September 2009 - Sierra Leone

The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has been at work in Sierra Leone since 1979, even during and after the years of civil war.

The work is mainly among the Koranko speaking people in the Koinadugu district. Christian Reformed World Missions works with the Sierra Leone Christian Reformed Church (CRC-SL). CRC-SL has 54 churches and over 4,000 members. CRWRC partners with Christian Extension Services (CES), who works in 22 communities. \

World Missions working with CRC-SL:
- Church Planting - concentrating efforts in villages that have not heard the Good News of the Gospel.
- Theological Training - sending students to the existing theological colleges in Sierra Leone. There are currently three students studying at Sierra Leone Theological College.
- Youth Ministry - doubled efforts in youth evangelism and youth group organization which includes teaching and bible studies to ensure spiritual growth and Christian character formation.
- Literacy Classes - teaching people how to read and write in their own language.
- Ecumenical activities - working together with 18 other churches in the district
- Education - in partnership with Christian schools in Canada, as well as major donors in the USA, a Christian school has been started. Providing excellent education and a Christian world and life view, this is a natural way to share the Message of Hope to Muslim children and eventually to their families.

CRWRC working with CES:
- Agriculture: training oxen handlers, providing veterinary services and loans of tools and seeds
o 1700 participants benefits from seed banks, 110 farmers using oxen; of total participants, half are women (2008/09)
- Community Development: Capacity building of communities through leadership training action plans
o 40 leadership workshops, 200 people, half are women, 22 communities making progress (2008/09)
- Income generation: training and selection of women, loan payback, incentives to graduates
o 330 people, 290 are women, 180 have graduated 2008/2009, 83% payback rate (2008/09)

Partnership between BC Classes and CRC-SL / CES
The Christian Reformed Churches in British Columbia are considering a longer term connection, a relational partnership, with the CRC of Sierra Leone, and also with CES and the work it does.
How will this partnership bless the church?
We believe that the church in Sierra Leone and the churches of BC will both be blessed through this relationship. Through growing interdependence, the churches of BC might be helped in learning hospitality, patience, long-suffering and zeal for the Lord. Through growing interdependence, the CRC in Sierra Leone might be helped in raising up Godly leaders, establishing self-supporting churches and discipling believers. In short, we join with the mission of our denomination to ‘transform lives and communities worldwide’ trusting that God will transform both the church in BC and Sierra Leone by his Spirit.

Areas of focus for this partnership:
- Leadership development
- Micro credit expansion of CES’s program
- Christian Education
- Social Justice
Getting involved with the work in Sierra Leone
1. Financial and prayer support for World Missions staff (John Phiri) or CRWRC staff (Wyva Hasselbad) in Sierra Leone
2. Financial support of World Mission’s work and CES’s work in Sierra Leone
3. Discuss with North American World Missions or CRWRC staff about special projects in Sierra Leone