FRONTIER JOURNAL
SUMMER 2025
Africa’s Sahel Region
Going Beyond
JOURNEY TO THE SAHEL
I’m excited that this edition of the Frontier Journal focuses on the Sahel region of Africa. My own journey toward the Sahel has been years in the making—and I still haven’t made it there in person!
I remember the first time I was invited to visit. It was 2017. I was serving as the mission pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church (AZ) when my friend Paul, who worked with Africa Inland Mission (AIM), invited me to bring a team to Chad. He helped me try to “sell” the idea to the church by offering one relatable connection: “Well, it’s hot there—and it’s hot in Arizona!” Some invitation, huh?
Though our church was never able to make the trip, we did support some of AIM’s good work in Chad. That small step planted a seed—a growing sense
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| FEATURE | FINDING THE FRONTIER | WAYS TO PRAY FOR THE SAHEL
that God was calling me to pay closer attention to this overlooked region.
There are reasons—good reasons— why most people don’t get invited to this part of the world. The Sahel is not easy: not easy to reach, and certainly not easy to live in.
First, there are geographical challenges. The Sahel is a semiarid transition zone just south of the Sahara Desert, stretching from Senegal in the west to Sudan and Eritrea in the east. Much of it is landlocked, remote, and lacking infrastructure, making access difficult.
Second, the environment is harsh— scorchingly hot, with limited water sources. Much of the land is dry, degraded, and vulnerable to climate change. Farming and herding—vital to local life—are difficult to sustain.
Third, the region faces social and political instability. Military coups, violent extremism, displacement, and food insecurity are widespread.
In many ways, the Sahel is not “inviting.”
And yet, Jesus is there!
So are some of Frontier Fellowship’s longtime global partners. God is at work in this region, and we sense His call to come alongside our partners.
Will you join us?
Pray with us for the people of the Sahel. Walk with us as we go farther in this region. And discover what God is already doing in this extraordinary place.
In
Christ,
Ethan Collins, Executive Director
GOING FARTHER JOINING GOD’S WORK IN THE SAHEL
FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP TEAM*
“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither…” —Psalm 1:2
This spring, members of Frontier Fellowship’s team traveled to the Sahel region of Africa to join local ministries, including some of our partners, as they gathered to pray, strategize and collaborate on the future of frontier mission in the region. We recently sat down with our team to learn more about the region, how God is at work and how Frontier Fellowship envisions going farther in the region.
A Region on the Edge
The word Sahel comes from Arabic, meaning “shore” or “coast”—but though this region runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, Sahel refers not to the waterfront but to the imposing and encroaching Sahara Desert. The Sahel is a broad, semi-arid band that separates the desert in the north from the savanna to the south. It is a region defined by geographical, rather than political boundaries, touching over a dozen countries stretching from Senegal in the west to Eritrea in the east.
“When I was in the Sahel, hearing the call to prayer and seeing the people around me, my heart was stirred. Like Paul in Athens, I wasn’t distracted by the setting—I was compelled by the Gospel. That’s what vision trips do: they help us see the world through Christ’s eyes.” —Brian Stewart, vision trip participant and Director of Global Engagement of ECO
The Sahel has been described in many ways and through many historical lenses. It has been said that culturally and historically, the Sahel is a “shoreline,” or transitional zone, between the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Some view parts of its heritage as being more closely tied to ancient Egyptian history, while others focus on its more recent colonial history. And while Sahel is a helpful descriptive term for this geographical region, it is also important to remember the many cultures, languages, and unique characteristics of each country and the people groups in this region. Home to ancient civilizations, the Sahel has a rich and varied history.
It is a region on the edge. The desert is encroaching, shrinking grazing land, and pushing people south in search of survival. Access to clean water, education, and healthcare remains limited. In some parts, political conflict and/or extremist activity fuels instability, violence and wars. In many communities, Christians face extreme persecution.
