Where We Serve / Mende Scripture Engagement
Mende Scripture Engagement
Help Mende speakers engage with God’s Word by strengthening literacy and Scripture use in churches and homes.
Scripture Engagement
Country
- Sierra Leone
Region
- West Africa
Language Population
2,500,000
Literacy Gaps Can Hold Back Mende Communities
Mende speakers continue to build reading and writing skills in their own language. Local facilitators lead literacy classes and workshops that support Scripture reading in homes and churches.
Scripture engagement includes Bible listening groups, Scripture songs, dramatized Bible stories, and community events that affirm the use of Mende in church life.
As literacy grows, participants are able to read Scripture and support others in their churches and communities.
Equip Leaders to Transform Communities
Local church leaders and facilitators play a central role in supporting literacy and Scripture use.
They train others to teach literacy, lead Bible listening groups, and inspire their churches to engage deeply with God’s Word in the Mende language.
They are trained to teach literacy, lead Bible listening groups, support children’s ministry, and guide Scripture use in the Mende language.
Ongoing training and supervision support consistent literacy and Scripture engagement across participating communities.
Program Goals
- Supervise existing literacy and Scripture engagement programs
- Strengthen Scripture use in churches, homes, and literacy classes
- Develop and distribute literacy and Scripture engagement materials
- Support community events that affirm the use of the Mende language
- Support sustainability efforts connected to literacy programs
Meet the Local Team
Team Members
• Rev. James B. Yasseh – Chairman
• Pastor James Kaindane – Vice Chairman & Literacy Facilitator
• Mrs. Christiana A. Jones – General Secretary
• Mr. Foday Momoh – General Secretary
• Madam Baby Yasseh – TreasurerTeam Members
• Mr. Joselyn Kobba – Accountant
• Pastor Philip Cowah – Secretary
• Mr. Samuel S. Dumbuya – Operations Manager
• Avril Hancils – CAP Officer
• Omega A. Sesay – Youth and Programs OfficerTeam Members
• Mr. Musah Koroma – Children’s Ministry Facilitator
• Madam Alice Thomas – Women’s Ministry Leader
• Madam Mary Ngadie – Vice Women’s Ministry Leader
• Harrison Bundor – Youth Leader
• Mariatu Brewah – Team Member
• 14 Additional Literacy Facilitators
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
Mende (Mɛnde yia), also known as Boumpe, Hulo, Kossa, and Kosso, belongs to the Southwestern group of the Mande branch of the Niger-Congo language family.
Four mutually intelligible dialects: Ko, Kpa, Sewawa, Waanjama
Seven vowel phonemes, i.e., sounds that distinguish word meaning
Mende is a tonal language. Four tones marked by diacritics as follows: high, low, rising-falling, falling-rising.
Program Progress
Literacy education will empower Mende speakers to engage with the written Word of God. (Reporting period: Oct–Dec 2025)
Regional News & Media
Help Bring Scripture to Life
Your donation helps translate God’s Word into the Mende language. Every gift makes a difference.