Sierra Leone is a nation of 6 million people on the coast of West Africa. African Leadership has been training Pastors and church leaders there since 2002. As of March 2008, we have 159 students attending 6 classes, with over 360 graduates who are active in church ministry.

Our National Director for Sierra Leone is Jonathan Titus-Williams. Jonathan organizes and administrate the AL learning centers, in this country that is the size of South Carolina. Pastor training is essential for the health and growth of the church in Sierra Leone, for leadership to be supportive in propagating the gospel of Christ, where 60% of the people are Muslim, 30% follow indigenous beliefs, and 10% Christian. Sierra Leoneans are slowly re-establishing democracy after the civil war from 1991 to 2002, that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million (1/3 of the national population) people, that claimed countless friends and family members. There is a great need for church unity, especially with such a small Christian population.

Students attending leadership training classes need support in every way possible, so they may complete their courses, and minister to their congregations with biblical maturity. Sierra Leone is the 7th poorest country in the world, and ranks last on the United Nations Development Program's Human Development Index list. All 6 classes, and other new developing classes, need financial support for feeding the students, support for teachers, and for travel costs. It is a wondrous work of grace that so many pastors find the energy for attending training, as the truth of the Gospel is the only hope for most of these people, living in one of the poorest nations in the world.

African Leadership is thankful to have a presence in Sierra Leone. As African Leadership equips National Directors like Mezack and his colleagues to spread the Gospel in churches and communities throughout Sierra Leone, we are grateful for the support of our donors who make this national transformation possible. As we visit with our African Directors and attend graduation ceremonies, we are amazed at the dedication of these pastors. They usually work full time jobs in addition to their pastoral workload, while attending classes 2-4 days a week. Their desire to be better teachers and preachers is reflected in their joyful completion of the 2-year program, which provides comprehensive training in all phases of church leadership, equivalent to a foundational-level seminary or Bible College degree, utilizing a 10-course, 2,500-page Bible centered curriculum, developed and translated by African Leadership.

Please pray for Jonathan and his family and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of Sierra Leone, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of pastors and church leaders. African Leadership-Sierra Leone hopes to graduate some 80 students each year, who, when their training is finished, will periodically attend alumni training for HIV/AIDS issues, Islam apologetics, and financial management. Hopefully, from the networking of these alumni and teachers, new training centers may be established, spreading the word about our Training Program, resulting in more pastor registrations, and expanded educational outreach for the maturity of the Church.