Sahel region
Sahel Project area of focus
More than 3.7 million people are displaced within the Sahel, and others have fled the region entirely. There have always been large nomadic groups spread across numerous countries, but the additional shifting refugee population has placed a greater strain on communities across the region. Shortages of water and food are common, and finding employment is challenging. Many people are subsistence farmers, a difficult occupation even in the best of circumstances.
People of the Frontier
The Sahel is truly a frontier. Its countries are among the world’s poorest, and it is a challenging place to survive, let alone flourish. It is hard to estimate how many people groups in this region lack adequate access to the Good News, though one assessment approximates at least 354 based on Joshua Project data. Many have never met a follower of Jesus.
People of the Sahel include large groups such as the Fulani, Hausa, Tuareg, Mandinka, and Wolof. They span borders, therefore, efforts to minister to them must also span borders. Many are traditionally nomadic. Other smaller groups also have a long history in this region. Most people in the Sahel are Muslim, often practicing a form of folk Islam that blends traditional beliefs with Islamic practices.
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Languages on the Frontier
Depending on their history, most countries in the Sahel have either French or Arabic as official languages, but other languages are actually spoken more widely. For example, although French may be listed as the official language of Senegal, Wolof is the predominant language, along with four other major languages and approximately 30 additional languages. Most people speak one or more local languages and learn enough of the predominant language to function effectively in the broader community. According to one estimate using Joshua Project data, there are 225 languages represented in this region, and 132 have no access to Scripture.
Frontier Fellowship’s focus in the region, at this time, will be in countries where French is an official language. But ministry in French is not the most effective in this region. Instead, relationships must be built and the Good News shared through local languages. Oral storytelling is an ideal methodology, but only when it can be clearly understood. This means using local languages—and that will require creativity, cultural fluency, and proximity. The involvement and training of local believers, where present, is essential. These are the trees needing to be planted along the streams. This is the hope for producing fruit in a dry and difficult land.
Existing Partners—A History of Faithfulness
“It’s a new region for Frontier Fellowship, but it’s an old yearning in my heart. The convergence of history, calling, and global shifts makes this the right time to go farther.”
—Pastor Ethan Collins
As God calls Frontier Fellowship to go farther in the region, we rely on the wisdom and experience of our long-term partnerships who have already been engaged in and around the Sahel for some time.
In Niger, Eglise Evangélique de la République du Niger (EERN) has planted churches, equipped leaders, and provided high-quality primary school education for over 60 years. Despite political tension, the ministry continues to flourish. Our partnership with them spans 12 years.
Egyptian mission partners and ministry friends are sending missionaries across nearly every Sahelian nation. Their work includes schools, language centers, discipleship training, and grassroots church planting.
In northern Nigeria, a ministry friend quietly disciples believers from Muslim backgrounds (MBBs), equipping them to return northward with the Gospel.
These ministries are oases of hope—God is at work in the Sahel. For many years, hidden springs have been bringing Good News.
Going Deeper, Going Farther in the Sahel—Why Now?
We believe the time is ripe for deeper engagement. Several streams have come together:
• Our longstanding relationships in Egypt and Niger have a calling to go farther.
• New partnerships are emerging in Nigeria and other Sahelian nations
• Uchenna, having vast experience and extensive contacts in the region, is now part of Frontier Fellowship’s mobilization team.
• Our Executive Director comes with a decades-long personal calling to inland Africa
The Sahel Project: A Vision for the Future
We envision the Gospel flowing like streams in the desert—reviving lives, transforming communities, and planting churches where there are none today. The people of the Sahel have often been forgotten, sometimes even by the global Church. Frontier Fellowship’s passion is to mobilize churches and invite them to come alongside indigenous African workers who are already laboring to plant the Gospel among the people of the Sahel. Through these partnerships we hope to see more workers raised up for the harvest as the Good News takes root and grows among the unreached people groups of the Sahel. We’re calling this collaborative effort The Sahel Project.
Over the coming years, we will work to form new partnerships with local ministries; support leaders who are uniquely equipped to reach their own people; invest in discipleship and theological training; and foster unity between African, Middle Eastern, and Western mission partners.
