THE SIERRA LEONE FIELD
SIERRA LEONE MISSION
SOUTHEAST MISSION STATION
NORTHEAST MISSION STATION
Sierra Leone Field Map
From 2008-09, the West African Union Mission instituted strategies to divide the administrative leadership of the Sierra Leone field into 2 divisions-the Sierra Leone Mission in the West headquartered in Freetown, the Southeast Mission Station headquarted in Bo. In 2009-2010, the Sierra Leone Mission field was further divided to form the Northeast Station headquartered in Makeni.
This division is consistent with the ethnic and political structure ofSierra Leone, provides a better voice to the widely diverse constituents in the Sierra Leone Field and promotes effective indigeous development of infrastructure and personnel to accomplish our mission of spreading the everlasting gospel in word and in lifestyle.
This division is consistent with the ethnic and political structure ofSierra Leone, provides a better voice to the widely diverse constituents in the Sierra Leone Field and promotes effective indigeous development of infrastructure and personnel to accomplish our mission of spreading the everlasting gospel in word and in lifestyle.
STATISTICS FROM THE FIELD
The Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated 100 years of existence in Sierra Leone in 2005. A perusal of the mission work statistic reveals the work has monumental challenges before it.
Following a 10 year rebel war that decimated the infrastructure and displaced thousands present UN statistics reveal the following data.
Number of citizens[1]4,963,298 Male 2,412,860 Female 2,550.438
Muslim 60 % Christian 30% Animists & Other 10 %
The People of Sierra Leone are comprised of 16 indigenous tribes/languages - Mende, Temne, Limba, Koranko, Susu, Kissi, Gola, Vai, Krim, Krio, Loko, Madingo, Yalunka, Fullah, Bullom/Sherbro, Kono. The people are located in 13 regional districts. The Seventh-day Adventists Church has a presence in 7 of the districts in the form of churches, branch sabbath schools/companies, 70 primary schools, and 3 secondary schools,
Statistics Sierra Leone, Provisional Results:2004 Population and Housing Census. Table 3. Distribution of Households and Population by Local Council Area Http://statistics-sierra-leone.org, 21th December 2005
Local Church data reveals that the membership of the SDA church comprises about 3% of the population of thecountry.
Number baptized Adventists on Church Rolls -15,887
Number of Churches 52
Number of Branch Sabbath Schools 74
The number of workers to shepherd the flock is grossly below the number needed to administer to 126 assemblies of believers scattered over the country not to mention function as effective evangelists.
Number of ordained pastors at present 5
Number of Licensed and not yet ordained pastors 1
Number of commissioned evangelists 12
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
At present the SDA church has established work in of 7 of the 13 districts. Most of the population does not speak English the official language or Krio. In addition, the majority of the people are not literate in their mother tongue. 40% of the population is literate in English and/or their mother tongue.
Due to post war security issues, thousands of people crowded into the western area, Freetown specifically. The devastation left by the war had left little incentive for people to return home. As a result of the work of NGOs and the UN, many people have returned home but the need for support for rebuilding and development remains great.
Following a 10 year rebel war that decimated the infrastructure and displaced thousands present UN statistics reveal the following data.
Number of citizens[1]4,963,298 Male 2,412,860 Female 2,550.438
Muslim 60 % Christian 30% Animists & Other 10 %
The People of Sierra Leone are comprised of 16 indigenous tribes/languages - Mende, Temne, Limba, Koranko, Susu, Kissi, Gola, Vai, Krim, Krio, Loko, Madingo, Yalunka, Fullah, Bullom/Sherbro, Kono. The people are located in 13 regional districts. The Seventh-day Adventists Church has a presence in 7 of the districts in the form of churches, branch sabbath schools/companies, 70 primary schools, and 3 secondary schools,
Statistics Sierra Leone, Provisional Results:2004 Population and Housing Census. Table 3. Distribution of Households and Population by Local Council Area Http://statistics-sierra-leone.org, 21th December 2005
Local Church data reveals that the membership of the SDA church comprises about 3% of the population of thecountry.
Number baptized Adventists on Church Rolls -15,887
Number of Churches 52
Number of Branch Sabbath Schools 74
The number of workers to shepherd the flock is grossly below the number needed to administer to 126 assemblies of believers scattered over the country not to mention function as effective evangelists.
Number of ordained pastors at present 5
Number of Licensed and not yet ordained pastors 1
Number of commissioned evangelists 12
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
At present the SDA church has established work in of 7 of the 13 districts. Most of the population does not speak English the official language or Krio. In addition, the majority of the people are not literate in their mother tongue. 40% of the population is literate in English and/or their mother tongue.
Due to post war security issues, thousands of people crowded into the western area, Freetown specifically. The devastation left by the war had left little incentive for people to return home. As a result of the work of NGOs and the UN, many people have returned home but the need for support for rebuilding and development remains great.
