wfn.org | Christian Reformed Church Grows in Sierra Leone

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> CRC Grows in Sierra Leone

January 20, 2009 -- More than 20 years of hard, patient work, coupled 
with what had to have been a few interventions by God, have led to 
the blossoming of the Christian Reformed Church among the mostly 
Muslim population of a few villages in northern Sierra Leone.

When he talks of the growth, a light comes to the eyes and a smile to 
the face of Paul Kortenhoven, a Christian Reformed World Missions 
missionary who worked for many years, through good times and times of 
bloody struggle, to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the people of 
the West African country.

Kortenhoven no longer works there fulltime, but he stays in close 
contact with John Phiri, the Zambian minister he hired to work among 
the people of Sierra Leone.

As he watches the church grow in that part of Africa, Kortenhoven 
says he is very grateful that his approach to ministry was to first 
immerse himself in the culture, which meant becoming familiar the 
customs and that included reading the Quran, and then to slowly 
respond to the needs and interests of the people as they expressed them.

His Christian mission was one of attraction. Sometimes his mission 
work meant helping local people fix diesel engines. He reached out 
with delicacy and diplomacy, aware that Christianity that is forced 
on someone generally doesn't last.

"We waited 20 years, and all of a sudden there was an opening in that 
area," fostered a year and a half ago largely by the willingness of 
Kortenhoven's son, Aaron, to play a role in helping to bring about 
the tricky birth of the second baby, the second twin of a woman who 
was the wife of a local Muslim leader. Aaron was doing research in 
the country for his doctoral thesis in biology at the time. That 
leader's wife, having birthed two healthy babies, wanted to know more 
about Christianity, allowing for a small opening.

"I think just by being there, going through the war, being in the 
refugee camps was an example to the people of how Christians live and 
act," Kortenhoven said. "We treated everyone the same. There were no 
bones about it. We worked with the existing structures that were 
there and rolled with the punches."

The Kortenhovens left full-time ministry in Sierra Leone in 2002 and 
Rev John Phiri was recruited and hired by CRWM in 2005.   "John is an 
amazing gift from God," said Paul.  "He is completely dedicated. He 
sleeps in the villages, but only goes there if he is invited. He has 
many skills and exudes a love for the people."

In a report he recently sent in to CRWM personnel, Phiri said he and 
his staff planned to reach five Muslim villages with the Gospel 
during the month of December. In all, they connected with more than 
100 people in the villages who wanted to know more about 
Christianity. Meanwhile, he is working with the youth of these areas 
and hopes to be able to add a youth coordinator to the ministry,

"The future looks promising," he says, "as the youth embrace the faith."

Phiri also sent in to CRWM officials some statistics about the growth 
of the church. These alone tell a stunning story. In 1980, there were 
no churches in this area. Now there are 47, with plans for six more.

Similarly, church attendance has grown from zero in 1980 to 3,100 in 
2008. Baptized membership has grown from none in 1980 to 500 in 2008. 
Finally, local leaders in training for some sort of Christian 
ministry have grown from none in 1980 to more than 50 in 2008.

Phiri is based out of a CRC church in Kabala. That church is in the 
process of setting up committees and councils in order to build a 
strong administrative framework for the future. They are hoping and 
praying to be able sometimes soon to build a new church.

"I hope to raise Kabala church to a level where other congregations 
will learn from it and that Kabala members will help to groom the 
village churches," says Phiri.

Kabala is the capital and largest town of Koinadugu District in the 
Northern Province of Sierra Leone. Set in a rural area, the town has 
an estimated population of nearly 18,500. The town lies about 80 
miles north-east of Makeni, the largest city and economic center of 
northern Sierra Leone and about 230 miles east of the country's 
capital Freetown.

Kabala was the center of much bloodshed in the civil war of the 
1990s. The war was fueled in part by a desire for diamonds, a 
commodity in the country. The country and the civil war were featured 
in the movie "Blood Diamonds."

"Thank God for his mercies that endure forever," says Phiri. "The 
churches generally are struggling toward the right direction."

Kortenhoven, who returned to Sierra Leone for a visit last year, 
agrees that the churches, with Phiri and his staff at work on the 
ground, are starting to thrive. "We don't see Pentecost happening in 
the country, but the growth is dramatic."

> Chris Meehan, CRC Communications

> --
> Chris Meehan
> News & Media Director
> Christian Reformed Church in North America
> 1-616-224-0849