The Sierra Leone Schools & Evangelism Project is a Missions outreach project sponsored by the Brentwood Foursquare Gospel Church located in Brentwood, Maryland, USA.

OUR GOAL:
To raise $180,000 for the initial funding of the Sierra Leone Schools & Evangelism Project

INTRODUCTION:
The tiny country of Sierra Leone lies on the west coast of Africa. With an estimated population of 5 million, it is ranked as one of 49 Least Developed Countries in the world by the United Nations. In January 2002, the president of Sierra Leone declared an end to an 11-year old rebel war that was characterized by unspeakable atrocities, including senseless murders, burning, rape, looting and dismemberment. Many have called this war the bloodiest in recent human history.

While the rebel war has ended and warring factions have disarmed, Sierra Leone is currently experiencing a different kind of war with different battles that are being fought on the emotional and spiritual battle ground. Sierra Leoneans are hungry for spiritual input, and are grabbing at anything and everything that comes along with any kind of promise of relief and release. This presents both a problem and an opportunity for the church in Sierra Leone and the world over.

Project Location: The project is located in Kagbayray Village, Sella Limba Chiefdom, Bombali District in Sierra Leone. This tiny village is seven miles from the closest town. This means that it is a seven mile walk to school for the children, a seven mile walk to the hospital for the sick, and a seven mile walk to anything resembling modern convenience.

Beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries of this project are the people of Kagbayray Village, the consitituents of Sella Limba Chiefdom, Bombali District, and the Foursquare Gospel Church in Sierra Leone.

Project Scope: We have made a 3-year funding committment to the project. The project will be completed in 3 phases with each phase costing an estimated (US) $60,000 for a total project cost of (US) $180,000.

Phase I: In March of 2006, work began on Phase I of the project which includes a 3-room classroom building that will house 1st - 3rd grades, including an office and storage space. This phase will also include a 3-unit apartment for teachers. We had expected to finish the 3-room classroom by September '06, but due to a minor setback our projected finish date is March '07. Phase I should be completed by Summer '07.

Phase II: Phase two will also include a 3-room classroom building and a 3-unit apartment building for 4th - 6th grade teachers.

Phase III: This phase is critical to the overall sustainability of this project and will involve setting up a farming cooperative whose net proceeds will go to fund the school. Implementation of this phase with regard to funding and setting up the infrastructure for the farming cooperative will run concurrent with Phases I & II.

THE OPPORTUNITY:
The spiritual hunger of the people of Sierra Leone is genuine and can only be truly satisfied with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

THE PROBLEM:
- Many other religions - especially Islam - have seen this hunger and have already began an aggressive evangelism campaign and are declaring victory. - There are reports that Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan who were part of the United Nations peace-keeping force deployed in Sierra Leone are building schools and mosques in every village and town that they enter. - Only about 12% of the population is considered nominal Christians with about 70% Muslim and the rest practicing traditional religions.

OUR PLAN:
"Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it (NIV). - Proverbs 22:6

We believe that if we establish Christian schools at the primary level in conjunction with an aggressive church planting and evangelism agenda, we will lay a solid foundation that will have a positive impact on the eternity of millions of souls. We also believe that we have been given a window of opportunity and that now is the time to act. To this end, the Sierra Leone School & Evangelism Project has been birthed.

You can make your tax-deductible financial donations to:

Brentwood Foursquare Gospel Church
3414 Tilden Street
Brentwood, MD 20722
Memo: SLS & EP

Or you may donate online by clicking here: