Updated: 6/18/2007
Project Amount: $7,500
Field Description: As a result of the war in Liberia, thousands of Liberians fled into Guinea. These were Lutherans who worked with LCMS World Mission in the 1980s. These refugees, in turn, planted nearly 100 congregations in Guinea. Now, many of them are completely French-speaking since the Liberians are slowly returning to their homeland. Tim Heiney has been faithfully working with the leaders who are emerging from these congregations. Similar to MTC ministry, a model has been developed through which the local lay pastors and evangelists are trained to be the shepherds and theological “experts” for the local congregations. Unable to go to seminary or higher level academic institutions, these lay pastors attend TEE classes which enable them to serve their local congregations as their shepherd, as well as sharing Lutheran theology and teaching. Most of these men are worker priests, receiving little if any financial support for their tireless and selfless work on behalf of the Gospel. Funding of this project provides for teaching materials, curriculum, and transportation for the students.
Located on Africa’s western coast between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, the Republic of Guinea is home to 9.2 million people. Formerly known as French Guinea, it became independent of its French-colony status in 1958. President Sekou Toure began a Marxist-style regime that proved disasterous. Toure’s regime was overthrown in a 1984 coup, leading to the creation of a multi-party democracy and a new constitution in 1991.
More than 75 percent of Guinea’s citizens live on small farms, laboring as subsistence farmers. Poor leadership, management, and corruption in the government have left the majority of people destitute—65 percent are unemployed. Recent reform efforts have been partially successful in restoring justice and economic progress.
More than 40 indigenous people groups make up 99 percent of the population. The Mande tribes are 46 percent, the West Atlantic tribes are 43 percent, and the Mande-Fu tribes are 11 percent. The single largest people group is the Maninka (Malinke) people, which number more than two million. Although French is the official language, 30 ethnic languages are spoken.
Eighty-five percent of the population is Muslim, 10 percent is traditional animist, and less than 5 percent is Christian. Guinea is one of the least evangelized countries in Africa. In recent years, mission awareness has grown and Guineans are sending Christian workers to other tribes. Leadership training for these pastors and laymen is in great need and many areas lack leaders in general.
LCMS World Mission sent its first missionary to Guinea in 1996 to work with West African refugees who fled to Guinea to escape civil war and persecution in Liberia and Sierra Leone. These were Lutherans who worked with LCMS World Mission in the 1980s. These refugees, in turn, planted nearly 100 congregations in Guinea. Now, many of them are completely French-speaking since the Liberians are slowly returning to their homeland. Tim Heiney has been faithfully working with the leaders who are emerging from these congregations. Similar to Mission Training Center ministry, a model has been developed through which the local lay pastors and evangelists are trained to be the shepherds and theological “experts” for the local congregations. Unable to go to seminary or higher level academic institutions, these lay pastors attend TEE classes which enable them to serve their local congregations as their shepherd, as well as sharing Lutheran theology and teaching. Most of these men are worker priests, receiving little if any financial support for their tireless and selfless work on behalf of the Gospel. Funding of this project provides for teaching materials, curriculum, and transportation for the students.
Contact person: Joseph Yasseh (via Rev. Tim Heiney)
