P.O. Box 5275
Brikama
The Gambia
West Africa
In almost every African country where missionaries have served,
there is a well-established Lutheran church, which often is the result of
earlier mission outreach. The Gambia is an exception.
The Lutheran church and Lutherans in The Gambia are
newcomers among Christians in The Gambia, where Islam and traditional religions
are still predominant.
Lutheran ministry began as the result of refugees from war-torn
neighboring countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Senegal, as well as
Gambian returnees from those countries in which the Lutheran church is
well-established.
Due to the lack of a Lutheran church in The Gambia, Lutherans
worshiped with other groups such as the Methodists and Anglicans, all the while
trying to find the means of planting a seed for a Lutheran church in The Gambia.
Local evangelism started in January 1998 by Evangelist Samuel
Thomas. As a following grew, a working committee was formed to explore the
establishment of a church. From 1998 to 1999, there was only one volunteer
working in the church, Mr. Jeane Fiedel, assisting as a leader. He traveled to
the provinces with photocopies of the only tract available while planting the
seed for a church in The Gambia. His efforts led to the establishment of
Lutheran communities in the main provincial capitals of the country. Lack of
support has made it difficult to worship in most places.
The Evangelical Lutheran
Church of The Gambia has a committee of ten members serving 256 members.
Many have volunteered to serve in evangelistic outreach. Formal worship is
taking place in the capital of Banjul and numbers are growing.
