Bringing Transformational Development to Bombali Bana, Sierra Leone Update

During World Impact in November, Pastor Paul announced that Central Wesleyan would be taking on a special project to help a village in Sierra Leone, West Africa. If you're wondering why we chose Sierra Leone, here are some of the reasons. The United Nations ranks Sierra Leone as the poorest country in the world, with 86% of the people out of work. Life expectancy has dropped to just 34 years, and 28% of their children die before the age of 5. However, 60% of all illness there could be solved with things as simple as fresh drinking water and mosquito nets.

We have chosen to work with the village of Bomabli Bana in northern Sierra Leone. The 700 inhabitants are farmers growing rice, cassava (also known as the yuca root) and peanuts. There is a Wesleyan Church in the village as well as a Catholic church and a Muslim mosque, with 15% of the people being animist (a traditional African religion).

Recently we had an assessment team visit Bombali Bana and meet with the leadership council of the village, the Wesleyan pastor and the staff of World Hope in Sierra Leone. Our project will work with the village leadership and the church leaders in six core strategies: Agriculture and Livelihood (seed distribution and animal multiplication), Education, Community Health, Capacity Building (leadership mentoring), Anti-Trafficking and Spiritual Formation.

Most importantly, we hope to change their worldview so they not only can identify their own problems with their village, but so they can also come up with their own solutions using their own resources. Then they will be able to solve future problems that come their way and live stronger lives knowing they are blessed by God. We hope that they will also be able to inspire other nearby villages to look for their own solutions to their issues.

Envision every family able to eat, earn money, be healthy, worship and not be exploited—so that they can experience all that God has for them on earth and in eternity. We want the people to understand that they are blessed to be a blessing.

Join us in praying for Bombali Bana, raising awareness of this project at Central Wesleyan and contributing to Faith Promise Giving to support this project and future short-term teams. Thank you.

George Beals
Global Ministries Pastor