giving Guide” at your church or available from the World Missions offices in either the United States or Canada.

To learn more about the Fulbe people of Guinea, and read a fascinating story by a CRWM missionary, go to www.fulbefouta.com.

More Resources:

Videos
Video-2001 Fulbe Food and Fashion(18 min.)
Video-2003 First Light: Bringing Jesus to the Fulbe(5 min.)
Video-1997 A Week in the Window(15 min.)
Video-2004 The Guardians of Islam: Reaching the Fulbe of Guinea(6 min.)

Proclaim: May-June 2003
• Download the Word Document (9pg, 72k)
• Download the PDF (8pg, 300k)

Proclaim: May-June 2002
• Download the Word Document (11pg, 57k)
• Download the PDF (8pg, 313k)

Proclaim: May-June 2001
• Download the Word Document (14pg, 56k)
• Download the PDF (18pg, 236k)

CRC Source: Fall 2000
• Download the PDF (16pgs, 448k)