Lamin and Jayne Dumbaya

Sierra Leone faces significant spiritual & physical challenges, but – praise God – there are many opportunities to show and share the message of Christ with others.

 

Sierra Leone was the first West African country to be evangelised, but the current spiritual situation is challenging, with the growth of Islam (almost 70% of the population); ‘health & wealth prosperity’ false teaching; African Tribal religions; and the prevalence of occult practices and secret societies. There are 30 ‘people groups’, and 14 of those people groups (46.7% of the population) are ‘Unreached’ (no indigenous community of believing Christians able to engage this people group with church planting). Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and continues to recover from the scars of its civil war (1991-2002), and the Ebola outbreak (2014-2015).

Proclaiming and strengthening…

At the heart of all we do is the aim of proclaiming the gospel to unbelievers and strengthening the national church. We work as part of a team within UFMSL (United for Ministry Sierra Leone), partnering with Grace Community Church Freetown. The work includes: children’s Bible clubs and evangelistic outreaches; youth ministry; local church ministry; supporting students; discipleship; supporting rural pastors and evangelists; providing seminars & training; practical help – meeting physical needs; and witnessing to friends and neighbours.

Empowering and equipping…

About 42% of Sierra Leone’s population is under 15 years old. Serving the national church includes empowering and equipping Sierra Leoneans to reach out to children. We provide children’s ministry training and teaching resources for children’s workers in churches and Christian organisations.

…in the power of God

Jayne: I’m from Ireland. I grew up in a Christian family and came to faith as a child. I worked as a Social Worker in Scotland, before doing Theological and cross-cultural study. I moved to Sierra Leone in February 2013.

Lamin: I was born into a Muslim family in Sierra Leone. At the age of 15 I met UFM missionaries, who helped lead me to Christ. I studied Finance & Accounting before joining the UFMSL team in 2013. I completed 2 years part-time study at Tyrannus Bible Institute Freetown. We’ve worked together since 2013 and got married in 2016. We pray our work would always be ‘…by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the Word of truth, by the power of God…’ (2 Corinthians 6v6-7).

 

Vital Stats

Country
Sierra Leone
Location
Freetown
Role
Children’s & youth work and church-strengthening ministry
Ministry Types
Bible Teaching, Children’s ministry, Church ministry, Community based ministry, Evangelism, Pastoral Support, Pastoral Training, Practical ministry, Prison ministry, Student ministry, Training ministry
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Rice & Leaf Plasas (containing blow-your-head-off chilli pepper)
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A man emerging from a taxi with 4 goats.
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'...by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the Word of truth, by the power of God...' (2 Corinthians 6v6-7).

The joys and challenges of ministry in Sierra Leone

On 1 February 2013 Freetown became my home. The place is an attack on the senses - the 4am Muslim call to prayer blasting out; sweat running down me with the heat/humidity; the vibrant colours of African clothing; crazy drivers; traders calling out their wares; poverty everywhere; the smell of African cooking; shouts of ‘white man’ everywhere I move (I’m a white woman!); celebrations when electricity comes on; and the buzzing of that one mosquito that masters my defences!