Sierra Leone

A brutal 10-year civil war destroyed much of the country of Sierra Leone, leaving its beautiful people some of the poorest and most vulnerable in the world.

Vision Statement
The WMF Sierra Leone community seeks to love, serve, and accompany youth on the street, destitute families and young children in Freetown. Through offering teenagers relationships built on mutual vulnerability and trust, along with leadership training, skills and traditional education, we endeavor to bring God's light, hope, wisdom and peace to West Africa.

Lighthouse Center for Former Street Children
WMF is heavily involved in Lighthouse, a program started by Sierra Leoneans to encourage and support children on the streets of Freetown. Fourteen teenagers are using these opportunities to learn trades or attend school. The Lighthouse youth meet three times a week for homework assistance, fellowship, prayer, Bible study, community meals and games. Lighthouse youth hone their leadership skills as they weekly help facilitate The Good News Club in Kroo Bay each week. The Lighthouse family is taking part in Love in Action, a new means of encouraging the young men and women to share the love of Jesus with those in need in Freetown. Many of the youth are participating in and leading all-night prayer meetings.

Kroo Bay Good News Club
On Saturday afternoons, our dear friend Noah Tullay and the WMF staff lead a Bible club for more than 300 children in Kroo Bay, one of the largest and poorest communities of Freetown. Joyful praise, dynamic Bible stories, heartfelt prayer, compassionate first aid and nutritious food are shared during our weekly meetings. Four children from the club receive school fees and academic tutoring through generous donations given to WMF.

Support for People who are Handicapped, Financially Destitute and Sick
WMF is reaching out in creative ways to stop the grinding, dehumanizing cycle of begging and poverty that ensnares many vulnerable families in Freetown. Staff members listen and learn from their friends while trying to offer support in the form of prayer, micro-loans and business development that creates opportunity rather than dependency.

Sierra Leone Servant Team
WMF Freetown has initiated the first Sierra Leonean Servant Team to increase contact between persons in need in Freetown and devoted and caring Sierra Leoneans. WMF also hopes this will lead to future full-time staff and board members for the WMF field in Freetown. The Sierra Leonean Servant Team will join in the same book discussions as the international Servant Teams.