SIERRA LEON
1. What year did DET first start in your country?  2023
2. What are some challenges people in your country are facing?
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, with inadequate infrastructure. Tourism is low because of the civil war and ebola. The airport charges an exit tax of $200. Political instability leads to uncertainty. Women have low societal value; a reported 95% of women have been raped or violated. This dire situation leads to citizens who are spiritually broken.Â
3. What are the challenges you face as you expand DET?
The remoteness of villages requires long drives on difficult roads. The showers are outdoors and toilets are a hole in the ground (or non existent, in the woods). Lack of electricity means despite the 40-degree heat, there are no fans inside the churches. Yet people willingly sit for long hours on hard benches. The food is a challenge for westerners, and there is a constant threat of malaria or typhoid.
4. Can you share some of the impact DET has had in your country?
Pr Philip has inspired pastors who have had no Bible training to attend, where many are studying the entire book of Romans for the first time.Â
They live in remote Muslim areas but persecution is not an issue — so many people are coming to Christ. As soon as there is a group, the pastor builds a church. On his first visit to Masuntu, Richard held a training in a church that had been constructed of sticks and palm branches just three weeks earlier.Â
During the last training ten pastors became qualified as national trainers.Â
Missionary Dr Geoffrey holds medical clinics in the local mosques and is very respected in the area. He became friends with a Muslim high priest, who has invited him to the mosque to talk about Jesus.
Richard and Phil traveled to Madina, the largest town in the region. 64 leaders, including 22 pastors attended P1 “Your Rescue.” DET is now reaching the second tier of leadership, which includes women.Â
6. What are your plans, dreams and prayers for DET in 2024?
We have ten pastors poised to become Master Trainers, and we would like to see them go to the capital city and even the neighboring countries of Guinea and Liberia.Â
Richard would like to work with Dr Geoffrey to build a pit latrine for a local church in a village that has no toilets. This would be a gift to bless the entire village in Jesus’ name.
 Pr Philip started a school in Madina, the largest town in the region, which is a blessing in this Muslim area. Richard would like to take them a solar panel to generate electricity that would power a printer or computer or to charge cell phones to create a small business. Richard would like to work with Dr Geoffrey to build a pit latrine for a local church in a village that has no toilets. This would be a gift to bless the entire village.
7. Which is your strongest area for DET?Â
a. making disciples Â
b. training leaders Â
c. planting churches Â
d. launching movements
e. other We are making disciples, training leaders and planting churches.Â
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