Our Building Project:
– Click here to learn more about our building project!
Ministry Summary:
Roughly 16 million people live in Senegal, about one-fifth of them live in Dakar, the capital city. Since 95% of the Senegalese population claim Islam as their religion, we hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day.
Rejoice with us! On December 11, 2022, we had our first church service in a beautiful new building. We now have a church lead by nationals, using Wolof (the heart language of most people) and characterized by what is seen as sacred to the Senegalese. A lack of the sense of sacredness is the main reason why Muslims in West Africa will not even enter most of the current churches. Most churches in Dakar also use French whereas the language of religious instruction in Dakar is Wolof.
Senegal is an oral culture which means people learn best by listening rather than reading. Our colleague, Marilyn Escher, is translating the entire Bible into Wolof which will likely be available in 2023. 80% of the country speaks and understands Wolof, but very few of them can read in Wolof. Steve is involved in putting the Wolof scriptures in oral form so that the Word can be better understood. He works with others to record the Wolof Word of God and then works together to distribute it in digital forms such as SD cards, MegaVoice digital players (a solar powered MP3 player), films, phone apps, etc. He is not working alone! He is working alongside nationals and getting a lot of technical help from ministry partners.
WorldVenture is related to some 27 churches primarily among the Serer People. Most church women are illiterate but intelligent and able to learn. Laura partners with Senegalese women to teach these ladies how to study the Bible using oral methods. God’s Word in their lives is making them better mothers, wives, neighbors, and church members…thus impacting all levels of society. It is AMAZING to listen to their stories and see them growing in the Lord and then sharing their faith with other women.
Steve is developing and maintaining the WorldVenture camp on the beach of Ngaparou. The camp is used for training retreats for women, men, pastors, and youth. It is used for a variety of evangelical retreats and missionary restoration. It is a blessing for the entire church in Senegal.
We are also involved in our neighborhood. We host a children’s club in our home each summer. We have good relationships with our neighbors and are active in community events.
God is at work in Senegal and we feel very privileged to be a part of what He is doing. Pray that the truth of The Gospel will become evident. Pray that nationals will have the faith to be both Senegalese and Christians.
Blogs and Articles on WorldVenture.com:
– How Perceptions are Changing in NGOHÉ
– Breaking Down Babel
– Building a Church Legacy in Senegal
