The Sereer: Desperately Trying to Please God (2014)

The people of the Sereer tribe in Senegal, West Africa, live in an ancient culture that was historically steeped in Animism, Voodoo and demon worship. In the past two centuries 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 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, They give to the poor (though they are incredibly poor themselves). 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 minister to them every year. The missionaries have invested themselves in the lives of the people; building real relationships and becoming like family to them. Incredibly, in one village they have even been given permission by the chief's eldest son to teach Christ to the children in the schools. "Perhaps they will be the generation who believes your message," he said, though he himself professes Mohammed and does not believe in Christ. A door to these hearts, hungry for the gospel has been flung wide open for a season. But it is not clear how long this door will remain open. Explore the culture, the lifestyle and the beliefs of the Sereer tribe in Senegal, West Africa. See how the gospel of Christ is transforming lives.