While more Christians live in Sub-Saharan Africa than in any area of the world, 27,000 people in the region die every day without knowing Christ. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world and one of the highest rates of child mortality.

Many people groups in Sub-Saharan Africa have no gospel presence and no knowledge of Christ. IMB leadership in the region set a goal to start ministering among 55 unreached people groups. Darn Davis, affinity leader for Sub-Saharan Africa, says their area has 55 unreached and unengaged people groups with populations of more than 100,000 people.

When the initiative launched, personnel in Sub-Saharan Africa were serving among 90 people groups.

If we do our part to mobilize, facilitate, be a catalyst among African partners and global partners, we could highlight 55 unreached and unengaged peoples and see them engaged with the Gospel in the next five years,” Davis said.

Jay and Kathy Shafto are partnering with local Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to minister among two people groups that are a part of the initiative.

Vincent, a pastor from DRC asked the Shaftos for their help to reach his people group, the Sonde. Vincent made the 124-mile trek to this people group multiple times, but occultist beliefs held a spell over the Sonde.

The Shaftos and Vincent discovered the Sonde didn’t have the Bible in their own language, so they began an oral Bible storying project. After launching the project, they noted several evangelical churches had already been planted, and two different Baptist denominations were ministering among them.

Six Sonde Christians are learning 25 oral Bible stories. Thirteen people accepted Christ, and four Bible storying groups began.

Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, an amazing array of ministries are supported. This unified giving encourages fellowship with other believers all over the world. Collectively, Oklahoma Baptists are advancing the Gospel together.

Sub-Saharan peoples were featured in the 2022 Missionary Prayer Guide for Oklahoma Baptists. To see more information about the work in Sub-Saharan Africa, visit oklahomabaptists.org/cp