Prayer Points
- For stability, peace, and an end to government corruption.
- For an end to the deadly disease, Ebola.
- For restoration and wholeness for those who have suffered because of war and illness.
- For empowerment of believers who are committed to ministries of healing and reconciliation.
- That the bond of dark powers and the influence of secret societies will be broken.
- That Christians will live lives of faith, depending on Jesus alone.
- For the right ministry strategies for the current context.
- For rehabilitative and holistic ministries, leadership training and Bible translation.
LOCATION
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
POPULATION
6 732 899 (2017 est.)
RELIGION
Muslim 60%
Indigenous beliefs 30%
Christian 10%
INTERNET USERS
310 000
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
9,1% (2014 est.)
MISSIONARIES (2010)
Sent 10
Received 780
LEAST REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS
11
We Pray...
Father, when we pray for Sierra Leone, we pray for true stability, sustained peace, and a decisive end to government corruption. We also pray for restoration and wholeness for those who have suffered the atrocities of war.
Lord, we pray for your Holy Spirit to empower believers who are committed to ministries of healing and reconciliation. We ask that you will break the bond of dark powers and the influence of secret societies in the country and especially the power of Ebola over the people.
We pray that Christians will live lives of faith, depending on Jesus alone for provision, protection and power.
Lord Jesus, we pray for the right ministry strategies for the current context, and for excellent partnering relationships among local Christians and churches. We pray for rehabilitative and holistic ministries, leadership training and Bible translation in Sierra Leone. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
State of the Church
The majority staying in the north are Muslim, with a huge number of people adhering to
indigenous beliefs. Only 10% of the nation belong to the Christian faith, but in many
cases it is mixed with animism and voodoo. The last occurrence of full scale persecution
was during the civil unrest when rebels attacked churches and looted them.
The church in Sierra Leone has many challenges. They have people who have been
traumatized by years of war, children who were soldiers and now the Ebola outbreak.
Overview
As many countries in the West Africa, Sierra Leone has experienced years of conflict within its self.
This raged on from 1991 to 2002 and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and thousands of
mutilated people. The trademark of the rebels was to hack off the hands and feet of their victims.
During this unrest over 2 million people were displaced (according to the “CIA Factbook“ it was
a third of the population).
The UN invaded the country trying to implement a peaceful government and withdrew in 2005.
The National military took over and since then the country has been a civilian ruled country, with
the military on the side line to guarantee the country’s stability.
In September 2010, the UN Security Council lifted the last remaining sanctions against Sierra Leone,
saying the government had fully re-established control over its territory, and former rebel fighters had
been disarmed and demobilised under the protection of the professional national army.
Because of their violent history the economic recovery has been slow, partly because the
reconstruction needs are so great and therefore about half of government revenue has to come
from donors.
The restoration of peace was expected to promote the country’s tourist industry in the long term.
Sierra Leone boasts with miles of unspoilt beaches along its Atlantic coast, and hopes to match its
near-neighbour Gambia in attracting tourists. Unfortunately the Ebola outbreak in middle 2014
has crippled the country's tourism industry and economy.
More Resources:
- Regional Prayer Initiative: PrayToEndEbola
- African Prayer Initiative: Pray Africa
Bibliography
- INcontext ministries – http://incontextministries.org/
- CIA World Factbook
- Atlas of Global Christianity – Todd M.Johnson & Kenneth R. Ross (Published by – Edinburgh University Press) (Missionaries and national workers: Africa 2010, page 267)
- Prayercast – http://prayercast.com/
- Unreached people groups – http://www.joshuaproject.net
- The voice of the Martyrs – http://www.persecution.com/
- Jul-Dec, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report – http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/index.htm
- Operation World – http://www.operationworld.org/african-countries