MendeBible Translation
The Mende Bible is coming to life! As the Old Testament is translated, team and consultant checks ensure God’s Word is clear, accurate, and rooted in the heart language of the Mende people.
Bible Translation
Country
- Sierra Leone
Region
- West Africa
Language Population
2,500,000
The Mende Seek the Full Story of Salvation
Candles were once burned in Sierra Leone for protection against demons and spirits, keeping the Mende people in fear and darkness. That changed in 2003 when the New Testament, translated into Mende, brought the light of God’s Word into their lives.
Now, the Mende translation team is working diligently on the Old Testament, receiving valuable input and support from community leaders. “Today is my happiest moment in life, as I have been yearning to be part of this noble work of bringing light to our people!” shared a Mende reviewer.
Faith deepens across the Mende community through group Bible studies, and the Gospel spreads rapidly as translated portions are used for evangelism. Your support will complete the full Mende Bible, equipping leaders to share the entire story of salvation with their people and transform lives for eternity.
Empower the Mende Leaders
Faithful Mende leaders play a crucial role in driving the translation process and guiding their communities in spiritual growth. These leaders are not only bringing the full Bible to their people but also equipping churches to connect deeply with God’s Word.
By supporting these leaders, you help foster collective faith, inspire transformational community impact, and ensure the Mende people have trusted voices guiding them to the truth of salvation.
Program Goals
- Refine and Finalize Bible Translation
- Engage the Mende Community with God’s Word
- Equip Leaders to Advance the Translation
- Promote Community Collaboration
- Prepare for Full Bible Production
Mende Bible Translation Plan
Step 1
Advance Bible Translation
- Team check Acts, Romans, and Epistles for accuracy and cultural relevance.
- Conduct pre-consultant reviews of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
- Facilitate online consultant checking sessions.
Step 2
Deepen Scripture Engagement
- Organize public readings, Bible studies, and preaching events.
- Equip churches to integrate translated Scripture in evangelism.
- Mobilize leaders to encourage widespread Scripture usage.
Step 3
Empower and Equip Leaders
- Host workshops to strengthen translation skills.
- Train reviewers to ensure clarity and cultural alignment.
- Collaborate with community leaders for ongoing feedback.
Meet the Local Team
Team members
• Mrs. Christiana A. Jones – General Secretary
• Mr. Samuel S. Dumbuya – Operations Manager
• Mr. Joselyn Kobba – Accountant
Team members
• Mr. Kamanda George – Translator (Team Lead)
• Mrs. Eunice Samba – Keyboarder & Translator
• Mr. Joseph Vandi – Translator
• Mr. Tommy Heinkins – Translator
Team members
• Mr. Paul E.G. Saffa – Linguist
• Avril Hancils – CAP Officer
• Omega A. Sesay – Youth and Programs Officer
Amy Formella
Amy arrived on the field in Sierra Leone in May 2017. After a few months of orientation and then language learning, Amy began working regularly with the Mende Bible Translation team as the Technical Advisor. She assists the team by training, proofreading, being involved with team checking, and advising on the process of the translation project.
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
Mende is spoken as a regional lingua franca in southern Sierra Leone.
Mende is a tonal language belonging to the Mande branch of the Niger–Congo language family.
Mende was written with a syllabary known as Kikakui, but is now usually written with the Latin alphabet.
Program Progress
The Mende translation team continues to progress through the Old Testament, which has several books in different phases of translation.
