Serving in Sierra Leone

When Maxwell Kanu completed his degree at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), the words of one of his professors were still fresh in his mind.

“He told us, ‘If you want to be an effective pastor, you must make sure you don’t drop the good things you are learning at the gate as you leave. You must package them and take them with you wherever you go.’”

With support from Christian Reformed World Missions, Kanu began studying at TCNN in August 2011. He graduated from TCNN and returned to his home country of Sierra Leone in the fall of 2015, with the plan to use his new skills to strengthen the Christian Reformed Church of Sierra Leone (CRCSL).

The CRCSL decided to send Kanu to Makeni, the nation’s fourth largest city, to begin a new church—an assignment that he knew would be difficult.

“When I was told I’d be going to Makeni, it wasn’t easy,” Kanu said. “I knew the people and their mentality toward the Christian faith.”

Kanu further explained that there are a wide variety of faith backgrounds, including the majority Muslim influence in this area. Still, much of what he had learned at TCNN equipped him to share the Reformed understanding of the Christian faith.

TCNN trains people from a variety of denominational backgrounds, so Kanu could use his conversations with his peers as well as his professors as he prepared to start a new church in Makeni.

At TCNN, Kanu also met each week with Tim Palmer, a CRWM missionary who serves at the seminary, to develop his understanding of the Reformed faith. “I saw him when I was in school as a father and as a mentor,” said Kanu.

In November 2015, Kanu and his family began the church planting work in Makeni, first by talking with people in the community, and then by inviting them to a Bible study. His faith in God told him that he was not alone in his work.

“I knew that before we went there, He had already gathered the people who were a part of this work,” Kanu said.

Since their first Bible study in November, the church now has about 40 members and it continues to grow, despite encountering a few challenges with securing a permanent location for the church building.

The church was given land that had been deserted since the 1970’s because people believe it is inhabited by evil spirits. But Kanu felt that this was just another part of God’s plan of redemption for the community of Makeni. They are currently in a time of fasting and prayer over the land before beginning construction on the new church.

Join Kanu and his congregation in praying for God’s blessing on this new church land. Pray that that people in Makeni will continue to grow in their understanding of Christ through this church.