I have recently returned from Guinea in West Africa where I have been visiting the church in the capital, Conakry, which was planted over ten years ago with refugees from the Sierra Leone civil war.
Guinea is a very poor nation. Let me give you some of the bare facts:
- Population: 10 million, 2 million being in Conakry.
- Four primary tribes, 32 tribes in total.
- Health. Life expectancy high 40s. Poor health provision. No provision for disabled children etc. HIV levels unknown but growing.
- Bird flu wiped out all poultry recently but no profile given to bird flu. How many people died?
- Poverty. In bottom ten of UN poverty scale.
- High inflation – prices have doubled in the last four months.
- More than 80% of population live on less than $2 per day (World Bank January 2011).
- Education. About 50% of children attend school (poor quality). 80% adult population illiterate.
- Utilities. Electricity infrastructure very poor – severe rationing. Water, similar.
- Language. Predominantly French-speaking (former French colony). Other languages spoken – English and tribal languages, especially Susu and Fuller (an unreached people group).
- Unemployment. 80-90%
- Many not married due to extortionate bride prices being demanded.
- Severe child abuse with witchcraft practices.
- 80% female genital mutilation (female circumcision).
The Newfrontiers church is in John Kpikpi’s apostolic sphere and led by Nicolas Thébault who moved there from France with his wife and family in 2003. The church has 100-120 on a Sunday and there is also a school of 390 children.
In addition they are working in Koukoudé, a fishing village of 8000 people 4hrs drive along the coast from Conakry.
I will let Nicolas tell his own story of what is going on in Guinea and his vision for the future.
One to One with Nicolas Thébault from Newfrontiers on Vimeo.