Sierra Leone is a small nation with five million people that has struggled in a wide range of social and economic areas. Nonetheless it has a remarkable Christian tradition, especially in Baptist work.
Hannah Yeabu Sesay belongs to the First Baptist Church in the city of Freetown, where her mother, Julie, is the Assistant pastor. In that city, there are numerous Baptist Churches that belong to the Sierra Leone Baptist network, as well as many others that are independent Baptist churches.
Their church has an emphasis on youth, as there are many young people searching for meaning and direction. Hannah and Julie are also involved with the Sierra Leone Evangelical Fellowship which, as well as also being involved with young people, has an emphasis on church planting.
West Africa is one area where there are young people in abundance; and the Christian churches are concentrating their mission activities in youth development and evangelism with an aim to see strong young Christian leadership for the next generation.
The role of the Church is even more important in areas of Africa that have been inundated with AIDS, where millions of young people are growing up to adulthood without parents.
Hannah Yeabu Sesay is one of this next generation of young Christian leaders who are the future of not only their nation but of the continent.
This interview with Hannah Yeabu Sesay from Sierra Leone with the Australian Missionary News IPTV can be viewed either at tv.bushorchestra.com/BWC/videopages/hannah_yeabu_sesay.html
or www.safeworlds.net