Point of entry to West Africa
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Use the magnifying glass to zoom in and out to explore West Africa. The red tack marks Kaffrine.
Located in western Africa, Senegal is a nation of ancient ways and languages side-by-side with many evidences of foreign influence and the modern world. It is not uncommon for a villager to live in a hut with a thatched roof and to own a cell phone!
A democratic nation of 10 million people belonging to more than 20 different tribes, Senegal was most recently a French colony until gaining independence in 1960. The coastal region boasts rich fishing and several large cities with some tourism and industry. The southern region is relatively fertile but has been plagued with intermittent civil unrest. The rest of the nation depends on the sparse agricultural resources of a land plagued by droughts, locusts, desertification, deforestation and decreasing rainfall. In addition, the hospitals and schools are insufficient for the population, lack the necessary resources to function properly, and are continually shut down due to worker and student strikes. Preventable and treatable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and typhoid are the leading causes of death.
Culturally, the different Senegalese people groups share many common values, including an emphasis on maintaining peace, sharing possessions, prioritizing the family and community, and practicing hospitality. All of the people groups practice polygamy and generally live as extended families in patriarchal compounds. The different tribal groups live harmoniously and intermarriage is common. Societal problems that most Senegalese people recognize as serious include jealousy, theft, the corruption of many religious and political leaders, the exploitation of young boys sent to Koranic schools, and the widespread use of spiritual powers to curse others.
The spiritual climate is as dry as the physical climate. Almost all Senegalese people subscribe to a syncretized religious system that combines African traditional religious practices with some forms of Islam. Over 95% of the population self-identify as Muslims; those few in the Catholic church also tend to blend their beliefs with ancient animistic practices. The core belief that underlies all religious activities is that salvation may be attained if an individual’s good works outweigh the bad. Daily life is dominated by superstitions and often includes power encounters with the spirit world. People depend on their religious leaders, called marabouts, to obtain blessings, curses, and even salvation. These intermediaries with the spirit world are the chiefs of religious experience in Senegal and the door through which people believe they must pass to get to God.
The Wolof
Our SIM Senegal team ministers to the Wolof people. There are about 4.5 million Wolof in Senegal, almost half of the country’s population, making them the largest people group. The Wolof language dominates here; it is used by more than 80% of the people. Among the millions of Wolof people, there are less than 100 individuals scattered around the country who have trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior. We are committed to seeing that number grow as the Holy Spirit works.
From a government perspective, there is complete freedom of religion in Senegal so we can share the Gospel openly. However, persecution does happen on a family and social level and is the strongest deterrent to Wolof people deciding to openly follow Jesus.
Kaffrine
We, Corey and Katie Garrett, work in and around the town of Kaffrine, which is about five hours inland from Dakar. About eight percent of the Wolof population live in the Kaffrine region. Virtually all the people in the area are subsistence farmers and live in a state of chronic poverty. As the Gospel has been shared by missionaries over the last decade, some in town and in the surrounding villages have believed in Jesus and been baptized. Our missionary team continues to evangelize and disciple the few scattered believers while testifying to the love of God through various projects in the areas of agriculture, running water, malaria prevention, education, and disaster relief.
The missionary team in Kaffrine consists of ourselves plus four other families:
Jim and Bev Vaughn started the ministry in Kaffrine. They are American missionaries with the Southern Baptist Conference's International Missions Board. Twenty-plus years of experience in Senegal makes them a couple we look to for leadership and wisdom.
Bennie and Maggs Bonthuys (and their three young children) are from SIM South Africa. Bennie is the SIM Senegal director. The Bonthuys' main ministries are storying and discipleship.
Young Jo and Young Mi Kim (also with three young children) are members of SIM Korea and have been ministering through the establishment of a small village health clinic as well as through storying.
Eben and Foong Chan Burger, (Afrikaans and Chinese-Malaysian respectively) came through SIM South Africa and are the newest members of the Kaffrine team. They have also been primarily focusing on health care and storying.
In addition, God has called several African evangelical Christians working with different organizations to Kaffrine during the past two years, including World Vision, Children in Christ, and the Assemblies of God church. We are blessed to have a growing sense of unity and identity as one body among all of us who are here in Kaffrine to serve Jesus.