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Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) is helping to build up the Sierra Leone Church following its tremendous growth after the country's civil war. By 2006, Christian Extension Services's (CES) ministry, coupled with renewed evangelism efforts through partnerships with CRWM and the Reformed Church of Zambia (RCZ), had led to 36 congregations with an average weekly church attendance of over 600 people. The church officially became the Christian Refomred Church of Sierra Leone (CRCSL) in February 2007. Today, the CRCSL has over 60 churches with more than 5,500 believers in total.
World Missions' goal, as it works alongside the CRCSL, CES, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), and the RCZ, is to help develop an indigenous church reaching out through holistic ministry in Sierra Leone. Our hope and prayer is that others will experience God's kingdom through the CRC of Sierra Leone's work.
- Church planting: We focus on villages that have not yet heard the Good News.
- Leadership development: Indigenous leaders, clergy and laity, are being trained through quarterly leadership workshops.
- Theological training: We send church leaders for further training to theological colleges in Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
- Youth ministry: We reach out to youth and organize youth groups, including teaching and Bible studies to ensure spiritual growth and Christian character formation.
- Women’s ministry: Our women’s ministry promotes evangelism and spiritual growth.
- Charity/diaconal work: CRWM and local churches help children who are less fortunate with school fees and health expenses.
- Mobilizing worshipping communities: We help worshipping communities acquire land for farming and building churches.
- Literacy classes: We hold literacy classes to teach people how to read and write in their own language.
- HIV and AIDS: We have an HIV and AIDS awareness program for youth in Koinadugu district. The district is the poorest in the country and has the highest occurrence rate for HIV and AIDS.
- Ecumenical activities: We work with 18 other churches and we chair the pastor’s council.
- Micro-credit program: We have created a micro-credit program for women which has a pay-back record of 98%.
- Preaching: Leaders we have trained preach God's Word throughout Sierra Leone.
- Education: A Christian school has been established in partnership with Christian schools in Canada and major donors in the USA. The school provides excellent education and a Christian worldview, a natural way to share the Message of Hope with Muslim children and eventually, their families.
- Rev. John Phiri, Coordinator-Church Development CRCSL/CRWM (missionary from the Reformed Church of Zambia)
- Rev. Ezekiel Sudu (missionary from the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria)
- Pastor Maxwell Kanu (missionary from the CRCSL, currently attending Theological College of Northern Nigeria)
Learn more about CRWM projects in Sierra Leone. Not from Canada or the US? Click on either country.
The Christian Reformed Church in North America, through its synod, decided in 1979 to make a positive difference in one Africa's poorest countries: Sierra Leone. Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) worked together, in word and deed, to bring the Gospel to Sierra Leone. Later, their efforts were combined under the name of Christian Extension Services (CES), now an non-governmental organization (NGO) run by Sierra Leoneans.
CES ministered among the Kuranko-speaking people in Sierra Leone's northern Koinadugu district through community development activities such as health care, agriculture instruction, clean water, literacy programs, and micro-credit loans.
Ministry work continued during the bloody civil war that rocked the country for 11 years.
Following the war, the fact that CES never stopped its work helped lay a credible foundation
for the growth of the Church in a Muslim-dominated area. By 2006, CES ministry, coupled with evangelism efforts, gave birth to 36 congregations with an average weekly church attendance
of over 600 people. The church officially became the Christian Reformed Church of Sierra Leone in February 2007.
- Population: 5,363,669 (July 2011 est.)
- Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole)
- Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%
- Dated entered by World Missions: 1979
Visit the World Factbook for more information on Sierra Leone.
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