It was November. A lush green jungle stretched as far as the eye could see.
Several members of our Heralds of Hope team, joined by our partners at Training2Send, journeyed into remote regions of Sierra Leone, Africa.
The incredible stories and testimonies they heard were life-changing in every respect.
Continue reading to hear a firsthand perspective of how God is moving in Sierra Leone from Anthony High, Executive Director.
As our staff interacted with the villagers and pastors of remote Sierra Leone, they heard incredible stories of how Christ has defeated death and evil, how villages have overcome dark practices of child sacrifice and demon worship, and how the glory of God has been revealed in the transformation of lives.
Looking back, it’s hard to process all we heard and saw—the pain, the horror, the healing, the hope. But one thing is clear: Jesus truly changes everything. And for these people, He has brought transformation that reaches far beyond individuals—it has changed their families, their futures, and their communities.
After Heralds of Hope first connected with Training2Send in 2022, partnering to provide a container of Bibles to the West African country of Guinea-Bissau, we learned of the intense spiritual challenges in rural Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone had a growing, desperate need for discipleship resources.
Over the following year, Heralds of Hope coordinated with Training2Send to send a container of Bibles to Sierra Leone. In response, Training2Send invited our team to join a follow-up trip to see firsthand what God was doing in the country’s interior.
In this region of Africa, many people cannot read. Because of this, our container of Bibles was not going to have the impact on people’s hearts that we had hoped. Heralds of Hope helped fund a project to provide SD cards and solar-powered audio players with audio Bibles in their local languages.
In November of 2024, several HOH staff members embarked on the trip to Sierra Leone, Africa, suitcases stuffed full with audio Bibles to deliver to the trainers on the ground.
“Our team had two main goals: first, to capture on camera how villages in Sierra Leone are being transformed by the Gospel, and second, to follow up on the Bible shipment.
We began in Freetown, on the country’s west coast. From there, we drove to a smaller town called Fadugu and then traveled by motorbike deep into the bush. The roads were rough and passable only on foot or by motorbike.
Many villagers had never seen a white person before.
One elder, in his 80s, told us it was the first time in his life he had shaken a white man’s hand. Despite our differences, every village welcomed us warmly, often offering kola nuts as a sign of hospitality.
That same 80-year-old elder shared something I’ll never forget. He told us that, in the past, a certain demon would give a sign in the sky. When that happened, the village believed they had to sacrifice sixteen children. Sixteen.
Since the Gospel came to their village, he said, that sign has never returned.
At the heart of this trip were the stories of people set free from the horror of child sacrifice. In village after village, we heard testimonies of deep pain—of children lost to satanic rituals, of mothers hiding their little ones in the forest to keep them safe. But now, because of Jesus, their children are alive and growing up in peace. The mothers’ (and fathers’) gratitude was overwhelming.
We saw visible, powerful signs of change. Shrines that once held dark rituals have been cut or torn down, and in some cases, a church was built in the same area. In one village, a Chief who once oversaw child sacrifices stood before his people and declared his faith in Jesus. He then called all the children to come to him, showing that life and hope had returned. The children weren’t afraid of him, even knowing his past. That’s the power of forgiveness and new life in Christ.
I remember visiting two neighboring villages that really showed the contrast. In the first, they used to offer sacrifices at the base of a massive tree. After coming to faith, they cut down that tree and stopped the sacrifices. But in the next village, we saw a similar tree, still standing. The people there told us that sacrifices still happen beneath it. Some had embraced Christ, others had not—and the division was clear.
Some of the mothers we spoke to had lost ten. Many of them weren’t even allowed to grieve, because mourning could result in punishment or death. There was deep pain—some expressed anger, others forgiveness—but all carried the trauma of what they had lived through.”
These moments were hard to process. My wife and I have six children, and just thinking about losing even one is heartbreaking.
In a village where many still followed the old ways, an elder shared that several of his siblings had died in idol worship. He said,
“Now I have five grandchildren who will live because of the Gospel.” He paused, and added, “The Gospel came too late for my siblings. I believe if it had come sooner, they would still be alive.”
This testimony should move us to grief, to action, to compassion.
How can we stand still, while there are people who still have not heard?
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:14.
How will you respond? Will you allow God to speak to you through these powerful testimonies?
“There’s an overwhelming hunger for God’s Word. Because many people can’t read, the solar-powered audio Bibles were a lifeline. Even pastors who are illiterate use them to teach. I wish we had brought more—people begged for them. Without the Word of God, it is difficult to grow spiritually and to protect against false teachings.”
Local leaders told us how the Gospel had brought peace. Children are going to school now. Communities are working together to build roads, connecting villages so they can share their faith. Once-quiet villages are now filled with the sound of children laughing and playing.
This is the transformation the Gospel can bring to a once-dark place. This is the power of Christ.
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