People group profile · PG014294
The Sherbro of Sierra Leone
The Sherbro of Sierra Leone, numbering about 245,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Bullom-speaking coastal people of southern Sierra Leone whose identity is rooted in the Sherbro language, fishing and rice-farming traditions, maritime trade, and cultural ties to the Sherbro Island and Bonthe region.
They are an indigenous people in the Atlantic people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Sherbro.
Fast facts
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Population
- 245,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Atlantic
- Primary language
- Sherbro (bun)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Africa, Africa
- Location
- Southern province: Bonthe and Mayamba districts; Western Area: Rural district, Benducha, Ima, Nongoba, Ribbi, Shenge, Sicie, and Timdel; southwest coastal areas
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sherbro are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Sherbro
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
52% adherents
Primary language
Sherbro · Atlantic-Congo family
75% speak Sherbro
Gospel resources in Sherbro
- Bible available, published 1839
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Sherbro)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sherbro
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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