Where We Serve / Kissi Scripture Engagement

Kissi Scripture Engagement

Transform Lives Through the Kissi Language: Literacy, Scripture, and Community Engagement

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Scripture Engagement

Country

  • Sierra Leone

Region

  • West Africa

Language Population

146,000

Literacy Offers a Sense of Pride

Literacy in the Kissi language enables people to read Scripture, participate more fully in church life, and serve their communities. Local teachers and church leaders lead this work through ongoing literacy classes and Scripture engagement activities.

Current Program Focus

  • Maintain existing Kissi literacy classes
  • Train literacy facilitators and church leaders
  • Support Bible listening groups using Kissi Scripture
  • Print and distribute approved literacy and Scripture materials

Through the Kissi literacy program, individuals like Esther are reclaiming their potential. By providing education in their heart language, the local team is not just teaching reading—they are restoring dignity, enabling spiritual growth, and creating pathways for community leadership.

“The Kissi literacy program has given me a sense of pride,” Esther shares. Now serving as a secretary in her local women’s club and church organization, she embodies the program’s core mission: promoting God’s Word through literacy, training, and service.

Empowering Local Leaders

Access to Scripture in the Kissi language is sustained through local teachers, church leaders, and literacy committees. The program supports facilitator training, Scripture listening groups, and the preparation of reading and worship materials already in use in churches and communities. This work strengthens long term Scripture engagement by building on existing local structures.

Program Goals

  1. Support literacy in the Kissi language through trained facilitators
  2. Increase use of Kissi Scripture in churches and homes
  3. Develop and maintain approved literacy and Scripture materials
  4. Strengthen local coordination and long term program sustainability

Kissi Scripture Engagement Program Plan

Step 1

Expand Literacy Infrastructure

  • Establish new learning centers
  • Train literacy facilitators
  • Develop teaching materials

Step 2

Deepen Scripture Engagement

  • Train community leaders
  • Create listening groups
  • Develop contextual biblical resources

Step 3

Preserve Cultural Heritage

  • Celebrate linguistic diversity
  • Document language traditions
  • Develop cultural materials
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Meet the Local Team

  • Local Team Members

    Pastor Fayia K Borbor – Assistant Coordinator
    Re. Sahr James – Kissi Literacy committee chairman
    Mr. Falla A Yollah – Kissi Literacy committee organizer
    Mr. Briama E M Fayia – Kissi literacy committee secretary
    Mr Tamba Nabieu – Kissi Literacy material treasurer

  • Local Team Members

    Pastor Moses Fayia Briama – Kissi Literacy Facilitator’s committee secretary
    Rev. John K Bundor – National Coordinator
    Thomas N Tengba – Planning and Training chairman
    Kumba Sahr – Women leader
    23 Literacy Facilitators

Partner Organizations

Honoring the Language

A tonal language spoken in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Four tones: two register and two contour. 

Zero definite and indefinite articles. If an object needs to be described (because there are more than one) they would use the equivalent of the word this.

Program Progress

  • Literacy classes continued in existing Kissi communities
  • Multiple facilitator and refresher trainings completed during 2025.
  • Five Bible listening groups were established following facilitator training.
  • Literacy and Scripture materials were printed and distributed to learning centers
  • Completion of the Kissi literacy office.
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Help Bring Scripture to Life

Your donation helps translate God’s Word into the Kissi language. Every gift makes a difference.