THE SEREER

Feature Documentary

In a West African village where Islam rules, these Christian missionaries
must first build strong relationships and become like family, or risk
their Muslim friends ever knowing the truth about who Jesus is.

In Senegal, West Africa, the people of the Sereer tribe live in an ancient culture historically steeped in Animism, Voodoo and spirit worship. More recently modern Islam has taken a stronghold here.

Fewer than half of the Senegalese people live in the country’s eight major cities. The rest live in the bush. Life here is difficult, with little opportunity to learn or grow. Most men raise simple crops or herd goats to earn a meager living. Yet in this world of extreme poverty, personal relationships are prized above material things. Family means much more than simply sharing a name.

The people hold fast to the pillars of Islam. They pray five times a day, they fast during Ramadan and they give to the poor. It seems they so desperately want to please God, but they don’t know God because they don’t know the truth about who Jesus is.

Since 2004 short-term missionaries Alton and Barbara Lanier have made many trips to Senegal, each time bringing with them a team of other like-minded believers. Their goal is simple, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those among the Sereer who have never heard. Their church has adopted the Sereer-Palor people group and sends small groups of short-term missionaries to the Sereer every year.

Explore the culture, lifestyle and beliefs of the Sereer tribe. See how the gospel is breaking the chains of Islam and transforming lives.

Ken Beale

Ken Beale

Ken Beale