Come With Us
The Sahel is spiritually ready. The Church is moving and God is inviting us all to go farther together. You can participate by:
• Praying for believers and unreached communities
• Giving to support the new Sahel Project and our partners who are already active in the Sahel
• Going on a vision trip to see the region firsthand
• Connecting your church to a partner in the Sahel
Together, under God’s direction, we can see the Sahel flourish! Sahel Project staff
Uchenna Anyanwu + Donald Marsden
*Contributors: Uchenna Anyanwu, Associate Director for Diaspora Ministry & Intercultural Engagement; Ethan Collins, Executive Director; Donald Marsden, Associate Director; T.W., Middle East Coordinator. Sahel region map layer adapted from M.Bitton - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=127898301
ways to pray
FOR THE SAHEL
1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” Informed intercession is vital to frontier mission. Through prayer, we partner with God as He changes hearts and reaches beyond borders. Below are prompts to help guide your prayers for the Sahel region of Africa:
ACCESS •—• PSALM 24, MATTHEW 6:10, COLOSSIANS 4:2–4
Ask God to open avenues of access—spiritual, mental, emotional, geographic, linguistic and political—to people and places that remain hidden or blocked from the Gospel message. Pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven among the Sahel’s many unreached people groups.
STABILITY •—• 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4, 2 CHRONICLES 7:14, EPHESIANS 6:12
The Sahel has long been an unstable region, with many coup d’etats and a history of outside influence. Ask God to intervene and bring deep and lasting peace. Pray that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would be known throughout the Sahel.
AWARENESS • • PROVERBS 4:7, ISAIAH 11:2, JAMES 1:5
Many Western Christians are unaware of the unique challenges presented to the peoples of the Sahel, and these issues are often not shown in US media. Ask the Holy Spirit to grow awareness for the Sahel among people who don’t yet know much about the region. Pray, too, that increased awareness will lead to increased engagement, helping to build relationships and foster unity among Christ followers.
COOPERATION •—• PSALM 133, EPHESIANS 4:1–16, 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10
With many languages, cultures, and miles separating followers of Jesus in the region, pray for abundant cooperation among Christians across the Sahel. Ask God to help bridge gaps and remove barriers that prevent cooperation. Pray, too, for a spirit of unity and cohesion to take root among the African Church.
WISDOM • • JAMES 1:5, PROVERBS 2:6, MATTHEW 7:24
As Frontier Fellowship seeks to deepen existing relationships and forge new ones, pray for God’s wisdom to be with our team. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to the right people in His timing, helping cultivate friendships with indigenous followers of Jesus living in the Sahel. Pray, too, for wisdom as African Christians carry the hope of the Gospel to their leastreached neighbors.
to PRAYER CALLED
Join us on the first Thursday of each month for our Called to Prayer gatherings, where we spend time praying for Frontier Fellowship's global partners and the world's least-reached peoples. Learn more and register at frontierfellowship.com/called-to-prayer.
SPOTLIGHT
EAST+ CENTRAL ASIA
War in Ukraine Affecting Kingdom Work Throughout Central Asia
Our Central Asian partners continue to share with us how the war in Ukraine is fostering mistrust, fueling economic hardship and hindering collaborative efforts of ministry throughout the region. In March, many of our partners from across Central Asia gathered in a nearby nation for a time of fellowship, prayer and rest. This event strengthened bonds and deepened unity across varying languages and cultural contexts.
Addiction Recovery Program Greenlit in Central Asia
Amid tightening restrictions from their local government, Rise Development (Rise) received approval earlier this year to establish their Addiction Recovery Center. This program provides opportunity for Rise leaders to holistically serve their community and introduce least-reached peoples to the life-changing power of Jesus. In addition to this initiative, Rise hopes to resume their Leadership Institute, which was paused by the government.
DISCOVER THE BREADTH OF OUR WORK IN THIS REGION: FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM /CENTRAL-AND-EAST-ASIA-PARTNERS
New Staff Member Helping Mobilize
Churches to Engage in Central Asia
Frontier Fellowship is delighted to share that earlier this spring, LJ Jaworski joined our team as an Associate Director, helping to mobilize churches to participate in God's work throughout Central Asia. Prior to joining our staff, LJ participated in many Frontier Fellowship vision trips and was active with our work in her role as a Missions Pastor in Richmond, Virginia. Join us in welcoming LJ to the team!
