Our Field
Steve and Patti Phillips
Nigeria - Country Background
Sierra Leone - Country Background
In the middle 1800’s, Sierra Leone was Christian and progressive,
with a literacy level on par with most European nations. They were
sending forth missionaries to other lands. The first missionary to
Nigeria was a former slave who was converted and taught in Freetown,
SL.
Today, it is listed as the least developed nation in the world
according to the UN. Among its 4.9 million people, about 70% are
nominally Muslim. Literacy is low and infant mortality is high. The
ravages of an 11-year-long brutal civil conflict that ended in 2002
are still felt in the land.
Corruption predominates. Inflation is exorbitant and the economy
unstable. Sexual promiscuity is rampant and unwed mothers are the
norm, not the exception, even among those in their early teens.
Among the 149 chiefdoms in the land, 75 have not even one
evangelical church.
Our Ministry
Discipleship is the key to raising up faithful men to reach this
needy land. That is our focus. To this end we have begun a weekly
half-hour radio broadcast which will reach a potential audience of
about 3 million. Scripture reading with an exposition of the major
themes of John’s gospel are introducing the series. Our expectation
is that not only will people be brought to a saving knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ, but that through this means we will come in
contact with serious minded brethren whom we can then disciple.
We will continue to print and distribute free of charge copies of
the 15 publications that I have written on a variety of biblical
topics as the Lord enables. These are very effective among those who
can read, as solid Christian literature is scarce in Sierra Leone.
We are also involved in distributing copies of the New King James
Version of the Bible to those who are unable to obtain the Word of
God for themselves.
At the present, there are three live-in disciples staying with us in
our home. We trust that the Lord will raise up these and many more
to bring the Word of life to Sierra Leone and beyond.
