Population: 250,000
Hub: Mali
Religion: Islam
Christians: 0.38%
Hub: Mali
Religion: Islam
Christians: 0.38%
Resources: NT, JF
Engaged: Yes
Workers Needed: 10
Annual Deaths: 2,400
Engaged: Yes
Workers Needed: 10
Annual Deaths: 2,400
Description: The Bella (or Ikelan in Tamashaq) are slaves or descendants of slaves in Tuareg society which were taken captive from African tribes such as the Songhay, Kanuri and Hausa. It is believed that many thousands are still held as slaves in Mali and Niger, not only by Tuareg but other ethnic groups as well. Those who are free still face significant discrimination.
Prayer Points:
• Enslaved Bella have no rights and no legal status in Mali and Niger. They are often forced to do dangerous and difficult jobs such as salt-mining in the Timbuktu region. Pray that God would use believers to seek justice and freedom for these oppressed families and for their spiritual freedom in Christ.
• The Bella often live in their own separate communities and do not have equal access to education. Pray for a creative children's ministry to develop a program to deliver both the gospel and a quality education to Bella youth.
• An indigenous church is emerging among the Bella with contextualized worship songs. Unfortunately the main composer of these songs was recently killed. Pray that God would raise up many new worship composers in the Tamashaq language that will fill their lands with the praises of Jesus.
A Prayer: Heavenly Father, release new hope and restored identity among the Bella people through faith in Jesus Christ, in whom there is no slave or free.
Every year 2,400 Bella die without Christ, many of whom never hear the gospel in their lifetime. Let's do something to change that.
Prayer Points:
• Enslaved Bella have no rights and no legal status in Mali and Niger. They are often forced to do dangerous and difficult jobs such as salt-mining in the Timbuktu region. Pray that God would use believers to seek justice and freedom for these oppressed families and for their spiritual freedom in Christ.
• The Bella often live in their own separate communities and do not have equal access to education. Pray for a creative children's ministry to develop a program to deliver both the gospel and a quality education to Bella youth.
• An indigenous church is emerging among the Bella with contextualized worship songs. Unfortunately the main composer of these songs was recently killed. Pray that God would raise up many new worship composers in the Tamashaq language that will fill their lands with the praises of Jesus.
A Prayer: Heavenly Father, release new hope and restored identity among the Bella people through faith in Jesus Christ, in whom there is no slave or free.
Every year 2,400 Bella die without Christ, many of whom never hear the gospel in their lifetime. Let's do something to change that.