AFRICA
Reprinting Arsi Oromo Bibles
Originally printed in South Korea, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is making shipping additional copies of the Arsi Oromo Bible difficult via the Red Sea. Light of Hope Ministry Ethiopia (LOHME) leaders are discerning alternative printing and distribution methods to help provide avenues of Gospel access for countless leastreached Arsi Oromo people in Ethiopia and beyond.
Establishing Schools in LeastReached Communities
Our partner in Niger, Eglise Evangélique de la République du Niger (EERN) has established multiple K-12 schools throughout the country, where students— many of whom are Muslim—receive an excellent education and learn about God's love for them. This year, EERN hopes to establish another school in a new-to-them region of Niger!
Cross-cultural Training Module Preparing New Leaders
One of our partners in Egypt, Synod of the Nile’s Pastoral, Outreach and Mission Council (POMC), recently launched a mission training school in East Africa, where 40 young adults will spend the next several months preparing to serve as church planters in least-reached regions. Thank God for the ways He is calling women and men to join in His work to create avenues of Gospel access among frontier peoples.
MIDDLE EAST
A Hunger for God's Word
At the Cairo International Book Fair, the Bible Society of Egypt (BSOE) distributed thousands of Gospel resources designed to help emphasize the validity of the Bible. They also revealed the first printed material of the Colloquial Arabic Bible translation—the Gospel of Mark in graphic story format.
Cross-Cultural Outreach Events
An Egyptian partner has hosted multiple outreach events on the Arabian Peninsula in recent months. Through these events, leastreached peoples receive holistic care and have the opportunity to hear about God's love, kindness and mercy extended to them through Jesus.
Equipping the Next Generation
In Egypt, Kasr el Dobara Evangelical Church (KDEC) is set to launch a mission training school for Egyptian young adults, providing a six-month intensive followed by an outreach event. This program will offer participants opportunities to glean firsthand experience in frontier mission ministry!
Seminary Students Preparing to Step into Ministry Roles
The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) is celebrating the graduation of more than 80 students! Many of these recent graduates will begin summer internships, while others are preparing to step into various ministry roles throughout the region, including as pastors, mission workers and lay leaders.
Conflict and Persecution in Iran
Please pray for the underground Church in Iran. Recent conflicts bring both fear and hope to Farsi-speaking believers. There is widespread fear of harm from bombings, evacuations and increased persecution. Pray for the thousands of Iranian Christians who are in prisons. There is hope that the future might hold changes leading to reduced persecution. Please pray that tensions would be reduced so that there is no further loss of life for all the people involved.
SOUTH+ SOUTHEAST ASIA
DISCOVER THE BREADTH OF OUR WORK IN THIS REGION:
New Team of Field Workers in a Least-Reached Region of Indonesia
After many delays, Light of the Islands (LOTI) recently launched a team of field workers in a new-to-them region of Indonesia, where there are few, if any, Christians. Like Jesus' disciples in Mark 6:7, LOTI's field workers travel throughout far-reaching villages, sharing the Gospel with curious Indonesians— many of whom have never heard the name of Jesus!
Persecution on the Rise in South Asia
During one of our South Asia partner’s outreach events last year, four of their team members were imprisoned for sharing the Good News of Jesus. Months later, they remain in prison, held without bond. Our other South Asian partners also report increasing levels of persecution in their areas. Pray for God's protection and wisdom to be with our partners as they navigate ongoing security challenges.
Technological Advances Assist in Sharing Good News
Indopartners, our partner in Indonesia who creates digital Gospel resources, is exploring ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can contribute to their ministry. One thing they’re currently considering is having AI systems summarize chats that Indopartners’ team has with interested Indonesians, which would save more than 20 hours per month and also help Indopartners recognize trends that could make sharing the Good News of Jesus more effective.
